Grand opening of Megumi Organic Salon. Kaimuki, Hawaii 2009.
Like most hairstylists, I got my cosmetology degree and worked in a hair salon for a few years that uses chemicals until, one day, I noticed my hands tingling while shampooing my client. My whole body would feel hot and turn red like I was blushing, and my heart would beat rapidly with the smell of chemical hair dyes. I went to see a dermatologist and allergist. I was given an allergy test and discovered that I was allergic to neomycin, paraphenylenediamine, propylene glycol, and other chemicals. This is where my relationship with chemical hair dye ended and one with henna started.
“What am I going to do?” I thought. I could have just cut hair and not offered any other services, but I was curious to see what other options were available, so I went to the health food store and bought all the “natural” hair dyes I could get my hands on. Imagine my disappointment when I reacted badly to most of the “natural” hair dyes I purchased — not to mention the henna that I got not staining hair very well. It was then that I realized I needed to research and learn more about natural hair dyes.
I started a journey into a world that I did not know existed. See, my way of healthy living was diet soda, fat-free salad dressing, expensive beauty products, etc. which were full of ingredients that are not healthy for us. I was in shock at how these ingredients were allowed to be in our food and the products that we use on our bodies daily! The world I entered offered a cleaner way of living. I am excited to share my journey with you and I hope you will follow along.
Happy Henna,
Lisa