new thread
Well as you can read from my subject line I used this very rainy day he in the eastern US to do a full Henna treatment to my mane.Some of you may recall back in May I tried Cassia which looked great initially but the nice effect seemed to wear off after awhile.The Cassia did not color my hair but conditioned it.So after hearing what other guys said about Henna I figured why not.You only go around once in life.So in this post is my after Henna pic.My followup post will be what my hair looked like before.Opinions are always welcome whether good or bad but just be gentle that's all:)Cheers
Mark
Another after Henna pic:)
I think the color compliments your skin tone...When I use full strength henna it never leaves it red, Like they mention in the henna page everyone's hair is different--If after it oxidizes and u still find a bit too reddish mix it with buxus next time it will darken it significantly-And yea it's amazing how a simple plant can dye those grey hairs lol...In fact, I need to do a treatment soon because I've been letting go for too long now--Been too busy and lazy because it is a messy chore...However, I love it that it's completely natural and no chemicals...
Another after Henna pic:)
Yes, I find this natural product very amazing but I agree the application is not too pretty!LOL.I was getting a stiff neck with all that weight on my head.About how often do you need to do a retreatment?I have plenty for another treatment or two.I feel the results with Henna was better than the Cassia I used the first time.
Mark- it's up to you-you can do treatments every week biweekly, 3,6,9 months whatever you like-Usually the rule of thumb is when you start to see lots of grey growing out again which is usually a month or two...I usually do the roots about three times in a row and then a full treatment again the fourth time...there is no set time in between applications. That's the beauty of henna. However, since this is your first treatment, I would probably do another full henna application as to make sure you got all your hair covered...And, like I mentioned if it's to bright you can mix it with other natural dyes and your second application will be a bit darker...I would probably stay away from Indigo because it will darken it significantly...But just play with it and enjoy it...The best part is that the more often you use henna the better your hair becomes...I've been using henna for 4 years now...
Thank you so much dee for this info as I will keep a copy of it on hand.At first my thought was maybe I should have darkened the Henna a bit with another natural dye but in a way I think the color is rather beautiful.I never would have imagined one day my hair would be this color.On rare occasions I have seen longhaired guys with my hair color and figured it was their natural color.I always thought the color looked gorgeous on a long mane:)Anyway thanks for the additional information as I'm thinking of doing another full treatment next month.After that I can incorporate the routine you mentioned.Now using Henna, I don't think I will need to condition my hair like I used to.Have a great week dee and stay in touch:)Cheers
Mark
Hey there Hairball, the color may not match your goatee anymore but I must say your hair looks fantastic. Nicely done. :)
Thank you for your opinion:)Yes there is a little contrast there as I'm sure it will keep people guessing.lol.Cheers my friend.
Mark
The before Henna pic.
Whoa! It really did thicken your hair! I am amazed at the results. I can't say I'm crazy about the color, but my opinion is based on the "would I do that?" scale - it does look good and the results outweigh any feelings I may have about the coloring.
What have been the reactions of friends/family/co-workers?
I say great job!
Dan
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Hi Dan,
Yea I know my new hair color may be shocking to some but it's actually grown on me:)I find the new color exciting from what it was originally.As you can see in my before pic my hair looks grayish on the top while the length still retained my natural color.I don't know but my before hair was disappointing me some.It just boils down to the fact I'm getting older.So far I have no reports on any reactions at work mainly because I keep my hair up in a hat for safety so no one can see it.Family and friends have yet to see my deed yet;)Cheers my friend.
Mark
Mark, i told you thati had bought henna at a Indian market here in Tampa, I have been researching that shade you used and mine is also the same shade. i have read that sometimes gray hairs can turn really orange,you didn't seem to have that happen to you, i have alot of white hair, have you read anything about me having any problems like that? sincerely James / Tampa,Fl
Hey Mark =the color looks great! It will oxidize for almost two weeks therefore if it's too bright for you it will mellow out.
Hi dee,after I washed out the Henna I admit being taken aback by the redness in my center part.My hair was still very wet so I knew the real surprise would be when it fully dried.It's amazing how it wiped out all those gray hairs near the top of my head.Now the only gray remains in my facial hair.lol.Actually I really like the new look:)I used my Henna full strength not cutting it with anything other than the apple juice to make it pasty.I'm glad you like it:)
Mark
It looks good, but you know its permanent, i got the same product from an Indian grocery here in Tampa,fl but im waiting till my hair get to lower back. keep up the good work James/Tampa,Fl
Yes, I am aware the decision to use Henna would be permanent but I wasn't liking how my hair was beforehand and I heard enough positives to take a chance.I admit the first time I saw the brightness of the red was startling but now I'm really liking it:)Cheers.
Mark
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That henna treatment made your hair look a lot fuller and thicker, Mark. :-} How long did it take to do? (I have heard it takes hours to do. I have also heard it makes hair soft and manageable.) I wonder how well it works on facial hair? My beard needs some kind of deep conditioning treatment. Maybe henna would help.
Scott
Hi Scott,
I noticed that myself regarding the fullness but I did not oil my hair so that's probably the reason.Whenever I oil my hair it does make my hair look flatter which is one of the drawbacks I suppose.I wore the Henna around four hours before washing it out.It does give my hair a softer feel which I do like:)Not sure how well it would work on facial hair though.Thanks for your feedback Scott.Cheers my friend
Mark
Hi Mark
your hair has certainly got an even tone now, and suits you just fine, I have heard that the colour fades a little in the first couple of weeks but nothing too drastic.
You seem to be one of the lucky guys where a lot of colours suit you.....as i did like your "before" picture too.
Thanks for the update...inspirational stuff for us all........and enjoy your new look to the max!
Scott
Hi Scott,
Thank you for your reply my friend.It'll be interesting how the treatment will look over time and then I will know how often it will be for another treatment.Personally I like how my hair is all one color instead of a mixture of my old natural color with gray/white.I just felt I wanted to do this after hearing how others fared doing it.Cheers
Mark
Hi Mark, Well done you for being brave enough to take the plunge! Your hair always looks great anyhow, but to be honest, I do prefer you natual colour and look. As always, it's all about freedom of choice, and if your happy, that's all that matters. Best regards, Ian
Hello Ian,
I do respect your opinion and appreciate your honesty.In a way I'll miss my old coloring but I have to admit the new color is exciting for me.I'm sure people who see me in real life will do a double take.lol.Have a great day my friend:)Cheers
Mark
Hi Mark,
The henna did turn out very well for you, and I agree with Scott, it really does make your hair look thicker. Ironically, I had considered cassia a while back, since I wanted the same thicker effect without the colouring that henna gives, but admit that I was nervous about trying it.
Take care,
David
Hi David,
As you know I did do Cassia back in May so from personal experience I can say it will not alter your natural hair color.However the process of applying it is the same as Henna and I will warn you it is a bit messy.Certainly much different than shampooing and conditioning.If you want more detailed info you can e mail me as I can go into it more.The one thing I can say about Cassia is that the effect seemed to wear off sooner than I expected for all the work I put into it.Have a great week my friend.Cheers
Mark
Hi Mark,
It is good to experiment and your new hair colour doesn't look too bad. It looks a bit sharper in contrast to your previous grey hair and appears to make your mane look a bit more thick. May I make a humble suggestion that you also dye your grey beard the same colour as the hair as the contrast in colour between the two looks off-setting. I'm considering dyeing my grey patch in my beard a chestnut colour but haven't taken the plunge yet. Is the henna a permanent one or will it have to be "maintained" regularly with more henna on the hair already done?
best,
Duncan
Hi Duncan,
Thanks for you opinion and I hope my pic didn't shock you too much:)As far as I know the Henna is permanent but it may fade some over time thus requiring a redo.Being this is new territory for me I will find that out for sure then.As for the beard I hear ya as it does look odd so I will have to decide what to do about that.Possibly trim it closer in or color it.Maybe I'll leave it just for that strangeo effect!LOL.Take care my friend.Cheers
Mark
Looks too red - especially with a grey beard. Sorry.
Hi UK,
That's OK as I appreciate you thoughts on what I did.I realize the beard doesn't go well with my hair so in the interim I may just trim it in closer so its less noticeable.Honestly I like my new hair color:)Cheers my friend.
Mark
I like it Mark. Part of having long hair is to have fun with it and that means doing some experimenting IMO. It's cool that you have a new look and that henna is good for your hair too!
I guess you'll have to decide whether you will do a reapplication after your roots grow out some.
Hi Jason,
I agree as why not enjoy experimenting with longhair,if one has it,to achieve a new look.Something you certainly can't do with a buzz cut!lol.I admit it came out more red than I thought it would but still I like the change and my hair feels so soft too:)I can see myself doing followup treatments in the future.Cheers my friend.
Mark
Mark, I think the henna turned out great and the color is awesome too! Also to me, it made your hair look fuller and thicker! Henna is great as I used it in May with Indigo to darken my hair some. Looking good, dude! :)
Greetings Mark my friend:)
Thanks for your thumbs up on my color change.I don't regret it at all but it took awhile for me to take this plunge.I entered the treatment routine by first trying Cassia and now I graduated to Henna.The application of both are the same so that part I knew.I thought about blending the Henna but wasn't sure what to try so I decided to go with straight Henna.From what I hear you can do a blend on a followup treatment to tweak the final color.In the meantime I'll be a redhead!LOL.Cheers
Mark
The color suits you and does work with your skin tone. Having had to deal naturally with Red highlights (ginger, if you will) I see the fun. However, I must agree that your moustache & goatee do clash a bit. Looks like you just kissed a chimney sweep. You may wish to "adjust" the color there, as well. Either lighten or darken. The roof should never fully match the trim.
Ha Ha,I had to chuckle at your chimney sweep comment:)However you are correct as the contrast is stark compared to what my hair is now.If I were to color my stash and goatee what product is the best to use?I wondered about using the same Henna on it but having the paste that close to my mouth for such a long period didn't seem appealing.lol.Thank you for your fun reply:)Cheers my friend.
Mark
There are several over the counter color "adjusters" for facial hair. Try to go one shade darker or lighter as that is a more natural look for redheads. Believe me, Red Hair, from Auburn to Strawberry blond, runs, actually it gallops, in my family gene line.
I like that visual of the galloping redheads!LOL.Guess I'll just join the heard:)
I'll look into those adjusters as I did trim my goatee back some last night but still the gray sticks out like a sore thumb.
Thanks Rktect for your suggestions as they are appreciated my friend.Cheers.
Mark
Good for you! The henna suits you fine and i'm sure i really gave your hair new life and a feel of excitement, as it certainly did that to mine. Speaking of henna, i just did a henna treatment a few days ago, but ran out of powder so it wasn't as thourough as i would like but... Time for an update maybe?
You shouldn't regret it, my friend! :) (but if i were you, i'd do something about the beard, as the colors don't really mix)
Hey Abstrakt,
From one Henna guy to another I appreciate your kind words of encouragement:)I don't regret the change at all but as you and others have indicated something needs to be done with the facial hair.It's a work in progress I suppose.I was wondering but how often do you need to do a retreatment?I have enough for probably two additional treatments before I'll need a resupply.Anyway thanks again for you comments my friend:)Cheers
Mark
Hey Mark-
As far as subsequent treatments is up to you-The best thing about henna is that u can do it once a week, bi weekly, or monthly, or every six months...In the next treatment all you need to do are your roots to cover the greys if you want....Like I mentioned I've been lazy and I haven't done henna in over three months-what's great is that it doesn't fade like chemical coloring-you just color the new growth, and believe me when you just do the roots it is so much easier and faster than when you do your whole head...The more treatments you do the better the conditioning for your hair. When I do a henna treatment I don't use conditioner for a month or so.
No problem :)
The package suggested to do it weekly at first, and then every few weeks. I waited 2 weeks before i did my second one, and after that, the red color became deeper than before. Then i didn't do one for 7-8 weeks or something, and by then the color had faded a bit. Not like chemical dyes, but it had become more orange-red than the deep red color i like. The soft&strong feel of the hair usually goes away after a week or so, unfortunatly. At least for me. Whenever i use it, i do the entire head of hair, as i think the color would be too uneven otherwise.
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Hi Abstrakt,
Yea I'll just go week by week to see how it looks before I do another treatment.If it turns out I need to do it frequently I will consider buying the Henna in bulk to hopefully save some money.Have to say I'm really happy with the results and hopefully it holds up and keeps my hair feeling soft:)I really thank you for telling me your experiences with Henna as it does help.Cheers my friend.
Mark
Hi Mark,
Thats for the update and I like the colour and certain makes your hair look thicker.
Hope you are enjoying the new look.
Cheers,
John.B
Hi John,
I appreciate your opinion and input.I'm glad to have done this and recommend it to anyone who wants to safely color their hair.I never would have used chemical coloring if that's all that was available.Thanks to this great board I have learned a lot over the years.Take care my friend.Cheers
Mark
Hi Mark, I can definitely see a major difference in the overall appearance of your hair, it not only looks a lot healthier, but the thickness seems to have tripled! Great job on the Henna treatment, I think it worked a treat :) It's always nice to have a little change now and again.
Kind Regards, James K
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Hi James K.,
I fully agree with you statement as change can be good:)I admit I was probably stuck in a rut regarding my hair.Other than letting it grow to terminal length I haven't done anything new except changing conditioners and trying different oils on my hair.Thank you for your reply my friend.Cheers
Mark
Hey Ginger! ;) That shirt you're wearing - is that the route you took on your latest bike trip?!?!?! hee hee :)
I think your hair looks cool, even makes you look younger and spunkier!! But your facial hair is too much of a color contrast to your head hair now. Perhaps coloring your facial hair a darker brown or even a reddish brown color would look good. Simply trimming it will not make the color contrast any less noticeable.
Sometimes coloring your hair can make you feel more adventurous and happy -- that sounds like what you are experiencing! :) And your big smile is a perfect complement to your new 'do!! Have fun with it! :)
Hi Laura,
Ginger eh.LOL.Makes me think I'm on Gilligan's Island!Ha Ha.Well maybe I saw the Island during my bike trip if it was located on the Delaware River.
If I knew the youthful effects of using Henna I would have done it like ten years ago:)Well better late than never as the saying goes.
After reading all the comments to my thread my facial hair has taken a beating!Poor ole' gray hairs.I agree something needs to be done so I'm open for product suggestions for beard hair coloring.
Finally you are right as I like my new look:)I just love looking at my red locks flowing down my back.It is really exciting.Thanks Laura for your participation on mlhh and unwavering support.Cheers my friend:)
Mark
hey hairball!
the color looks good on you, as did your natural color. you may want to try "just for men" beard and moustache dye. it's pretty decent, i use it sometimes on my beard. the trick is to leave a few greys peeking though so it looks more natural. also - just leave it on for a minute or two maximum, otherwise it can look painted on. i think a light brown might work out pretty good. it's super easy to do, and touch up once a week. you only need to mix a very tiny amount - it goes a long way.
i used henna on my hair before and it made my fine hair stronger, but it turned my greys orangey red, which i didn't like.(i have very dark brown hair with a few greys)
one thing about henna is that the color gets deeper each time you do it, it builds layers of color, and gets darker. from what i read it's good to do just the root area when you're ready for touch-ups, and let it soak in an hour or two on just the roots, and then apply it to the rest of the hair and let that sit an hour or so. a great website where i learned a lot about henna is : www.hennapage.com (look for the "henna for hair" tab)
i'm thinking about doing henna with indigo to get a dark brown, but still undecided. i'm afraid of the indigo building up over time and winding up with black hair. i guess it's about being careful, and patient!
anyway, hope my two cents is helpful!
Hi zingaro21,
Yes,your post is very helpful and I appreciate your time in providing all the information you did:)After my treatment I did think possibly I should have blended the Henna but being a newbie with the stuff I was afraid of having a weird shade as a result.So I played it safe and used the Henna alone.I liked the results so I'm thinking of just staying with it but might change my mind if I tire of the redness.I'll also look up that product for touching up my beard.Cheers my friend.
Mark
hey mark,
cool, i'm glad that was useful. the person who runs that henna page website lists a phone line also, so you can call her to get advice for a recipe to mix the different hennas and other plants to get closer to the color you want. it looks like she did tons of research on henna. she may be able help you figure out a brown that's not too dark if you decide to go that way later. (probably leaving the henna on your hair for a very short time)
if your hair is dry after the henna you might want to try a gentle hair treatment that i really like, and that i've used on and off for about 25 years, it's made by "hask" and called "henna-n-placenta". you can find it in a beauty supply store or sometimes even a cvs or rite aid, i'm sure you can get it on amazon also. it's sold in loose foil packages about the size of an index card, and costs about $1.79. i think you only do it once a month, twice a month max according to directions. it makes your hair and scalp feel amazing, and leaves your hair shiny, and feeling really strong.
by the way, i only used "just for men" beard & moustache dye, not the just for men hair dye. i think that stuff usually looks really artificial. definitely go with a lighter shade first, then get a darker one if it's not what you wanted. i think your beard should look good either way - fairly dark or light.
take care!
joey
All I can say is that you're certainly a redhead now aren't you? :-) With your skin tone, it's not a bad match. You look a lot like some of my Irish blooded relatives. :-)
Now as many have pointed out, your beard is giving away the secret that you've colored your hair. If you choose to color it, let me give you a few pointers. First realize that it's something you will have to touch up weekly when you have a lot of grey. Also note that the longer it is the less noticeable it is that it needs touching up. If you're wanting to match or nearly match your hair color, then you should look into using women's hair coloring instead of beard coloring as there's much more color possibilities in doing so. Contrary to what the box might imply, you can mix equal parts of the colorant and activator using plastic equipment and apply it to your beard. The demi-permanent colorings will not color as deeply as the permanent colors will but they are quicker to use and provide more shade variation in their color.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
--Dale
Hi Dale,
I appreciate your comments and information on beard coloring.Being I never colored my beard before it's all new to me.Of course so was Henna and I managed not to mess it up.lol.So I will venture to the store, and go to that isle, and look what's available.If you know of a specific brand that's of good quality please let me know.I know right now I look goofy with the mismatch between beard and hair so I'm looking forwardto fixing that.Thank you for taking the time to explain this for me.Cheers
Mark
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Mark,
I tend to toggle between permanent and demi-permanent coloring since I keep my beard rather short and any mistakes will be gone within a month. :-) For permanent coloring I use Revlon Color Silk as it's very inexpensive compared to the other choices. However it requires a 20 minute processing time, though you can just let the mix "cook" for 10 minutes before applying if you wish. The color doesn't penetrate as thoroughly if you do this though. For demi-permanent coloring I've been using Clairol Natural Instincts. It's a 10 minute solution. Both choices come as liquids in bottles, so you can use plastic utensils and mix just enough to cover your beard usually two spoonfuls of color mixed with two of the activator. Apply it with a small brush. Note that grey hair doesn't color easily so you will likely end up with a shade lighter than the box indicates if you follow their timing guides. Additional time can be used if your results come out too light.
Good Luck!
--Dale
Hey Mark, thats far out, more hippie than metal, but very cool. It just screams self expression and somebody refusing to follow the norm, so for that I applaud you :)
Cheers buddy, have fun with it
Dave
Hi Dave,
You know,at my age I could care less what the world thinks about my appearance so I wear my red mane proudly:)At first glance the stark color change concerned me somewhat but after looking at it more later it has really grown on me.I admit that my hair before Henna was not making me happy and I did my best to treat it gently.This has given it a youthful boost and I enjoy wearing it loose for all to see when I can.At work I still have it under a hat, mainly for safety, but afterwards I want it out for this miserable world to see:)Cheers my friend.
Mark
Hi Mark,
I admire your attitude to the whole "you only live once" matter. I think that it was worth the jump too. Your hair looks really cool! Not that it didn't before btw! :)
I've always wanted my girlfriend to try out henna. She really gives her little mop a good kicking with the chemical dyes and peroxide bleaches. It's really damaged her hair, but I think I need to do a little more convincing.
Take care mate.
Neil.
Hi Neil,
Thank you for the kind words regarding my Henna treatment.I admit it took me awhile to make this jump as I first did a Cassia treatment back in May which didn't change my hair color.It was an improvement but in the back of my mind I wanted something more.This fit the bill as I find my new hair color very exciting:)I fully recommend getting your girlfriend to do the Henna and dump the chemicals.Cheers my friend:)
Mark
One word of caution for your GF. There can be problems using henna on hair that has been dyed using synthetic dyes (or vicea versa). This does not happen with pure henna, only with henna mixes that include metal salts, but the results can be horrific, e.g. hair turning green or exothermic reactions (think in terms of your hair getting cooked). Just be careful that your henna is pure, or that if it is a mix it contains only herbs and no salts. Some mixes don't even say what is in them.
I have used henna mixes that are brown coloured, but then I have never used synthetic dyes.
It's about time I put more henna on my hair, as it's looking too grey. Another pitfall if you have too much grey is that pure henna will give you orange hair, so I will use a mix again. The only reason I haven't done this yet is that I have been looking for something darker than I used last time.
Mark,
Very orangeish-red, but it seems like an exciting foray into something new. ^_^ YouÂ’ve some pretty hair, man.
С уважением,
[Regards,]
Venya
Hi Venya, thank you very much for the nice comment:)Now that it's almost been a week since doing the Henna treatment I purposely haven't washed my hair and noticed as it becomes more oily my hair has darkened to a more deep red.I'm sure once I wash it that will restore my mane to what it looked like in my original picture.I'm really enjoying the new look as it appears the responses here generally are positive:)Be well my friend.Cheers
Mark