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Henna Is So Much Better Than Texturizers!!
Posted on November 14, 2011 by Dawn Michelle in HairI’ve been so amazed with how henna has really changed my hair over time. I first tried henna March 2010. I’ve been using it monthly and in January and February of this year I used henna weekly. For a moment I was concerned with my curls being loosened, then I realized that I never do wash and go’s so it didn’t really matter anyway! My hair is stronger than it has ever been, longer than it has ever been, and shinier than it has ever been.
Two years ago when I started growing out my hair I wasn’t sure if I could really grow it long. My goal is waist length by June 2013 and I honestly feel confident that I will make it because of the progress I’ve made so far. You can find out more about my hair story in the Hair Care section.
Along with using henna monthly I am also making all of my hair care products in my kitchen. The freedom of not relying on store bought hair care is amazing! It is also great to only use two main products, my DIY Green Tea Hair Cleansing Rinse with marshmallow root extract or DIY Herbal Hair Rinse and an ceramide oil mix with camellia oil when I have some.
Here’s a picture of my hair with a texturizer with some new growth in 2006. The texturizer ended up causing extreme breakage over time. I ended up cutting off all of my hair and started from scratch after trying to even dreadlock my hair for a year and a half.
Here’s a picture of my hair texture in July 2011. After cutting my hair completely of the summer of 2008, I kept it short for awhile because it was colored for a Wella Hair Industrial. I again shaved off all of the color in the spring of 2009 when I started growing my hair out for good.
Henna has been wonderful for weighing down my curls so that they hang versus stand out. Henna has helped me achieve the hair that I’ve always dreamed of having without harsh chemicals. When I see my 1/2 inch of new growth every month is doesn’t look anything like it did when I used a texturizer or in the early days when I was relaxing my hair.
Henna coats the hair strands while also filling in weak areas of the hair. Although it changes the weight of the strand with plant deposits, it does not break down the chemical structure of hair the way that texturizers or relaxers do. The result is stronger, shinier, and healthier hair. Henna provides excellent conditioning and strengthening on all hair types and textures. Not everyone has noticed curl loosening, yet this has been my experience over using henna for over a year and a half monthly. Some days I wish I had known about henna sooner yet I’m glad to know about it now!
I can say now that my curls weren’t necessarily loosened so much that wash-n-gos are no longer possible. Now that I’ve been doing the Curly Girl Method and the moisture levels have greatly improved, my hair is still very curly. I explain that discovery here. I do think henna has helped to weigh down my curls, and my hair falls differently. Henna has made my curls uniform and shiny. For my most current hair regimen go here.
Marshmallow Root in Natural Hair Care
(Images of Moi)
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Henna and I have a love hate relationship, first it is a mess to apply and it stains my hands and finger nail for months, it also changes my hair texture and makes it coarse. However after a few washes my hair comes back to normal I am wondering if the protein in henna is a bit too much for my hair texture, I have some cassia that I will re try and see what happens.
Hi Trish,
I wasn’t too crazy about henna until I started mixing it with coconut milk which gives it a thick conditioner consistency which makes it easier to apply. The coconut milk also doesn’t allow the henna to dry hard on the hair so it is easy to rinse. Everyone’s hair is different, yet I’ve experienced an amazing overall improvement in my hair strength and manageability since using henna. I’ve never tried cassia personally, yet have heard wonderful reviews on it. I also always use gloves for the application and rinsing of henna so that it does not stain my hands and nails. Although my hair regimen has changed a lot of this past year as it grows, I will always love and use henna.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn Michelle
I love henna. It has given gorgeous wavy, thick hair. My hair grew 2 inches in a month just using henna, no protective styling or anything. I henna two- three times weekly ( I deep condition after using homemade deep condition olive oil and honey). Before I apply my henna I do a mini pre poo to avoid dryness. Henna is the best thing ever and its cheap. I used to use Jamila, but I have fell in love with Dulhan, although I have tons of Nupur Mehendi, which I can get two to three uses from if I freeze it. I love the fact, I have little to no shredding or breakage. People think I go overboard with the henna but the proof is in the pudding:)
Thanks for the coconut milk tip will give it a try with my henna because I do have 3 boxes in the fridge and I don’t want to be wasteful.
Perfect! Glad to help!
Jaeda, it’s so great that you have also had a wonderful experience with henna. I bought Nupur henna today at my trip to the Indian Sweets and Spice store. Dulhan is also a good brand as well.
Dawn, Nupur Mehendi is great. You can usually get several henna treatements out of it. The color stain is a brown, so it makes your hair more brown, because of the some the ayurvedic herbs, it says so on the back. But it super safe to use frequent. Dulhan is my fav, but I am out and so
I have tons of Nupur Mehendi. I go to Indian Store once a month to re-up.
Thanks Jaeda on letting me know the dye release color of Nupur henna. My hair currently has more burgundy highlights so I’m hoping that I will like the tones Nupur will give my hair. Enjoy your day!
How did the nupur mehendi work for you Dawn Michelle?
Hi Jaeda,
I haven’t had the chance to henna my hair yet. Things have been busier than usual lately but I hope to soon. I’m planning on doing more articles on henna and will definitely include my thoughts on Nupur henna when I do.
Have a beautiful day,
Dawn Michelle
Dawn Michelle,
When do you add the coconut milk to the henna mixture?
Hi Wanda, I mix 100 grams of henna with a full can of coconut milk. I don’t use water or tea or anything else. After the dye has released I add 1/4 cup of hemp oil. Have a beautiful day!
Hello, I find your blog very interesting. Also watched a video of yours on youtube. Do you have any pictures of your natural hair texture without henna or texturizers. I recently started using henna and I would like to have an idea of how my hair would look after long term use of henna. The conditioning benefits are great. It has strengthened my fine hair a lot. Also have you ever mixed henna with just water, and if so, what results did u get. I currently use coconut milk, but I wonder if it’s really necessary, or whether I can just use distilled water instead. Thank you for your time.
Hi adallicious,
I wore my hair very short for so many years. This is the first time that I have began growing it out. At some point I may put up more photos of my hair to share.
When I first began using henna I mixed it with tea or water as so many others had. The henna dried hard on my hair, was nearly impossible to completely rinse out, and left my hair extremely dry. That is why I always suggest using coconut milk in your henna mix especially if you have dry or naturally curly coily hair.
It is so much easier to apply and rinse out henna when mixed with coconut milk. It also allows you to have a positive experience with henna. When I hear bad reviews on henna, it sometimes has to do with how the henna mix was prepared or that the person did not used body art quality henna. Both are extremely important.
Best Wishes!
Thanks a lot for your response. I really appreciate it.