Reader Tiffany says;
Hey Leila, I have a question and wonder if the BGLH community can help me. I have very fine hair and, after doing some research, I think henna might help to thicken up my strands. But I’ve also read that for some women henna doesn’t work well, and even leads to breakage.
I just wanted to ask your readers to share their henna experiences. Did it work for them? And if not, why? Also, are there any tips or tricks for me to keep in mind? Thanks!
Alright ladies! What have your experiences with henna been like?
I’ve tried Henna, I do not have fine hair however, but I loved it. I actually got the Henna from a local Indian Grocery store by my house for $4. The color set really well in my hair, I have only done it once so I cannot talk for long term experiences, however I did not have any breakage or adverse side effects. I would just suggest to sift it first to get it finer so there isn’t a lot left after you rinse it out.
I’ve used henna since I’ve been natural for a year now. First you should make sure that you are using “real henna” and not imitation henna. This type of henna can have chemicals in it and can do some damage to your hair. Go to mehandi.com and the website has tons of information about where henna comes from, FAQ’s etc.. You have to follow the instructions!
It took me awhile to decide if henna was right for me and I have no requests. I have no breakage and henna actually does the opposite making your hair stronger and stopping hair loss, but of course everyone has different results. For those that have breakage, most likely they had breakage before the henna or didn’t use “real henna.”
I love henna and you can learn to add different oils and things to your mix to add natural coloring, increase the color release etc.. For some its time consuming but you have to do what works for you. I have no complaints. You can check out my blog if you want to read about my experience. Good luck
I henna’d for the first time 1 month ago, and hands down, it is the BEST thing I’ve done for my hair since going natural.
My hair is mostly medium to thick density, but I have some areas (in the very front and very back), that are fine. I also LOVE really big hair, so I decided to try henna to thicken my strands. As a 4b, my hair also tends to be very dry, so I’m always looking for ways to retain moisture. Henna seemed perfect for both reasons.
I could immediately tell the difference as soon as I washed the henna mix out and DC’d. My hair was SUPER soft and moisturized, and I’ve been able to cut down on how often I moisturize and seal since I henna’d 1 month ago.
Henna’ing will now be a staple part of my regimen. Don’t be scared- henna is the truth!
I have fine hair and I henna once a month to every few months. It has made my hair thicker and adds a nice sheen to my strands.
Some great henna brands to try (my favs):
Karishma Henna
Reshma Henna
My hair is mostly fine, but thick. I tried henna for the first time about two years ago and did it (stopped this summer) about every 4 months using Jamila from Butters-n-Bars.com. For me…
Pros: lovely color, decent as a conditioning treatment.
Cons: it’s messier than other conditioning treatments that offer similar results, e.g. honey + olive oil, mayo, bentonite clay. You have to be careful not to get it on your clothes/hands.
Decision: I’m just sort of ho-hum regarding henna right now. For strengthening, it’s just OK to me. I would do it again, but only to get that fantastic reddish-brown color.
It’s funny you posted this because I just henna’d my hair for the first time this past weekend. I was a little nervous at first but I got satisfactory results, I only left mines in for about four hours so it didn’t really color my hair, which was good because I like my dark strands! However I noticed the thickening effects and the softness of my hair. I just wish I had of left it in a little longer (maybe slept in it). I liked it enough to definitely do it again….probably over the holiday weekend. note: I mixed mines with a powder called Amla, and it comes in oil form as well this is so that your curl pattern does not get affected by the henna. Good luck and happy henna!
As I type, I have Jamila henna in my hair, lol. I’m keeping it on for 10 hours and I’ll apply my dc after rinsing. I mixed Jamila henna, a couple of splashes of lemon juice, warmed distilled water, 1/2 cup of HE Hello Hydration, and 1 cup of Vo5 Passionfruit Smoothie. I let it sit overnight. Prior to applying, I adding some coconut oil and peppermint oil. So, I’ll see what happens!
I plan to do this once a month. Good luck!
P.S. I have thin to medium, fine hair.
…..By the way I used Jamila and you can usually find it at your local indian grocery store.
I wouldn’t mind doing some Henna but I do hear that if you have some grey hairs,that it won’t adhere and have that part turn orange reddish color. I just dyed mine a midnight blk semi-permanent from Clariol Instincts, and love it.
I have been doing henna since Feb 2010, and I love it. I started out doing it once a week, for like 3-4 months, but the process can be quite tedious, so now I do it once a month. When I first started I was using a mixture of Henna, green tea, and honey, but I think the caffeine and acid combo in the green tea was a little strong for my hair, so it did feel dry and a little brittle, but now I do what is called a Henna gloss. My Henna gloss consist of Henna, coconut milk, conditioner, and honey. OMG!!! I love it and I think my hair loves it even more. Someone suggested that I switch to coconut milk instead of the green tea, and I think that has been a winning combo. I can definitely tell a difference in my hair using the Henna. It’s easier to style, feels stronger, and is definitely thickening up. I haven’t done a treatment in 2 months (been really busy) and I can tell the difference. Here are some tips if considering Henna treatments:
-Be mindful of the type of Henna you are using. Each grade of Henna is different. You want to use what is considered Bridal henna, it’s pure and already sifted. I prefer Jamila 2009, that comes in a foil pouch. I order mine online from http://www.mehandi.com
-For a regular Henna treatment it is best to leave it on overnight, but I leave my Henna gloss on overnight as well. That way it’s like I’m getting my Henna and DC at the same time.
-Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, and Rinse some more. When rinsing out your henna it’s easier to do it over the tub or in a big sink. I usually do this till I can see the water is running clear out my hair. It doesn’t stop there. Then you rinse with conditioner. I usually do the condish/rinse cycle like 3-4 times.
-DC(Deep Condition) After you finish rinsing your hair do a Deep Condition to restore the moisture and softness to your hair. Henna is similar to a protein treatment in that it will make your hair feel dry and brittle if you do not take the steps to restore the moisture. Make sure your DC has ingredients that promote and seal in moisture. Leave it on 30 mins to a hour. Then rinse and go about your usual style routine.
-Make sure you have gloves and have clothes and materials that you don’t mind getting stained, especially in the beginning till you get a routine down. Once I did it without gloves and my hands were stained for 3 weeks.
-My saving grace and where I got most of my info from was Curly Nikki’s website http://www.curlynikki.com there is a lot of useful information there and a section dedicated to just Henna.
Tiffany I say just come on over to the dark side, and try Henna out. Sorry my post is so long. I hope it helps, and good luck!! :o)
I used henna for the first time last weekend and it made my hair color bright and my hair full of volume and sheen. I have thick, coarse hair and was experiencing breakage prior to using it. I haven’t noticed any breakage since using the henna yet. I will definitely use it again next month, though.
I have fine but thick 4a and I am a long time user of Jamila henna. It thickens my hair and leaves it feeling soft and very shiny with no shedding. I mix mine a la Curly Nikki, only using green tea.
i’ve never used henna…im to scared about the curl loosening effects & its not a risk im willing to take right now, even though i hear about its benefits…i like the other ayurvedic treatments ive done though…they make my hair feel soft and strong, so i’m thinking about trying cassia one day since i heard its the same as henna without the color or curl loosening, but you have to do it more often because the results dont last as long
I have been using henna twice a month since August and I have noticed a huge difference in the texture and thickness of my hair. It did loosen the curl a bit but it feels stronger and softer. The first monthly treatment, I mix the henna with indigo to keep my hair color a very rich dark black / brown. The second monthly treatment, I will henna gloss by mixing the henna with a conditioner.
Before I starting using henna, I did my research on the Henna for Hair Forum – http://www.forums.hennapage.com/. I also read about Curly Nikki’s henna experiences – http://www.curlynikki.com/. I follow her method of tub rinsing, so I don’t find it very messy. If you fill your tub with water and then dunk your head, rinsing is very easy. I follow each treatment with a extra moisturising deep conditioner.
I purchase my henna online from Mehandi – http://mehandi.com/. The quality is amazing and I love that you can order kits. They have a variety of hennas, amla and other hair and skin care items.
I love, love, LOVE what henna has done for me!
In fear of just repeating the above comments I want to say that henna is the only thing that kept me from going back to a relaxer. It made my hair super strong, soft, and manageable; and the color is just awesome. Even my permed strands are thick, healthy and gorgeous! If I had discovered henna before going natural I probably never would have. It is such and awesome gift from nature!
Sauleta, I echo the same sentiments! I love being on the dark (henna) side!
And Curly Nikki is hands down the best tour guide for henna PERIOD.
Wow, amazing that henna gets only positive reviews. I used it when I was a teenager (20 years ago LOL) and a couple of times since. To be quite honest I would do it for the color and not for conditioning so I didn’t notice any difference. But now I’m sold and will do it next week LOL.
I have fine (3b/c) hair & I love my henna. I do it about once a month & it really has helped with the thickness of my hair. It also loosens the curl a bit so my hair looks alot fuller. My hair has more spring & bounce to it.
I do not get a mess when applying my henna. I mix it in a blastic bowl & then section my hair & apply the henna with a hair color brush. It goes on easily. I then comb my hair up and around & wrap my head in Saran Wrap before putting on a shower cap & a scarf. I really don’t like to sleep in it b/c I stained a pillow once, so I do it on a day I have nothing else to do & can leave it in for several hours.
My greys turn a pretty coppery color & my hair has a “fiery glow” in the sunlight. I am a color girl & have ALWAYS colored my hair. I decided not to get color once I went natural & was really disliking the dull drab brown of my natural hair color. Henna resolved all that.
Am I the only one who had a bad experience with henna? I did a henna gloss and left it in overnight. For the following few days, my hair was so soft and amazing, but then it started breaking off and has been ever since (4 months). It was definitely dumb of me to leave it in for so long on the first try, but I’ve learnt my lesson.
I love Henna. I henna my hair every two weeks, alternating from a henna gloss to a straight henna paste. I have yet to have any problems with my henna as far as my hair being dry bc I do an extensive DC afterwards.