If you’re considering using henna hair dye as an all-natural alternative to traditional hair dye you’d use in a professional salon, there are a few things you should know before getting started. The first time I used it, I hadn’t done my research and regretted it!
I’m sharing these tips so that YOU won’t make the same mistakes I did.
Here’s what I think you should know.
1. Is Henna Good For Your Hair?
Henna hair dye is considered a good conditioner for your hair, and as a result can make it stronger, thicker, and shinier. It may help to restore the natural pH balance of your hair and scalp, too!
2. How Long Does Henna Stay in Your Hair?
Henna is a permanent hair dye. The color is most vibrant for the first 4 to 6 weeks, and in my experience it starts to gradually fade after that, but I’m not sure it ever goes away completely.
Keep in mind that if you want to dye your hair later, it may be difficult to go lighter in color. Henna is very hard to lift out of your hair later! (I found this out after the fact– and was disappointed that I couldn’t get my hair highlighted for nearly a year after dying my hair with henna.)
3. It’s Messy to Apply & Can Stain Your Skin
The first time I used henna, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I highly recommend working the henna through your hair in the bathroom– ideally standing in a dry shower, so you can rinse away any mess when you’re done.
When mixed together, henna has the texture of mud and it can feel a little awkward to apply. As a result, there’s usually some that drips on the floor, and down your forehead.
Before you apply the henna dye, protect your skin by using a thick balm or cream to create a barrier. I rub it around my forehead, ears, and neck.
4. Henna Hair Dye Can Take a Long Time to Set
Depending on the vibrancy you want, henna can take 1 to 6 hours to develop.
That’s a long time to have your scalp wrapped in a shower cap. (The shower cap keeps the dye warm, and therefore, more effective, while also preventing drips so you can walk around your house!)
I should note that I can only last 2 hours before my patience gives out, and usually my hair turns out well!
5. Henna Will Not Necessarily Even-Out Your Hair Color
In my experience, if you have roots or highlights when you start the process, you’ll still have roots or highlights when you’re finished. (Henna can cover gray hair, but it’s a slightly extra process.)
I happened to have roots and highlights the first time I used henna (you can see before pictures of my highlights and roots at the top of this post), so you can see how the reddish color varies throughout my hair, where I had more blonde highlights. I was hoping for a more even color, so this aspect was a little disappointing for me. Without the noticeable roots, I think this would be pretty!
6. It Can be Difficult to Change Your Hair Color AFTER using Henna
Some brands of henna dye have metallic salts added to it, and as a result, you cannot use chemical hair dyes over them. (The result is a chemical reaction that causes your hair to smoke!) It’s important to let your hair dresser know that you’ve dyed your hair with henna before you get started, so they are prepared.
In my case, I was able to even out my hair color after using henna using a semi-permanent dye. My stylist had to apply it twice, however, because she said my hair was not receptive to absorbing the color after using the henna. (Normally, my hair takes to dye very quickly!)
It should also be noted that my hair did not lift with bleach easily after using henna, so we had to go a shade darker, rather than lighter. I love getting my hair highlighted, so this something I wish I knew before getting started!
Which Brands of Henna Hair Dye Are Best?
There are always new brands entering the market, but I’ve only tried two brands so far. Most recently, I used Morrocco Method when trying to cover gray hair, and it worked really well! I love that it has no metallic salts added, so I didn’t have to worry about my hair smoking later if I got my hair dyed at a salon.
The very first time I dyed my hair with henna, I used Lush brand. According to their website, they add ingredients like lemon juice and coffee grounds to their henna, but I don’t believe they add metallic salts to their products, either.
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I hope these tips prove helpful for anyone interested in trying henna, too!
Reader Feedback: Do you color your hair? Have you ever tried using henna hair dye, or would you like to?
I have used henna for several years and have been very pleased with the results. I use Surya brand — it comes premixed, and takes at most 45 minutes. Coverage has always been very good for me — I’m a natural medium brown with lots more gray coming in than I’d like! It all gets covered, although the gray looks a little more like highlights than the same color as the rest, but it still looks good. http://www.suryabrasilproducts.com/hennacream.html
I just had a nightmare experience with the Surya henna last night. It is definitely NOT natural Henna (look at the igredients-1st ingredient is a major chemical). Henna is just one ingredient of many. This is a chemical, semi-permanent color with plenty of toxins. The packaging is very deceptive. Anyway, instead of the subtle natural red got for years with the messier, but way more natural authentic henna, now I have scary fire-engine red! Just horrible.
buy light brown henna surya colour cream, that way it wont be a fire red. keep away from red colours, unless you want red! –I used the light brown on my washed oit even lighter the lght brown very faded colou and gave me perfect colour, -pls note I have darker hair roots growing, but -REMINDER HENNA CANNOT LIGHTEN YOUR HAIR ONLY ADD COLOUR TO IT. SO MAKE SURE YOU CHOOSE CORRECT COLOUR.Ichose light brown – suits me. if you prefere a meduim or darker brown choose brown or dark brown. – if you choose a blonde henna it will not lighten your hair as it only colours darker or will be the shade close to the packet but also depends what you already have to start with!
no peroxides – They damage hair, as they strip the hair and can leave it porous.
I used henna in the past and decided to try it again, the first time my hair and scalp felt Gritty. The color was fine until it started fading into an orangish/brown. So I used it again, Light Mountain brand both times as that was the one everyone suggested as being the best. I’m not knocking the brand as I assume it is a better brand than others, however I ended up with a pretty severe red scalp and a welt about three inches by one inch on the back of my neck that I had to get treated for. Many people do fine with henna but keep in mind you can develop severe allergies to it also even if that has never occurred with you bf. Please research the keloid scars some get on their hands from doing the mendis. I’m just trying to warn people that if you choose to use henna, it is not risk free. I’m pretty certain that similar things can happen with chemical coloring also.
You may want to research online videos or YouTube’s of women who have decided to let their hair go naturally grey if that is what you are trying to cover up. Best wishes to all regardless of your decision to color or not to color. When a specialist in natural health was spoken to about my situation, she said it is not uncommon to have allergies to henna products.
Yes! Above poster is correct Surya is not natural at all it only has a small amount of henna in it. Filled with chemicals. I now get “body art quality” henna online. If you search for that online hopefully you can find some close to where you live.
I have used Rainbow Henna for years.Rainbow research company .All natural henna.Beautiful color yes it covers the grey.I am allergic to many things and never had trouble with this.A patch test done before is a good idea.I believe people who have an allergic reaction used a product with other things in it than henna.For me its a wonderful alternative.
I used bio organic henna hair dye and it covered some gray, but not all of it and I kept it on for 1 to 2 hrs. My hair is natural black some of my gray was covered but not all of it. I will wait a month and try another brand. Thank you for sharing your henna experience with me and others.
I actually love using the Light Mountain brand henna, with a fox on the box. I add a little vinegar and lemon juice to the mix, leave it on for about an hour ( my natural hair is a dirty blond) and get a great, natural looking red.
Pure henna or natural henna works in great way to achieve desired results.
I have found THE HENNA GUYS brand useful. They offer other natural hair colors too.
Dark brown, burgundy , light brown, deep red henna , indigo , Black and jet black are their other products. I am happy with their products i used. http://www.thehennaguys.com
That’s the one I just used last night! I used the “red,” which is purely henna powder, added some paprika, lavender and geranium oils, and yogurt. It looks great! I did have chemically processed hair before, and there’s no problem. I think it helps that the chemical color was not all that different from my natural color. Light Mountain was really cheap and once I had a friend walk me through it via video it was simple. I left it on for about three hours for this first time.
Emma, what does the vinegar and lemon juice do for the process?
They are acidic which helps to open (rough up) the cuticle layer of hair allowing for the color pigment to enter the hair shaft. It’s basically what the peroxide of a permanent hair color does, but not as effective. Make sure to use a conditioner after to help seal the cuticle, and protect it from damage.
If you do mehndi on your skin, when you make the henna mud paste, you will want to use a “terp” (NOT turpentine!), which helps to have the plant have dye release. Something like tea tree oil or geranium oil. Something acidic like vinegar or the lemon juice is also acidic and will help with dye release. If you let the mixture sit awhile before application, that usually helps too. We find that we only need an hour with henna on our hair to get good results, not six. If you mix the henna with cassia (brown color) or indigo (blue black), you can achieve different colors. Light mountain hair color uses these or you can buy each on Amazon and mix your own color.
Sadly, you’ve been duped by the Surya deceptive packaging. Surya IS NOT HENNA and Surya IS NOT NATURAL. Surya is just artificial dyes, the same as any other regular commercial hair dye. They just add in a little henna and then play that up in the marketing to make you think you’re getting a natural henna product. In fact, once mixed with liquid, henna has to be used up within the day or it loses its dye ability – so the little henna that’s in Surya does not even contribute to the color! I hate that brand for their LYING.
I’ve been using Light Mountain “color the gray”, light brown, for years. Three ingredients are listed on the box: Lawsonia Inermis (henna) leaf power, Indigofera tinctoria (indigo) leaf powder, and Casia auriculata (senna) leaf powder. All certified organic. My hair is around 40 – 50% (?) gray now so i use the “color the gray” product which requires 2 steps. The color is so similar to my own, that i only color 2 – 3 times a year, after i’ve had my hair cut so i don’t have so much hair to color.
The first time, i used too much liquid and the henna ran all over place – all over me and the floor and everywhere. Just awful. Since then i’ve been replacing the water with 1/2 chamomile tea and lemons i squeeze on the spot. And i don’t use nearly as much liquid so it usually doesn’t drip anywhere. And i buy a plastic shower cap because the “cap” that comes with the kit is useless, imho. And after a thorough rinse and conditioner right after coloring, i follow the instructions and wait and wash it out with shampoo the next day.
But i like it well enough to keep using it – for 5 or 6 years.
http://www.hennaforhair.com/faq/
Ok, the Henna for Hair link has been posted a few times in the comments section and I’m reposting it here in the hopes that this will be at the top, thus available to people who don’t want to dig through all the comments.
If you have henna hair questions, do yourself a favor and read the linked faq. The woman who runs the site did a graduate dissertation on henna. If you dig around the site, you can find links to her paper.
This next link (which is also linked in the above faq) explains how henna dyes hair from a chemistry perspective, including why it is hard to remove from hair. If you want to henna your hair but think you will want to use a chemical dye after a few months, read that blog post so you know what you’re getting into.
http://cthuliz.com/blog/?p=2624
For the tl;dr crowd: henna is a plant and only coats the hair in a red/orange color that is best visible on hair that is already light. Neutral henna is actually a plant called cassia, and black henna is actually indigo, the plant used to dye your jeans.
Good luck getting the info you’re looking for.
some 40 years ago, I used to buy henna in my local drugstore. It was in a tin container about six inches tall, with a screw-on lid. It was cheap, came in just the one color, and I would take it home, grind up some CLOVES in my coffee mill, and add it to the henna powder to protect against brassiness. It looked completely natural. I had a neighbor when I was in high school who was a true natural redhead with freckles on pale porcelain skin and pale blue eyes. People who didn’t know me or my original color would tell me how beautiful the color was and to NEVER MESS WITH NATURE. But then that henna disappeared from the shelves. I wonder now where I can get that original product, or just buy the plain henna powder.
Try any Indian store .
I use the Indian kind.
Try just for redheads . I have been using their henna for a year now. Love it.
Hi! I use Henna. I buy it online from Henna. It comes from Portland, Oregon. It is in powder form. And it’s all natural. You get quite a bit. I don’t even use the full pack. I hope this is helpful. Linda.
Here is one I really like and it’s all natural.
I’ve been using Rainbow brand henna for a long time and love the results. People think I’m a natural redhead! You can leave it on as long as you like and it won’t go badly wrong, like what happened to me when I tried another brand that required a strand test. Lucille Ball had nothing on me! It’s a bit messy, but make a warm “mud” plaster, slather it on your head, cover with an old towel and a plastic bag and hang out for an hour or two relaxing. Rinse in cool water and it’s good to go! The other cool thing is that before my hair started growing in grey I only needed to re-treat every 3-4 months. Lastly—a tub of rainbow is only $8! Great stuff, hope the company lasts forever. 🤗🌺🤗
Where can you purchase this henna?
I buy it the same way as recently as four years ago in san francisco at a little natural products store on Valencia st between 23rd and 22nd. I guess my advice is o try hippie vegan vitamin stores.
That was the Nestle Henna, loved it. They don’t make it anymore🙁
I’ve been buying henna from Mehandi.com for about 3 years. It is pure henna with no added chemicals or anything. They have kits they sell or you can just buy the henna powder, cassia, indigo and fruit acids and mix your own color or shade yourself. I started with medium brown kit 3 years ago but didn’t realize that by me blow drying my hair it turned it black. I kept using lighter colored kits and cut out all of the black. Now I just use cassia and henna (no more Indigo) but it’s too red lol so now I’m raising the ratio of more cassia than henna to hopefully have my white hair more blonde than red. The site I buy it from has really great customer service if you email them they can walk you thru whatever color you want to achieve. I love henna but don’t like that I can’t blow dry or use heat on my hair.oh and what I do is after I mix my henna I just freeze it immediately instead of letting it dye release for 8 to 12 hours, this way it dye releases and is ready to use immediately after it defrosts. This was on the website where I buy it. I find it much easier and i can freeze many batches at the same time.
Thanks Marie. Could you share the website, pls? Much Thanks.
I tried dying my hair with henna last summer and I LOVED how soft my hair felt afterwards. I almost had a meltdown when looking at a photo of myself outside in the sun: my hair looked orange! Do you think that was the henna or the permanent dye I used on it 5 weeks later? Did your hair ever turn orange? I, too, am a medium brown with a lot of grey. My hairstylist said that all henna will make your hair look either orange or red in the sun. Ever since then, I have been afraid to try it again.
You must have used straight henna. I haven’t done it yet, but am planning to today. Everything I have read says the natural henna makes your hair red, but you can get organic henna in different colors like light brown or medium brown… I saw Kate Middleton’s picture in the medium brown color.
I had the exact same problem. I only realized after seeing a photo of myself that my hair looked orange. Have you found a way to resolve this? If so, please share.
I liked your post and it’s pretty spot on . I wanted to clarify that I’ve been using henna for 8 years now including during two pregnancies with no adverse effects. I use the Hairwalla brand sold on Etsy . There are no chemicals just plant powder it’s activated with water. It works great! I have dark brown hair and use walnut color. By the way I’ve also highlighted my hair without issues with color lifting. Maybe it’s because this brand has no metallic salts and is just crushed plant powder.
Yeah, if it’s a cream that means it’s pre-mixed and is definitely NOT natural henna, which must be mixed and used fresh, it loses effectiveness in about a day once mixed. True natural henna is a gritty powder you mix with water (and little extras to boost color, add fragrance, etc.). It’s ONE INGREDIENT: henna.
Yeah, unfortunately…not the best thing when you are trying to be all healthy and natural and green but hey….we are not perfect :-). Your hair looks pretty, by the way :-).
THanks for these tips! I have seen that henna dye at LUSH before and was always curious about it, I would love to add a red tint to my dark brown hair. But I dye my hair quite often, so maybe not the best option. I’ll have to ask my stylist if she uses permanent or semi-permanent.
Henna is amazing, dont listen to the above chic lol the package of henna by Lush says 2 to 4 hours leave it on your head, I almost died from chemical hair dye 3 months ago and LUSHs henna is easy and I am astonished at the results and I have been dying my hair for 25 years! Lushs henna is world renowned, my hair is thicker, fuller and the color is beautiful.
Carla, do you have any greys? How do they turn out?
You are great for printing these tips for folks! I could have used them myself when I first tried henna (bright red, yikes!!). I think it’s funny that the color is called “Caca Marron”, which, as you may already know, is Spanish for “sh*t brown”… 🙂
I’m sorry I just had to comment: “Caca Marron” is FRENCH for “sh*t brown”. I should know, I’m french canadian…But the word “marron” as a color is mainly used by the French and not here in Canada because a “marron” is a chestnut. WE just say “brun” instead.
@Christa: I thought the same thing! >.<
@ Jessica: Actually, it IS Spanish for "Poop brown" or "shit brown". I know because I am Peruvian and speak French too… It means the same thing in BOTH languages. Just fyi.
Just so you know, guys, “caca” means “shit” or “poop” in Roamanian too. Also, a word can mean the same thing in more than one language :))
Romanian*, sorry 😀
Thatis so funny, caca is a universal word.
Means the same in Greek too.
In English it’s just a word little kids use when referring to anything gross . Well where I’m from anyway …
It means the same in Benagli too 🙂
It also means baby in Hindi ;P
Hah! Yeap, in the North East of England, when baby needs diaper change… it’s all “CACA!”
Which is very fitting, considering what mixed henna looks like…
😀
Unfortunately it’s not a completely universal word, Caca means ‘cake’ in irish.
Caca means poo in english and greek too
Same in Arabic as well XD
same exact translation to spanish and correct spelling too, rather than french think is español
While it is “brown”. Lush’s instructions say that if you wrap it in plastic wrap, it will make the red more prominent. At the end of the day, it is Henna, which is red. But if you want a more brown colour, Lush says leave your hair unwrapped, and it will result in a brown/red colour. They have 4 different colours, all of which have a red base. But depending on how RED you want, you choose the other undertone (brown, black, etc.).
Yes, the translation is “brown sh*t” 🙂 Funny. That’s the reason why I have entered this site 😉
I’m Canadian , not French…if you’re knee deep n caca, you’re in ?. And this symbol comes up when you type caca-
No idea how old these comments are, but OMG no…the post closer to the top, read the link on FAQ about henna. Leaving a plastic wrap on your head for xx amount of time is not going to make it more or less brown. Henna will color your hair various shades of red. Lots of different factors that determine that from the type of henna, location it’s farmed from, lawsone content of it, amount of time left on, if dye release was done before applying, etc. To achieve various of brown or black colors, you need to mix it with indigo. If their instructions are saying it is dependent on how long the plastic wrap is on your head, that is not a legit product. Or, at the very least, they have no clue what they’re selling and people should stay away from them.
Chris, Trying to get a darker more cinnamon auburn color. Have dirty blonde on darker side. Would you suggest pure henna, mixed with a bit of indigo. I do have darker copper natural highlight. So it would pick up red, but want more deeper copper. Thanks.
100% Pure henna powder is the way to go! I used to use the lush bars, but this stuff is amazing:
http://www.hennasooq.com
where do you get it? I’m trying to go red bright
You can only get bright red if your natural hair colour is already light. .. unfortunately. Like me, for example. My hair is on the darker side of brown so I’ll never be able to get bright red. However, it is still visibly red; a kind of deep auburn shade.
I also get mine from henna sooq (www.hennasooq.com).
My hair is light to medium brown. I applied a solution of baking soda and peroxide (3% solution) to my hair and allowed to sit for 1 hour. I rinsed and reapplied a week later. This lightened my hair and enhanced my natural highlights Then I used rainbow red henna from Whole Foods to change the blonde highlights to red and tone the brown to red. I really liked it and did it 1-2 times. Now my brown hair is growing out and I can see the orange tones of the henna shining through. I’m thinking of letting it grow out or using a darker indigo to tone it out Thoughts?
Try mehandi.com. I used Ancient Sunrise Auburn. Today is my first day, and it is really quite red on my normally medium/dark brown hair with plenty of white hairs coming in. I’m curious to see what the color turns out to be in 3 to 4 days. So far, I’m loving it!
I realize your post is probably old but can you please tell me how your hair turned out from the Ancient Sunrise Auburn that you got from mehandi.com?
i LUV using henna by mehandi. i get great results. takes patience and time (i leave it on overnight for best results).
I have been using their henna for 5+ years now and LOVE it! It was a process to get my hair where I wanted it colorwise (after about the 4th application – so 4 months or so) Additionally, my hair has gained so much body since using henna over traditional color. I am a henna girl for life now.
I’ve bought from henna sooq several times over the past few years. Love her and all her products! Getting ready to do another order and go back to using henna/indigo on my hair after a break and trying to experiment with something else(and failed lol).
Chris, Just caught this comment. I was thinking same, henna/indigo then tweaking to get desired results. I am hoping for Aurburn, More darker copper, rather than red. Can that be achieved combining more indigo, to tame down red? Would so appreciate a comment on that. Thanks.
Thanks for tip on product.
I know that when using chemical dyes, sometimes the hair doesn’t return to its natural colour, and I was wondering if that happened with henna, or if it’s not a worry because it is 100% natural
I’ve never heard of that happening with henna. In my experience, my natural hair color grew back just fine, but the hair I dyed with Henna was very hard to change– it’s pretty permanent!
How long do you have to wait to start dying your hair with permenant dye
I think I waited 4-5 months, but the hair that was dyed with Henna was VERY hard to change, even after that amount of time. You’ll definitely need an experienced hair dresser to help balance out the color.
where can one get your products around Awka Anambra state
i know people say a few months to change the color but this depends entirely on how fast your hair grows. he reason you dont want to die after henna is that it can burn your hair. my hair grows really slow and even after the alotted time getting my hair dyed professionally after henna cooked my hair. which is quite fine wait til the henna section has grown out entirely or you risk spending monthes with crunch hair
If your hair was “burned” by henna, you weren’t using an all-natural henna. Check the label. There should be just one ingredient: henna. If you’re going for more of a brown, you might see a mix of henna and indigo. But that’s it. No other ingredients at all.
I know people that sleep overnight in their henna. Non-chemical henna is actually healthy for your hair and makes it feel amazing. It’s used as a hair-strengthening treatment in many countries.
Henna, also known as Mehandi, is used on hand, elbows and feet of an Indian bride. All natural Henna (which you can buy from any Indian grocery store) actually has cooling effects to it. In India we use it as a hair dye only in summers to protect hair from sunburn. Hope this helps.
ROBIN, CAN YOU RECOMMEND A PURE QUALITY HENNA. AND I WOULD AIM FOR AN AUBURN. HAVE DARKER. DIRTY BLONE HAIR, WITH SOME NATURAL COPPER HIGHLIGHTS. GETTING AWAY FROM SEMI-PERM DYE. THINKING PURE HENNA/INDIGO. DO YOU BELIEVE, IN TIME, I CAN TWEAK INTO THE COLOR I SEEK? TY.
From what I have come to understand, regular hair dye actually penetrates the shaft of your hair follicles to “inject” color while henna COATS/PAINTS the outside of the hair follicles. You CAN apply henna on top of previously dyed hair with no problems but to attempt the other way around (aka to use dye on your hair after having used Henna) can SERIOUSLY damage your hair and even make it break off or ‘fall out’ due to damage. Since Henna coats your hair follicles, they will not be able to absorb regular dye anyways until the henna wears off and your hair can again be penetrated by the regular hair dye. Using Henna requires a bit of a commitment because it would take months until it is safe to use regular dye on your hair again.
Can I use Henna on my hair that has been colored treated with a semi-permanent?
Since I’m not a hair dresser, I couldn’t tell you. I assume it would be fine, but I’d check with a professional to be sure!
I have highlights that are half-grown out, and if you use all natural henna it’s just fine.
I have before, and it turned out patchy. I’ve been using henna for 15 years, several times a year is all I do. I can tell you that it doesn’t interact well with most permanent/ semi-permanent dyed hair. It’s messy but worth it. I naturally have heaps of hair highlights, and so it makes the colour job look like my authentic hair colour as the colour has dimension instead of being a flat colour. it makes my hair unbelievably shiny and healthy. It’s good to do before summer kicks in (in sun-scorched Australia), because it protects your hair shaft from splitting. It leaves a natural coating on the shaft of your hair.
Is Henna permanent or semi permanent ? and will it fade in the shower ?
In my experience, it is permanent. It didn’t fade, and it’s very difficult to cover with other hair dyes until it grows out.
I have been trying to dye my hair with henna for a while now and no results! what am i doing wrong?
what henna are u using and how dark is your hair?
if its black you may be s.o.l. but if its nit then you need to keep your henna on longer.
100% henna will not wash out. read all about henna on the mehandi.com website.
I have used rainbow henna years but looking to change to Demi’s permanent haircolor! The henna is always orange on me !im disappointed because i like it otherwise I mix med and dark brown n! 3 TB MED 2 TB DARKcant get past the orange color
My experience is with Rainbow Henna and the Surya mix that someone mentioned. For me Rainbow henna does wash out gradually and not leave a strong line – it has dif colors and does not make the hair bright orange – that may have happened since you had other permanent color already on your hair – which is different from coloring from natural with henna. What is nice about henna IS that it does highlights which looks more natural to me than all one color. Women in our culture have to deal with comparing themselves to media images of beauty and so many women touching up paying hundreds of dollars on hair and hair color. When I had my mammo done yesterday I had that thought – how many of our so called “beauty” products are actually making us sick. No guarantee either with the socalled natural products – hair dyes which I used to use. When I used the premixed henna from Surya – like the other woman mentioned it was much easier to use especially when you have long hair. For me tho it has been a more permanent color with a stronger line as my roots come in – and I did have more solid look when I first did it less of a highlight. With Rainbow henna you can choose colors/shades. My sister uses Light Mountain Henna which I think I want to try because they have a special pack to cover gray where you do two dif processes – one first on the gray then one all over. But truthfully henna is not easy to use and if you are sensitive it has a strong smell. I think it would be nice to live in a culture where we simply loved our natural selves more and did not have to live up to so many image of beauty that are made up colored over etc.
I am very happy with the results of deep red henna from this company.
http://www.thehennaguys.com
They offer variety of hair colors and all natural. Check with them
Hello-I have very long dread locks, almost to the backs of my lower legs.iam a natural red head.a darker red, not fire red.anyways, for years I would use the henna red powder, all natural, I had to purchace it in bulk, as I usually needed aprox.2lbs at one time to cover how much hair I have.my hair is extremely thick, and curly, which was one reasonI had chosen to let it dread.the brand I have always used is starwest botanicals:henna red powder from Pakistan. Anyways, my problem is that the health food store ware I had always ordered it from, was not able to get it for quite along time, so unfortunatly I tried a chemical brand.later on I wanted to go back to my henna, and when I did, my hair turned a dark greenish black color! I was horrified,I didn’t know what to do, so I went back to the chemical colring immediatly, and now I have to use the chemical just about every two months or so.I hate it, and wish I had known that after using henna for so long, that it was not recomended ever to use chemical, then back to henna.if anyone has any advise on this issue, please help me out.I miss how healthy and soft, and especially natural my hair used to be.thank you,
Hello there ladies!
I have some bad news but you were almost all deceived… ^^
It is as simply as the fact that you didnt use the REAL henna…
Lets start:
Henna is a plant and PURE henna you should use in your hair is in “dust” form and it ONLY colors one color: red/orange.
Lush henna is not real henna (and neither that recently cropped) it is mixed with plenty of other things. Stay away from Surya…it has chemicals, and henna should be done fresh.
I can suggest you ladies to give Jamila henna a try, it is 100% PURE HENNA.
That pure henna EVENS your hair, gives your hair strength, AND YOU CAN USE CHEMICAL DYES AFTER!!! ONLY IF IT IS PURE REAL HENNA!!!
Oh girls…I wish you would have known more before you did that to your hair xD
Give real henna a shot, I know that it saved my hair and other people´s too, but please make sure you use PURE HENNA!!!
I buy my natural hair cares from hennasooq and I am so happy now!
In fact firstly I had the same problem like you, I bought a henna box from France and my hair strand turned green…Be careful what you are buying (=.
PS: keep the henna minimally 6 hours to overnight for better penetration.
I use Jamila as well, and I love it. I mix it with apple cider vinegar (to release the dye, and for extra conditioning) and blueberry Pom Wonderful juice to give it a purple-red tint. It’s fun to experiment with tinting henna your self- you can add strong coffee or black tea to make it more brown, for instance, or mix it with cassia for strawberry blonde, if your hair is light enough- but you can’t go wrong if you start with powdered henna leaf. It’s added
metallic salts in commercially prepared henna dyes that react with the ammonia in chemical dyes, not the henna itself. Although I can’t imagine ever going back to commercial dyes myself. 🙂
As a former employee of Lush, I can tell you that there are no harsh chemicals in their henna. They do mix other things into it, such as cocoa butter for conditioning, and coffee and indigo for their blacks and browns. But no chemicals. 🙂
I use harvest moon hair dye. ive used several times and have loved it…have you used this brand?
lush henna is real hena with other natural materials. like cocoa butter, shea, and plants for tinting. its all a red color
Is Morrocco Method’s henna ‘real’ henna? Is it safe to highlight my hair? If so, how long should I wait before highlighting?
DO NOT use Morrocco Method!!! I had a total hair disaster with their henna. I used the brown and it didn’t take. When I contacted them they told me to be patient but that I should first add a layer of the natural red henna to the base to help it to attach to my hair. Long story short, my hair was this awful orange red color after putting the base in and then the brown a few times. I called my hair dresser at an Aveda Salon after all of this and she told me to wait two weeks then I went in and she fixed it using Aveda color. I haven’t used anything else since.
We actually buy our henna directly from the growers in India. We do little more than measure and package. There is really no element of patience when it comes to henna. If our henna did not work for you, chances are henna in general does not work for you. It is not suited for everyone. The issue was not our quality, but merely henna in general. I am sorry to hear of your misfortune. We do, however, have pure henna with no chemical additives or metallic salts added.
I recommend Pure henna/natural henna that works great from the henna guys. I have been using henna for long time. But never got such results as from the henna guys products. I recently tried their products. And i will stick with them. Here you can find them http://www.thehennaguys.com
Can you use henna after you’ve been using over-the-counter (Revlon, etc) dyes? WIll it work or be a mess? Thanks to anyone who can fill me in. AM thinking of making the switch, but have been using these products for 8-10 years…Carol
I have dark brown hair and use a henna/indigo mix to cover gray and darken my hair. When younger, I used henna powder from a local co-op to just get a redder color. When researching for gray a few years ago, I found a website that sold mixes that have two parts, henna powder for the red, that you mix with indigo powder, which makes your hair darker and black if used alone.
I find that the henna red is permanent and grows out with a reddish line. (But better than the box mixes that fade from gray much faster.) The indigo is not permanent and lasts about 8 weeks. You can freeze the leftover mix to hit the gray hairline, but only the henna part will dye with it.
I really love it! The indigo gives a lush super dark color. I split the mix now as there was always leftovers. With short hair I can get 3x from a box and long hair 2x. The only drawbacks I find are:
– The dying takes some planning since you have to mix the henna with some lemon juice the night before (I set it in my slow cooker on for a bit to keep it warm.) The you mix the indigo the day of and put it all together.
– While I don’t mind how henna smells, it does make your hair smell like hay for a few weeks.
– Keeping the mix on for three hours under the plastic wrap seems long and I find the mix drips under the plastic
The color I like is: Dark Brunette Ancient Sunrise® Henna for Gray Hair Kit – Item # 2528
Bev- You really have some great experience! I wish you lived close by–I am switching from semi perm hair color Aveda which has FRIED my hair and exacerbated my already hair loss. I have about 40 % gray which I never knew until I stopped coloring it in 2/13 and wow-I look completely different. I have dark brown hair-well, that’s my original color and I want to use henna. I am on a detox diet and it feels wonderful so I of course, for hair loss and toxification reasons I want to find a henna that I can use. If you happen to live in either Seattle or Denver ( I live in between the two cities) please let me know if you, or anyone you know would be willing to be paid to help me apply the henna. my email is austin dot hawkins the number 3 at g mail dot com. THANK YOU so much for any advice/help!
Koobserat salon applies my henna. It is located in the Seattle area on the east side. The only problem is that they apply it and then put a shower cap on your head, send you out the door and you have to wash it out yourself at home. Bring a hat with you to the salon. 🙂
Look for local salons that cater to Indians (the asian kind not the native red kind) – the ones that do eyebrow threading and henna tattoes. They don’t all do it however I have found 2 full service Indian salons nearby that will apply hair henna for $30 a shot – cheap since i have to cover new growth every month. I have to call ahead so they can mix it up and let it ‘develop”. It takes about 20 minutes for them to cover my gray roots and the rest of my hair. Then they pop on saran wrap and I walk out with a wide brimmed hat on. I go home, hang out and wash it out in the shower after letting it sit for 6-8 hours. Found them on yelp years ago and have been alternating between both salons ever since.
BEV, DOES THAT GIVE YOU A NICE AUBURN COLOR? TY.
I just wanted to thank all of you for the great information on henna. I have been contimplating on trying it and now I can make a better choice!
I just wanted to say that not being able to dye over your henna is a myth. The only time you should not dye over your henna is if you are using an inferior brand like Harvest Moon, because they add metallic salts to their henna products. 100% pure finely sifted body art quality henna is perfectly safe to dye or even bleach. I have found that I get the best stain with Jamila’s super sift. When using henna on your hair you are going to want to use a small amount of an acidic liquid like lemon or orange juice. I also like to add terps (essential oils)and ginger root powder to combat the hayfield smell. Also, the longer you leave the henna on your head the more even/darker the stain will be. I sleep in mine. ^_^
Thanks for sharing some tips, but how much of the terps, the ginger root powder,( and the lemon juice) should be used to get rid of the smell?
harvest moon says right no the front….NO METALLIC SALTS.
Nikki I can tell you for 100% fact that Harvest Moon does NOT have metallic salts. I’ve used their henna many times and even chemical dyed my hair after with no problems.
I have only used Harvest Moon thus far as well. And I ran into a problem recently because I did not know I wasn’t supposed to use box dye afterwards. (Although reading some of these posts I am not sure I did anything wrong)I waited like 4 months to re henna my hair but I ended up with a job interview and my hair was crazy different colors from growth and fading obviously so I went to the store and got me 2 boxes of good old brown permanent dye….Well I did my hair and it turned green in spots below the new growth. I thought maybe it had salts or metals but the packaging as you said does say NO metals or salts or chemicals. So I am stumped.So I sucked it up and tied my hair up so it was harder to see.
A possible reason you may have had an issue is that most box dyes have metallic salts in them, along with certain treatments such as sun in. Another possible reason lies with underlying tones in the dye. If you use a color that is more than two shades darker than what you had, you run the risk of any neutral or ash based brown turning hair green. (Think of the horror stories of blondes putting brown box dye on and it turning green. That is what most likely happened.)
Harvest moon definitely does not have metallic salts in it. It says so on the packaging, plus, I lift(bleach in laymans terms) over a section in my fringe so it comes out more orange, and have colored over it in the past. I have also done different tests to find out if there are metallic salts in it.(put some henna treated hair in different chemicals that react to different metallics.) So as a professional, and through personal experience I give Harvest Moon two thumbs up.
Nikki, Wanting an Auburn look. Have darker dirty blonde hair, natural copper highlights, gray coming in. Will henna, and indigo work best? I can tweak my way in time, if those are the mix. Don’t want flaming red hair. More a rich dark chocolate, deep dark copper Auburn. And I have seen something about covering gray kit? If I can have a bit of your expertise there. Key, was the 100% body art quality. Looking for the best results. Thank you….❤
I have just dyed my hair using completely natural henna. It was in a fine , powder form – almost like desert dust! I had both hi-lights adn chemical dye in my hair and then colour came out as a lovely orangey red colour. My hair feels very soft and not at all like it does after a chemical dye. I left the ‘med’ on my head for about two hours. The colour is not even – which I like as it looks natural. The hi-lights are a slightly lighter red than the darker coloured parts which are a darker red. Overall the colour looks lovely and I intend to keep repeating the process. I found that using a barrier cream (I used sudocream as it was what I had handy!) around the ears and hairline meant I have no stains on my skin. I have blue eyes and they really pop with the genger tones! I am VERY happy, but did make a point of using 100% natural henna. I am not saying where it was from because these other people brand naming just sound like advertorials to me!! 😉
Well, since your not sounding like an advertisement, can you tell me what it is? Would appreciate that most important tip. Thanks….😁❤
I have just dyed my hair using completely natural henna. It was in a fine , powder form – almost like desert dust! I had both hi-lights and chemical dye in my hair and the colour came out as a lovely orangey red. My hair feels very soft and not at all like it does after a chemical dye. I left the ‘mud’ on my head for about two hours. The colour is not even – which I like as it looks natural. The hi-lights are a slightly lighter red than the darker coloured parts which are a darker red. Overall the colour looks lovely and I intend to keep repeating the process. I found that using a barrier cream (I used sudocream as it was what I had handy!) around the ears and hairline meant I have no stains on my skin. I have blue eyes and they really pop with the ginger tones! I am VERY happy, but did make a point of using 100% natural henna. I am not saying where it was from because these other people brand naming just sound like advertorials to me!! 😉
She’s literally asking which kind you use. Why gatekeep? We are here to help each other.
Hello 🙂
I am Jo …. my concern is since I have dry,frizzy, thin and weak hair I want to condition it using henna. My hair color is dark brown and I love it. I do not want to change its colour. Can you suggest me ways through which I can condition my hair using henna without dying it?? I also heard from few of my colleagues that applying coconut oil before applying henna will prevent the dying effects of henna… is that true?
Definitely use the coconut oil. My hair was quite dry and damaged, but after rubbing coconut oil into it several times, it improved quite a bit. I avoided rubbing it into my scalp, just the damaged ends because it was difficult to wash off my scalp, but I would rub it in the ends, then hop on my treadmill for an hour or so, then go shower it out. After doing this up to 4 times a week for 2-3 weeks, it had drastically improved.
Oh, but coconut oil is so wonderful for your scalp. I haven’t had dandruff a day in my life since I started doing a once-a-week coconut oil treatment. An hour before I’m going to shower, I melt coconut oil between my hands and apply liberally to my hair and scalp. It comes off fine in the shower with shampoo and is the single most effective deep-moisturizing method I have found.
Henna takes a very long time to deposit color- at least 4 hours, I leave mine in overnight- so I you only put it on for an hour or so you shouldn’t get any color, just conditioning. Also, if you want conditioning only I would use warm water only to make the paste- no lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. The acid is what pulls the color out, using water only will limit the amount of color by a lot.
Hi!
Just wanted to let you know that Henna has conditioning effects if you get neutral henna. If you buy henna intended for dying, it WILL color your hair, but neutral henna will not give your hair color. You can get neutral henna at your local alternative pharmacy or anywhere that sells henna; usually the box or container of henna says whether or not it’s neutral or will give you color, and then gives you the spectrum of color.
If u want to use henna without changing the color of Ur hair make a paste with the required amount of henna with sour curds. IMPORTANT TIP – PLZ DO NOT FORGET TO PUT ON A SHOWER CAP OR PLASTIC BAG COZ IF U DON’T then The henna will dry on Ur hair which will lead t o hair breakage on washing off, in other words Hairfall. U can add an egg just before applying. If u do not like the egg yolk smell u can add egg white only. Also coconut oil or olive oil. Keep the henna on Ur hair for half an hour then shampoo off. If u r prone to colds u can add a tsp of ground cloves to the henna paste.
Henna Color Lab sells all natural neutral henna conditioner in 3 varieties that will not affect your hair color, in addition to a nice variety of all natural henna hair dyes. I just used a conditioner yesterday and thought it was messy but fun to do! They all come in powder form with gloves and cap included. hennacolorlab.com
white henna is colorless and only conditions the hair and does not color it at all. i used it many times years ago. it came in a huge royal blue
cannister the size & shape of a gallon of paint.
According to hennaforhair.com, mixing oil into, or applying it before henna will cause a coating that prevents the dye from being absorbed…”like greasing a pan,” they say.
This isn’t true. I personally henna over coconut oiled hair, and sometimes even add oil to my henna mixes and get a fantastic colour. A few times, I’ve even applied henna to hair after using silicones and still got great colour. 🙂 I use Red Raj from Henna Sooq.
I just want to confirm…. henna is totally safe, correct? I have naturally light blonde hair and I really want a vibrant red
Yes, as long as your henna is pure and unadulterated, and as long as you are not one of the very rare individuals who are allergic to the plant, it is safe to use.
Over naturally very light hair, henna will turn it a fabulous vibrant red. BUT – be aware, the henna will deepen and darken over time. It does not fade away nor does it wash out.
There are certain antioxidants you can mix it with that will help keep the color from darkening too much. You can fid them, and much more information, at mehandi.com
i just dyed my hair bright black like three weeks ago n its turning purple with dark red in some places is it safe to dye it with henna the color red?
I’m African American and I have all natural coarse very kinky hair. I have not chemically died my hair since I have gone natural in fear of the effects it may have on my hair as when it was relaxed chemical dye severely damaged my hair. I am desperate for some color other than brown. Will Henna dye give me a color that can be seen on top of my natural ashy brown color? thank you so much
I also have recently purchased natural henna for your same reason. From what I have heard it also somewhat relaxes kinky hair. Mine is chemically relaxed but I only relax it about once every 4 to 5 months. This natural henna is safe to use after relaxing, but wait a month. You can get it at hennacolorlab.com
He Tiffany I believe that Henna is great for African American Hair it relaxes the curl and gives vibrant color. I also noticed that my hair is a lot stronger since I been using henna treatments once every 2 months
I’ve been dying my hair with henna for a couple of years now, most generally using Jamila henna. The other 2 brands that I’ve used I can’t remember the name of, but, they were all-natural. That’s one thing I’m VERY careful about researching. I usually mix my henna with lemon juice first, then after dye release I add honey, grapeseed oil, conditioner, and lavender essential oil. I have EXTREMLY oily hair/skin, so, the lemon juice doesn’t dry out my hair. Now, I am human, and a procastioner, so, there are times I need to dye my hair, but don’t have henna…….so, I cheat, and use whatever hair dye is on sale, that comes closest to the color henna gives me. I’ve NEVER had a problem with commerical dye doing what it’s supposed to do. And the same with the henna I’ve gotten…….speaking of, I need to mix up a batch so I can dye my hair soon……….
I am very curious about a product called silver to gold. it is just used for like 3-10 minutes and it mostly turns your silver hair into gold strands. The main ingredient is henna bayberry. Ive never heard of that!! I have dark brown colored hair with blondish highlights and 3 inches of 50% gray regrowth. if this product works, it would be da bomb. Anyone with experience with this product out there? Would you just do the roots or the whole head?
Try mixing sour curd and egg to the henna mixture before applying and keep this mixture in the fridge for atleast one hour 🙂
Also instead of making the mixture completely in hot water,use different oils,like I use a mixture of olive oil,coconut oil,almond oil(all oils mixed in equal proportions)
Mix henna with Beet juice and keep it for four hours before applying to get rich burgundy color.
Hi I have been using AMINS red Henna on my hair ( which I purchase when in the Caribbean)for 2 to 3 years I started of by colouring all of my hair but now I touch up my grey roots every month and occasionally all over the top but not often the bottom ( I have long hair) the bottom half of my hair is a nice red but the top half (not roots) is a dark red almost dark brown which I don’t like and finding that the more I colour the darker it is going how can I keep it a nice red that is not to bright and not to dark ?
Hello,
I was just about to click on the OK button to make an online purchase and decided to google the item at the last minute. I stumbled upon your detailed review of Henna and wanted to take a moment to thank you. Your review was just the information I needed Detoxinista 🙂
Obie
I’m new to Henna and thinking of trying it out, but I’m wondering what color I should use. I want the same shade as in your picture below(the one where you’re wearing sunglasses), but I’m wondering if the color end result can vary depending on my hair color right now?
What color do you suggest?
I have used henna for two years now. I did a lot of research and found most of the best information at mehandi.com. I had a lot of questions before I started. I emailed their customer service in the afternoon, and they replied the next morning with answers and suggestions based on my natural hair color (light brown/dishwater blonde). I got stumped when I went to re-order and couldn’t find the exact product, but I emailed again and they had more suggestions for me.
I love henna. I have always wanted this shade of red, but I could never achieve it with chemical dyes. I usually just do my roots; I have re-dyed it all maybe two or three times in two years (because it’s really messy, and sometimes it’s just easier to do it all), and my hair still looks amazing. It’s shiny and soft. I get compliments all the time.
It IS messy, and it takes a lot of time, comparatively. I hate to do it, but I love the color. And it’s usually not so bad. I just wait until I have PMS, then I have an excuse to stay away from people all night 🙂 I leave it on for 4 hours, and I use a lot of conditioner because I have long hair and it gets all tangled. And when I’m finished, I’m good to go for at least a month (usually two..)
Henna is a commitment, and the color results depend on the color of your hair. Lucille Ball was a natural blonde, so it can be that orange. Mine is an auburn shade. Mehandi has an ebook that illustrates the various colors. It’s really informative, and free. So do your research before you commit. But if you dye your hair anyway, it’s really not that much different. And do a strand test to get the right shade. The longer you leave it on, the darker it will be.
I’m just wondering, I have black hair but would love to try red hair. do i have to bleach before applying the henna?
PLEASE HELP. I have natural black hair and dont want to go lighter or anything; i just want a black brown coverage again.
I used lush henna on my hair – all i wanted to do was cover my roots that come up over my forehead and temples (not a pretty sight!) I Started with Noir (which i understand has indigo in it) that stopped taking – according to the lovely lush shop assistant, my hair had stopped taking it. my roots were just not covering AT ALL So they suggested i cover my roots with caca rouge then follow it up the next time with noir. i did. ive even mixed the two together but the roots dont take and are coming out grey as ever. I’ve now no choice but to go back to highstreet dyes. ive been looking into this and lush have also said i should be ok to just colour it with ammonia and hydrogenperoxide products as there’re product is natural. I last lush henna’d my hair about 2/3 weeks ago (the date today is 7 August 2013) please help what can i do i dont want to damage what i have!! its already weak and has been falling out…..
I had a similar issue with my roots no longer absorbed the henna. It would only last until I got it wet and shampoo’d, after the initial rinse. In my case, it was/is a case of severe anemia, there was no protein in my hair. I’m still not able to do the henna, and now I am just trying to find ways to lift out the color I still have, BUT, I can tell a tremendous improvement in hair health with diet restructuring, B-vitamin and liver extract supplements. Might be worth a shot!
I highly recommend Nazeer Henna. I think it used to be stocked at the Body Shop. It comes in great shades including a really lovely auburn brown. I stopped using henna after I bought the red Jamila and it turned my grey hair at the front goldfish orange. Henna does take a long time and is messy but don’t listen to hairdressers- it’s great! it doesn’t dry your hair or wreck it and you can dye it later if you wish to. After my goldfish result I had a darker rinse and it was fine.
Hairdressers fear henna- if there were a cheaper alternative to salon colour a lot of salons would close. They will tell you henna has metallic salts- most do NOT. Hairdressers have quite a mystique in our society which puts us under constant pressure to something we are not. Over the years, I cut and dyed my own hair and had enough money left over to buy a brand new car and take a holiday overseas.
I used Henna in February. Now my hairdresser tells me I cannot relax my hair. How long do I have to wait?
Thanks for any information you can give me.
If you used pure henna, relaxing your hair shouldn’t be a problem. I know many who relax and use pure henna without any issues.
Thank you for this article. I often color my hair red and was considering the LUSH henna for a more natural alternative. Now that I’ve reviewed the pros and cons I’ll gratefully anticipate my appointment with the stylist I have this coming week. The henna is just more complicated and messy than I would have liked.
I haven’t yet seen much benefit to using the Lush brand versus actual 100% pure henna powder. Both take several hours to set.
Henna powder is cheaper, but slightly more time-consuming in that you mix it one day prior but easier to mix as it isn’t in “brick” form.
Here’s what I do:
Take the pure henna powder (no chemicals or additives) and add some hot tea and lemon juice until it’s a yogurt consistency. Let it set out overnight. Dye your hair the next day/night (attack roots first, then wrap in saran wrap and a hair cap, and I put a lil scarf on too) and let set for about 4 hrs or just sleep in it.
I use gloves and black towels and I have a removable shower head for rinsing it out. The color is always brightest the first day and then it settles a bit darker. This is the absolute best, healthiest way to maintain red hair. Red is just so hard to keep in chemically (and I already have lighter red hair).
Ive been using Henna regularly and i was wondering if shampoo that used for color protection of dyed hair is required for henna treated hair or regular shampoo is fine too?
i use henna i bought in egypt its called glory it come in single packets in a box of packets about 6 in box and its crushed as most in egypt is. natural its very great. i used to buy big bag cheeper in khan al khalili suuk market in cairo but it was not even coloring and u never knew what color it would end up as but they have black red orange mahogany and blonde even.. u can buy .. glory is a company brand that perfects it and its more dependable color thruout the head so i get that now its less in package but not bad.
Hello,
Please help me.
I had light to medium brown hair and used chestnut brown henna to color my hair and roots, and my hair color is now very very black. Is there anything I can do to lighten it up again without going to the hair solon to add highlights?
Hello,
Is the Glory Brand 100% natural henna? and does it cover gray?
Glory is not 100% pure henna. It is a mix with chemicals as well, which is why they can offer the wide variety of different colours, ranging from blonde to light chestnut to red to black. Rather stick to pure henna…
Probably a little late for you now Megan, but for anyone coming to this sight for information this might help. I have been using henna in my hair for about 3 years now. Henna is safe with dyes as long as it is 100% natural henna. Although if trying to go lighter afterwards you might still end up with a red tint to it. Also if you want to lift henna with little to no damage you could either use honey lightening treatments (natural RAW honey diluted with distilled water – 1 part honey to 4 parts distilled water) with repeated applications. It may take many applications to get results but will not damage hair at all. Or crush up vitamin c pills (not the chewable ones) with head & shoulders shampoo and leave for 30 minutes to an hour and it should lighten a shade or two with minimum damage. Maybe just a little dry.
I work at LUSH and am an avid LUSH Henna user. I would like to inform readers that it does not take 1-6 hours for color permeation. The written rule straight from the LUSH Handbook is: a minimum of one hour and a maximum of 2.5 hours. Beyond that there is no further color enhancement on the hair, only the benefit of the cocoa butter nourishing the hair.
Also, LUSH sources its Henna ingredients ONLY from producers that do absolutely zero animal testing, have good working condition for the workers and produce the product in a socially and environmentally responsible way. For me, that’s more than enough reason to support them (even after I no longer am employed with the company).
Hello ladies, a guy here askin for help,I am full blood native with long black hair, been using dyes u buy at Wal-Mart,Walgreens, etc. Lookin for something natural,I have grey roots. Havin black hair when grey starts to come in, it is pretty noticeable after they start growin out,lol,trying to find something simple for my roots, wanna keep my black hair, help!! Any help would be very much appreciated 🙂
I dye my hair black using henna and indigo so that is what I recommend. It’s a bit messy, but worth it.
After years of chemical dyes that dried my hair and absorbed chemicals into my scalp, I switched to LUSH henna a year ago. I have light brown hair with 50% gray and the results of using Caca maron have been wonderful.
The grey has come out as highlights and it looks natural, with a tinge of auburn. I use a wide art brush for application which makes it easier and leave the mix on for 2-3 hours. I do find however that I need re-application every three weeks as the grey closer to the scalp seems to fade significantly faster than the ends. It’s a bit more labour intensive, but the results and chemical free application make it more than worth it. Not too mention I am no longer washing those chemicals into the environment. My hair has never been healthier and the added shine is a bonus.
After days of research and realizing that a henna application is a commitment once started, there is no looking back for me. However, as my gray continues to grow in, one day I may wake up and shave all my hair off to allow it to regrow au-natural..something I have not done since my 20’s!
Can anyone please advise me how long I should wait before using henna on my hair after synthetic hair dyes. I last had my hair colored and foiled 6 months ago.
Hello, Megan!
I’m from Brazil and I’d like to purchase Lush’s henna Caca Marron (Brown or Chocolate color). But, unfortunatelly, I can’t find this product here. Do you know some site to recomend? Thank you 🙂
Um….so the Lush site says to do a strand test prior – perhaps if the author had listened to that advice her experience would have been different. That said I have used Henna for 2 years and love it – I have not use Lush and may give them a try but if you want a natural way to color your hair do it!!
It’s not messy at all. I applied it as a regular dye and it is actually easier to apply without making a mess, because of the muddy consistency I used a professional brush and parted the hair as I do with a regular dye. done in 10 min with no mess.
Hi! How long should I wait after using henna before dying it with semi-permanent dye?
Hi,
I’m allergic to bleach and it was suggested that I use henna to lighten my hair before using a semi-permeate purple on it (Urban Shock is the brand I will be using). Do you think this idea will work or am I’m going to need to experiment?
Well, I have grey and black hair (well, very dark which is streaked with grey – more grey by the month), and I am itching to try Henna. No hairdressers in my town will touch it, but a few friends are game to help me. So what results might I achieve? Mix with hot or cold water, or cider vinegar?
Suggestions and thanks.
Hello There!!! (= I want to make the change to using henna to color my hair but before I even attempt it I have some questions I hope you all could answer.I fell in love with a vibrant wine red henna,it is by Henna Maiden & you get it from hennaking on etsy,,has anyone ever us ed this brand or know anything about it? Another question I have is my chemically colored hair is pretty close to the wine red henna,what color would my hair be if I use this color henna,would I be able to achieve the color that they show as the vibrant wine red? Should I use henna before my grey roots really start showing? I do not know very much about using henna so any advise you could offer would be greatly appreciated,Thank you very much!
Sincerely,,Michelle
What are some of the well known stores in Minnesota that carry henna’s? I cant’t find it anywhere.
I’m in the U.K, but I’ve always bought mine online, through ebay (maybe try amazon too.)
I simply search for “natural mehndi henna powder” and buy it by the kilo. (Thick, wavy, dark brown, waist-length hair, I get through a lot.)
Henna is predominantly grown in india, so I tend to buy direct from indian sellers, as it’s cheaper & the henna is fresher too. Never had any problems with ordering it this way.
It costs around £6/kg for simple, unadulterated, ground Lawsonia Inermis (henna plant) leaves, with no added chemicals/colourants.
*N.B. ALWAYS CHECK FOR ALLERGIC REACTIONS/STRAND TEST BEFORE APPLYING ANY KIND OF DYES, EVEN ‘NATURAL’ ONES*
The following advice comes from 20yrs using/ experimenting with henna as a dye. Please note, i’m NOT a qualified hairdresser/chemist.
To mix:pour some henna powder into plastic bowl (Use non-metal bowl & utensils to prevent unwanted reactions.)
Use plenty, as extra can be frozen for later use, and too much is better than not enough! I use around 250g powder for full head.
Cover with boiling water (appx 3 parts water to 1 part henna)and mix.
*tip- Instead of laboriously mixing til smooth, give it a quick stir, but then leave it to stand for 10 mins, before stirring until smooth. It will mix much more easily that way, minimal elbow-grease* Aim for a thick pate-like texture at this point – add more water/henna as needed.
Once smooth, you’ll need to add something acidic to “pull” the dye from the ground leaf paste. Lemon juice, lime juice and/or apple cider vinegar all work well for this. (If hair is very dry/fragile, be conservative here, try using the apple cider vinegar mixed 1:1 with water for this stage.)
Add dollops of juice/vinegar to the mix & stir, until it’s approximately the consistency of drinking yoghurt.
You can add some drops of essential oil if desired,but I personally don’t mind the smell of it as-is.
Fairly soon, you’ll see the red dye begin leaching out. Allow the mixture to stand for a couple hours/overnight if preferred.
Application: use barrier cream/vaseline on hairline first, and old towel round shoulders.
Apply mix generously to clean, slightly damp/dry hair. Dye takes better if you don’t condition your hair before application.
Cover a small section at a time, using a tint brush/gloved fingers, until your hair is thoroughly coated and resembles a large cowpat.
Wrap hair in vast swathes of clingfilm, to keep the mixture warm & moist (& therefore active) as well as reduce mess.
*tip- If the mix dries out on your hair and becomes brittle, it can cause some breakage, particularly with fragile hair. If this is an issue, and the cowpat starts drying out before you’re ready to rinse off, lift the cling-film, spray with a little water, replace cling film & briefly massage the water into dry area*
Dress in old/unwanted clothing, remove any inevitable cowpat mix from bathroom floor/walls/ceiling after applying (i am a messy person,and this stuff stains everything!), and leave the cowpat on for 3 hours, or overnight if preferred.
(Cover pillows with an old towel, as some goop will inevitably find its way out of its plastic prison.)
Rinse with a LOT of warm water, and comb through to thoroughly remove any remaining cowpat residue.
There’s no need to use shampoo, although if your scalp has changed colour, a small amount of shampoo massaged into the scalp & rinsed will take care of it.
Condition if needed, & style as normal.
The colour will continue to develop/deepen slightly for 24+ hours after finishing the process.
Subsequent washing will fade the colour a little, (rather than wash it out), but I’ve found my keeps hold of the colour very well.
I do my roots every few months, as they don’t seem too obvious on dark & slightly wild hair. Pulling the excess mixture through the lengths and ends just before rinsing is enough to boost any fading.
*tip-henna coats rather than penetrates the hair strand, and will show up even on very dark hair, but to a less noticeable degree.
If your natural hair is non-porous/very dark, and the colour doesn’t show as vividly as desired (and providing your hair is in good health), you can pre-treat it with a relatively gentle “shampoo bleach wash” treatment (ask google for more details.)
Basically, use 10% peroxide hair bleach diluted 50/50 with shampoo, left on for 10-15 minutes, before rinsing & commencing with the henna treatment.
It lightens dark hair only slightly, and with a reddish tinge -fine, given copper-red is the end result you’re aiming for!-but also apparently makes the hair more porous, helping the dye to grip onto and coat each strand.
I’ve used this pre-treating method very successfully when wanting a more noticeable outcome. I’ve also used it just on the ends, before using henna all over, for more vibrant ends, in a dip-dye effect.*
Good luck, have fun, and always keep a hat handy in case of mishaps!
I HAD MY HAIR RECENTLY COLORED AT THE HAIRDRESSER, I AN VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE COLOUR.
IT WAS BLONDE MY HAIR HAS A ORANGE BASE AND IS NATURALLY DARK BROWN. THE COLOUR NOW IS MORE TOWARDS A MOUSEY BROWN GREY.
I WOULD LIKE TO USE LIGHT BROWN HENNA, WOULD THIS WORK?
I AM AFRAID IT WILL TURN ORANGE OR RED.
THANKS DEE..
hai dee-anna farrell mix henna with curd it should be look like a chapathi flour ok, then keep it 1 hour before using in ur hair, after 1 hour mix with 1 egg fully then apply in ur hair layer by layer u should keep 2hours in ur hair. After 2hours u should wash with normal water. This is the procedure of henna i usually used in this way my hair looks very beautiful. Try this and one important u should use only plastic cup and spoon for mixing the henna.