ladysprite (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ladysprite) wrote2010-12-19 08:27 pm
ladysprite) wrote2010-12-19 08:27 pm
Entry tags:
I'm Just An Experimental Girl
In the past, I've been fairly certain that henna had no actual effect on my hair - that, while it was fairly harmless, it never made much actual color change. That's actually why I wanted to try it again now; while being bright-red has been fun, I was kind of looking forward to the brave, bold, daring experiment of heading closer to the strawberry-blonde area of the spectrum.
Clearly, in the past, I just wasn't doing it right.
So late last night, after I finished all of my holiday chores, I decided to give this henna thing a try. I had a bar of the stuff that I picked up from Lush, and, following their instructions, I grated it up into a bowl, added boiling water, and mixed it until it turned.... well, in their words, 'the consistency of double cream.' But that's because they're writing ad copy. In actuality, it turned into hideous green trickly mud. I made a face, and I think I also made some rather whimpery noises at the thought of using this glop, but I had already invested enough time and money, and made enough dirty pots and measuring cups, that I felt I kind of had to go on.
So I trekked up to the bathroom in front of the mirror, and proceeded to slap hot, steaming schlurp that looked and smelled like something a hippie threw up onto my head by the handful (isn't style glamorous?). In about five minutes I looked like an extra from The 13th Warrior; if I ever need to costume as a Pict I am totally using this to make appropriately mud-spikey. But about ten minutes after that I was done, and tucked my hair into a shower cap to crash for the night. Luckily, I am blessed with a patient and understanding husband who did not complain about my less-than-seductive choice of sleepwear.
By the time I woke up this morning I was desperate to see how things had turned out. So I climbed in the shower, rinsed out the mud and grass and goo, and, as soon as my hair had started to dry, ran my fingers through it.... only to realize that, if anything, it is now a darker, brighter red than it has ever been before.
Seriously. It's nearly the same shade as my old dye, just less coppery and more fiery. I'm torn between being slightly bummed that it's not much of a change, and elated that it's still gloriously, glowingly red. And that I've found a drastically less toxic way to color my hair - for all the disgustingness of the henna itself, it's still a lot less scary and damaging than the chemicals I've been pouring onto my head for the past decade. I think, all things considered, that I'm a convert.
Oh, and for posterity's sake (and for anyone who's curious about the results)....
Clearly, in the past, I just wasn't doing it right.
So late last night, after I finished all of my holiday chores, I decided to give this henna thing a try. I had a bar of the stuff that I picked up from Lush, and, following their instructions, I grated it up into a bowl, added boiling water, and mixed it until it turned.... well, in their words, 'the consistency of double cream.' But that's because they're writing ad copy. In actuality, it turned into hideous green trickly mud. I made a face, and I think I also made some rather whimpery noises at the thought of using this glop, but I had already invested enough time and money, and made enough dirty pots and measuring cups, that I felt I kind of had to go on.
So I trekked up to the bathroom in front of the mirror, and proceeded to slap hot, steaming schlurp that looked and smelled like something a hippie threw up onto my head by the handful (isn't style glamorous?). In about five minutes I looked like an extra from The 13th Warrior; if I ever need to costume as a Pict I am totally using this to make appropriately mud-spikey. But about ten minutes after that I was done, and tucked my hair into a shower cap to crash for the night. Luckily, I am blessed with a patient and understanding husband who did not complain about my less-than-seductive choice of sleepwear.
By the time I woke up this morning I was desperate to see how things had turned out. So I climbed in the shower, rinsed out the mud and grass and goo, and, as soon as my hair had started to dry, ran my fingers through it.... only to realize that, if anything, it is now a darker, brighter red than it has ever been before.
Seriously. It's nearly the same shade as my old dye, just less coppery and more fiery. I'm torn between being slightly bummed that it's not much of a change, and elated that it's still gloriously, glowingly red. And that I've found a drastically less toxic way to color my hair - for all the disgustingness of the henna itself, it's still a lot less scary and damaging than the chemicals I've been pouring onto my head for the past decade. I think, all things considered, that I'm a convert.
Oh, and for posterity's sake (and for anyone who's curious about the results)....