HAIR CARE FOR HIPPIES

Do you want a new hair style without spending your entire check? Do you want to color your hair, but not load it down with chemicals, and not have the funky grow-out line? Do you like to do things at home, while having a party and watching your children run around? Do you like herbs and natural conditioners and earthy smelling loveliness? I do. And that's why I use Henna.
I like to be a red head, at least twice a year. It fits my sassy personality and makes me feel good. It's change that is actually good for you. No plastic surgery and permanent waves for this girl. I am the rustic red rebel!!
You can buy Henna in any health food store. It is a plant that is dried, powdered, packaged, and usually boxed. I buy it in 1 lb. bags from Starwest Botanicals. I also make sure that I am buying PURE Henna and not some dye that is just pretending to be Henna. It can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer so that it doesn't lose it's dye properties. http://www.starwest-botanicals.com/_search.php?page=1&q=henna

It comes in many different colors (browns, blacks, reds...) and is easy to prepare and apply. It is a bit messy, so you will want dark towels, rubber gloves, hair comb clips, an old t-shirt, salve, and a good friend that likes to listen to music, drink beer, and play hippie salon. Warning: having men in the house while you do this is not advised. They will drink your beer AND laugh at the bag on your head. They will also make you worry about how dark it is getting and that you'd better wash it off. And they'll drink all your beer, did I mention that?
First you will mix your Henna with warm water, until it is the consistency of Mayonnaise. (Don't worry it's not the same texture as sandwich spread, it's more like cow patties.) We usually seep chamomile tea bags in our water before we put it on. It makes brighter highlights and smells good too! Adding lemon juice and/or beer, makes the acid content higher and pulls more dye properties out of the Henna. We also add a couple splashes of olive oil or coconut oil, for a conditioner.
Use wooden or plastic spoons and a glass or plastic bowl for mixing. Metal is not advised only because the acidic henna may tarnish certain metals. But, if you are like me, and you don't care what your dishes look like...then use whatever you want. (At this point you can also freeze batches for later. They don't go bad and the consistency is great when it comes out of the freezer.)
Turn up the music very loud and give the kids a project to work on that will keep them busy. Pour some beer in the mix and drink the rest of the can...or bottle. Wine would also work, I think. Tell me if you try this, because I never have. I like to suggest things that I have not tested for myself.
But, I am not afraid. In fact, I will do it and let you know what happens.
Apply some salve to your hairline, tops of ears, and forehead. Depending upon how much beer your Henna partner has had, you may want to apply it to your whole face! It will dye your skin, but no worries. It fades after...about 3 days.
We wet our hair and pat it off with a towel. This makes the Henna application, go a little smoother. However, having dry hair may soak up more of the dye. Your call. Put on your junky t-shirt and wrap the dark towel around your shoulders. Really work that dye into the roots and then out towards the ends. We do ours in sections and then pin it up with hair combs until the entire head is covered and looks like you went cow tipping...on the wrong end of the herd. Wrap a plastic grocery bag around your head and tie at the bottom. I like to put on a bandana or hat at this point, so I look less like a martian, and more like a hippie.
Do not be tempted to try the red Henna on your 5 year old daughter, that has light blonde hair, no matter how much she begs! (This is the disclaimer for the gals that drink more beer than they put into their Henna mix!) The result will be a beautiful combination of Peter Pan and Ariel the mermaid, but people will look at you strange and wonder what possessed you to "dye" your child's head brazen red. No matter how much you insist that it is an herbal remedy for cradle cap...they will NOT believe you.
Of course this brings me to the best point about Henna. It does not grow out in a strange line that you have to keep dying over and over again, like a punk rock hero. It fades away naturally and the highlights just get more and more beautiful! Obviously, the longer you leave it on, the brighter (or darker) it gets.
My BFF, and I, have actually tried the heat application. This involved a Ford Econoline Sauna Van, plastic grocery sacks on our heads, more beer, and a complete disregard of the clock. The longer the better. I literally woke up the next morning, and thought that my hair was not mine. Wow. Can anyone say, Strawberry Shortcake?
If this happens to you and you don't really care, then you are a true Hippie-Salon girl. Just wear a hat, laugh at yourself before anyone else can, and it will be mellowed out within a week.
When you do decide to wash it out, your shower will have greenish-red color running down the drain for at least the first couple times. Do not fret. This is normal. Henna is like food for your hair and it will love you when you are done. Don't listen to your husband if he gasps in surprise when he sees you. He is only doing this because you are a Henna Goddess that deserves to be worshipped.
Enjoy the change. Enjoy the comments of, "How do you get those gorgeous highlights in your hair? It's so shiny!"
Happy Hippie Henna day, to be coming soon, to a kitchen near you.