Goodbye Henindigo - Hallo PPD hairdyes ! 'Grey' reflections...

[Islandgrrl]

I have a pretty significant amount of grey that I'm not willing to acknowledge yet so I henna. As far as regrowth goes, that obvioulsy isn't going to change, so whether you use a natural hair colorant or a synthetic one isn't going to matter from that standpoint.

If I'm going to go through all the work, I'm going to go natural, personally. I don't want the exposure to potentially or proven harmful chemical agents. For me, that makes all the difference. I'll put up with frequent root applications and the occasional henna gloss to keep everything looking good and me feeling happy.

When I was still resisting the red, I used to use a brown hair colorant by L'Oreal (the thick creme one, I can't remember the name). The smell alone was enough to really put me off, but I wanted brown hair (go figure...I've learned to embrace my red over the last few years) and was willing to put up with it until the colorant started making my scalp burn and my head itch for days after the application.

That said, if you're willing to risk the chemical exposure, try to find the safest options out there and go for it. You're the one who has to be happy with the finished result and with the amount of effort you put in.

[CopperHead]

My last chemical coloring is what put me back on the henna trail. My poor scalp burned like crazy for days and my left eye was all black and blue on my eyelid. My skin even peeled around my hairline where is was burning during the process. I had colored my hair for years, but I must have reached my tolerance limit. Luckily, my henna is looking better every day. It still isn't all one color, but I can live with it. I kind of enjoy the process too. I find it relaxing. Everyone has to find what works best for them.

[Celebrian]

Well, I've got my plan sorted (I hope).

I decided to attend to the roots with a rich brown PPD dye - and will change brands to a low grade PPD one when i next go to town.

Next, after a few days rest, will be another (I know) PPD dye in a light golden orange - to fill in the blue-green lights on the mid section, and pull the color a little more together (henna does not do a very good job on these for me, but don't know why).

My final stroke will probably be - henna! Yes. I think so. This is why.

It's good for my hair. Makes it strong. Makes it shiny. Its fun - up to a point.

What I will NOT be using ever again - indigo! Why? I like to put some highlights throughout my hair once or twice a year. That is why I have blue lights, because indigo + bleach = blue-green hair. Nice really, if you want it - but difficult to cover sometimes, via natural means.

So, I will do my roots with a permanent dye in rich brown every few weeks (all done in about half an hour) and feed my brown roots and lengths with a nourishing treat of henna every month or so - and hope to continue to pull the varying colors together in this way as the months go by. Voila, deep, rich, red-brown hair... to dye for!!!

What do you all think of that then?

[Ohio Sky]

Sounds like youve got a plan, Celebrian! I think you could probably do the same thing just with henna/cassia, etc but it would be a pain. If I had the patience, I would totally steal Girltrons routine, she has the most beautiful color. But doing roots only shouldnt be too bad as long as you dont start having any kind of reaction o the chemicals.

I think most of the indigo has washed out of my hair, I didnt use that much anyways, but am still a bit iffy about the highlights. Of course I will do a strand test, but do you think it will be problematic? I only did one full head indigo and it was about 6 weeks ago.

[Celebrian]

Sounds like youve got a plan, Celebrian! I think you could probably do the same thing just with henna/cassia, etc but it would be a pain. If I had the patience, I would totally steal Girltrons routine, she has the most beautiful color. But doing roots only shouldnt be too bad as long as you dont start having any kind of reaction o the chemicals.

I think most of the indigo has washed out of my hair, I didnt use that much anyways, but am still a bit iffy about the highlights. Of course I will do a strand test, but do you think it will be problematic? I only did one full head indigo and it was about 6 weeks ago.

When you do a strand test, check it carefully in every possible light. Don't fool yourself - if you think you see the slightest green or blue, or even just 'ash' tinge, than that's what a head of highlights will produce. If you only did the one indigo, you'll probably find that you can go ahead, but be prepared to have to then cover them with what should probably be a permanent, in a gold/warm blonde or something like that.

I'll be doing a few highlights again soon, even over my traumatised blue-green (but hidden, by then, under gold dyes and henna). Even so, I will be expecting the re-emergence of some blue-green, and will have a bottle of something ready to cover them!

My first stage took place tonight, which was the application of a medium warm brown PPD thingy to my roots. A little lighter than the darkest parts on the lengths, but that's fine with me, as I'm looking to achieve a warm mid-dark red-brown effect in the final analysis.

[CopperHead]

I decided to give my chemical dye another chance and had one bottle of my regular brand. I was using another one and it didn't agree with me, but my L'oreal Preference is just fine. I have dark reddish brown hair with no root line. It will take awhile to tone down the henna underneath, but it will happen. I am very happy with the results. Chocolate seems to be the color that works for me. I did like the henna, but the smell never grew on me. Now I need to go to Sally's and buy some more dye.

[Celebrian]

That's like me - chocolate/deep red-brown type of colors are good on me too.

Oh Copperhead, will we ever get this thing down?

I'm glad you're happy with your color. Maybe do like me and consider mixing techniques?

[shellblue1]

My final stroke will probably be - henna! Yes. I think so. This is why.

It's good for my hair. Makes it strong. Makes it shiny. Its fun - up to a point.

I was kind of thinking about doing that sort of thing too. I don't have a gray problem, but my roots come in pretty light against the jet black chemical color I put on my hair. I was thinking about doing my roots with chemical color as usual and then about a week later do henna over it, just to get the strengthening benefits.

Have you tried the Wella Color Charm line at Sally's (if you have one close to where you live)? I currently use the demi-perm line but the permanent line should be pretty good. I know the demi-perm sticks to my hair like a permanent color does (and it stays for a long time), so the permanent line may cover your grays pretty good. (Hope what I just typed makes sense.)

[Celebrian]

I was kind of thinking about doing that sort of thing too. I don't have a gray problem, but my roots come in pretty light against the jet black chemical color I put on my hair. I was thinking about doing my roots with chemical color as usual and then about a week later do henna over it, just to get the strengthening benefits.

Yes, that's the way I'm going to go anyway (for now). I think it would work well.

[Celebrian]

Oh dear. Regarding the idea of using commercial dyes for our roots and then doing overall henna - I used Clairols Nice'n Easy in Dark Brown (no Ammonia) last night on roots, and had a tender scalp for hours afterwards. No redness or swelling, just rather tender in places. I don't want to go through that every three weeks or so, so I'll keep looking for kinder and lower PPD dyes. I think I probably will try Naturtint just to see how it goes.

Anyway, I'll be doing henna over the lot in a couple of days to pull roots and lengths together and continue to combat the green.

Know what, I'm getting sick of monopolising this thread! How are the rest of you doing - and what's the latest on your grey coverage plans?