I mix my henna with green tea to release the dye. Prior, I would use lemon juice but after reading how harsh it can be, I decided on green tea. One of the most important steps after applying Henna is to rinse it out throughly, the second step is to apply a deep condition to your hair perferable with steam or for 25/30 minutes with your hair wrapped with a warm towel. I don't henna much but starting this year, (2015) I intend to apply henna every 16 weeks, which is three times per year.