Hair update

 I am going to do a hair post every time I do a henna treatment.  

Before: 

You can see the gray roots.  

I used the juice of 1 lemon, 1.5 cups warm water, .5 cup apple cider vinegar, about 12 drops each lavender and cedarwood essential oil, along with the 5 ounce packet of henna.  I almost ran out of paste I will need to start adding additional henna powder and liquid to my mix.  

I mixed it in a designated pyrex bowl, with a designated plastic spatula, covered it and set it in a warm place.  I washed my hair with clarifying shampoo and nothing else, rinsed well, let the paste work in it's spot for 4 hours.  

By then my hair was almost dry, I helped it along with the hairdryer for a few minutes then applied the paste.  I did not use the glamour technique I employ sometimes where I section out the hair starting at the crown.  I used more of a "splat and squish" technique as I figured I was mainly aiming for the roots anyway, as long as the roots were done I was happy.  I paid particular attention to the roots.  

As I said I almost ran out of paste.  It did smell very nice with the essential oil.  The natural scent of the henna is similar to grass clippings and it can give me a headache.  I wrapped my head in plastic wrap and then used 2 disposable shower caps.  

4 hours later.  I was pretty bored as I don't wear my glasses during the treatment, I get spots on my hair where the arms extend on my glasses and it's an awful look, so I basically go legally blind for 4 hours.  I had my phone set so I could see it well enough to take/make calls.  I talked to a  friend, my aunt, and then my parents.  

I put the bathroom trash can in the shower enclosure and, naked, took all the plastic off my head.  It was very messy and I had henna falling in the tub but it didn't matter, put the trash in the can and then put it outside the shower.  I rinsed my hair for about 10 minutes.  I used a plastic cup of water a few times as I have a low flow showerhead.  I got it rinsed.  

I was happy to note my theory is correct, if I use lemon juice I don't get the dye bleeding in the rinse water like I did during my last treatment.  I had a little bleed for the first few minutes and then it ran clear; last month I had dye bleeding for over a week.  

Once my hair was clear I applied a sulfate free conditioner by Cantu.  They had some small sample bottles for sale at work and I used about one of them on my hair.  I pinned it up (now requires 2 clips) and washed up.  About 10 minutes later I rinsed the conditioner for about 20 seconds and squeezed the excess water out of my hair, patted it dry with a towel.  

My other theory was correct; if I use the lemon juice my hair is a brighter red.  

Here it is still wet.  I will post a photo tomorrow when it's dry and then another on Monday; it takes a day or two to develop the color.  

I am happy the roots are covered, that was goal #1.  

Sunday morning about 18 hours out:  

Monday morning about 40 hours out: