This is a really great product if you're looking for something that doesn't contain harsh chemicals. It's sold in blocks that contain henna power infused with coco butter, which provides amazing nourishment for your hair and leaves it soft and shiny! If you've used henna on your hands before like I have, you should have a good idea of the consistency of this product once it's melted and the smell. You should also be aware that it is not fully permanent and may fade after a little while depending on how often you wash your hair and your exposure to the sun. Also, the smell will linger in your hair for a couple of days, so if it's too strong for you, you may not want to try it.
I used the Caca Brun colour the first time and then a combination of that and the Caca Marron the second time. It worked much better the second time around, but that is most likely my fault and not that of the Caca Brun bar.
You'll want to read through the whole article before your start so that you don't make any mistakes along the way. I have included a printer-friendly PDF version of the instructions without pictures so that you can refer to that while you try this and avoid getting your computer dirty.
- heat proof bowl
- kettle and pot of boiling water
- knife for cutting block of henna (you could use a grater, but I wouldn't recommend that)
- wooden spoon or spatula for mixing while bar melts
- pot for double boiling
- oven mitts (safety first)
- lot's of newspaper
- Lush Ultrabalm or vaseline
- hair clips (clamps)
- rubber gloves
- saran (plastic) wrap
- small and large hair elastics
- towel (dark preferably) and ugly shirt
What to do beforehand
Disclaimer: Please be aware that I already had my hair dyed in the ombre style before darkening it with Lush Henna. I did not include instructions on how to bleach your hair in the ombre style and would highly recommend that you get that done at a salon. This technique is meant to darken fading ombre hair, or can be used generally to darken your full head of hair. However, if your hair is black or very dark brown, you'll rarely notice much of a change in colour. You would get the deep conditioning that the Lush Henna bar has to offer and some undertones of the colour, so it wouldn't be a complete waste!
Let's start!
TIP: add more water than less if you're unsure because the more you let it sit, the more the water will absorb in and it may become dry and difficult to apply. This melting process took me approximately 10-15 minutes. You will also want to use a hood fan if you can because the smell is quite strong and very earthy.
Alternatively: if using a double boiler scares you the way it scares me, you can also simply add boiling water to a heatproof bowl to melt the squares. Apparently the squares won't melt as evenly, but I didn't notice much of a difference.
TIP: this is a good time to make sure you have everything you will need for the rest of the night near by. You don't want to be walking around too much because you might make a mess around your house. Maybe keep some snacks and magazines with you for later. Make sure you are wearing a shirt you don't mind getting stained!
Cleopatra: coat just a bit above where your hair fades from the natural colour to the new colour. Apply the henna in approximately 8 sections (4 on the left and 4 on the right side of your head). Cover the sections in saran wrap similarly to the way you would for a strand test and secure with elastic bands. Sleep on a towel or old shirt you don't mind soiling.
Pro: Does not hurt your neck as much as the bun method
Con: Did not work as well for me (but I suspect that is for other reasons) and only works for ombre hair
Pro: Worked better for me and much less time consuming than the Cleopatra method.
Con: Hurts your neck more.
TIP: spend a good amount of time working the henna into your hair. The first time, I suspect it worked less well for me because I didn't do this. Make sure the henna coats nearly every strand. Don't worry if it's not perfect though because it looks nice afterward when you end up with multi-toned hair!
8. Let the paste sit in your hair. You will want to leave this in for at least 5-6 hours in my opinion. If you would prefer that it fades sooner, you could always leave it in for less time. However, I would highly recommend that you leave this in over night. The heat from your body while you sleep will improve the depth of the colour vastly. Make sure you wash your feet before wandering around. My feet had lots of ink on them from the newspaper I was walking on. Sleep on a towel to protect your sheets!
TIP: treat this as a spa night. Since you will need to wait for a long period of time and you cannot really leave the area, this is a great time to do a facemask, your nails, or just watch a movie. This would be very fun to do with a friend for company and so you can laugh at how funny you both look with your Cleopatra saran wrapped hair.
The next morning
Overall Comments
5/5 stars for sure.
Lush Henna Brick in Caca Marron
Lush Ultrabalm
If you have any questions about this or had a different experience with this product leave me a comment. Let me know how this works for you!
You may also want to read a review of this product with some important Do's and Don't.