Hair dye fun - any experience with henna?

On a whim, I recently colored my very dark brown/black hair for the first time (ever) using a box dye, mousse-style.  I chose a dark red/auburn, and it worked well, not too drastic but not so subtle you can't tell.

I tend towards using natural products and wanting to avoid harsh chemicals, so why I got the whim after 23 years to dump a bunch of toxic stuff onto my head is beyond me - but it was fun , and I'm taking extra special, very good care of my hair to compensate.

I love my natural color, but I have always wanted to have dark red hair.  I'd like to accomplish this without having to go to a salon or use box dyes.  I think I can get away without much damage from the dye this once, but for upkeep I would not want to continue using ammonia/peroxide-based dyes.  I have long wavy/curly hair (mid-back and growing out) and it will show the slightest damage very easily.

I've been reading about henna and wanted to know if any of you have experience with it.  Obviously I would not dye with henna any time soon, since I only colored about three or four days ago, but for the future I am considering this option. 

My first, cursory understanding is that henna is absolutely permanent and most attempts to get it out of hair don't work - so I want to be really, really, really sure before I do it, because I'm also incredibly attached to the length of my hair so I absolutely do not want to have to cut it to get an awful dye job out.  My second impression is that henna won't lighten my hair - which is great, I love the dark tone of my hair, and having the same tone but a red color (so like a dark cherry/auburn/mahogany) would be ideal.

Any experience with henna out there?  Or you can even share your regular dyeing experiences for the fun of it!

I am a hair dye addict and I have tried henna a couple of times and yes I must say it is very permanent so if you want to colour over it you must use henna again as other colourants can react to it.If you want a subtle change that is permanent then yes go with the henna,if you are like me and get bored after a while then I would say don't do it unless you can wait until it grows out.Good luck.x

I tried it in high school and my hair (which is so dark brown that is almost black) came out with lovely auburn highlights.  It wasn't drastic...just made my hair look reddish in certain light.

Ruthyb said:

If you want a subtle change that is permanent then yes go with the henna,if you are like me and get bored after a while then I would say don't do it unless you can wait until it grows out.Good luck.x

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That sounds like exactly what I want!  Hair dye isn't something I'm really that interested in as far as trying new colors, changing it up, making drastic changes, etc.  I'm pretty conservative with my hair as far as styling, etc. goes so it sounds like henna may be a good, low-maintenance choice!  Thanks for your advice!!! 

nurseangel said:

I tried it in high school and my hair (which is so dark brown that is almost black) came out with lovely auburn highlights.  It wasn't drastic...just made my hair look reddish in certain light.

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Woo - sounds like exactly what I'm looking for!  I've read that additional applications can deepen the color, so if I want to go a bit redder I can do multiple all-over apps.  I'm glad it turned out for you!  Thanks!! 

I've used henna since college; I love it.

That said, It will stain anything it touches (clothes, some plastics) and it takes a little bit longer than chemical color, but so worth it. Put on your old jeans and wrapp yourself in an old towel and go for it. Grease, lotion and conditioners impede its uptake, so you need lotion for around the edge of your hairline and don't condition for a few days before and after so it takes and stays best. I also like that sine it doesn't bleach your hair the transition to your natural shade is more subtle no glaring roots.

I agree with everyone - it sounds like henna would work great for you. It's true that henna for hair will stain everything it touches, but not permanently. Hair henna that contacts skin will come out after a couple of washings. It will also gradually wash out of your hair, you will see the suds will be pink every time you shampoo.

To get henna to stay and last the longest time, wash your hair (preferably with a clarifying shampoo if you use a lot of hair products), don't use conditioner, towel dry really well, and apply the henna. I usually leave it on for an hour, then rinse out - don't immediately shampoo again. Condition your hair if you want, but henna is also a natural conditioner.

Use a flat iron to really set the color if you want! If you get a perm (does anybody get perms any more?) make sure to mention the henna to your hairdresser. And stay out of the pouring rain while wearing a white shirt.

Henna only deposits and will not lighten your hair, but it WILL stick really well on the hair you have already damaged a bit with the color you put on. If you want a really natural auburn, use half orange-red henna, and half burgandy-red; the result will be a truer red and not too orange or too purple.

Oh my gosh I have just remembered,I looooove the smell of it x