Learn about the amazing benefits of henna for hair and what to expect from a henna hair treatment. Following I share my experience with using henna over the years, plus before and after photos of my own henna hair treatment. You'll also find in process photos of the subtle changes your hair goes through during the hours following rinsing henna out of your hair!


It's always a hoot when I share photos of my head in the midst of dying it with henna. It looks kind of crazy. Like seaweed or green mud on my head. The results, however, are totally worth the humiliation of being made a public laughingstock. Not that I really care what I look like with a grocery bag on my head. Otherwise I wouldn't be here sharing the process with you.

In general, I color my hair with henna at least once a quarter. I always know when it's time for another round. Not because you see my roots -- there are none! But because my hair becomes impossible to deal with. It breaks easily. It's limp and looks flat. And it completely loses its luster.
I knew my hair was there weeks ago, but I kept putting off taking the time to just some henna on. My solution was to beef up volume by curling it, and add back lost luster with a shine serum.

When I took a selfie after making a DIY hand sanitizer recently, I realized that I couldn't put it off any longer.

I'm a wash and go kind of girl. I literally air dry my air every single day. In fact, I don't even own a hair dryer. So by the this time, I was over curling my hair. Without that extra, and exhausting maintenance, my the condition of my hair was super obvious. Especially in the sunlight.

In my before photo, you can see my gray coming in along the side of my face and a few super sparkly, magical grays on tops. My hair is limp AF. I made a sad attempt to get it shiny with some Hask hair oil. It looks almost greasy, which obviously, was not the intended effect.

The after photo is one day after dying my hair with henna. I photographed it in the sunlight as well since sunlight isn't always kind. The gray is almost completely gone (it disappeared entirely by day two) and my hair is super shiny. I didn't have to use any hair oil on my hair for the second photo. It also had increased elasticity and air dried perfectly, without any styling.

Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of henna for hair. And see my in progress photos that show you what to expect from a henna hair treatment as it develops!

What is Henna?

I also love that a henna hair treatment is so affordable. In some cases it costs less than store bought hair dye as you don't need to apply it as often. Plus, you can do it yourself at home and save on that expensive trip to the salon.

Additionally, henna won’t dry out or damage your hair like chemical based hair dyes. So coloring your hair with a henna hair treatment won't make the condition of your hair worse. Unlike chemical hair dyes, the benefits of henna for hair expands well beyond just a simple color pay off.

You'll also find that, unlike commercial hair dyes, henna naturally fades out over a three month period. This means there are no obvious roots as hair grows out. So if you don't have time to do another henna hair treatment as hair grows, root growth won't be a major concern.

Another one of the benefits of henna for hair is that it naturally strengthens hair. I've found that it greatly increases hair's elasticity. It also gives hair lots of extra shine so it both looks and feels healthy.

If you struggle with dry scalp, dandruff or have an itchy scalp, a henna hair treatment may help. In addition, it also promotes hair growth and can reduce daily hair fall out.

Henna doesn't care what type of hair you have. What makes it so amazing is that it works for every hair type. It can even cover gray hair, using a two-step process.

Finally, you can customize the final color of your henna hair treatment by adding herbs and botanicals. You can learn how to cover gray and create custom henna hair colors here.

What to Expect from a Henna Hair Treatment

Henna powder, when mixed with water, is kind of like mud. You don't want it too thin or it will drip for days. Too thick, and it's harder to wash out.

It can also react with chemicals found in tap water as well as metals, so be sure to use filtered or distilled when to mix with henna. And always heat your water and mix your henna in a non- metal container. Basically you want to mix your henna to about the consistency of yogurt, until it's smooth and creamy. If you buy a henna hair treatment kit, it should come with mixing directions to help guide you.

You'll want to start by applying henna to your roots first, and work in sections. (Just make sure it's cooled down enough that it won't burn your scalp when applied!) There are tons of videos on YouTube on the correct way to apply henna. But to be honest, I don't have that much patience.

I start at the crown of my head and then slather it on, pulling up more hair as I go. It's not perfect. What's important, however, is that it still works. As long as you ensure you've covered every strand of hair, you'll be fine. Your hair is still going to reap all the benefits of henna for hair. You don't need to have someone professionally apply your henna. You don't have to use a brush. And you  don't need a friend to help. Trust me. You've totally got this.

The process, obviously, can be a bit messy. Just wear an old t-shirt when you apply your henna hair treatment. It washes out, so don't worry about towels getting stained. While lighter colored fabrics may initially stain, it's only temporary. However, I do advise cleaning up spills on floors and counters within a reasonable period of time.

To experience the full benefits of henna for hair, the dying process can take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours. In general, I leave henna on my hair, covered, for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours depending on how long it's been since my last use. If you are using henna specifically to color your hair, the best way to determine the length of time needed for coverage is a hair strand test. However, if after three days, the color or coverage isn't what you expected, you can simply repeat the process.

It can take a hot minute to rinse henna back out of your hair, and it's a messy process. So I always just hop into the shower for the chore. I rinse my hair really well with water, then use conditioner to remove any remaining bits. (For best results, you should wait at least 24 hours after rinsing henna out of your hair to shampoo.)

Afterwards, my hair straight up smells like spinach for several days. I've noticed the same scent with other botanical dyes and conditions such a senna.

It's really cool to watch your hair change though. As henna can take up to 72 hours to fully oxidize and develop, you'll notice subtle changes over this time period.


Pictured above is a photo of the changes my hair went through after rinsing this medium brown henna out of my hair. In the first photo you'll see that the gray streak on the side is still super obvious. You can also see gray salt and peppered throughout. In the second photo, the color is a bit more even, with that glorious (what I call my blonde gray) streak less obvious. And, in the final photo, just a few hours later, you can see that my hair is darker overall, with more even coloring over my entire head.

My after photo, as previously indicated, is from day two. It's a big difference from where I started. By the third day, all signs of gray had disappeared entirely and my hair was slightly darker.


It's now been a week and my hair is super shiny and manageable, with increased body and volume. And it cost me less than $10!

Ready to apply a henna hair treatment to your hair to enjoy the benefits of dying your hair with henna? Discover basic information on how to use henna here.

For more detailed information on coloring your hair with henna, the ebook, Coloring Hair Naturally with Henna & Other Herbs: A Guide, is a great resource. It provides all the information you need to get the full benefits of henna for hair when using a henna hair treatment. And, it will teach you how to  custom blend your own natural dyes as well as confidently select the best ingredients. Learn more here.

DIY Easter Egg Bath Bombs Recipe

Ingredients:

8 oz. citric acid
16 oz. baking soda
2 oz. cocoa butter
2 oz. babassu oil
.5 oz. cosmetic kaolin clay
1 oz. SLSA
.5 oz. yogurt powder or coconut milk powder
.15 oz. blue water soluble bath bomb colorant
.5 oz. biodegradable blue glitter (or similar)
.5 oz. biodegradable silver glitter (or similar)
.3 oz. essential oil of choice, optional

Supplies & Materials:

Directions:

If you're looking for a fun make and take craft project for your women's craft night, then you must make these DIY wine glass charms. An easy and fun adult craft night idea for women of all skill levels, this project is perfect for a wine and art night with friends. Pair your event with your favorite bottle of wine and a good time is guaranteed!

Wine & Art Wednesdays: Women's Craft Night Ideas

I love getting together with friends. Unfortunately, there are a ton of time restraints in life. So getting together for a girl's night can sometimes be a challenge. Luckily, one of my dear friends, Hillary, teaches a class a few times a month for her job.

Coined Wine & Art Wednesdays, this event is hosted at an amazing, indoor handmade marketplace called Crafteria. It's located in downtown Roanoke, VA. They not only sell super cool products by local artisans, they also offer a number of classes each month to learn a new skill or explore, what could be, a new hobby. Classes are typically on Wednesday nights and Saturday afternoons.


My favorite classes, of course, are those taught by friend, Hillary. She always comes up with exciting new projects to try. Although, her class on alcohol ink wine glasses has been the most popular by far. I try to attend Wine & Art Wednesday whenever possible, with a friend or two in tow. It makes it easy to get together with friends while also learning a new craft. And the extra, super awesome bonus is that no one has to clean house to host an event.

Wine & Art Wednesdays serve up some pretty awesome women's craft night ideas for make and take crafts. In January, I attended a class on needle felting scarves. Other crafts I've made through my experience with Wine & Art Wednesday include making needle felted wine bags, suncatchers from upcycled CDs, Gelli prints and alcohol ink ornaments.

At the latest Wine & Art Wednesday I attended, my friends and I made DIY wine glass charms. As my friends Whitney and Bambi had so much fun making our wine glass charms, I wanted to share this make and take craft project with you! Whether you attempt this craft solo or incorporate it into your own women's craft night, I hope you enjoy making your own DIY wine glass charms as much as we did.

DIY Wine Glass Charms: Adult Make and Take Crafts

Supplies & Materials:

• Circle Ring Wine Glass Charms
• 1" Round Aluminum Blank Tags with Hole
• Metal Alphabet & Number Stamp Set
• Metal Natural Stamp Set, optional
• Metal Stamping Hammer
• Jump Rings & Needle Nose Pliers
• Black Acrylic Paint
• Assorted Beads

Directions for Making DIY Wine Glass Charms:

To make these DIY wine glass charms, start by peeling off the plastic coating that protects the aluminum tags, on both sides. You may need to use your fingernail to scratch at the edge if you have difficulty.

Once you've removed the coating from both sides, you're ready to start stamping!

Place the aluminum tag onto a hard surface such as a countertop. If using a table, remove any objects from the table to keep them from falling when hammering. You may want to place something on your surface area to protect it.

(We worked on concrete countertops, therefore when we made our DIY wine glass charms, we didn't have to worry about surface damage.)

Once you've planned out your phrase or design for your wine glass charms, use a blank tag for practice first. I made the mistake of not spacing correctly the first time. I also had a letter or two end up sideways or backwards. (But that was basically because I need bifocals at this stage in my life and I'm not ready to make the leap.)

Use the hammer with a metal stamp to make your first letter. Do this by holding the metal stamp in place, then firmly tapping the stamp with the hammer two or three times. Don't bang too hard, however. As the aluminum is a soft metal, you'll end up with an imprint from the edge of the stamp if you pretend you're at a county fair competition.

Continue with each letter for the phrase you've chosen for your wine glass charms. You can use a piece of masking tape to line up your letters when stamping if needed. If desired, you can also add symbols using the nature themed or other metal stamps.

Once you've make your first wine glass charm, repeat the process with the remaining tags to create a set of DIY wine glass charms. Four charms make a typical set. However, you can make as many as you like.


After you've stamped all of the aluminum blank tags, use the black paint to emphasis the lettering or symbols you created.

To do this, simply apply a small amount of black acrylic paint to the stamped part of your wine glass charms. Then use a napkin or paper towel to remove the excess paint from the front of each charm. You only want the paint to remain in the indented, stamped portion of your charms.


While the paint dries, add beads to the wine glass charm rings. If your beads have small holes, you may need to use the needle nose plier to straighten the end of the wire that hooks into the loop. Then slip the beads onto the ring as desired.

Repeat the process for the same number of rings as wine glass charms you've made.


Now use the needle nose pliers to attach a small jump ring through the hole of each wine glass charm. Use the pliers to open the jump ring.


Then loop the jump ring through the hole. Add the wine glass charm ring you decorated with beads. Now close the jump ring using the pliers.


Repeat this process for all of your wine glass charms. Once completed, your DIY wine glass charms are ready to use or gift!

Design Ideas for Wine Glass Charms

Here are some great design ideas for DIY wine glass charms. These are the same wine glass charms that my friends and I made during Wine & Art Wednesday.


Here's one of my wine glass charms. I skipped using the jump ring on mine since my hands aren't always my best friend. It works just as well if you'd like to skip that step or save on materials. Other phrase ideas that work with "More Please" could be Alice in Wonderland themed to say "Drink Me" etc.

How to Make Elderberry Syrup with Honey

Health Benefits of Elderberries 

Homemade Elderberry Syrup Recipe with Honey

Ingredients:

Supplies:

Instructions: