Henna Results

As promised, FINALLY, here are the results from my henna experience.

Products Used:

• 2 packs of Dulhan Henna
• Honey
• Apple Cidar Vinegar 
• Green Tea
• Water (not pictured)

I didn't get any pictures of the application process, it was stressful enough!  lol, but here are the pictures immediately after rinsing out the DT.  Also, I stood by a window so the hint of red could easily be picked up.

The looser curl pattern can be seen here, although it's not drastic.  My hair has always hung pretty long when wet, but shrinks up a good amount when dry.  Below are pictures of how I styled my hair... it was the day of my daughter's 1st B-day party, I originally planned on doing a wash and go but I was nervous about how my hair, post henna, would look dry.  So I opted for a handy dandy bun instead!

**[Side Note] Yuck, powder face!  My foundation does NOT photograph well!

Below are pictures of my hair a couple days post henna.

Notes the red?  I love it!

My first wash and go after my henna application, I was PLEASENTLY surprised... This is 5 days later.

6 days later... sorry for the PDA, but these pictures were taken facing the sunlight so the red is REALLY picked up.

So, there ya have it... I personally love my henna'ed hair and plan to do it again in about another 3 weeks or so.  Hopefully I can build it into my regime on a monthly basis.  Aside from these two days of my hair being out, I have unintentionally been bunning.  With school nearing its end, I really need to buckle down.  My hair has most definitely taken a back seat but I can whole heartedly say that it looks, feels, and IS healthier...  When detangling in the shower, I experience a significant less mount of shedding, especially after having my hair in a bun for 2-3 days straight!  

My bun process has been to:

• Co-wash
• Detangle
• Treat w/ Lustrasilk
• Rinse
• Apply Lustrasilk & Aussie Moist Leave-In
• Apply Organic Root Stimulater Olive Oil moisturizer
• Next is Shea Butter
• Pull into a HIGH bun, slicking/smoothing with my hands.
• Afterwards, use my child's baby brush to get the edges (lol, it's soft enough)
• Secure with Ouchless Goodie hair tie, once just to hold the hair in place, and another to hold down the bun
• Apply shea butter (again), this time to my edges
• Throw on a headband and wah-lah!  

At night I tie it down with a satin scarf.  That's about it.  I REALLY need to treat my hair this weekend, do a really good deep treatment (with or without heat) and maybe repeat my bantu knots... haven't done those in a whole.  Be back with an update later!

I finally bought my Henna!

I found an Indian grocery store not too far from my college campus.  I went in, purchased 5 100g boxes of Dulhan (Cheapie Henna) as well as some Vatika oil.... Initially, I was SUPER excited to get home and throw it all in my head, but now I'm kind of freaking out.  What if I don't do it right?

All of my recent hair drama has me REALLY shaky about tryin this henna... I really want the conditiong/strength/less shedding/less frizz effects, but I don't want the dry/hay-like feel of it like a couple of other people have reported experiencing.... 

Last Thursday up until today, my hair has been BLAH.  Last Monday, I did my usual co-wash, condition, and two-strand twist.  I left the twists in all day Tuesday and wore them in a bun.  Wednesday, I took the twists out and rocked a twist out... This time it was different tho, not sure how and or why, I used all of the same products.

Needless to say, Thursday morning, my hair was a mess.  I threw it up in a ponytail/bun and said to hell with it.  Friday, I did a normal wash and go, which started off pretty cute.  However, while apartment searching that day, it rained so the humidity/rain drops made my hair frizz in the most random spots.  Truly annoying... so, another bun saved the day.  This bun remained all through the weekend up until Monday morning.  

Sunday evening while grocery shopping, I saw Krogers was having a sale on some hair products.... being the budding Product Junkie that I am, I just HAD to buy something.  I purchased Garnier Fructis Wonder Waves Fortifying Cream Conditioner... 13oz for $ 2.39 (opposed to $7)

Product Description:

• For wavy hair.
• Reinforced Active Fruit Concentrate:
  • Vitamins B3 + B6
  • Lightweight Moisturizers
• Pre-styles waves and tames frizz for flowing cascades.
• Garnier Fructis Strength & Repair System provides deep therapy to help repair and protect damaged hair, leaving it smooth and healthy-looking.
  1. Intensely nourishes over-processed, damaged hair.
  2. Works inside the hair strand to help fortify and repair damage.
  3. Smoothes and softens for healthy-looking hair.
• With Nutritive Fruit Micro-Oils:
  • Apricot + Avocado Oil + Ceramide Reconstructor
  • Acts deep within and on the surface of your hair to strengthen & smooth each strand
• Results: The Garnier Fructis Strength & Repair system makes hair up to 5x stronger, up to 5x smoother and so much shinier - Garnier Fructis Strength & Repair System of shampoo, conditioner, and deep conditioner.
• For hair that shines with all its strength.
• Create and control any style you want with Garner Fructis Style.

So I went on and co-washed my hair using Herbal Essences HH first, followed up by this product.  I left it on and rinsed lightly, leaving whatever conditioner that was in inside.  However, 2 hours later, no joke, I was brushing it all back up into a bun.  It was a frizzy, poofy, disgusting, dry-looking mess!!!  I was so disappointed.  I read on the back that one of the top ingredients was listed as PEG so I searched this ingredient online and read that it is known to strip African American hair, no wonder!  I quickly gave the product away to my dorm neighbor!

I also purchased this combo:

Esencia by Samy... it claims to be 100% Vegan, Organic, Sulfate/Paraben Free....

I wasn't crazy for the smell and or consistancy of the shampoo or the conditioner.  I can't really say if I loved it or hated it, but my hair most definitely didn't seem to have any moisture to it.It looks a whole lot better than it did the past couple of days or so.  "Volumizing" was the only type of shampoo/condish that they had, and both were relatively inexpensive ($7.99, free w/ mail-in rebates)... however the cashier only charged me for one bottle, idk.  I researched this product and haven't found much of anything on line, maybe they have a hydrating shampoo and conditioner?

I'd love to be cone/sulfate-free, essentially all organic.  Ah, what's a girl to do.

So, have any of you ladies had any experiences with this brand of hair products???

Also, any more advice to share on henna?  I need to know!!! lol

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