Hair dye over henna?

[flutterbyuk25]

Hey all

Can anyone advise me on whether I can use normal hair dye on top of hair that has been henna'd? Used henna 5 weeks ago and I don't think it has taken so wanna try normal dye but my mum reckons you can't do it til henna has grown out. I think you can because henna washes out and isn't permanent.

TIA

x

[Fern Merkin]

If you want to change then I would imagine you would need a permenant one. Read the packets though as some say they're not suitable for over henna.

Real henna doesn't wash out easily, I think it's a permenant thing.
See here
http://www.mookychick.co.uk/style/removing_henna.php

There's lots of info and lots of questions answered.

Best of luck!
FX

[flutterbyuk25]

Thanks!

Think i'm gonna risk it cos my hair is quite resiliant so would have to use a permanent one, need to cover the greys!

x

[shegha]

Henna has something in it that is not compatable with regular permanant hair colours so I sugest you strand test prior to putting on your head.

[JennyW]

Thanks!

Think i'm gonna risk it cos my hair is quite resiliant so would have to use a permanent one, need to cover the greys!

x

NO DONT! :eek:

You must think very carefully before you decide to put henna on your hair. It won't fully come out for a couple of months. Henna is a permanent colourant and unless you spend a huge amount of money it can only be grown out or cut out if you do not like it. Also, you can't 'go over it' with an ordinary chemical hair dye, only with another henna product. The reason you can't dye over henna with a chemical dye is that henna coats the outer hair shaft, affecting the penetration of the chemical colourant. This coating of the outer shaft is why henna makes your hair gorgeous and shiny, but it's also why it's a complete pig to remove.
Henna is super-special if you want a dramatic change and it does add superb shine to your hair but do think really carefully before going ahead.

The problem is that both natural and chemical dyes are always affected by the natural colour of your hair. If you have dark hair, you won't be able to go blonde without bleach. If you have light hair and you apply a light henna, it might look perfect - or it might come out the loudest shade of orange or sunset red you ever saw in your life. And this is a colour you will be stuck with for a month or two.

[whitevanwoman]

I use henna regularly and everyone always comments on the highlights and condition but I am naturally a brunette and my mum was a true redhead so I have natural reddish highlights anyway. I once made the mistake of using a permanent hairdye and for about 3 years afterwards I had a definate growth line which had to be gradually cut out. Whilst the effect of henna on the actual individual hair might be permanent, the colour gradually fades over 3 - 4 months so you don't get the same two tone root growth showing through. I think for best effect, you might need to use henna several times to get a build up of colour, especially on grey. I have been told that it is difficult to perm hair that has got henna on it because the perm just doesn't take - it might be the same with colours.

I get proper henna from an indian ladies sari and fabric shop - the instructions are usually in some strange language but you can get good advice on how to use it on the internet. Mix it with tea tree oil to enhance the colour and also for anti-insect qualities (good for in the summer or if nits are doing the rounds).

Apart from my bathroom looking like its splattered in cow s***, the down sides to henna are that it really does stain your skin very easily (but I've had some fun doing henna temp tattoos) and anything else it comes into contact with (including my old enamel bath). So use old towels and old bedlinen for the first week or so after using henna. Also some people don't like the smell but mixing essential oils into the henna mix can overcome that.

[JoeyEmma]

I think you can because henna washes out and isn't permanent.

TIA

x
Henna doesn't wash out- it is permanant. It coats the strand of hair.

If you want to get rid of it, go to a proper hairdresser who will do proper tests and do it properly.