I’ll be the first to say that this article, if it really means indigo and not some other plant, then I don’t agree with a lot of what is said in this article. Basma, from the indigo plant? That sounds like they are calling indigo by another name. A lot of the information in this article is not correct.

You can use commercial hair dyes, relaxers, or perms, if you use 100% pure henna and herbs. You should ALWAYS do hair strand tests first before using ANY new hair product, even natural ones. Make sure that henna, and herbs are the right choice for YOU. Remember your hair is unique, just as you are. There are many recipes, and natural regimens out there, and you have to discover which of those are right for you. We’re here for you!

Please read:

Dark Chocolate or Black Night? Your Choice is Basma!

There is another favorite hair dye besides henna in the East. It is called basma. This vegetable hair dye is environmentally friendly. It is prepared from dried leaves of tropical plant indigo, which have greenish grey color. Basma can be used only with henna or coffee, because basma itself can dye your hair in green or greenish blue. Basma has excellent cosmetology properties: it stimulates hair growth and gives it a natural shine, improves hair structure, strengthens hair roots, and eliminates dandruff.

Also as henna, basma should be prepared immediately before applying on hair; you have not to store a hair dye. Take from 20 till 100 grams of basma and henna powder depending on your hair length. The proportion is determined depending on the desired tone and hue intensity. Having dissolved a powder in proportion of 1:1 you will get a nice brown hue. If you want to get hair so black as night, the proportion should be 1:2 (henna: basma); but having changed the proportion of components (1:2 basma: henna) you will get hair of bronze color.

Apply the dye dissolved with water to cream mixture to dry or wet clean hair; it is better to start with back of the head. Then apply the dye on top of the head and on temples, and then on the entire length. For effect enhancing you should put plastic hat on your head, and then cover it with a towel. Keep the dye for 20-30 minutes (for having a light tone), or 1-3 hours (for having rich dark tone).

However, dyes from natural ingredients are not permanent as chemical dyes are. Therefore hair dyed with henna or basma should be spared; wash it with mild shampoos and rinse it with conditioners and balms of the same type (do not use deep cleaning shampoos!). Maintain the color intensity using such a rinse. Pour the mixture of 25 grams of henna and 25 grams of basma with 1.5 liters of boiling water. Filter the mixture carefully, cool it and rinse your hair with it. You have to moisturize your hair regularly and nourish it with protein masks for keeping the resulting hair shine. You can make the mask by yourself: mix 2 egg yolks, 1 teaspoon of honey, aloe leaf juice, 1 teaspoon of castor oil.

You should remember: if your hair is dyed with vegetable dye, you cannot use artificial dyes. The reaction of chemical agents with henna and basma can lead to unexpected results, including blue or green hue. Natural dye has to be completely washed off. 

This Thursday, February 4th, the Henna Sooq will be donating their services to the Hope for Haiti Concert to be held at the University of Toronto.

All of the money that we raise, will go directly to Hope for Haiti.

Haiti hits extremely close to home for us, especially since I grew up in a neighborhood where a large majority of my friends have been haitian. So some of our friends have had a tremendous amount of loss in Haiti.

Henna Sooq gives back to the community! We hope to see you there!

Performances by:

• Sofia Baig
• Nader Khan
• Jafer Alam
• Halal Meat
• Mohammad Ali Aumeer

Below you will find the email message sent out from Hope for Haiti. Hope for Haiti on Facebook

The contest is now closed and within 1 week we’ll announce the Grand Prize winner, who will get $70.00 worth of Henna Sooq products!!! That’s a lot of goodies.

Michelle S’s Natural Hair Journey

My hair is cared for using strictly Organic and Natural haircare products. In my quest to avoid haircare products containing an array of toxic substances, I stumbled upon the Henna Sooq and have never looked back. My present Natural/Organic regimen has produced some amazing results. In terms of texture and appearance, my hair is now very noticeably healthy.

My favorite henna crop is Rajasthani  which produces a very lovely tone especially when out in the sun.  My natural hair color is more of a very dark brown so this works perfect without being too vibrant.

For simple cleansing and conditioning I use the following: Miessence’s Desert Flower Shampoo, Hennasooq’s Argan Oil Shampoo Bar and Miessence’s Shine Herbal Hair Conditioner.

And whenever I feel the need for extra conditioning I reach for a simple tea rinse using either Chamomile or Rosemary. I brew these and just pour over my hair.  Both are known to promote shine and overall healthy hair. Now and then I also apply a Henna Gloss using Henna and Amla Powder mixed with my Organic Hair Conditioner. This concoction conditions and also deposits a bit of color to my hair.

On days when my hair feels heavy, I use a simple Apple Cider Vinegar rinse or the Miessence Clarifying Hair rinse. They both produce amazing results!

My hair is naturally wavy and doesn’t require much styling hence I get away with using just oils such as Argan, Jojoba or even Coconut. Choosing an all Natural/Organic regimen is the only way to go for gorgeous healthy hair.

Thank you for entering Shaista.

Shaista’s Henna Journey

I have dark black thick hair.I’ve been using Henna since I was very young in India for mostly conditioning because I never get the RED color I want .
I stopped doing henna when I got married and came to Canada  and I never liked the  henna which Indian /south Asian stores have. I came to know about Khadija and I started using her henna on and off..Now it is pretty much regular for me. I still don’t get the RED I want but it gives my hair a beautiful shine and they are smooth and silky. I had long hair till almost my waist but now they are half way down my waist which I find easier to handle and maintain. They look really dark but when you see them in the sun you can see a bit of dark maroon in it..depends on the way I’m standing in the light

My Recipe:

- I use 3-4 boxes of Indian Raj Henna powder
- Warm Tea water with a bit of cloves, some lemon juice.
- Mix it until a bit thicker than tooth paste.
- Mix 4-5 drops of rose water or lavender essential oil (depends on my mood)
- Let it sit for a an hour.
- I wear gloves and apply it with my hands as I find it easier .
- I start with the center of my head, part my hair in half then take a bunch of hair and apply henna generously starting from the roots moving to the ends of hair.
- I take a bunch of hair from both sides of my hair (partitions) one side at a time then other and work going from the center of head to the outside.
-At the end  it looks like a turban. If I have any henna left I apply it on top.
-Wipe the excess from my head, ears , neck.
-I cover my hair with saran wrap and let it sit for 2- 3 hours.
-I rinse with water and let it dry naturally.
-When my hair is half dry half wet I apply lukewarm oil with a few drops of lemon juice. I’m a big fan of oil, and oil my hair on a regular basis. I use coconut oil.
-I always use warm oil.
-I wrap my hair with  a hot towel so the oil goes deep in the roots for 15 minutes.
-Next day I wash my hair with a shampoo bar from Henna Sooq
-After 2 days I apply a mix of yogurt , lemon juice and egg and apply in my hair and let it sit for an hour then rinse and follow the same oil routine.

I still wish I could get the red like Tammi and Stevie

Final day to enter is today at midnight. Every entry this week, gets 100 grams of a herbal product of their choice from the Henna Sooq.

Manasi’s Ayurvedic Hair Regimen

I use the Herbal Mystique(HM)  Fortifying Amla Tulsi Hair Oil once a week . Wash my hair with HM Aloevera Jojoba Shampoo and use the HM Jaswand hair gel (Hibiscus and Aloevera)  for leave in treatment 2-3 times a week.

We are feeling extremely generous this week, and have decided that everyone who has entered in the contest this week is a winner!!

The last day for our Natural Hair Care contest is tomorow January 29, at midnight. Enter as soon as you can. It’s really simple: your natural hair care regimen, and a photo of your gorgeous hair! Email us at hennasooq@gmail.com to enter now!!

Stevie’s Henna Journey

I have been coloring my hair “red” with all natural henna for almost 6 years now. I used to have dirty blond going brown hair and it was always a long tangled mess (my hair used to be a little more than half way down my back). Now my hair is so soft and shiny, plus I love the color. The shade and brightness of color depend on how long I leave it in as well the lighting of the day. As well, all photo representations vary due to flash or the surrounding lighting.

-Use 2 boxes of henna powder. Typically Jamila.
-Mix boiling water into powder until brownie batter consistency.
-Mix in 3-5 drops of Lavender essential oil.
-Leave to cool between 45 mins -1 hour.
-With gloves I apply to head in handfuls starting at the roots and covering them as best as possible while moving to the ends.
-Pile all hair on top of head and wipe off any excess from skin on forehead, ears, neck…
-Wrap with plastic bag and let sit for 2 hours minimum.

Sensei Jamal is the only certified teacher in Ontario, and is bringing Budokon in huge waves across the Greater Toronto Area.

He recently went to North Carolina for training, where the new Budokon headquarters is located. Kancho Cameron Shayne is an exceptional teacher, and we thank him for all his hard work, dedication, and enabling Sensei Jamal to be where he is at today.

Sensei Jamal has also become the highest ranked Budokon instructor across Canada. Congratulations Sensei Jamal!!

(For those who don’t know, Sensei Jamal is the husband of Khadija Dawn Carryl of Henna Sooq)

We want the Henna Chai to remain a place to just be yourself, as a  henna enthusiast enjoying each other’s company. To have an opportunity to learn some great new skills, and techniques from professionals. To have an endless stream of henna, yummy food, and conversation.

We want to thank those helping us make this year’s Henna Chai come together.

• Kim Brennan of Hasina Mehndi, for her amazing talent and time she has taken out to be here with us. We all will learn so much from her.
• Nadine Levy-Benaouich, who works with the Henna Sooq, and gives all of her effort and time, to build something beautiful. We could not do any of this without her! We are eternally grateful.
• Riffat Bahar of Mehndi Magic (UK) for her continued support, encouragement, and knowledge. She is one of our sponsors for this year’s Henna Chai.
• Fatma Nurmohamed of Hijab Pins Canada, is one of our sponsors. She makes exquisite hand-crafted hijab pins, and carries pashminas, and scarves.
• Herbal Mystique is a leading company on ayurvedic products, and detox. They carry ayurvedic facial, skin care, and hair products. They are one of our sponsors, and will be showing us how to do an ayurvedic facial.
• Henna Sooq is one of our sponsors. We look forward to seeing what goodies will be in the swag bags from them!

There will be a few more sponsors joining us. Most sponsors will be offering gifts for the swag bag that everyone receives, and prizes.

Anyone interested in donating products, henna designs, or to advertise with us, please contact us at hennasooq@gmail.com or call 905-230-4651.

We will give all sponsors free advertising on the Henna Chai website for one year, along with their banner printed into our Henna Chai book that every attendee will receive.

We hope to see you at Henna Chai on arch 19-21, 2010! Don’t miss this event, as it only happens once a year!

We are really excited about these candles for several reasons:

• 100% pure beeswax
• Hand-crafted to ensure quality
• Releases no toxins
• Releases negatively charged ions which clean the air
• No metal, iron or resins in wick cores
• No stearic acid or releasing agents added
• All essential oils used in The Hive’s candles are ethically produced and are free from pesticides and chemical fertilizers
• The henna designs will be sealed in beeswax, and not with a craft sealant

Paraffin is produced from the sludge left over from the refining process of the crude oil and petro-chemical industries.

When you burn paraffin products in your home, you release toxic by-products into your home’s air. Some of these are known to be carcinogenic.

These candles will be available for purchase at The Hive located at 219 Ottawa St North in Hamilton, Ontario. You can contact them directly at 905-528-4483. We would like to carry these candles in our Mississauga, and new downtown Toronto location. To be announced.

Michelle’s Natural Hair Regimen

I have been following a natural haircare regimen since Jan 2007 when I cut the remainder of my relaxed hair off; I had my last relaxer in May 2006.  In June 2008, I got an ill-planned cut that left me with very short hair, but its grown out quite fast, which I attribute to my natural regimen… Today, my hair is maybe an inch past my collar bone, very thick and super healthy.  I have lots of curls and a fair helping of fluffy frizz.
 
I try to keep my routine simple: I wash with diluted Dr Bronner’s castille soap weekly and co-wash with a drugstore conditioner almost daily. *My co-wash conditioner is the only non-natural aspect of my regimen.* I detangle in the shower with a wide tooth comb, followed by a brush. I apply a natural leave in, sometimes a bit of coconut or baobab oil, and pull it all back into a bun or ponytail, smoothing the top down with a natural, strong holding gel.  If I’m wearing it down, like in the photo, after I wash and add a leave in, I will twist with a bit of oil, sit under a hood dryer and then take the twists out for smooth, defined individual coils.
 
I trim my own hair every 4-6 months by twisting and snipping the very ends off the twists. I’m not good about deep treatments, but I like to load my hair up with coconut oil the night before I wash. Finally, I will do an occasional Amla treatment for conditioning, but I am a huge fan of henna. While you can’t see it in the photo, henna really shows up in my hair and gives it a cool burgundy color. It also makes my hair super smooth and easy to detangle and work with. I have recently incorporated indigo into my henna to experiment with a darker haired look. My hennaing is not regular, but I will do it a few times a year.
 
I really love my hair like this and encourage more women to embrace natural haircare, because it is all-around so much better for your hair, your health, your wallet and our collective perception of beauty.