>>henna for beautiful bodies

Remember this scene? China and I had this discussion in Mistletoe Man. It's about me and my henna. As usual, China is telling the story. (Don't I ever get to tell?)

     The hair that showed under Ruby’s hat was such a vibrant copper that it looked as if she had put on her hat to snuff out a blazing fire.
      I opened the door and got out, blinking. “What have you done to your hair?”
     She jammed her hat down on her head. “Why? Is something wrong with it?”
     “It's very red." At the look on her face, I repented. “But on you, very red is very good. Gives you a little extra whoomf.” As if she needed it.
     “I henna-ed it last night,” she said. “With paprika and cinnamon.”
     I stood up on tiptoes to sniff. “You're right. Definitely cinnamon. You smell like apple pie.”
     Ruby smiled modestly. “Next time I'm going to try nutmeg and allspice.”

I'm not the first gal in the world to go gaga over henna. (Remember Lucille Ball? "My God, I'm outliving my henna!")

That's because this herb really works to enhance the hair tones of brunettes and redheads. And because it coats and smooths each strand, it tames unruly frizz (boy, do I know about that!) and protects the hair from damage. It is also said that henna helps to relieve tension around the eyes and forehead, as well as condition the scalp and reduce dandruff and oiliness. And it really is true that spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, as well as cloves, tea, and coffee can all affect the coloring process.

Want to henna your hair? Check out some great techniques, get the straight scoop on mixes and colors, and learn from the experts on the Henna For Hair pages. (Reliable information, too, on how to buy henna products.)

Henna (Lawsonia inermis) is a tropical shrub with ordinary-looking green leaves that, dried and powdered, work all that wonderful color magic. But hair isn't the only thing you can color with henna. Fingernails and toenails take to henna, too, but don't try this unless you're the sort of person who can live with orange nails for months. In India, women paint their hands and feet in traditional patterns in the art of Mehndi. In many Eastern and Middle Eastern cultures, the whole body was ritually painted--an art that is practiced today, as you can see in this gorgeous free calendar. Or you can read about it in the last chapter of Mistletoe Man, where China and Smart Cookie and our friends had a fabulous evening doing henna body art.

Henna was a valuable medicinal herb. In Algeria, henna leaves were placed in shoes to cool and sweeten feet. In the East, henna has been used to treat wounds, ease mild burns and stings, and heal acne. In Malaysia, a henna-leaf tea is gargled for sore throat and drunk for dysentery. Bedouins painted the soles of their feet to protect them from the desert heat, and women in Egypt used henna paste to preserve a smooth skin.

And speaking spiritually, henna is said to provide strong protection against evil influences, blessing the body and soul and keeping the wearer safe from harm.

Hey, we could all use a little of that.

Read more about henna's magic: Henna, from Head to Toe: Body Decorating, Hair Coloring, Medicinal Uses, by Norma Pasekoff Weinbert (lots of good designs, great photos, how-to)

Your turn. Have you ever used henna on your hair? What do you like/not like about it? Who's done henna body painting? What's fun about it? What's scary?

In the works. China's been busy helping the Merryweathers with their Passalong Plant Sale, and she and Molly McGregor (maybe you met Molly in "Bloom Where You're Planted," in An Unthymely Death or in Bleeding Hearts) are cooking up a big garden party to celebrate Beatrix Potter's 140th birthday. Molly owns the Hobbit House, the children's bookstore on the other side of China's herb shop, so Beatrix's birthday is a Big Event for her. Maybe we can get Molly to post something about Beatrix.

That's it for now. See you next week! (Oh, and if you have suggestions for future posts, let us know!)

Comments

[Marti]

Well Ruby, just when I have decided to let my hair continue with its greyness, you up and talk about henna. Although I have never used henna, I have had red highlights professionally put into my hair. But with the cost and upkeep, and with wanting to simplify my life, I am becoming a grey kind of gal, not in spirit, just in hair color! How does henna grow out? Any noticeable roots?

[RUBY REPLIES: Sorry, Marti--roots are roots, regardless of henna. You'll probably want to henna your roots every couple of months, depending on your "real" hair color. I do an all-over henna a couple of times a year. I wouldn't call it high maintenance.]

On another note, I have lots of sunflowers and wondered if you, China or the Merryweathers had any craft ideas for the large sunflower heads. I have several drying out and have left a few on our patio table for the squirrels to enjoy.

Formerly red headed Marti

[CHINA SAYS: I love to display dried sunflowers in the shop--those big, bright heads make a splash in a dark corner. To dry, cut (with a nice long stem) before the petals start to curl, and hang upside down in a dark place, dry and well-ventilated. The drier the better, to keep from molding. Of course, you can always roast the seeds, too.]

[Dawn]

I loved Mistletoe Man and sure would like to hear how Aunt Velda is doing. Please keep us posted as to the birthday celebration plans for Beatrix Potter.

[CHINA SAYS: Donna brought Aunt Velda into the shop the other day. She was wearing her "I Am a Klingon" teeshirt. But ever since she found the Newton Boys' treasure in the cave--and the Indian skulls after that--Aunt Velda's been more interested in archaeology than intergalactic travel. Still, she says she's been on a couple of spaceship rides. If you ask, she'll tell you more than you want to know about it.]

[bvk]

Hi, Ruby! I'm a big fan of the Bayles books and your character in particular.

I use neutral henna, mixed with concentrated chamomile tea and a little plain yougurt, to tint my blonde/grey hair about every two months. I buy the henna in bulk and the chamomile in teabags from my local heath food store. I make up the tea in advance by letting the bags soak overnight (starting with boiling water, of course); I make a few cups at a time and freeze it in ice cube trays for future use.

When I'm ready for a treatment, I shampoo and rinse with plain water. I mix some thawed chamomile with henna powder and yogurt to produce a moderately thick mix. I slather it on my still-damp hair and scalp, comb it through to get thorough coverage, and add a paper-towel headband to catch drips. Then I use plastic wrap or a disposable shower cap, plus foil and/or a towel, to keep everything moist and warm.

I've kept it on as long as three hours when I've been working outside with no appreciable difference in effects from the "recommended" 45 minutes. It's much easier to wash out if it doesn't dry! I prefer yogurt as a moisturizing ingredient to olive oil because I found the oil a little too clingy, but people with dry hair and scalps may need that.

The nicest thing about the neutral henna is it's subtlety -- nobody's ever noticed that I've tinted my hair, it's just blonder and a little thicker, and a little more protected from sun and wind.

[Dani G.]

Okay,so I've heard that the red henna over gray can be rather, um..... surprising sometimes. The last time I tried a red anything on my about-half gray hair, I ended up looking like Ronald MacDonald's older sister. It was very scary. Still, all this talk makes me want to have a Henna Party. That's what Rosemary Gladstar does with her girlfriends and they just hook up the garden hose to the kitchen sink, then rinse their hair right outside in the garden! No mess in the bathroom.... a brilliant idea, no?

[Carla]

I have never used henna on my hair, but that might be an alternative to coloring my hair, if I ever get that gray!!*S* I just have a stray gray hair every now and then at this point. I like to perm my hair, so I have had to choose which I wanted in the past.

As for the henna body art, I have had that done on my hand. I think it is awesome. It stayed on for a couple of weeks, depending on how much you wash your hands I guess. My husband wasn't very happy with me for getting it done, but I thought it was awesome. I could be a tattoed freak if it weren't for my hubby and family!!!

Thanks for the great writing about the henna.

[Liz Pudas]

My mother was blonde. As a young girl in the 1930's & 40's, the Minnesota summer sun would bring out strawberry blonde highlights. Unfortunately, her father did not understand, since "Only women of ill repute henna their hair!"

[Nadya]

I've used Henna off & on for several years, & love it! My hairdresser complains, but I don't notice a lot of difference between the colours she choses & the henna, & I enjoy using henna more! As Ruby says, 'roots are roots,' so I re-do my roots more frequently.
I really liked the link to the henna site - I just got my hair cut REALLY short -'Gamine' & mixed neutral & dark brown henna with lemon juice & a bit of honey, which I let set overnight. In the morning I added a few drops of lavender, palmarosa & hyssop Essential Oils, applied the blend, wrapped my hair with saran wrap (I've usually used large veggie bags) & left it on for ~ 3 hours, then washed out & conditioned.

Nice. A bit of colour & more shine :)

Thanks for the tips!

[Kay Pruden]

I'm finding the discussion of henna for the hair very interesting. Back in the 30's (I was a kid) my mother was one of those who really put down any woman that used henna on her hair---called them hussies.

At 84, I doubt I should even consider trying it, besides my husband would object mightily. When I was working, a big party was coming up so I had my hairdresser put a dark auburn rinse on my hair--looked more like henna--I loved it and had oodles of fun. Hubby sulked the whole time. TeeHee.
Kay