Henna! (For the hair)

    A few years ago grey hairs started cropping up and before long there were too many to pluck whilst pretending it wasn't happening!  I was bemoaning this fact while hanging out in the Discord associated with The Cauldron.  And then someone recommended henna.

    So I henna'd my hair.  And have never looked back.  Here's why:

- I love the colour (a good start!)

    I went for red because I always fancied myself as a bit of a redhead.  My hair used to have a slightly ginger sheen in certain lights.  As a child I'd been blond, but my hair colour has latterly darkened to a really dull light-ish brown.  (And you couldn't really glimpse that hint of ginger any more.)  So the henna is a definite improvement.
I didn't know it when I started buying henna, but you can also get a brown (and I believe also a black).

- It makes my hair shine!

    In fact, not only does it make my hair shine but I find I don't need to use conditioner.  So it saves me a step in the shower.  (And as a spoonie that's a really great point in the favour of henna.)

- It's not a chemical dye
    Well obviously every substance has its own chemical compound, but I'm sure you get what I mean.  I never used chemical dyes on my hair, and this way I can claim that's still true!

- I love the smell!
    It makes me smell like a hippy - I feel an authentic New Ager when I'm fully henna'd and yet I don't need to reach for the patchouli.  But seriously, full disclosure, it does have a distinctive, sort of organic-y odour.

- I'm told it protects the hair

    Apparently, it works by sort of lacquering the individual hairs and giving them a level of protection from e.g. splitting.  (It's the reason your hair can't take chemical dyes after henna-ing, apparently.)
    And as someone with very long hair which is my proudest feature (and one of the things my spouse loves about me) but easily tangled, I'm keen to protect my tresses.
    (I haven't done my due diligence, but anecdotally I believe this to be true - my hair is easier to brush, even without conditioner.  I realise this is only a sample size of two, but it's good enough for me.  And again, as a spoonie, anything that makes my hair easier to care for is a good thing.)

- It doesn't wash out or fade much
    The colour fades a little bit, but it definitely doesn't go that washed out shade that people seem to get with the brightly coloured chemical dyes, e.g. the blues and pinks etc. (Of course it could just be that my hair has always been very porous, I'm not sure.) 

    There are some cons, just so you know:-

- It's admittedly messy and time-consuming to apply (but rinsing isn't too much of an issue);
- The grey hairs go a bright orange colour!
- Recommend devoting a specific, preferably dark-coloured towel to your hair after you start henna-ing it;
- Be aware you can't dye your hair with chemical dye after henna-ing it (you'd need to henna it a darker colour, or I guess you could try using harsh stuff like citric acid to try to remove the henna first - not recommended, just let it grow out);
- And of course you might not like the smell.

    I'm calling this a chronic ill-health life hack, because I genuinely find it so.  I can get away without conditioning and yet my hair is easier to brush & care for, as mentioned.  On top of that, all the compliments I received on the colour did wonders for my self-esteem!  😀

All photos from Unsplash

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