How to Grow Longer Hair: Easy Tips for All Hair Types
by Phoebe Georgialis
Hair has an overwhelming importance in many cultures. It is seen as a crown of beauty, shaped to create beautiful things, and even adorned with jewels to highlight its magnificence. In Western cultures, hair styles, cuts, and care pervades fashion, style, and even health magazines, all seeking to pump a new product or an adventurous celebrity hair cut. Yet, despite our endless search for the ultimate hair fitness or the perfect hairdo, men and women alike often find their hair in shambles, destroyed from gels, mousses, sprays, heat styling, and bad cuts from over zealous stylists. Before you read another Allure's best article, borage yourself with new drugstore products, or quote the newest celebrity stylist hair tip, here are some myths and truths about hair and hair care. As a trichologist and former cosmetic chemist, I have heard and, unfortunately, seen some of the hair and scalp horror stories. While I champion personal grooming and loving and discovering your hair, brilliant hair care should not come at a risk to your hair or scalp health. Here are some things that you should be know.
Truth # 1 Your Hair is Dead, But Your Scalp and the Hair Follicles that Push From the Scalp are ALIVE Secretly, the most top reputed cosmetic companies will tell you that there is nothing you can do to remedy your hair woes because in reality the hair is dead. And, frankly, this is true if you are using about 98% of the products on the synthetic or non-prescriptive products on the market. Generally, all products are virtually the same, so much that they are created by the same companies and masked under different brands. For example, Estee Lauder is Aveda, Origins and Bumble & Bumble. Loreal is made by the same company as Matrix, Mizani, The Body Shop, Keratese, Garnier, Soft Sheen Carson, Redken, Lancome and Nexxus. This list goes on forever and generally all the products contain the same chemically derived ingredients in a different concentrations. The only difference is the packaging, the fragrance, the chemical dye of the product, or the list of extracts dashed inside. Because many consumers buy frequently off of packaging, they are often duped and run into buying the same products under different names over and over. This causes you to feel that there is nothing that you can do to help your hair, and the message is only hammered home when someone tells you that your hair is dead, your hair cannot repair itself, your hair cannot grow. But, what you must remember is that scalp health and the providing of nutrients to the scalp is critical for healthy tresses. The hair at the scalp root is quite alive. Have you ever pulled a hair from your scalp? It hurts quite a bit because that is hair is hooked to the follicle and is receiving nourishment from the follicle, which is receiving its nourishing from what is applied to the scalp and what you give the body internally. However, if you feed you hair what it needs to thrive, as it sprouts, its health will show. So what can you do?
TIP# 1 Eat for your hair and overall body scalp. I have discovered that patients who are often plagued repeatedly with dry scalp and scalp fungus have anti-inflammatory difficulties and dry skin overall. Introduce moisturizing and anti-inflammatory supplements into your diet, such as Evening Primrose Oil, Flax Seed Oil, Biotin, Olive Oil, Sea Buckthorn Oil, Pantothenic Acid, and Green Tea. I have truly seen tremendous results in patients' hair and scalp shine, texture, health, and moisture within 4 weeks of changing their diet or adding oils rich in essential fatty acids to their daily supplement cocktail. To further increase the health of the hair and scalp, apply oil rich products that are water based to your scalp. Yes, oils have gotten a harsh wrap in hair care, but in many cultures, especially those with luxurious hair, oils are a necessary requirement. As an Indian myself, Amla, Brahmi, Coconut, Neem, and many other oils are in daily application to my hair to maintain its beauty. I personally love Beauty 4 Ashes' Mango Scalp Nourish Hair Cream and their Ayurvedic Scalp Food Cream. These creams are lightweight and very soothing to the scalp, especially if you are not comfortable mixing oils yourself and have trouble styling your hair after the application of the oil. A few of my patients have also documented increased hair fullness after increasing their intake of fruits, oils, and nuts and applying Beauty 4 Ashes' Ayurvedic Scalp Food Cream, which can be found in the UK at mybeauty4ashescom. These products have had quite a success rate in the States at discoverb4acom and also in Canada at myb4acom
Truth # 2 Your Hair Can Grow if You Do Not Cut It I love the versatility of long hair, and many others do as well. But, there is also beauty in a wonderful cut. Yet, many of my patients come to me expressing deep sadness about their hair thickness or length. I often hear them stating that they desire longer hair, but their hair cannot grow and when it does, their stylist cuts it because it has some form of splitting ends or breakage. It often strikes me as absurd. In India, I went years without hair cuts. It was simply braided or just worn. Further, individuals who have dredlocks may cut their hair very infrequently, and may even burn the ends of the hair to create uniformity and neatness, yet their hair still increases length. I desire more than anything to dispel this lie. You hair can grow without frequents trims to it. While it may grow uneven or even have some splitting, this is common because each hair that sprouts from the hair follicle is on its own timeline. Since some sprouted yesterday and some today, of course they will be different lengths and may split. But, since the hair grows from the root, not the end, your hair can grow, even if you do not cut the end.
Tip #2: If you want your hair to see more length, do not cut your hair, instead nourish it gently to prevent as much damage as possible. If you want your hair to grow, and you plan on not trimming it, understand that it may not look celebrity like---perfectly even and shaped. But, it still can have volume, shine, and health. During this time, make sure you moisturize the ends, using something as simple as Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Beeswax, Lanolin Butter, or even natural hair cream. Natural works best for the hair. Because your hair is a part of you, and you work best on natural nutrients, such as vitamins, proteins, oils, nuts, and the like, it is best to give your hair what you would give your body. Make sure you gently comb your hair during this time as well. This will prevent breakage. And, as mentioned above, do not neglect your scalp.
Truth # 3: Chemicals can hurt the hair Natural works best for the hair. Because your hair is a part of you, and you work best on natural nutrients, such as vitamins, proteins, oils, nuts, and the like, it is best to give your hair what you would give your body. Products that contain chemicals can create amazing momentary effects. But, they are only hair bandages that use silicones, polymers, plasticizers, straighteners, softening agents, and chlorides to alter the feel and look of your hair for a very temporary period. For this sweet moment of gratification, you often live with years of hair damage or have to endure chemicals that canb negatively impact your health. A constant scalp condition I encountered due to chemicals is purple and red bumps on the scalp from chemical hair dyes. I also often see thick patches of the scalp from the repeated use of shampoos containing SLS, Behetrimonium Chloride, and ALS. Despite the hoorah about chemicals not being bad, many of the chemicals used in hair care products are derived from petroleum or alcohol. Petroleum is toxic and alcohol is very drying and damaging.
Tip #3 Buy Natural, Change Your Hair Salon quality and great products can be found with all natural products. Of course, be cognizant of semi natural products and those that use parentheses to indicate something is derived from a natural ingredient. 100% natural products are out there. And, if anyone tries to discourage you, and they will (I had a patient tell my that Paula someone wrote about how herbs, fruits, and oils are awful for your hair ---how absurd the things we will believe), just ignore them. As a trichologist, I am personally privy to the reality that over 25% of pharmaceutical products are made of plant compounds. As doctors, we search from cures to the hair, skin, and body from rain forests and then apply for the patent, label it as a drug, and rename the plant so that our consumers are not privy to the plant origins. Trust me, your hair will behave better by using natural products. Aubrey Organics and Beauty 4 Ashes make excellent 100% natural products. If you have specific hair care needs, Beauty 4 Ashes has more variety in its product selection and makes products that are suitable for all hair types.
About the Author
I am a trained trichologist and has studied and successfully completed a recognised Trichology Educational Program. I am a registered member of the International Association of Trichologists.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
How to Color Gray Hair With Henna
How to Color Gray Hair With Henna
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Suzann_Kale]Suzann Kale
Henna doesn't cover gray: It's written on the product box, and it's part of hair-coloring culture. But times have changed. And it's no longer a choice between going gray or using commercial hair dye.
There are two ways to cover gray with henna.
1. Henna kits that are made specifically for gray hair.
2. Using pure, powdered henna in a whole new way.
Henna Kits for Gray
Most henna kits for gray are 2-step processes. Your hair is first coated with a natural, non-toxic preparatory mixture. This helps the gray hair become more receptive to the henna.
There are also pre-mixed cream hennas on the market which will cover gray. Most, however, take 2 or 3 applications before the gray is covered completely. Some products, like Surya Henna Cream, are easier, 1-step processes which claim to cover gray on the first application.
Henna, as you probably know, coats the hair. It doesn't open or rough up the hair shaft like most commercial dyes do. And because gray hair tends to be coarser and slicker than pigmented hair, henna has a tendency to slip off the gray. That's why henna is categorized as a semi-permanent hair color. Even the best henna application washes out a little with each shampoo. And that's why most boxes of 1-step, powdered henna will warn against using it on gray hair.
Pure Powdered Henna
Most henna users are already familiar with this green powder. It comes in a plastic bag (some buy in bulk), and it's made from leaves of the Lawsonia tree. To create different colors, other natural ingredients are added, like walnut or clove.
If you're gray and you want to use pure henna, you can. It's a long process, but it worked for me and I'll never go back to anything else. Light Mountain Henna is good as are many other brands.
Before Beginning
Do a strand test. If you have your hair cut, save a curl to use for the strand test. Otherwise, cut a small bit of hair from underneath or in the back so the cut doesn't show. Hold the hair swatch together with a rubber band, and go through the entire coloring process with this strand. This is important because it's the only way to calculate the leave-in time. Unlike commercial hair dyes, henna varies wildly in how long you'll want to leave it on to achieve your desired color. Timing for coloring gray hair can be from 2 to 6 hours.
Another reason for the strand test: to make sure that the final color is what you want. Henna on gray hair will come out lighter than henna on pigmented hair. Henna on blond hair is unpredictable. The strand test will let you know.
A note on purchasing henna. Read the ingredients carefully before you buy. Make sure there is nothing in the list you don't understand. Any hair color containing PPD (p-Phenylenediamine, sometimes labeled as Paradiaminobenzene, Para-aminoaniline, p-aminoaniline, Paradiaminobenzene or PPDA) is off-limits for health and safety reasons. However, most hennas you find in a reputable health food store will be pure and safe. Hennas purchased over the Internet usually list their ingredients, and I encourage you to read them.
Ready, Set, Go
The first step is to apply a line of emollient on your forehead. This will prevent the henna from staining your face.
Next, mix a brown-based powdered henna in a non-metallic bowl, with just-boiled water. Add a couple of pre-beaten eggs if you like, to help keep the mixture sticky. Slowly add more hot water until the mixture is a smooth, thick paste.
Apply to dry, clean hair, free of styling products, conditioners, spray, or moisturizers. This is a key.
Apply to roots first, as you would with commercial hair dye, but use more product - at least a golf-ball sized dollop of paste each time you part your hair and apply it. Every hair strand must be completely coated with the henna. Use the plastic gloves that are included in the package, and apply with your hands to get the most coverage. Continue to part your hair in 1/4-inch rows, rubbing the henna into the hair, until all the gray is covered.
Yes, the henna will stain the scalp - but it's non-toxic, and will wash off the scalp itself (not the hair) in a shampoo or two.
After the gray is covered with the paste, apply the remaining henna to the rest of your hair if desired.
Cover your head with a plastic cap, and cover the cap with a towel.
Once an hour (or less, if you have a short leave-in time), take off the towel and plastic cap and spritz the henna pack lightly with water. Put the cap back on and manually (but gently) rub the hair to coax the moisture all the way through to the scalp and to make sure each hair strand stays covered with henna. Reapply the towel.
You may want to bake the color in even more, by using a heating cap or hooded hair dryer for 10 minutes each hour.
When the time is up, rinse the henna from your hair in warm (not hot) water. Your hair may be very tangled: that's normal for now. So be gentle - don't rub or tug. Apply a small amount of mild conditioner, like Jason's or Aveda Color Conserve, and rinse it out after about 30 seconds. Do not use shampoo at this point.
For more details and product recommendations, check out [http://www.mymakeupmirror.com/HennaOverGray.html]My Makeup Mirror
How to Keep Your Henna from Fading
Wait at least 2 days before your first shampoo. After that, if you can shampoo every other day instead of every day, that will preserve your new color better. Be sure to use a color-safe shampoo. Some brands to try are Pureology, Aveda, Jason, Arbonne, and Aquage, among many others.
Note: I would not recommend too many styling products. So many of them strip color. But if you have a leave-in conditioner that you know won't take the henna out with it at your next shampoo, go ahead and use it to untangle your hair and protect it from styling heat.
Your new hair color should be gorgeous, shiny, and healthy. Because the henna coats the hair, it makes the hair look thicker. And best of all, you've colored your gray without harming yourself or the environment.
Suzann writes for the website My Makeup Mirror http://www.MyMakeupMirror.com - a potpourri of articles, product reviews, and how-to's on hair, cosmetics, and well-being
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Suzann_Kale http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Color-Gray-Hair-With-Henna&id=519400
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Suzann_Kale]Suzann Kale
Henna doesn't cover gray: It's written on the product box, and it's part of hair-coloring culture. But times have changed. And it's no longer a choice between going gray or using commercial hair dye.
There are two ways to cover gray with henna.
1. Henna kits that are made specifically for gray hair.
2. Using pure, powdered henna in a whole new way.
Henna Kits for Gray
Most henna kits for gray are 2-step processes. Your hair is first coated with a natural, non-toxic preparatory mixture. This helps the gray hair become more receptive to the henna.
There are also pre-mixed cream hennas on the market which will cover gray. Most, however, take 2 or 3 applications before the gray is covered completely. Some products, like Surya Henna Cream, are easier, 1-step processes which claim to cover gray on the first application.
Henna, as you probably know, coats the hair. It doesn't open or rough up the hair shaft like most commercial dyes do. And because gray hair tends to be coarser and slicker than pigmented hair, henna has a tendency to slip off the gray. That's why henna is categorized as a semi-permanent hair color. Even the best henna application washes out a little with each shampoo. And that's why most boxes of 1-step, powdered henna will warn against using it on gray hair.
Pure Powdered Henna
Most henna users are already familiar with this green powder. It comes in a plastic bag (some buy in bulk), and it's made from leaves of the Lawsonia tree. To create different colors, other natural ingredients are added, like walnut or clove.
If you're gray and you want to use pure henna, you can. It's a long process, but it worked for me and I'll never go back to anything else. Light Mountain Henna is good as are many other brands.
Before Beginning
Do a strand test. If you have your hair cut, save a curl to use for the strand test. Otherwise, cut a small bit of hair from underneath or in the back so the cut doesn't show. Hold the hair swatch together with a rubber band, and go through the entire coloring process with this strand. This is important because it's the only way to calculate the leave-in time. Unlike commercial hair dyes, henna varies wildly in how long you'll want to leave it on to achieve your desired color. Timing for coloring gray hair can be from 2 to 6 hours.
Another reason for the strand test: to make sure that the final color is what you want. Henna on gray hair will come out lighter than henna on pigmented hair. Henna on blond hair is unpredictable. The strand test will let you know.
A note on purchasing henna. Read the ingredients carefully before you buy. Make sure there is nothing in the list you don't understand. Any hair color containing PPD (p-Phenylenediamine, sometimes labeled as Paradiaminobenzene, Para-aminoaniline, p-aminoaniline, Paradiaminobenzene or PPDA) is off-limits for health and safety reasons. However, most hennas you find in a reputable health food store will be pure and safe. Hennas purchased over the Internet usually list their ingredients, and I encourage you to read them.
Ready, Set, Go
The first step is to apply a line of emollient on your forehead. This will prevent the henna from staining your face.
Next, mix a brown-based powdered henna in a non-metallic bowl, with just-boiled water. Add a couple of pre-beaten eggs if you like, to help keep the mixture sticky. Slowly add more hot water until the mixture is a smooth, thick paste.
Apply to dry, clean hair, free of styling products, conditioners, spray, or moisturizers. This is a key.
Apply to roots first, as you would with commercial hair dye, but use more product - at least a golf-ball sized dollop of paste each time you part your hair and apply it. Every hair strand must be completely coated with the henna. Use the plastic gloves that are included in the package, and apply with your hands to get the most coverage. Continue to part your hair in 1/4-inch rows, rubbing the henna into the hair, until all the gray is covered.
Yes, the henna will stain the scalp - but it's non-toxic, and will wash off the scalp itself (not the hair) in a shampoo or two.
After the gray is covered with the paste, apply the remaining henna to the rest of your hair if desired.
Cover your head with a plastic cap, and cover the cap with a towel.
Once an hour (or less, if you have a short leave-in time), take off the towel and plastic cap and spritz the henna pack lightly with water. Put the cap back on and manually (but gently) rub the hair to coax the moisture all the way through to the scalp and to make sure each hair strand stays covered with henna. Reapply the towel.
You may want to bake the color in even more, by using a heating cap or hooded hair dryer for 10 minutes each hour.
When the time is up, rinse the henna from your hair in warm (not hot) water. Your hair may be very tangled: that's normal for now. So be gentle - don't rub or tug. Apply a small amount of mild conditioner, like Jason's or Aveda Color Conserve, and rinse it out after about 30 seconds. Do not use shampoo at this point.
For more details and product recommendations, check out [http://www.mymakeupmirror.com/HennaOverGray.html]My Makeup Mirror
How to Keep Your Henna from Fading
Wait at least 2 days before your first shampoo. After that, if you can shampoo every other day instead of every day, that will preserve your new color better. Be sure to use a color-safe shampoo. Some brands to try are Pureology, Aveda, Jason, Arbonne, and Aquage, among many others.
Note: I would not recommend too many styling products. So many of them strip color. But if you have a leave-in conditioner that you know won't take the henna out with it at your next shampoo, go ahead and use it to untangle your hair and protect it from styling heat.
Your new hair color should be gorgeous, shiny, and healthy. Because the henna coats the hair, it makes the hair look thicker. And best of all, you've colored your gray without harming yourself or the environment.
Suzann writes for the website My Makeup Mirror http://www.MyMakeupMirror.com - a potpourri of articles, product reviews, and how-to's on hair, cosmetics, and well-being
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Suzann_Kale http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Color-Gray-Hair-With-Henna&id=519400
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Gray Hair With Henna
Gray Hair With Henna
by Roger james
Henna doesn't cover gray: It's written on the product box, and it's part of hair-coloring culture. But times have changed. And it's no longer a choice between going gray or using commercial hair dye.
There are two ways to cover gray with henna.
1. Henna kits that are made specifically for gray hair.
2. Using pure, powdered henna in a whole new way.
Henna Kits for Gray
Most henna kits for gray are 2-step processes. Your hair is first coated with a natural, non-toxic preparatory mixture. This helps the gray hair become more receptive to the henna.
There are also pre-mixed cream hennas on the market which will cover gray. Most, however, take 2 or 3 applications before the gray is covered completely. Some products, like Surya Henna Cream, are easier, 1-step processes which claim to cover gray on the first application.
Henna, as you probably know, coats the hair. It doesn't open or rough up the hair shaft like most commercial dyes do. And because gray hair tends to be coarser and slicker than pigmented hair, henna has a tendency to slip off the gray. That's why henna is categorized as a semi-permanent hair color. Even the best henna application washes out a little with each shampoo. And that's why most boxes of 1-step, powdered henna will warn against using it on gray hair.
Pure Powdered Henna
Most henna users are already familiar with this green powder. It comes in a plastic bag (some buy in bulk), and it's made from leaves of the Lawsonia tree. To create different colors, other natural ingredients are added, like walnut or clove.
If you're gray and you want to use pure henna, you can. It's a long process, but it worked for me and I'll never go back to anything else. Light Mountain Henna is good as are many other brands.
Before Beginning
Do a strand test. If you have your hair cut, save a curl to use for the strand test. Otherwise, cut a small bit of hair from underneath or in the back so the cut doesn't show. Hold the hair swatch together with a rubber band, and go through the entire coloring process with this strand. This is important because it's the only way to calculate the leave-in time. Unlike commercial hair dyes, henna varies wildly in how long you'll want to leave it on to achieve your desired color. Timing for coloring gray hair can be from 2 to 6 hours.
Another reason for the strand test: to make sure that the final color is what you want. Henna on gray hair will come out lighter than henna on pigmented hair. Henna on blond hair is unpredictable. The strand test will let you know.
A note on purchasing henna. Read the ingredients carefully before you buy. Make sure there is nothing in the list you don't understand. Any hair color containing PPD (p-Phenylenediamine, sometimes labeled as Paradiaminobenzene, Para-aminoaniline, p-aminoaniline, Paradiaminobenzene or PPDA) is off-limits for health and safety reasons. However, most hennas you find in a reputable health food store will be pure and safe. Hennas purchased over the Internet usually list their ingredients, and I encourage you to read them.
Ready, Set, Go
* The first step is to apply a line of emollient on your forehead. This will prevent the henna from staining your face. * Next, mix a brown-based powdered henna in a non-metallic bowl, with just-boiled water. Add a couple of pre-beaten eggs if you like, to help keep the mixture sticky. Slowly add more hot water until the mixture is a smooth, thick paste. * Apply to dry, clean hair, free of styling products, conditioners, spray, or moisturizers. This is a key. * Apply to roots first, as you would with commercial hair dye, but use more product - at least a golf-ball sized dollop of paste each time you part your hair and apply it. Every hair strand must be completely coated with the henna. Use the plastic gloves that are included in the package, and apply with your hands to get the most coverage. Continue to part your hair in 1/4-inch rows, rubbing the henna into the hair, until all the gray is covered. * Yes, the henna will stain the scalp - but it's non-toxic, and will wash off the scalp itself (not the hair) in a shampoo or two. * After the gray is covered with the paste, apply the remaining henna to the rest of your hair if desired. * Cover your head with a plastic cap, and cover the cap with a towel. * Once an hour (or less, if you have a short leave-in time), take off the towel and plastic cap and spritz the henna pack lightly with water. Put the cap back on and manually (but gently) rub the hair to coax the moisture all the way through to the scalp and to make sure each hair strand stays covered with henna. Reapply the towel. * You may want to bake the color in even more, by using a heating cap or hooded hair dryer for 10 minutes each hour. * When the time is up, rinse the henna from your hair in warm (not hot) water. Your hair may be very tangled: that's normal for now. So be gentle - don't rub or tug. Apply a small amount of mild conditioner, like Jason's or Aveda Color Conserve, and rinse it out after about 30 seconds. Do not use shampoo at this point.
For more details and product recommendations, check out My Makeup Mirror
How to Keep Your Henna from Fading
Wait at least 2 days before your first shampoo. After that, if you can shampoo every other day instead of every day, that will preserve your new color better. Be sure to use a color-safe shampoo. Some brands to try are Pureology, Aveda, Jason, Arbonne, and Aquage, among many others.
Note: I would not recommend too many styling products. So many of them strip color. But if you have a leave-in conditioner that you know won't take the henna out with it at your next shampoo, go ahead and use it to untangle your hair and protect it from styling heat.
Your new hair color should be gorgeous, shiny, and healthy. Because the henna coats the hair, it makes the hair look thicker. And best of all, you've colored your gray without harming yourself or the environment.
About the Author
Read About Hair Loss Also Read About Hair Color And Beautiful Hair
by Roger james
Henna doesn't cover gray: It's written on the product box, and it's part of hair-coloring culture. But times have changed. And it's no longer a choice between going gray or using commercial hair dye.
There are two ways to cover gray with henna.
1. Henna kits that are made specifically for gray hair.
2. Using pure, powdered henna in a whole new way.
Henna Kits for Gray
Most henna kits for gray are 2-step processes. Your hair is first coated with a natural, non-toxic preparatory mixture. This helps the gray hair become more receptive to the henna.
There are also pre-mixed cream hennas on the market which will cover gray. Most, however, take 2 or 3 applications before the gray is covered completely. Some products, like Surya Henna Cream, are easier, 1-step processes which claim to cover gray on the first application.
Henna, as you probably know, coats the hair. It doesn't open or rough up the hair shaft like most commercial dyes do. And because gray hair tends to be coarser and slicker than pigmented hair, henna has a tendency to slip off the gray. That's why henna is categorized as a semi-permanent hair color. Even the best henna application washes out a little with each shampoo. And that's why most boxes of 1-step, powdered henna will warn against using it on gray hair.
Pure Powdered Henna
Most henna users are already familiar with this green powder. It comes in a plastic bag (some buy in bulk), and it's made from leaves of the Lawsonia tree. To create different colors, other natural ingredients are added, like walnut or clove.
If you're gray and you want to use pure henna, you can. It's a long process, but it worked for me and I'll never go back to anything else. Light Mountain Henna is good as are many other brands.
Before Beginning
Do a strand test. If you have your hair cut, save a curl to use for the strand test. Otherwise, cut a small bit of hair from underneath or in the back so the cut doesn't show. Hold the hair swatch together with a rubber band, and go through the entire coloring process with this strand. This is important because it's the only way to calculate the leave-in time. Unlike commercial hair dyes, henna varies wildly in how long you'll want to leave it on to achieve your desired color. Timing for coloring gray hair can be from 2 to 6 hours.
Another reason for the strand test: to make sure that the final color is what you want. Henna on gray hair will come out lighter than henna on pigmented hair. Henna on blond hair is unpredictable. The strand test will let you know.
A note on purchasing henna. Read the ingredients carefully before you buy. Make sure there is nothing in the list you don't understand. Any hair color containing PPD (p-Phenylenediamine, sometimes labeled as Paradiaminobenzene, Para-aminoaniline, p-aminoaniline, Paradiaminobenzene or PPDA) is off-limits for health and safety reasons. However, most hennas you find in a reputable health food store will be pure and safe. Hennas purchased over the Internet usually list their ingredients, and I encourage you to read them.
Ready, Set, Go
* The first step is to apply a line of emollient on your forehead. This will prevent the henna from staining your face. * Next, mix a brown-based powdered henna in a non-metallic bowl, with just-boiled water. Add a couple of pre-beaten eggs if you like, to help keep the mixture sticky. Slowly add more hot water until the mixture is a smooth, thick paste. * Apply to dry, clean hair, free of styling products, conditioners, spray, or moisturizers. This is a key. * Apply to roots first, as you would with commercial hair dye, but use more product - at least a golf-ball sized dollop of paste each time you part your hair and apply it. Every hair strand must be completely coated with the henna. Use the plastic gloves that are included in the package, and apply with your hands to get the most coverage. Continue to part your hair in 1/4-inch rows, rubbing the henna into the hair, until all the gray is covered. * Yes, the henna will stain the scalp - but it's non-toxic, and will wash off the scalp itself (not the hair) in a shampoo or two. * After the gray is covered with the paste, apply the remaining henna to the rest of your hair if desired. * Cover your head with a plastic cap, and cover the cap with a towel. * Once an hour (or less, if you have a short leave-in time), take off the towel and plastic cap and spritz the henna pack lightly with water. Put the cap back on and manually (but gently) rub the hair to coax the moisture all the way through to the scalp and to make sure each hair strand stays covered with henna. Reapply the towel. * You may want to bake the color in even more, by using a heating cap or hooded hair dryer for 10 minutes each hour. * When the time is up, rinse the henna from your hair in warm (not hot) water. Your hair may be very tangled: that's normal for now. So be gentle - don't rub or tug. Apply a small amount of mild conditioner, like Jason's or Aveda Color Conserve, and rinse it out after about 30 seconds. Do not use shampoo at this point.
For more details and product recommendations, check out My Makeup Mirror
How to Keep Your Henna from Fading
Wait at least 2 days before your first shampoo. After that, if you can shampoo every other day instead of every day, that will preserve your new color better. Be sure to use a color-safe shampoo. Some brands to try are Pureology, Aveda, Jason, Arbonne, and Aquage, among many others.
Note: I would not recommend too many styling products. So many of them strip color. But if you have a leave-in conditioner that you know won't take the henna out with it at your next shampoo, go ahead and use it to untangle your hair and protect it from styling heat.
Your new hair color should be gorgeous, shiny, and healthy. Because the henna coats the hair, it makes the hair look thicker. And best of all, you've colored your gray without harming yourself or the environment.
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Read About Hair Loss Also Read About Hair Color And Beautiful Hair
THE BEST HAIR PRODUCTS: AQUAGE
THE BEST HAIR PRODUCTS: AQUAGE
by HAIRPRODUCTS
Thoughts of water and nature bring up the name of Aquage. The Aquage Hair Care System lives up to it's name by bringing the benefits of the finest botanicals to your hair.
Aquage is packed with the goodness of the sea. Select blends of seaweed, kelp, and beneficial algae provide your hair with a feast of nutrients designed to strengthen and protect, moisturize and nourish your delicate hair.
After you shampoo, use a cream rinse such as Aquage Healing Conditioner. This conditioner is made to go deep into each of the hair shafts to deliver sea botanicals that help smooth the hair cuticles, while increasing moisture retention and leaving your hair stronger than ever.
Aquage Color Protecting Seal-In Treatment locks in your color, while it's ultra-violet B absorbers helps protect your hair from the effects of the sun. This leave-in formula protects without leaving a heavy residue, so hair's color can shine all day.
Aquage Transforming Paste is terrific for achieving that look in short layered cuts.A little on your finger tips and pull sections of hair from the roots outward and pat into place.
Hold your style in place with Aquage Freezing Spray. this spray locks in moisture while locking out humidity, so your hair won't frizz. This is great if you live somewhere with very high humidity.
Does your hair deserve the very best nourishment the sea has to offer? Do you want the shine and manageability that only the purist botanicals can provide you? Then give Aquage a try.
About the Author
CLICK HERE FOR SUPER DEALS
by HAIRPRODUCTS
Thoughts of water and nature bring up the name of Aquage. The Aquage Hair Care System lives up to it's name by bringing the benefits of the finest botanicals to your hair.
Aquage is packed with the goodness of the sea. Select blends of seaweed, kelp, and beneficial algae provide your hair with a feast of nutrients designed to strengthen and protect, moisturize and nourish your delicate hair.
After you shampoo, use a cream rinse such as Aquage Healing Conditioner. This conditioner is made to go deep into each of the hair shafts to deliver sea botanicals that help smooth the hair cuticles, while increasing moisture retention and leaving your hair stronger than ever.
Aquage Color Protecting Seal-In Treatment locks in your color, while it's ultra-violet B absorbers helps protect your hair from the effects of the sun. This leave-in formula protects without leaving a heavy residue, so hair's color can shine all day.
Aquage Transforming Paste is terrific for achieving that look in short layered cuts.A little on your finger tips and pull sections of hair from the roots outward and pat into place.
Hold your style in place with Aquage Freezing Spray. this spray locks in moisture while locking out humidity, so your hair won't frizz. This is great if you live somewhere with very high humidity.
Does your hair deserve the very best nourishment the sea has to offer? Do you want the shine and manageability that only the purist botanicals can provide you? Then give Aquage a try.
About the Author
CLICK HERE FOR SUPER DEALS
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