Re: Grey coverage a 2 step process?

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

Posted by Diane on March 29, 2004 at 16:32:51:

In reply to: Grey coverage a 2 step process? posted by Kathleen on March 28, 2004 at 00:11:40:

Hello!
Just thought I would share what I have learned from my harvested hair
testing.
I'm a natural redhead and covering my few beginning greys is my main
priority, but I have also had to fiddle a lot with the mixes to get a
colour I could live with. Even though henna can't lighten hair it
certainly in my case brightens the colour a lot, sometimes to a very
unflattering orange.
I found that any mixes I used with lemon juice at all came out much
too bright and orangey. I know we're supposed to use something acidic
to release the dye, but maybe due to the high quality of the body art
henna or perhaps hair just needs less overall dye release to stain
well, I don't know, I have found no problem with dye release
sufficient to deeply stain my hair without using lemon.

A deep red wine (Merlot) obviously acidic as well, gave me the
darkest, more brown than orange colour. Merlot and cloves came up
much redder.

Strong black coffee on its own (don't know the acidity) also gave a
deeper browny-red.

But my favourite result so far came from strong hot black tea on its
own which came up a deep coppery red. I wouldn't think of tea as
acidic (maybe it is?) but it released dye from the henna no problem.

All mixes I left from between 12 and 24 hours so I have to say I
would disagree with Pierre, the longer I left the henna the more dye
release I saw. Usually at almost 24 hours old as I was going to throw
out the used mix I would see A LOT of dye on the surface. So I would
say the longer the better.

I found that to get the colour I prefer, and with my hair type, less
than an hour in the mix was about right. However, samples I left for
8 hours had a MUCH deeper colour so if you're trying for a really
deep stain, leave your hair in 8 hrs or overnight just to see. (how
realistic that might be when on your head I don't know!) And Last but
not least I have just started "re-hennaing" my samples, they do
become deeper with subsequent applications. I think thats the key to
covering grey in the long run.

just some ideas based on my very limited experience!

Follow Ups

Re: Grey coverage a 2 step process? jan 06:18:59 4/5/2004 (0)
Yep, tea is acidic (as far as I know) (n/t) Alison 21:04:11 3/29/2004 (1)
- Re: Yep, tea is acidic (as far as I know) (n/t) Diane 14:49:05 3/31/2004 (0)
Re: Grey coverage a 2 step process? Pierre 18:06:54 3/29/2004 (0)

Post Followup

Name:
E-Mail:
Subject:
: Hello! : Just thought I would share what I have learned from my harvested hair : testing. : I'm a natural redhead and covering my few beginning greys is my main : priority, but I have also had to fiddle a lot with the mixes to get a : colour I could live with. Even though henna can't lighten hair it : certainly in my case brightens the colour a lot, sometimes to a very : unflattering orange. : I found that any mixes I used with lemon juice at all came out much : too bright and orangey. I know we're supposed to use something acidic : to release the dye, but maybe due to the high quality of the body art : henna or perhaps hair just needs less overall dye release to stain : well, I don't know, I have found no problem with dye release : sufficient to deeply stain my hair without using lemon. : : A deep red wine (Merlot) obviously acidic as well, gave me the : darkest, more brown than orange colour. Merlot and cloves came up : much redder. : : Strong black coffee on its own (don't know the acidity) also gave a : deeper browny-red. : : But my favourite result so far came from strong hot black tea on its : own which came up a deep coppery red. I wouldn't think of tea as : acidic (maybe it is?) but it released dye from the henna no problem. : : All mixes I left from between 12 and 24 hours so I have to say I : would disagree with Pierre, the longer I left the henna the more dye : release I saw. Usually at almost 24 hours old as I was going to throw : out the used mix I would see A LOT of dye on the surface. So I would : say the longer the better. : : I found that to get the colour I prefer, and with my hair type, less : than an hour in the mix was about right. However, samples I left for : 8 hours had a MUCH deeper colour so if you're trying for a really : deep stain, leave your hair in 8 hrs or overnight just to see. (how : realistic that might be when on your head I don't know!) And Last but : not least I have just started "re-hennaing" my samples, they do : become deeper with subsequent applications. I think thats the key to : covering grey in the long run. : : just some ideas based on my very limited experience!
Optional link URL:
Link title:
Optional image URL: