I am going to start by saying that this was my first time using Henna. I have nothing to compare this experience to, and can also claim that I am far from an expert when it comes to Henna. Based off the information I gathered from the Web and You Tube experiences, I believe the Lush Henna is a much simpler, cleaner process, plus the smell is bearable-actually pleasant in my opinion.
If you don't wish to dye your hair jet black, like myself, Lush Henna provides several other coloring options, like brown and red. I created the mixture by pouring boiling water over the blocks, which I placed in a ceramic bowl. I gradually added additional blocks, poured more water, and continued stirring until it took the appearance of a brownie batter texture. I decided to use the entire Henna block since my hair is pretty thick. The portion you choose to use is obviously based on the length and texture of your hair. I slathered it on my entire head while wearing rubber gloves. I then wrapped my head in plastic wrap to hold in the color and prevent the mess from falling over the house, as it is quite messy and will definitely stain anything it touches.
I washed my hair out in the shower, using my normal shampoo and conditioner. It is a little work getting all of the crumbs and residue out of your hair, but well worth the trouble. My hair felt like never before. It appeared to be shinier, healthier, and even has a slight red tint when the sun hits it just so. I'm a fan!
Hope this info helps you in your Henna attempts. Pictures are posted on my Tumblr page! View additional links below regarding Henna and Lush. Good luck and please let me know about your personal experience!
My Henna Experience- http://www.tumblr.com/blog/sogoodforme
Learn about Lush Henna- http://www.lushusa.com/Henna-Hair-Dyes/henna-hair-dyes,en_US,sc.html
Considering Henna for your hair- http://www.pioneerthinking.com/beauty/hair/hairdyes/sk_hennahair.html