Not all hennas are created equal

sareca

Well-Known Member
I love that so many of us are taking an interest in henna. Henna is a wonderful natural product that can give your hair strength, body, color and crazy shine, but not all hennas are the same. Compound henna is extremely dangerous.

Certain combinations of hair products can be unhealthy for your hair
Ron Mizutani

Wedding videographer Christie Maxwell makes memories for newlyweds.
Wednesday she experienced a nightmare she'd rather forget.
"It was poof, gone quickly scary quickly."
Three weeks ago, Maxwell used an over-the-counter hair dye.
"It looks like a big chocolate bar, you have to break it up put it in the food processor grind it down to a powder form put boiling water it looks like brownie --- and you put this mass of dirt in your hair."
She saw little results and sought professional help. A stylist conducted a hair strand test and the results stunned Maxwell.
"She had a strand of hair in my hand --- it started to like disintegrate she said your hair is turning to mush in less than a minute."
"If I wouldn't have said there was henna in my hair and they just started put coloring on my head --- I would not have hair today."
Color specialist Prestine Padon has seen it all too often.
Padon says, "if you've done one product and you do another product on top it will dissolve the hair because it's not compatible the residue stays in the hair."
Henna is a plant material often used as a natural colorant. Some brands of henna contain metallic compounds, salts that react with the ammonia in synthetic hair dye.
"You can't really removed metallic products from the hair once you get them in."
"The residue is still in the hair."
Residue that can come back to haunt you. Many products aren't always properly labeled.
Maxwell says, "the product that I used said it was natural henna, the people that sold it to me said it was natural henna --- but it wasn't natural henna."
Padon says, "hair products aren't so much regulated so much by the federal government --- they have to list every single thing --- they should but some products don't."
Padon shows us what hair should do during a strand test.
"It happens instantly."
"If it's compatible the hair shouldn't break."
Maxwell's results were very different.
"I can't do anything to my hair for two years."
"You might have to wait 2 to 3 years to grow it out because your hair grows about six inches a year."
"It can be disastrous."
Hair stylists say most over-the-counter products are very safe to use. The key is to know and share your hair history and ask questions.

How do you protect yourself from melted hair? EASY! Use natural henna (meaning 100% pure henna or BAQ henna). And:

Your henna should not be combined with anything by the manufacturer.
Your henna should have only one ingredient.
Your henna should come from a reputable source.
You should always do a strand test.

We, in the Henna for Life Club have so much confidence experiementing with henna because we DO NOT break these rules. I :love: henna. I've had nothing but positive experiences, but that isn't by accident. I don't treat all hennas the same. Don't you do it either... :naughty:



 
Last edited:

Amour

Well-Known Member
dammm!!! Thanks for the thread ::thumbs up::

Anyone know if the henna in LUSH is proper b/c that was the same tyoe of henna i was gonna cop, the one that looks like a huge choco bar. Plus i was going to get in in black :eek:. Think i will defo stay away from this now esp, as my hair already is suffering from a previous colour job :(
 

sareca

Well-Known Member
Sabina said:
dammm!!! Thanks for the thread ::thumbs up::

Anyone know if the henna in LUSH is proper b/c that was the same tyoe of henna i was gonna cop, the one that looks like a huge choco bar. Plus i was going to get in in black :eek:. Think i will defo stay away from this now esp, as my hair already is suffering from a previous colour job :(

Girl your hair wouldn't be suffering more.. it would be GONE! Like fell out in 1 minute...gone. Metallic compounds don't play nice with anything else. I've never heard of LUSH... if it sound like the one home chick used RUN! To be honest I'd stick to the ones we've already used; Hennaforhair.com mehndiskinart.com, fromnaturewithlove.com.
 
Last edited:

Amour

Well-Known Member
sareca said:
Girl you hair wouldn't be suffering more.. it would be GONE! Like fell out in 1 minute...gone. Metallic compounds don't play nice with anything else. I've never heard of LUSH... if it sound like the one home chick used RUN! To be honest I'd stick to the ones we've already used; Hennaforhair.com mehndiskinart.com, fromnaturewithlove.com.

ETA: If you have to put it in a blender ... move on. Henna is a green powder that smells like hay or fresh cut grass.

Thank you soo much,l i think if i ever witnessed my hair detroiting (sp?) in such a short space of time, i would be soooo DEPRESSED. Ive got butterflies in my stomach b/c i was sooo close to getting that *ishhh
 

sareca

Well-Known Member
Sabina said:
Thank you soo much,l i think if i ever witnessed my hair detroiting (sp?) in such a short space of time, i would be soooo DEPRESSED. Ive got butterflies in my stomach b/c i was sooo close to getting that *ishhh

Ahhh RUN! Sabina I just found this on the hennaforhair forum...

MagdalenaSins Member Posts: 4

Re: Once more with feeling ....... compound henna is TROUBLE
Posted on: 09/05/2006 04:16 AM
Sounds like LUSH henna? My roommate bought some and I have been warning her that using it on her oft chemically dyed hair may be a bad idea. I told her about the strand test and I'll pass that article along, thanks!
 

senimoni

New Member
So natural henna, has never reacted with anything in relaxers? Are you doing strand test before you henna and before you relax?
 

goldensensation

New Member
senimoni said:
So natural henna, has never reacted with anything in relaxers? Are you doing strand test before you henna and before you relax?

Body art quality works good with colored, relaxed and permed hair. It even strengthens it!
 

WomanlyCharm

New Member
Natural henna has done nothing but get my hair in better condition. I did a strand test on my previously colored/relaxed hair and it turned out fine...using henna was the best experiment I ever did.

BTW, goldensensation, love that pic, you look so cute! :p
 

goldensensation

New Member
WomanlyCharm said:
Natural henna has done nothing but get my hair in better condition. I did a strand test on my previously colored/relaxed hair and it turned out fine...using henna was the best experiment I ever did.

BTW, goldensensation, love that pic, you look so cute! :p

Thanks, womanlycharm!

How often do you henna?
 

sareca

Well-Known Member
goldensensation said:
Body art quality works good with colored, relaxed and permed hair. It even strengthens it!

Yep. Henna won't care about a touch up. If it's still the same brand of henna and it's already been tested on your previously relaxed hair you're good to go.

Body art quality henna isn't known to react with anything. That's why I only use it. Body art quality is called that because it's used to dye skin. They don't put metallic compounds in the stuff used to dye skin. So your pretty much safe from the possiblitity of reactions. Do I strand test anyway? yep! Better safe than bald.
 
Last edited:

alexstin

Well-Known Member
senimoni said:
Dang yall......I want to, but I don't wanna. LOL.

That is just how I felt. I wanted to but I was scared. Get the henna from hennaforhair.com for your first buy and I think it'll really put your mind at ease(of course still do a strand test).
 

carolb21

Active Member
I used Surya henna, is this okay? I have since ordered from Hennafor hair. I did a strand test and my hair was okay. My gray hair is now orange after several CWs, which is why I am switching, but my hair was so great after the first application. I have four more left. :(
 

sareca

Well-Known Member
carolb21 said:
I used Surya henna, is this okay? I have since ordered from Hennafor hair. I did a strand test and my hair was okay. My gray hair is now orange after several CWs, which is why I am switching, but my hair was so great after the first application. I have four more left. :(
It's compound henna, but if it didn't do anything funky already it's not going to. Literally, in 1 minute you'll know if it's got metallic compounds. Well, you will if you have relaxed hair or have used synthetic dyes.

You know how I know it's compound henna? The word compound just means more than one, meaning more than one ingredient. Pure henna has one ingredient; henna. Body art quality henna has one ingredient; henna. Surya has:

The ingredients in Surya Henna Powder produce the following benefits:
  • Amla is an Indian fruit rich in Vitamin C, whose oil is used as a treatment for hair and scalp problems.
  • Shikakai the Indian "fruit for the hair". A superior cleanser promoting hair growth while preventing dandruff.
  • Henna moisturizes and forms a protective layer on each strand of hair.
  • Terminalia belerica functions as an astringent and bactericide.
  • Indigo is known for its coloring properties.
  • Acacia arabica is used as an anti-inflammatory.
  • Honey is an antioxidant and moisturizer.
Ingredients: Amla, Shikakai, Henna, Terminalia belerica, Indigo, Acacia arabica, Honey.

Those look like good ingredients, but sometimes vendor don't list them all. Sometimes they add metallic salts. Metallic salts are responsible for hair meltdown not henna. But like I said, if it hasn't done anything already....
ETA: I just found this on their website....

* 100% natural hair coloring and nourishing treatment for the hair.
* No peroxide, ammonia, resorcinol, PPD, parabens or heavy metals.
* 100% plant product with pure honey.


I'd still prefer you use 100% pure, but it looks good.
 
Last edited:

TwistNMx

New Member
Would you guys mind sharing what brand of henna you use / recommend?
I'm hoping that I bought a good one.
Thanks
 

sareca

Well-Known Member
High Priestess said:
Would you guys mind sharing what brand of henna you use / recommend?
I'm hoping that I bought a good one.
Thanks

I'll let the other girls speak for themselves, but Jamila henna is the brand I love. It is BAQ. For indigo (which almost never has metallic salts anyway) I use hennaforhair.com.

I think the vendors are more important than the brand. Hennaforhair is just that, henna for hair. All of their products are high quality never include anything but 100% henna, cassia, or indigo. I consider them a very reputable vendor.

How many ingredients does it have?
 
Last edited:

WomanlyCharm

New Member
High Priestess said:
Would you guys mind sharing what brand of henna you use / recommend?
I'm hoping that I bought a good one.
Thanks

I use the body art quality henna from hennaforhair.com, or From Nature With Love. I've never bought any from the indian stores here. The shelf life on those are pretty old, and I just didn't want to take a chance on a product I didn't know.
 

WomanlyCharm

New Member
I know some of the ladies here have, I've never tried!

I got a relaxer today, and plan to henna Thursday on my day off...but I don't see how doing it the same day would hurt.
 

sareca

Well-Known Member
zora said:
Can you do a touch up and henna on the same day?

Umm, as long as your relaxer doesn't say wait 48 hours before washing. You'll need to wash out the henna. My Phyto says to wait a few days. That would be the only thing stopping me. Otherwise, I can't see why not.

Make sure you strand test and use pure henna. :)
 

Softresses

Active Member
I did my lye texturizer touch up after having hennaed 3 days before. That afternoon after my touch up and deep conditioner I did another henna. My hair felt great and I had zero breakage.

Softresses
 

sareca

Well-Known Member
LAYDEE said:
do you think there are any perms that may be too strong for henna--or vice versa?

Nope, the only real issue is whether or not the henna has metallic salts added. No metallic salts, no problems.
 
Top