Re: Henna myths: what's "easiest" for newbies

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Henna For Hair ~ Discussion Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Al Gisnered on October 21, 2004 at 11:07:49:

In reply to: Henna myths: what's "easiest" for newbies posted by Elettaria on October 20, 2004 at 17:50:00:

Henna really is an arcane art. With the chemical products, one
selects the color wanted from a lineup of over 20 packages from each
of several manuracturers. Each package shows a clear representation of
the color one can expect. One mixes the contents of the package, puts
it on the hair, waits the stipulated time, washes. The resulting color
is generally very close to the package color. (In the salon the
beautician may intermix colors to develop "your own personal
formula".) But one is almost guaranteed the same color, first time,
every time.

Henna is orange, maybe red-orange. Period. (Acturally it would be
interesting to know exactly what range of the spectrum lawsone
absorbs. Catherine?) And it's translucent. The color resulting from an
application of henna can't be guaranteed or, really, estimated with
any certainty.

What most newbees want is what they've been promised by the chemical
manufacturers: certainty that the "medium golden reddish brown", or
the "dark auburn", or "medium ash brown" is what will happen when they
put stuff on their hair. With henna that ain't happening! For those
who are pleased with the results of a henna application early on, it's
a no-brainer. Mix, wait, apply, rinse, be glorious. For those who
get popsicle orange it's frustrating and embarassing.

Can you blame a newbee?

Al

On October 20, Elattaria writes:

: I'm a bit concerned that a lot of newbies seem to think that mixing up
: henna is some sort of arcane art, and that it's going to be easiest to
: use a pre-blended mix with herbs and goodness only knows what else in
: it. I've seen it here and elsewhere. It's nonsense, of course,
: because the process is the same: add water and lemon juice (or other
: acid) to powder, wait for dye release, apply. The only difference is
: that you're likely to get better results with proper henna and less
: likely to get put off the whole thing as a result of some peculiar
mishap.
:
: Maybe the rococo mixes some people are using in the Mixes section are
: confusing people? Should we put up a line pointing out that while
: some people enjoy meddling with various ingredients to turn the colour
: a bit, or just for fun, you can get quite excellent results with the
: simple method, for instance Catherine's hair (glorious colour, greys
: fully covered).

Follow Ups

I have never gotten the color I was promised from a box of chemical hair dye. Faery Ring 14:38:37 10/21/2004 (2)
- Re: I have never gotten the color I was promised from a box of chemical hair dye. Al Gisnered 18:12:44 10/21/2004 (1)
  - We have a vicious circle here Elettaria 19:50:49 10/21/2004 (0)

Post Followup

Name:
E-Mail:
Subject:
: Henna really is an arcane art. With the chemical products, one : selects the color wanted from a lineup of over 20 packages from each : of several manuracturers. Each package shows a clear representation of : the color one can expect. One mixes the contents of the package, puts : it on the hair, waits the stipulated time, washes. The resulting color : is generally very close to the package color. (In the salon the : beautician may intermix colors to develop "your own personal : formula".) But one is almost guaranteed the same color, first time, : every time. : : Henna is orange, maybe red-orange. Period. (Acturally it would be : interesting to know exactly what range of the spectrum lawsone : absorbs. Catherine?) And it's translucent. The color resulting from an : application of henna can't be guaranteed or, really, estimated with : any certainty. : : What most newbees want is what they've been promised by the chemical : manufacturers: certainty that the "medium golden reddish brown", or : the "dark auburn", or "medium ash brown" is what will happen when they : put stuff on their hair. With henna that ain't happening! For those : who are pleased with the results of a henna application early on, it's : a no-brainer. Mix, wait, apply, rinse, be glorious. For those who : get popsicle orange it's frustrating and embarassing. : : Can you blame a newbee? : : Al : : On October 20, Elattaria writes: : : : I'm a bit concerned that a lot of newbies seem to think that mixing up : : henna is some sort of arcane art, and that it's going to be easiest to : : use a pre-blended mix with herbs and goodness only knows what else in : : it. I've seen it here and elsewhere. It's nonsense, of course, : : because the process is the same: add water and lemon juice (or other : : acid) to powder, wait for dye release, apply. The only difference is : : that you're likely to get better results with proper henna and less : : likely to get put off the whole thing as a result of some peculiar : mishap. : : : : Maybe the rococo mixes some people are using in the Mixes section are : : confusing people? Should we put up a line pointing out that while : : some people enjoy meddling with various ingredients to turn the colour : : a bit, or just for fun, you can get quite excellent results with the : : simple method, for instance Catherine's hair (glorious colour, greys : : fully covered).
Optional link URL:
Link title:
Optional image URL: