Henna - tell me more...?

This website gives good info on Henna
http://www.hennaforhair.com/mixes/

Why should you not use henna on hair with semi perm dyes?

DJ - henna reacts quite badly with any chemicals as is has metals in it.

Never use henna if you can avoid it please do.

Henna is very healthy, why would you say to avoid it?? You use it in its natural state, you do not mix it with chemicals or anything. I do henna tattoos all the time. I have not used it on my hair before but it is all natural which means it is much better for your hair.

http://thebeautybrains.com/2008/04/01/henna-and-other-natural-plant-hair-dyes/

I wrote my feelings below but am always learning...here is another website that discusses henna stuff...
cheers!

Please note: I am just learning & definately ask a pro for extra knowledge & I will post as I find my notes or see more info
In relation to Hair:
I have read on other forums on how it has destroyed peoples hair/ Not discussing the "tatoo" which I wish to try & the hair (which I almost tried ages ago but didn't)...

Here is a part of an forum message by pro's whom have seen hair damaged by henna or in another discussion....

by Disclord

Some "all natural" haircolor companies produce "Henna" that may contain Lead or other metallics - these are so-called "Compound Henna's" - Like metallic dyes, Henna is a nasty product.

Henna coat's and truly penetraits the hair so it prevents all reactive chemicals from doing anything. It physically bonds with the cuticle and keratin in the hair, so it's mighty hard to remove too. And, most henna really isn't.

True henna only comes in one shade - a reddish-brown - all other shades are modified with other ingredients somewhat. Anyway, it can be drying to the hair and since it coats it so heavily, it prevents moisture from moving in and out of the hair naturally.

If someone wants a henna 'look', it can be easily duplicated with an auburn tint and 5-10 volume developer. There is no reason to use henna in a pro setting - hopefully, no one ever does!

*So for me personally I feel it is a risk for my hair that I do not wish to take.  I would rather have the options of the rainbow then be stuck with something that may make my hair turn into frizzy mess if I ever try to modify it*

The "chemistry" of it bonding vs. being able to have gentle dyes that are offered here.

I have read good things about henna but am still curious myself. I believe that all natural henna is far better for your hair then unnatural chemicals.  This is simply my opinion.  I have found that using chemical dyes for extensive periods of time, damages hair dramatically.  I am also a more natural person.  I do know for a fact that henna is not going to dry hair out.  Your skin can react to it so, your supposed to do some skin test before you dye your hair with it.  Any salon will tell you that henna is damaging because, henna is not going to give people the "barbie doll perfect" hair and tends to not last as long as most chemical dyes.

http://www.hennaforhair.com/science/

I've just posted this link for WiccaChic in another thread. This explains all about the contents of henna hair dye. Henna is very safe as long as it's in it's most natural form. The problem is when people add chemicals to either prolong the shelf life or change the colour. These additives can cause severe allergic reactions, mostly chemical burns. In the countries where these products are made the additives are not regulated as well as they are here. It's not illegal to bring these products into the country but there are often no ingredients mentioned on the packets so you don't know exactly what you're putting on your head.

I would never use it after doing just a little research on the subject. But I'm sure there are some great henna products out there, just be careful what you buy and make sure you test it on your skin before applying it to your entire scalp. Chemical burns aren't something that heal very quickly.

http://www.hennaforhair.com/science/

I've just posted this link for WiccaChic in another thread. This explains all about the contents of henna hair dye. Henna is very safe as long as it's in it's most natural form. The problem is when people add chemicals to either prolong the shelf life or change the colour. These additives can cause severe allergic reactions, mostly chemical burns. In the countries where these products are made the additives are not regulated as well as they are here. It's not illegal to bring these products into the country but there are often no ingredients mentioned on the packets so you don't know exactly what you're putting on your head.

I would never use it after doing just a little research on the subject. But I'm sure there are some great henna products out there, just be careful what you buy and make sure you test it on your skin before applying it to your entire scalp. Chemical burns aren't something that heal very quickly.

Mathurine here is correct. There are many brands of henna dye which are sold cheaply and contain metallic compounds and other additives that can damage the hair and scalp very badly, leading many to believe that all henna is bad henna. This is not strictly true, as when henna is used in its purer form, without any additives, it doesn't damage the hair as the cheaper henna dyes do, and will produce the reddish tone without harming the scalp. Good henna is safe to use on the hair, but people do need to educate themselves about the sub-standard products that are out there and learn to avoid them in favour of using higher quality products. Henna sold in shops that claims to be "herbal" or to turn your hair any colour other than red is generally not to be trusted. What you need here is 100% pure henna which does not contain any metallic salts and is mixed into a green paste.

Some websites which may help you are these:

http://www.hennaforhair.com/
http://www.henna-boy.co.uk/shop/pakistani-jamilla-henna-powder/cat_20.php

I have a friend who has been dyeing her hair with pure henna for years and is somewhat of an authority on it, everything I know I've been linked to and learnt through her. The reason most hairdressers warn people to stay away from henna is because they usually encounter people who use the cheap dyes from Indian grocers which contain the awful compounds that damage the hair and make it dangerous to put bleach or normal dyes over the hair, rather that people who are properly educated about using pure henna. If you use pure henna to dye your hair and are careful about where you source your ingredients from (my friend only ever purchases from henna-boy) it should be fine.

Henna Compound Dyes
The henna compound dyes are mixtures of metallic salts with organic intermediates such as pyrogallol. The colors achieved with these com­pounds are more natural looking than those obtained with the metal salts alone, but no lightening of the hair is possible and they fade easily. They are discolored by cold wave permanents, and hair treated with these compounds cannot be bleached or dyed until the metallic salts have been removed. [removing metallic salts] good luck with that!

Red Henna comes from the Dried leaves of the Privet [lawsonia alba] grown in Asia and northern Africa.

Natural henna comes from the crushed root.

Natural henna is sometimes mixed with compounds of Metallic salts to produce a range of different colours. Hair coloured with Metallic salt henna cannot and should not be coloured with any other products including Hydrogen Peroxide.

Warning :

If unsure do a strand test,[ Strong discoloration,an unpleasant smell. no colour change, uneven results down hair shaft, in some case applying permanent colour over    the top of Metallic salts can cause a high heat reaction!]

Henna can make appear shinny with more body and natural red hues depending on natural base level!

Henna Can over time build up on hair make it brittle it is not possible to chemically remove henna.
{Again before attempting any new colour strand testis essential!}

Mike B2MR
long term use of even pure henna as stain builds up on hair suffocates the cuticle  can make hair brittle rather caustic feeling it cannot be removed or coloured over with any chemical service.
It makes the hair look healthy because of the light reflecting back off it!

When I was 16 I used natural henna on my bleached blonde hair, and ended up with some gorgeous orange streaks ^____^ . As far as I'm aware it was pure natural henna as my hair was fine afterwards and I also dyed over the top of it a couple of weeks later with bleach and a purple dye.

Came in a box, bag of green powder, absolutely fabulous for Henna Tattoos =D . Anyone wanting to use it for tattoos, red wine makes the colour deeper and lasts longer <3

in a nut shell pure henna will colour your hair a red orange depending on natural level it cannot be removed with any other product. once in your hair it will effect the colour of anything else applied. It is not safe or recommended  to apply any other chemical process over henna inc Bleach . In some case if not pure Henna a heat reaction occur that cause burning or hair to dissolve.  henna cover the shaft of hair coating it in a layer it suffocates the cuticle. you are playing a dangerous game mixing henna with bleach or permanent colour Mike B2MR

I guess I was just very lucky then  8) . Though I have also seen other people use it on their hair as well as colouring with box dye and it was fine afterwards.

Henna is a natural stain, so in a ways, just like hair dye 😛 only it's made from a mashed up leaf/root, instead of loads of toxic chemicals.