Surya Henna Review

Surya Henna Cream

I was so excited to try this product because I had heard so many great reviews on it.  After dyeing my hair with traditional dyes for over 10 years, I have started developing sensitivity to them and my scalp has become an itchy mess.  So this alternative to chemical dyes was right up my alley.

Pros

• Mixed and ready to use.
• Can save any leftover product for future use
• Natural, soothing ingredients
• Herbal scent is pleasant
• Goes on smoothly and easily
• Felt like a hair treatment
• Rinsed fairly easily
• Did not irritate my scalp
• Left my hair shiny and silky
• Covered gray hairs

Cons

• Old school gloves, large and awkward
• Color was not as black as chemical dye
• Stained my pillowcase

Overall, I was very pleased with this product.  I think it will be my gateway into experimentation with other Henna products.  The end result was beautiful, silky, shiny hair that feels more healthy and pampered.  However, the color payoff was not exactly what I was looking for.  I think to get the deep rich black I am seeking I will need to use a Henna product that contains Indigo. I will keep you posted!  More details about my Surya experience below:

The Application Process:

Everything was mixed and ready to go, which was a nice change!  I put on the gloves, which were like the ones that home box dye used to use (you know those huge plastic ones?).  The directions said to apply to freshly shampooed, towel dried hair, so that is what I did.  I strictly followed all the directions as suggested.  Application of this product is a dream!  It goes on much more smoothly than commercial dye.  It felt like my hair was absorbing the goodness.  The cream was the consistency of warm hot fudge, thick and luxurious and spread through my hair easily.  I had purchased two bottles of the dye because my hair is long, but one bottle was more than enough.  Enclosed in the box is a plastic cap thing to use while leaving the product on.  I put this on my head after I applied the henna and secured it with a elastic headband.  I followed the timing guide included in the package, which indicated 60 minutes for my natural hair color.

Just a note:  I assumed that because this was a gradual coloring, that I could wipe off the dye that got on my skin before it had a chance to stain.  It stained my hairline and ears right away so I recommend using something like un-petroleum or vaseline on your hairline to prevent this.  Apparantly, this does have organic natural dyes in it, and that is what stained my skin.

The cream smells divine.  It has an herbal scent that reminded me of anise.  It was so nice to use something that didn't stink or sting my eyes.  The experience was more like a treatment to my hair than the chore of dyeing it.

After Application:

When my 60 minutes were up, I followed the directions and added some warm water to my hair and 'lathered' it up, then rinsed.  I did not notice that it took any longer to rinse clean than commercial dye.  However, my hair felt totally different than it usually does.  It felt smooth and strong and nourished.  And it smelled great!

Once my hair was dry, it looked very lustrous and had more body than usual.  The gray hairs were covered.  My hair has been chemically dyed black in the past and my natural hair color is an ash brown.  The root growth matched my black hair pretty well...but was slightly lighter.  It did not give my hair that 'blue black' sheen that commercial dyes do.  I have researched and have found that Indigo is needed to achieve this result, so after I use up my second bottle, I will seek out a product with Indigo in it.  I still want something easy to use, but this experience has opened me up to doing some actual mixing to get the results of the henna.  The treatment value alone is worth it in my book.  My scalp feels healthier already.

So, on a scale from 1 to 10, 10 being highest I'd rate Surya Henna the following:

Ease of application 8

Scent/consistency 10

Treatment value 10

Color payoff 6

I hope this review has been useful.  If I notice any differences with my second application I'll let you all know!

I bought my Surya Henna cream here, they have the 'new' formula with no synthetic dyes or mineral oil.