tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47267922646716842572023-11-15T10:01:50.121-08:00Henna for HairMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14630422422148823057noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726792264671684257.post-58063227128209949782010-02-02T16:17:00.000-08:002010-02-02T16:41:34.036-08:00Step by Step Henna Instructions<p><img src="http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs222.snc3/20970_307831406339_764181339_4646021_1747219_n.jpg" width="200" align="right" border="0" style="padding:10px;"><br /><br /><p>If you have chemically dyed hair, you have to do a pretest because sometimes henna reacts strangely to chemical dyes. While I admit that I didn't do the pretest, I can't stress how important it is for the average person. So do it! :-)<br /><br /><p>The other really important thing to remember is not to use any metal when you're preparing your henna--this includes any brushes or spoons you use as well as the bowl you heat your water in. I recommend heating your henna in the microwave in a glass bowl. Do not put your glass bowl on the cooktop because it will explode. (I learned this the hard way.)<br /><br /><p>On to the henna. I used <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Light-Mountain-Natural-Conditioner-Medium/dp/B001ET7KY0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1264882511&sr=8-1">Light Mountain</a> henna for gray hair. It comes in lots of shades--from light golden brown to red to black--and is a two part process. The first step is a 100% henna and the second is a blend that provides the non-red pigment.<br /><br /><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Step One: </span>Boil bottled water in glass bowl (in the microwave!!!) and put vaseline along hairline and over wrists.<br /><br /><p><img src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs202.snc3/20970_307794706339_764181339_4645847_593302_n.jpg" width="200" align="left" border="0" style="padding:10px;"><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Step Two: </span>Add water to first bag of powder with one egg and mix well with wooden spoon--the egg was recommended by a woman at work to make the mixture "sticker" and less drippy, it's also good for your hair.<br /><br /><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Step Three: </span>Gloop it on in no particular fashion--it's green and smells like strong herbal tea. This step should last 5 to 15 mins but I waited 30 because I know my gray is extra "stubborn"<br /><br /><p><img src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs202.snc3/20970_307819531339_764181339_4645997_1601889_n.jpg" width="200" align="right" border="0" style="padding:10px;"><br /><br /><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Step Four: </span>I knelt next to the tub and rinsed my hair using the shower sprayer. At this point the gray (and my scalp) were orange and I was mildly alarmed.<br /><br /><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Step Five: </span>Boil more water and add it to second bag with another egg. Again, you end up with a lovely green mixture.<br /><br /><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Step Six: </span>Gloop the second mixture on and cover it with the plastic bag provided. Again, I left it on way longer than they recommend, about an hour.<br /><br /><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Step Seven: </span>Rinse again in the tub and once the water runs clear, rinse with diluted Apple Cider Vinegar--a 50/50 solution.<br /><br />The nice thing about henna is that I can reapply it as often as I want. It's semi-permanent, which means it will gradually wash out, although I'm hoping that since I don't use detergent shampoos it will last pretty long, but I'm planning on doing it every 4-6 weeks. It's left my hair soft and silky and I'm really, really happy. Can you tell?<br /><br /><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" border="0"><br /><tr><td width="50%">Before:</td><td width="50%">After:</td></tr><br /><tr><td><img src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs222.snc3/20970_307788756339_764181339_4645828_922625_n.jpg" width="200" border="0"></td><td><img src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs222.snc3/20970_307950281339_764181339_4646379_4656250_n.jpg" border="0" width="200"></td></tr><br /></table>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14630422422148823057noreply@blogger.com0