To henna or not ? !

I used to colour my hair with henna. Because my hair is brown .I thought it suited my hair's colour. Slowly & surely, henna made my  hair go dry.My hair was increasingly turning white .The time needed for re colouring was getting shorter . 

And then, I saw this advertisement for a dye wherein, they showed an Orange aunty whose hair had become orange because of continued  usage of henna. That did it ! I was suspecting that my crowning glory was growing florescent with that bright saffron shade !!! And the commercial of Orange  aunty  (  teased so   by all kids in the commercial  ) confirmed my belief ! 

 I am sure, very soon, one party was going to use my saffron shaded hair to their undue advantage !! I was in two minds if I had done right, by deciding to go colour free  with my hair. Because if I can milk netas & their cronies, I could get even with them ? !

The fact, is that my hair strands had started looking orange as if they were  on fire...somewhat like the party, which is on ignition  ! And my hair strands are  always flying as if there is  a wild fire ! Maybe ,there's something in the air ? !

 That's why, my untamed  hair fire  could be mistaken for the party & vice versa ! And my  well wishers would try to douse the fire on my head with water to cool me off ....Then I could catch a cold .Now, only, if such strategies  worked for politics & yet, some things change for the worse.

My  hair  has many hues now, that it's trying to shed henna.White, whitish grey, grey, greyish white, brown, brownish white, brownish grey, brownish white, saffron white, & so on. In fact, if anyone needs to match colours, there are ample choices on my head ! Or, rather amidst my mop of hair ! On second thoughts, maybe, I  can find employment with any company selling paints .Maybe , even with any showroom selling clothes for ladies .

And yet, going off henna has some plus point.The other day, I was at the airport to bid goodbye to a guest.It was midnight, when I & my husband decided to return home. I asked a security guard if an auto rickshaw can be hired at the departure terminal itself. He reluctantly said, " No, madam. And yet, cannot  say, no to you as you are a senior citizen . "He was staring at my hair which was shining like silver against   the mid night sky . And he himself, hailed an auto & amidst protests by the auto driver, bundled me & hubby into the auto rickshaw.So much for being young & grey !

The journey of my hair....

I had long hair while I was in school.I seldom liked it.I had no options as my granny & others at my home were proud about my hair & used to show it off to others ! Hair cutting was strictly  forbidden .I managed to cut side locks (now you know who started that trend ? ! )  with a pair of scissors .That episode was soon forgotten as one slip .

Later when I joined college,I cut my hair up to shoulder length .I told my aunt, that I was neck deep in studies to make plaits with my long hair.She was unconvinced . I started tying up my hair in a pony.I used to oil my hair regularly after hair wash with shampoos & sometimes shikakai & reetha as well.Later, when I shifted to a Mumbai college,I cut my hair even shorter.Now ,I felt truly emancipated !

My short hair had a host of problems- dandruff was one major concern.I consulted a homoeopath .The treatment though long has benefited me very much.Now a days, whenever I get dandruff ,it is gone after  a few days & it is minuscule compared to my pre- homoeopathic treatment days ! Maybe , also because ,I am quite careful about my diet now- I eat less oil,ghee,etc & eat home food.

I continued using a variety of shampoos & oils throughout my job.I tried Shahnaaz Hussain's shampoos & all were impressed with the shine that it brought to my auburn coloured hair .I felt great, as it was quite expensive & ‘…and that was the end of my hair problems!’

And I was wrong ! As I age ,there are newer problems which confront & irritate me-in fact ,hair fall is caused by worries about hair & scalp.

At my marriage ,I used Henna on my hair for the first time .I loved it -the lovely smell & of course, the beautiful sheen of red ,it gave to my hair.Thereafter ,I used to colour my hair off & on -always with henna.I continued cutting my hair - never letting it grow up to my shoulders.My hubby says that I must rename hair cutting as hair styling.That  way he feels, I am being within the limits set by our orthodox community for females.

My kid joining school led to another problem.Her hair would get infested with lice .In turn,my hair would be taken over by lice.I tried camphor & oil & lice killing shampoos etal.I have been warning my daughter to chop off her hair as it leads to these avoidable problems .Now, that she is a teenager ,she has her own mind .She continues to style her hair just to tease & irritate me & has refused to cut her hair.

I have started applying henna to my hair regularly - on a monthly basis.It adds colour to my hair which is greying ,thanks to all the stress because of my tresses ! The henna also conditions my hair & suits my wheatish complexion.I also call on my beautician for oil massaging on a monthly basis.


I believe in Herbal shampoos as  they are very mild .They  are unable to remove generous amounts of oil from hair & hence sometimes,I opt for other branded shampoos.I have used Dove & loved it ! It is value for money.

I feel that my scalp gets dried up after I have used a shampoo.This is cause for concern.I have no idea about moisturising my scalp unlike our Government which announces sops whenever there is a drought ! I am on the lookout for a cleanser,  which will nourish & not dry my scalp, even as it cleans my hair &  scalp.

Kahani kesh ki ....

My hair was  long, when I was a  little girl.I used to detest its length in those times.This is so, as I recall, that once, I caught hold of a pair of scissors & cut some flicks ! Of course ,all at  home were angry .It still made a fashion statement & that's how flicks became a rage ! My mom used to oil my hair once a week & give me a head bath with shikakai.

As I grew older ,my hair grew longer  & my dadi forbade me to cut it.The moment ,I joined college ,I cut my hair up to shoulder length, so that, I could tie a pony & manage my hair.I had very cleverly avoided to learn making  plaits .This was the excuse, I gave when my parents asked me, the reason of getting a hair  cut.After that, there was no stopping back.I still oiled my hair regularly & the shampoo  replaced shikakai.The shampoo would give a bounce & smoothness to my hair which I loved ! As I oiled my hair ,it made my hair shine & also greasy .I had no options then  & life went on.

Later ,I started working after finishing college.I cut my hair even shorter.I felt emancipated.I now started taking more care.I would shampoo my hair twice a week & sometimes even three times if the weather was very humid.I tried out many shampoos.For some months ,I tried out a branded herbal shampoo which was highly priced.It did wonders to my hair .All in my office noticed it & complimented me ! I was elated ! Then ,I switched to another brand many months later  as I was bored.I wanted to try out other brands.

Slowly & surely ,I started applying henna to my hair.I would buy from the market & even from my beauty parlor.Sometimes ,I would go & get it applied there.At other times,I would apply it myself.I loved the tint henna gave to my brown hair.Also it conditioned my hair so well ! Initially ,I applied henna once in six months.Later ,the gap reduced & it became once in two to three months.After marriage ,as my worries increased manifold ( as is the case with all females who enter matrimony ) I started applying henna regularly once a month ! My hair needed henna, as it was turning grey ! Nowadays ,I have a beautician, coming home regularly once in a month to apply it.She has opted for abranded herbal henna brand though it is more expensive.This is so, as there are fewer chances of adulteration in premium brands.

I love henna on my hair as my hair is brown & reddish brown henna colour nicely covers up my white hair.I  have avoided chemical treatments of my hair like using dyes.I have never gone in for straightening or perms.I feel it is foolish, to soil my hair by paying such a fancy price ! It is like a double jeopardy !

My hair is responding well to my love & care.I regularly go for hair cuts & hence my hair has no split ends.I very lovingly massage it twice a week with oil & then shampoo it with a herbal shampoo.Whenever,I apply henna to my hair,I keep it on for three to four hours.Then, I wash it  with plain water.The next day ,I apply oil nicely all over my hair & keep on the oil for an hour, before I shampoo.This is to maintain henna colour on my hair.This technique has given my hair, a very lovely look.I just adore my hair ! It has a bounce & a shine with that henna tint ! It sets beautifully & as the days progress ,that setting goes away.I have been advised to use serum .Though I was quite skeptical of using serum & even a conditioner as I felt, it would make my hair sticky ,I am better informed now.

I recently went in a spa & was informed about conditioning of hair & application of serums & masks to protect hair.That day, as my hair was blow dried after a hair cut ,the beautician applied a serum & my hair has stayed set for three days ! That's wonderful ! I have to just brush my hair & I am ready to step out.My hair looks  superb : as if, I just stepped after a hair styling ! I am a convert to conditioners & serums now ! Even, I can look my best with minimum efforts !

Though I sport short hair ,my hair compliments me & adds oodles to my personality ! I have been gentle & loving to my hair & it shows ! My hair is now ,very soft & manageable.It has a lovely colour  & suits my wheatish complexion.As I smile, at my lovely mane ,it  reciprocates by shining !
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This blog post is my entry for the contest organised by Dove & IndiBlogger titled :
Love is a two way street:Love your hair and it loves you back !