Henna.

Newsgroups: alt.folklore.herbs
Subject: Re: hair dye
From: ladyelm,aol.com (LadyElm)
Date: 6 Jul 1995 14:51:18 -0400

> I have dyed my hair red with commercial products before, and I'm interested in a new form of hair dye. I need some information on henna, and other herbs that will dye my hair naturally. I'm interested in a dark reddish color, or a dark purple. Thanks.

Most Middle Eastern Grocery stores sell pure henna. I have found that if you mix henna with hot strong tea or coffee (to dilute the orange/redness), egg yolk and honey that your hair will shine brillantly. I have used it for years and people have always complimented me on the shiney healthy hair I have. It is worth a try.. good luck... Lady Elm

From: bj979,yfn.ysu.edu (MG)

I've used henna off and on for years. I get it at the local co-op and mix it with warm olive oil and apply it to my auburn hair. The gray is turned to bright red highlights and the rest becomes a warmer shade of auburn. Silky, thick and rich looking. Always gets compliments. Someone told me they remember names with little memory joggers. Mine is "beautiful hair" Ther are commercial preparations available at beauty outlets that can give a wine color but they have other unnatural ingredients as well. You might like to take a swatch and experiment with black walnut shells, grape juice, or beets mixed with the henna for different shades.....not on your head though...you never know what might happen. The beauty salon however will not quarantee a perm over henna. They say henna coats the hairshaft and protects it so well that the chemicals may not penetrate.

From: jmholder,texas.net (Lori)

> I need some information on henna, and other herbs that will dye my hair naturally.

I've been henna-ing my hair for about 4 years now...I've used commercial chemicals before, and don't like them nearly as much as I like henna. I get mine at Sun Harvest--it's from something Mountain (has pictures of animals on the boxes). They've got several shades, including a burgundy (all of them are 100% henna leaves, I think).

Henna is heat activated. I get the best results by mixing the henna with water, then microwaving it for about 7-10 minutes. I glop it into my hair (usually requires assistance, so all the gals henna together), then sit in the sun for a couple of hours. Cover your head with a plastic bag so the henna doesn't dry out. (This procedure is great to do sitting in someone's backyard pool). Rinse out, then voila, luxo red hair. The color continues to develop over the next few days.

I read the other post about henna, and I have to agree, the henna does coat your hair (it's not so much a "dye" as a "stain" - don't know what the difference is, but that's what my hairdresser said), and it's not a real good idea to perm over it. The advice given to me was that, if you _must_ henna and perm, perm first, then sev. weeks later, henna. This advice was given with the caveat that the henna might relax the perm.

Since henna (unlike most modern hair coloring agents) doesn't rely on you stripping your color out, and does tend to fade over time, unless you have gone much darker than your natural color, you won't have too much of a root problem if you stop doing it. Whew...try to unravel that one... Anyhow, if you discontinue coloring with henna, it usually looks like you got a lot of sun last summer, not like you stopped coloring your hair.