I fell in love with lush hennas about 5 years ago when I was tired of chemically dying my hair and tired of my natural colour. If you have browny reddish hair like me lush henna is the perfect remedy!

HOW TO USE

Depending on your hair length, use a few chunks off the block of henna or use the whole block. (My hair is very long so I use a whole block) I used to grate it but now i just HACK away at it with a knife (please be careful.. don't do it when drunk.. I ended up in a & e)

Place your chopped (or un-chopped) henna in a bowl able to withstand heat (I wouldn't recommend a metal pan, I use an oven dish or one of those glass mixing bowls) Then pour boiled water onto the henna, gradually letting it melt. The best way I can describe the right consistency is when it looks like either.. cake batter ready to be poured into a tin.. an unhealthy horse's manure... or un-whipped double cream! :) The hotter the henna is when applied, the redder a result you will get, so you can keep your bowl with the henna in over another pan of hot water like you would melt chocolate to keep it warm.
Before applying the henna whack on your gloves (Lush kindly provide you with them) and line your hairline with Vaseline or if you're a Lushie ultrabland or ultrabalm! I get right into my ears and along my neck.
If you're applying the henna over a carpet (not the best idea) place loads of newspaper down beforehand! If you have a cat, warn them they will get little red paws so to stay away! I generally do my henna in my bathroom where the floor is easy to clean, in the summer I did it in the garden though and spent a while afterwards hosing it down..

Once you've oiled up your hairline..
You can divide your hair up into sections and smear on the henna, really rub it into the roots first as the roots will absorb the colour the slowest, then work down to the ends and equally mash it into your hair. My hair is very similar to the henna block I use (rouge) so I just throw it all over my hair quite carelessly. If your hair is lighter and patches may be visible.. take a little more care.
Once you've got it all on your hair will be like a big maliable piece of play-doh. At this point wrap your head in clingfilm (or persuade your housemate to do it for you) nice and tight so it's all sealed in!
The best time frame for letting Lush Henna sit on your hair is a minimum of 3 hours. If I'm in a rush I do 3 hours, if I'm feeling frivilous I leave it on for about 8 or overnight (PUT TOWELS ON YOUR PILLOW!!!)
Use loads of shampoo to wash it out, I stand under my shower for about 3 minutes to start just letting it all start to separate. It will make your bath go reddy brown but it should wash away, mine always does. I shampoo about.. six times then condition as I normally would.
TA-DAH! Silky red hair.

PERSONALLY...

I'm obsessed with henna in general, on my hair on my hands anywhere..
I swear by Lush Henna for keeping my long hair beautiful, Henna acts as a varnish so it coats your hair rather than penetrating it and damaging your locks. It makes your hair super shiny and smooth, and I have no scientific references to back this next fact up.. but it SEEMS to smooth and coat my split ends every time I use it! For weeks! The colour does last a long time, I've been hennaing for years and now I can't tell what's henna and what's not, and my hair is in amazing condition! It's TOTALLY worth all the fuss. Just embrace the messy natural fun!

MY EXTRA TIPS!

- If you sleep with your henna on your head for the love of God put some towels down, it will run and will stain your sheets, use old towels!
- While your head is in clingfilm wrap a towel around it or an old hat for extra heat, this will enhance the red colour.
- Watch a really long film to pass the time.
- I may be a bit crazy with this tip.. but I add a little paprika to my henna mix! A little extra spice for my scalp and hopefully even more red! You can add a splash of olive oil for even more conditioning or some freshly brewed coffee for a deeper brown.
- Henna flies. I don't know how it evolved to be able to do this but it does. After hennaing my hair I find little dollops of henna all around my bathroom and I think my cat has gone crazy. It is just the henna though.. normally.. so wipe it off with a damp cloth if it's still wet, OR if it's dried you can just pick it straight off and it doesn't leave a mark!

ABOUT LUSH HENNA

Lush recommends you do a strand test if you've never used henna before, chip off a little bit of your block and use the same process over a small chunk of hair to check it is what you're looking for. Some people are allergic to henna dye so if you fear this may be you, do the test! And try to get a little on the more sensitive area around the neck just to see.

Lush hennas also have added little goodies in them which help, cocoa butter acts as an amazing hair treatment mask while it's on your head, clove oil stimulates the scalp and adds shine as does lemon juice.
If you have any questions while you're henna-ing you can call Lush's customer service line. The number is 01202 641 006

They're ever so helpful and full of beans, around my second time henna-ing I phoned up panicking about using metal utensils to mix the henna and whether it would make my hair green, they put my mind at ease.

The Lush hennas all have red henna in them, it's just the black henna "noir" which has indigo in it also with the red to even it out to a black shade!

I hope this was helpful and spread the henna love :)

The Rogue Herbalist