Light Mountain "Red" Henna Review
UPDATED: Jan 2024
With springtime being here, I decided to embrace the season and add more color into my life. Instead of purchasing boxed dye, I decided to try henna.
But first off: What Is Henna? According to the Henna Coloring Lab, henna is "a flowering plant" and the leaves from this plant "contain a natural and very effective coloring pigment: Lawsone." Henna has a natural red/orange dye and must be crushed into a powder where the Lawsone can be better released. Once water and air is met with the powder and mixed, the henna mix can be used on skin (tattoos) or on hair permanently.
Some of the benefits of henna include:
So I decided to get like Aaliyah and try again this year with a new color; red. I decided to go back with the Light Mountain brand because it's 100% natural henna, the quality is great, and they're conveniently sold at my local Whole Foods for about $10.
Here's a bit of info about the Light Mountain Henna:
Size: 4oz, 4x2x4.2 inches
Includes: Instructions, plastic gloves, and a plastic cap
But first off: What Is Henna? According to the Henna Coloring Lab, henna is "a flowering plant" and the leaves from this plant "contain a natural and very effective coloring pigment: Lawsone." Henna has a natural red/orange dye and must be crushed into a powder where the Lawsone can be better released. Once water and air is met with the powder and mixed, the henna mix can be used on skin (tattoos) or on hair permanently.
Some of the benefits of henna include:
- 100% all natural alternative to hair dyes full of chemicals
- Strengthens hair
- Thickens hair
- Hair growth promotion
- Promotes a healthy scalp
So I decided to get like Aaliyah and try again this year with a new color; red. I decided to go back with the Light Mountain brand because it's 100% natural henna, the quality is great, and they're conveniently sold at my local Whole Foods for about $10.
Here's a bit of info about the Light Mountain Henna:
Size: 4oz, 4x2x4.2 inches
Includes: Instructions, plastic gloves, and a plastic cap
1. Prep: I sliced up the beets and boiled them in water with hibiscus flowers. They boiled for about 15 minutes and they cured for 4 hours. I got this idea from DuchessGabrielle's YouTube video on Red Raj Henna.
3. Cure: The instructions stated to allow the let the henna mix sit and cure from 45 minutes to 4 hours. Since I was really excited about doing this, I allowed it to sit for 48 hours. In doing research, some people have stated that allowing it to cure longer allows the color to become richer.
4. Henna Application: Referring back to the instructions before applying the henna, I washed my hair using Shea Moisture African Water Mint & Ginger Detox & Refresh Hair & Scalp Gentle Shampoo. After drying my hair, I added the henna in by hand with the gloves provided in the box.
Be sure to wear an old shirt because it will get messy! This time around it was messier because the henna was a bit more liquid in comparison to my first time doing it. The henna had more of a copper tone when I added it in my hair.
5. Rinse & Review: Instead of waiting for a few hours to let the henna sit, I placed a plastic bag on and slept with it sitting overnight.
I did this because number one, I was mad tired and two, I wanted to get as much color in as possible. I was a bit nervous because I was concerned about not waking up with my hair falling out, ha! Before doing this, I did a quick Google research on a few hair forums to confirm whether this was a good idea and plenty of people stated that they commonly allowed their henna to sit in their hair overnight.
However, it was so messy. I had red juice dripping between my scarf on to my pillow. I then woke up extra early excited to see the color. Rinsed it out and unfortunately saw no color.
I proceeded to deep condition my hair with Shea Moisture African Black Soap Balancing Conditioner for 2 hours, did a the LOCO method, and the African Banding Method.
6. The Aftermath: After a few days, a very faint, light hint of red appeared in my hair, and there was even a copper highlight I noticed in the front of my hair and in the back.
While henna is cool for treatments, in my experiences it doesn't add much color to my hair. I think because my hair is dark brown, the color wont show as much. I do think the lemon juice helped with the highlights more than any of the extra ingredient I used and it's funny because I did think about naturally lightening my hair before adding in the henna.
Hopefully I covered as many details as possible because it was like studying for an exam trying to get as much info as possible.
Here are more resources if you want to henna your hair:
How Liquids Affect Your Henna Recipe
An incredibly detailed guide to dying your hair red with henna
Have you ever tried henna? Was it a success? Share your experience below!
CONVERSATION
Chicago Summer 2017 Festival & Event List
Photo: Illavision |
Before his entrance into Kardashianism, Kanye West said it best; "It feel like N.Y., summertime Chi." One of the greatest things about summer in Chicago is the many street festivals we have. Full of food, good music, vendors, and hella fun. There's literally something to do every weekend and the great part about it is that most of the festivals are free.99. (But you gotta pay for your own food).
So without further ado, let's get straight to the point and check out all of the great festivals that will be here this summer:
May
May 5-6: Chicago Zine Festival
May 6: Chicago Kids & Kites Festival
May 6-7: Greektown Mediterranean Wine Festival
May 18-25: Chicago Craft Beer Week
May 20-21: Lincoln Park Wine Festival
May 26-28: Mole de Mayo
May 27: Chicago Memorial Day Parade
May 27-28: Randolph Street Market Festival
May 27-28: Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival
June
June 1-4: Maifest
June 2-3: Chicago Gospel Music Festival
June 2-4: Do Division
June 2-4: Lincoln Park Greek Fest
June 3-4: 57th Street Art Fair
June 5: We Real Cool: A Celebration of Gwendolyn Brooks' 100th Birthday
June 7: The Prince Experience
July 7-8: Star Wars Concert
June 8: Lincoln Park Zoo: Adults Night Out in June
June 9: Black Girls Hustle Harder Summer Expo
June 9: Diaspora/Dyaspora: Haiti to Chicago and Back Again (A Migration Story)
June 9: Spring Awakening Music Festival 2017
June 9-10: EmpowerHER Conference
June 9-11: Chicago Blues Festival
June 9-11: Fiesta Back of the Yards
June 10: Purple Rain Boat Party
June 10: Chicago Vegan Food & Drink Festival
June 10: Free Paddling Lessons!
June 10: Thrive Like A Butterfly Day Party
June 10-September 17: Ravinia Music Festival
June 10-11: Pilsen Food Truck Social
June 10-11: Wells Street Art Festival
June 11: Party Noire Day Party
June 11: Curvy, Curly, Conscious
June 13: The Blues Brothers
June 13-August 29: Millennium Park Summer Film Series
June 14-August 19: Grant Park Music Festival
June 15: Screening: Black Radical Imagination
June 15-18: Chicago Women's Funny Fest
June 16: After Work Set and Stepping Lessons Weekly
June 16: Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
June 16-18: Taste of Randolph
June 16-19: Puerto Rican People's Parade & Festival
June 17: The "Juneteenth" Cultural Collision; Open Mic Expo
June 17: Pilsen Taco Fest 2017
June 17: The Great Gatsby Lawn Party
June 17: Harajuki Fashion Walk Chicago
June 17: Chicago Radical Used Book Fair 2nd Annual
June 17-18: Gold Coast Art Fair
June 23: Field Museum Free Admission Day
June 23-25: Country LakeShake Music Festival
June 23-September 10: Chicago SummerDance
June 24: Ankara Ball
June 24: Totally 90's w/ Kel - Chicago (Bar Crawl)
June 24: House of Burlesque
June 24-25: Randolph Street Market Festival
June 24-25: Chicago Food Truck Festival
June 25: Black Girls Dance 1st Annual Conference
June 25: Chicago Mariachi Festival
June 25: Summer Dress Boat Party
June 29: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Live in Chicago, IL at Wrigley Field
July
July 1-2: Chosen Few Picnic: House Music Festival
July 1-4: African-Caribbean International Festival of Life
July 5-9: Taste of Chicago
July 6: Argyle Night Market - Opening Night
July 6: Lincoln Park Zoo: Adults Night Out in July
July 7: TRAP Karaoke: Chicago
July 7-9: Square Roots Festival
July 7-9: West Fest
July 7: AMFM presents The Jazz Series at Blanc
July 7: Summertime in the Chi
July 8-9: Kids Eat Chicago
July 8: IAMAfricaan DayParty
July 8: The Kickback Chicago w/eEveryday People
July 8: Beach Party 2017
July 8: Gorillaz
July 8: Demystifying Collecting Art from the African Diaspora
July 8-9: 43rd Annual DuSable Museum Arts & Crafts Festival
July 9: Southern Roots: Revisited
July 10: Les Nubians - Up Close & Personal Tour
July 13: Chante Moore
July 14: The Comedy Get Down
July 14: Windy City Smokeout
July 14-16: Pitchfork Music Festival
July 14-16: Fiesta Colombiana
July 15: 2nd Annual House Music Booze Cruise II
July 15: Night Out in the Park with AfriCaribe!
July 15: The 14th Annual Silver Room Sound System Block Party
July 15-17: Natural Hair Fest
July 16: Chinatown Summer Fair
July 17: The Great Gatbsy Lawn Party
July 19: Summer Nature Festival
July 20: Alder After Dark - All Star
July 21: R&B ONLY
July 21-23: artfest Michigan Avenue
July 21-23: Taste of River North
July 22: The Art of Rap Fest Chicago, IL 2017
July 23: V103 presents Summer Block Party: Jill Scott, BBD, Nelly & Kelly, SWV
July 24: J. Cole 4 Your Eyez Only Tour
July 26: Skochella 2017
July 27-30: Fiesta del Sol
July 27-30: Newberry Book Fair
July 27: Kendrick Lamar: The DAMN. Tour with Travis Scott and D.R.A.M.
July 28: Meshell Ndegeocello
July 29: Bantu Fest
July 29: Igbo Feast
July 29: Ghanafest 2017
July 29: Second Annual Chicago Poetry Block Party
July 29: Peruvian Festival Chicago
July 29-30: Taste of Lincoln Avenue
July 29-30: Wicker Park Fest
July 29-30: Randolph Street Market Festival
July 30: Party Noire Day Party
July 30: Mary J. Blige: Strength of a Woman Tour
July 30: Eli's Cheesecake Festival
August
August TBA: Chicago Westside Music Festival
August 3-6: Lollapalooza
August 4: Mo'Nique Comedy Show
August 5-6: Taste of Korea - Chicago
August 5-6: Edge Fest 2017
August 5: The Greatest Enterprise 7th Annual House Picnic
August 5: Queens of Kings Adult Prom
August 6: Slow and Low Community Lowrider Festival
August 6: Windy City Motorsports Festival
August 11-13: Reggae Fest Chicago
August 11-13: Chicago Hot Dog Fest
August 11: Cuban Fest 2017
August 12: The Taco Crawl
August 12: Sheridan Park Arts Festival
August 12: Bud Billiken Parade
August 12: Party Noire Day Party
August 14: Broadway in Chicago Free Summer Concert
August 16: Bruno Mars: 24K Magic World Tour
August 16-17: West Loop Art Fair
August 17: Coldplay at Soldier Field
August 18-20: Festa Italiana
August 18-20: Pilsen Fest 2017
August 19: Windy City Carnival
August 19-20: Chicago Air & Water Show
August 20: Caribbean Yacht Party
August 25: Lady Gaga LIVE in Chicago
August 25-27: Taste of Greektown
August 26: Michael Blackson Comedy Show
August 31: SZA - The CTRL Tour - Chicago, IL
August 31-September 3: Chicago Jazz Festival
September
September 1-3: North Coast Music Festival
September 1-4: African Festival of the Arts
September 2-4: The Labor Day Weekend 3 Day House Picnic
September 3: The Breaks ft Tech N9ne, & more at Soldier Field!
September 7: Ms. Lauryn Hill & Nas, plus special guests
September 7-10: Chris Rock: Total Blackout Tour 2017
September 8-24: World Music Festival Chicago
September 8-10: Festival de La Villita (Little Village Festival)
September 9: Festival del Merengue Bachata Chicago
September 9: African Caribbean Boat Party 2017
September 15: Bryson Tiller
September 16: Distant Worlds: Chicago 30th Anniversary
September 16: 2nd Annual Love In the 90's Tour
We'll be updating this list as we find more events! (Updated 6/4/2017)
Did we miss any? Please share below!
Which festivals and events are you looking forward to this summer?
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