Review (5/5): Helpful tips for how to henna
This is Cassia Obovata which is also called "blonde henna". Same product. It 'stains' proteins with a yellow molecule. So white hair turns yellow, not blonde technically. I wish. I mix this with strawberry blonde (75% this product, 25% strawberry blonde) on my white hair in the front, weird charcoal grey in the back. It makes a perfect light strawberry blonde in the front (the product called strawberry blonde makes my white hair orange) & coats the dark in the back making have reddish highlights. It's a perfect combination & I get lots of compliments. Don't bother with the mixing it & letting it "steep" (some people even say for as long as over night). It's totally unnecessary. I've been using henna (I used to use regular red henna on my mousy brown hair) for over 40 years. I have to re-do every 3 weeks (still-even tho I'm old & grey, my hair still grows out fast). Mix with hot water & lemon juice (50/50). I recently started using a water/lemon juice/aloe vera liquid (which I drink every day-eliminates constipation even with medications that cause that) & will always do so from here out. Wish I'd tried it sooner. Great extra conditioner! I've tried different teas (chamomile-yellow tea, hibiscus-red tea) & didn't really notice a difference but it can't hurt if you're going for one of those colors with an extra boost. Worth a try. Mix until the consistency of thin-style yogurt. Henna is always an experiment the first several times till you get it down. I put the henna on (you have to get every strand of hair so take the time to make small sections to coat) then a shower cap (you can wrap your head in plastic wrap) then a big towel on top of it all. I use a close pin to hold the towel. Henna is done WHEN IT STARTS TO DRIP DOWN THE BACK OF YOUR NECK. In the summer that's about 2 1/2 hours, in the cold of winter (I don't keep the temp up very high) it may take 3-3 1/2 hours. I then wash it out easily using ONLY CONDITIONER- NO SHAMPOO. Slips right off. Be sure to use henna on clean hair that you DIDN'T condition while showering. You want your hair to have NO products on it or the henna won't stick as well. Hope this helps ladies.