My Testimony about Henna

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Posted by Vid on February 6, 2004 at 22:15:36:

I am a 25-year old male, and recently my hair has been shedding
greatly and evenly over my scalp, possibly due to dryness. So an
Indian friend recommended I try henna to stimulate growth and
condition my scalp.

I have put on 3 different hennas.

First of all, I highly recommend henna for its conditioning
properties in human hair. My hair is shedding NOTICEABLY less, and
there is new growth! NO question about it. My hair is also stronger
and thicker. Whatever the hell this plant is producing, THIS STUFF
works!!

All my life, I have used shampoos but never conditioners. Late last
year, I started to use commercial conditioners (American Crew,
PearsPlus, Alberto) and they all left my hair wonderfully silky,
soft, and shiny, but also VERY DRY and there was a lot of shedding
and some itching, especially in warm, humid weather. My hair is
naturally silky and soft (albeit curly), and conditioners left it
feeling like silk.
In all honesty, henna doesn't leave my hair AS shiny and soft as
commercial conditioners, but the health elements to using henna MORE
THAN COMPENSATE. There is SOME SHINE and LUSTER after hennaing hair,
but because your hair is stronger and thicker, it's not AS thin and
soft and silky as after commercial conditioning. It's not like silk,
but more like mink fur, like the "softness" you experience when you
run the side of your palm down a mink coat.

I HIGHLY recommend henna to stimulate hair growth and to
condition/treat dry/damaged hair.

NOW, about this color issue:

My hair is very smooth, and very black. I was looking forward to the
famed and much-celebrated mahogany shade that henna is reputed to
turn black hair into.

The first pack of Henna I used was called "Black Wasma Henna",
produced in Pakistan. I just used it without knowing what the hell
it was.
"Wasma" means indigo in Urdu, the language of Pakistan. i.e. it
leaves your hair JET JET JET bluish-black!!! (I was actually looking
forward to the mahogany-brown shade!!!)

So, then I tried Masri Henné Rouge (made in France). Package said it
will leave your hair "fiery red".
First shot I mixed it with tea, and it left only a slight shade of
auburn in my hair, so again disappointing!

Yesterday, I used Masri Henné Rouge again--mixed with pure fresh lime
juice, and nothing else added. This henna mix also contains sodium
picramate. Again, VERY SLIGHT auburn tint ONLY!!! If I stand under
a bright light, you can see that my hair has a brownish-
tint...otherwise, it's still black!

How the hell do I get this shit to turn my hair auburn/brown? I know
it's possible with black hair, because I have seen Indian people walk
around with their hair hennaed, and it is a gorgeous shade of dark
brown!
Is it because of something peculiar with my hair? Is it because the
stupid indigo will not wash off?!??!? What am I doing so wrong?!??!

Any advice apppreciated.

Follow Ups

Re: My Testimony about Henna Alison 23:04:14 2/6/2004 (0)
Re: My Testimony about Henna Tracey 22:50:01 2/6/2004 (0)

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Subject:
: I am a 25-year old male, and recently my hair has been shedding : greatly and evenly over my scalp, possibly due to dryness. So an : Indian friend recommended I try henna to stimulate growth and : condition my scalp. : : I have put on 3 different hennas. : : First of all, I highly recommend henna for its conditioning : properties in human hair. My hair is shedding NOTICEABLY less, and : there is new growth! NO question about it. My hair is also stronger : and thicker. Whatever the hell this plant is producing, THIS STUFF : works!! : : All my life, I have used shampoos but never conditioners. Late last : year, I started to use commercial conditioners (American Crew, : PearsPlus, Alberto) and they all left my hair wonderfully silky, : soft, and shiny, but also VERY DRY and there was a lot of shedding : and some itching, especially in warm, humid weather. My hair is : naturally silky and soft (albeit curly), and conditioners left it : feeling like silk. : In all honesty, henna doesn't leave my hair AS shiny and soft as : commercial conditioners, but the health elements to using henna MORE : THAN COMPENSATE. There is SOME SHINE and LUSTER after hennaing hair, : but because your hair is stronger and thicker, it's not AS thin and : soft and silky as after commercial conditioning. It's not like silk, : but more like mink fur, like the "softness" you experience when you : run the side of your palm down a mink coat. : : I HIGHLY recommend henna to stimulate hair growth and to : condition/treat dry/damaged hair. : : NOW, about this color issue: : : My hair is very smooth, and very black. I was looking forward to the : famed and much-celebrated mahogany shade that henna is reputed to : turn black hair into. : : The first pack of Henna I used was called "Black Wasma Henna", : produced in Pakistan. I just used it without knowing what the hell : it was. : "Wasma" means indigo in Urdu, the language of Pakistan. i.e. it : leaves your hair JET JET JET bluish-black!!! (I was actually looking : forward to the mahogany-brown shade!!!) : : So, then I tried Masri Henné Rouge (made in France). Package said it : will leave your hair "fiery red". : First shot I mixed it with tea, and it left only a slight shade of : auburn in my hair, so again disappointing! : : Yesterday, I used Masri Henné Rouge again--mixed with pure fresh lime : juice, and nothing else added. This henna mix also contains sodium : picramate. Again, VERY SLIGHT auburn tint ONLY!!! If I stand under : a bright light, you can see that my hair has a brownish- : tint...otherwise, it's still black! : : How the hell do I get this shit to turn my hair auburn/brown? I know : it's possible with black hair, because I have seen Indian people walk : around with their hair hennaed, and it is a gorgeous shade of dark : brown! : Is it because of something peculiar with my hair? Is it because the : stupid indigo will not wash off?!??!? What am I doing so wrong?!??! : : Any advice apppreciated.
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