Warm henna jelly

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

Posted by Fia on January 22, 2004 at 12:36:51:

No, it's not meant for eating... :-) This is how I do my henna for hair:

100 grams pure henna
500 ml liquid (about 17 fl.oz.) - I use half lemon/half water
25 grams (about 0.8 oz.) powdered apple pectin - I'm told you americans usually find
this where you normally find other ingredients for making jam/jelly/preserves

Dump henna powder in a bowl - I use a plastic one.

Bring liquid to a boil. I always use stainless steel as it should not release any metal
into the liquid, other types of metal pots may release material - if you want to play it
extra safe - use a non-metallic pot.

When liquid is boiling whisk the powdered pectin into the liquid - this is important as
it will clump together otherwise. Let boil for one full minute - this to activate the
pectin and start the gelling process (you'll see that it's starting to turn slightly thick
the minute you take it off the heat). Wait a few seconds to let it cool off some.

Pour the liquid/pectin mix into the henna powder and stir - I use a large plastic
spoon. It will be very hot and very liquid at this stage. Let it stand for about 20-30
minutes to cool off - by then it's warm enough to handle and put in your hair. It will
look like a thick gel by then - not unlike hair gel - and you should see dye releasing
from the henna.

I use this gel as I'd use regular henna powder mixed with whatever liquid you prefer -
apply in dry hair. It's a lot easier to work with this way - almost like a regular hair
color in consistency. Virtually no drips when applying. No dribbles down the neck and
forehead and easily rinsed out. You may have small squishy clumps in the henna
paste - it's pectin that has gelled before it mixed with the henna - they have never
caused any problems for me when applying or rinsing out - just feel a little funny
when you encounter them.

It's no drawback that 100 grams henna are more than enough to do my shoulder
blade length hair - I always have gel left. I'd estimate I could do up to almost waist
length with this amount. With just henna powder I have to use about 250 grams for
my current length. I should point out that I see no difference in color doing henna this
way from the regular way.

There is a slight risk that you cook the henna when you prepare it this way. I've only
had one batch turn out less than optimal - and it was more than likely stale henna to
begin with as the rest of the powder barely stained when mixed just with lemon juice.

/Fia

Follow Ups

Re: Warm henna jelly h 16:37:57 1/28/2004 (0)
Dextrose in pectin? Pierre 15:08:23 1/27/2004 (0)
Re: Warm henna jelly Pierre 17:07:34 1/23/2004 (1)
- Re: Warm henna jelly Fia 07:08:24 1/26/2004 (0)
OOOhhh...I *must* try this!! n/t. Tracey 17:34:31 1/22/2004 (0)
Re: Warm henna jelly Catherine Cartwright-Jones 12:57:20 1/22/2004 (0)

Post Followup

Name:
E-Mail:
Subject:
: No, it's not meant for eating... :-) This is how I do my henna for hair: : : 100 grams pure henna : 500 ml liquid (about 17 fl.oz.) - I use half lemon/half water : 25 grams (about 0.8 oz.) powdered apple pectin - I'm told you americans usually find : this where you normally find other ingredients for making jam/jelly/preserves : : Dump henna powder in a bowl - I use a plastic one. : : Bring liquid to a boil. I always use stainless steel as it should not release any metal : into the liquid, other types of metal pots may release material - if you want to play it : extra safe - use a non-metallic pot. : : When liquid is boiling whisk the powdered pectin into the liquid - this is important as : it will clump together otherwise. Let boil for one full minute - this to activate the : pectin and start the gelling process (you'll see that it's starting to turn slightly thick : the minute you take it off the heat). Wait a few seconds to let it cool off some. : : Pour the liquid/pectin mix into the henna powder and stir - I use a large plastic : spoon. It will be very hot and very liquid at this stage. Let it stand for about 20-30 : minutes to cool off - by then it's warm enough to handle and put in your hair. It will : look like a thick gel by then - not unlike hair gel - and you should see dye releasing : from the henna. : : I use this gel as I'd use regular henna powder mixed with whatever liquid you prefer - : apply in dry hair. It's a lot easier to work with this way - almost like a regular hair : color in consistency. Virtually no drips when applying. No dribbles down the neck and : forehead and easily rinsed out. You may have small squishy clumps in the henna : paste - it's pectin that has gelled before it mixed with the henna - they have never : caused any problems for me when applying or rinsing out - just feel a little funny : when you encounter them. : : It's no drawback that 100 grams henna are more than enough to do my shoulder : blade length hair - I always have gel left. I'd estimate I could do up to almost waist : length with this amount. With just henna powder I have to use about 250 grams for : my current length. I should point out that I see no difference in color doing henna this : way from the regular way. : : There is a slight risk that you cook the henna when you prepare it this way. I've only : had one batch turn out less than optimal - and it was more than likely stale henna to : begin with as the rest of the powder barely stained when mixed just with lemon juice. : : /Fia
Optional link URL:
Link title:
Optional image URL: