Natural Hair: Henna on 4B/4C Hair - Low Porosity/High Resistant! (Pic Heavy)

Hello peeps. Work has been endless. I was working every weekend since January and finally near end of April the mandatory weekends slowed down and in May I went to Istanbul. Beautiful city, but that's a story for another time.

Once I get bored with my hair, I get bored. I wanted color again. I hadn't colored my hair since my last post involving the Manic Panic and that Semi-Perm Dye had washed out.

You see my ends are pretty much blonde again, no mistaking that. This is from an old Finger Coil.

I wanted a Burgundy hair color. This time a Permanent Solution. Though, I did not want to damage my hair more than I already have in the past with Bleaching, high developers.

Even though I had bought Ion Brilliance Burgundy from a previous purchase at Sally's, I decided to search the web and do my own Henna research on color options, as well as Pros and Cons.

I learned quite a bit, the main things that stuck out were:

• There are different types of Henna, based on where they are Farmed and the color they are known to stain more of.
• Always use a Plastic/Non-Metal Container and Utensils when involving Henna.
• Henna can strengthen and soften the hair. 
• The natural chemical Lawsome in it that also gives it the Orange-Red color fills in the damage of the hair cuticle.
• Body Art Quality (BAQ) Henna is the kind you want to purchase and use for your hair.
• Henna stains a Red-Orange color, regardless of kind. Some stain more intense than others. You can change the stain color by what you add to it (Coffee, Tea, Powders, Honey).
• Henna cannot lighten your hair. It can add color to Dark hair but if your hair is Black, do not expect Deep Red Hair. On Very Dark Brown/Black hair you might see highlights more in the sunlight than actual indoor/low lighting.
• Henna is a great moisture restorer - make sure to add something to it so it isn't hard to wash out.
• Henna does not Lift Color.
• If you are Hennaing for color, it takes HOURS to be left on your head. If you are just conditioning then 30mins - 2 hours is fine.
• Henna can define your curls but it can also loosen the curl - Some people only notice a slight curl difference, and for others it's drastic. Loosened curls is not common though.

• Henna is Permanent - Though I do believe this is based on how many applications and if it took to the hair. There are cases were people were able to remove the Henna. It's just a tedious process.

How Do You Know When Your Hair Rejects A Product?

(Trying out new Tablet, hope you can see :-))

I know especially for my fellow 4C Hair peeps out there, when you find a product that you absolutely love you want to stick with it.
But when it comes to trying out others how do you know if how your hair is responding is because of the product itself or your hair?

If you're a new Natural you might of figured "I guess my hair is suppose to look and feel this way." Your hair should not feel nor look like Straw and flaky hun!

I believe this is how bad reviews come into play.

Are you having Flaking/Product Build Up On the Hair?

For example I have a Review of As I Am Twist Define Cream and it caused flaking/dandruff. I was not happy and that was a bad review.
Mind you my hair did not absorb the product so the product just sat on top of my hair. Which explains why my hair also felt dry even though it was suppose to be moisturizing as well.

And it might not be a Product but an overall Ingredient.

Do you know what your hair reacts to Ingredient wise?

I cannot do Organic/Natural Coconut all over my head if I want curls as well as part of the hairstyles.
And anything using a Coconut Oil can leave my hair Curlless.

My hair right after a Bantu Knot. I took it down and I didn't have any curls, just poofy mess. I used a Coconut CoWash(sadly another As I Am product. I'm staying away from the product line, even though I want to love it) and I last any curl I would of had beforehand.
Same goes for using Extra Virgin Coconut Oil all over my head. Sadly my hair rejects it. It looks and feels like oily straw if I use it as a main oil for my hair strands. Therefore I use it for my scalp and ends only. I figure it would be good for straightening my hair in a Blow Out and even that did not go well...

Does your hair feel dry when you know it shouldn't be?

Can also be another indicator that the product is not staying in your hair, too water base, your hair does not like it.

As a 4C and I'm sure even 4Bs have this issue when it comes to finding products more than other hair types I feel. Because our hair is more coarse, fragile, can be Porous.

I still like to go out and try new Products, but knowing what my hair tolerance is helps with spending as well and better chances of me liking a product.

- Now I can do Organix and Shea Moistures Coconut Lines, not as potent.