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.
—
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?
Seriously, people should read the comments before asking the same question over and over. There’s a lot of great info here, take the time to read it. I am a bit lazy, and am mostly okay with my white hairs, but they have gotten more numerous. I have reddish dark brown long hair. I only dyed my hair once with a henna kit years ago and it was lovely, despite the gross smell. I like the idea that it would make the white hair look like hi lights, and more natural as real hair is made up of many colours-unlike conventional dyes that give you a flat hair colour. There is apparently an eco salon in Vancouver that will do henna, but it sounds complicated and probably more expensive than just doing it at home.
One thing I’d like Detoxinista to cover is how to get grey or white hair to go back to natural hair colour. This happens to me all the time! Not enough, but I regularly find white hairs that have gone back to dark at the roots, and the white grows out.
I had a similar experience re: gross henna smell – until today. I mixed mehandi henna with cranberry juice, and now my hair smells kind of fruity with a whiff of freshly mown grass. It’s actually quite nice. Still waiting to see how the color oxidizes, but I think I’ll stick with this method in the future.
I love heanna but I hait the smell that’s all , great color at all
Henna can be removed by using glycerin. I haven’t tried it but I read it somewhere. Maybe worth a shot if you aren’t pleased with the results.
Or baking soda paste. Its my go-to for all stain removal on the skin.
I have only used Harvest Moon thus far . 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.Did some research and found that not all henna is 100% natural and I thought maybe the henna had salts or metals but the packaging for Harvest Moon 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. Well I waited another 3 months and tried again and still got green and some blue and little bit of ash tone (btw I was using a brown dye) It has now been 9 months and I decided I would try again since I have another interview ( I moved ). I went to Sally’s because online it said they carried henna I was great hopefully that will fix this mess. And they told me they did not carry it. And recommended Clairol Soy 4 Plex so I got 3 tubes of 3RR Medium Reddest Brown and some 20 volume developer used all 3 tubes to color and guess what only the hair that has never been hennaed took the color. The rest of my hair is a dark brown with tints of red and tints of green and blue are finally gone.. But my hair got so gummy that I had to cut chunks out. And my hair feels terrible. The hair that has been hennaed is not holding dye. I forgot to mention I tried using a deep conditioning color mask lasts like 3 shampoos to help as a filler and get some moisture in it about 2 weeks ago. So now I am thinking of buying the Cholesterol Conditioner for my hair. Anyone got any advice to lighten the bottom up and get it soft again? And I do not want to cut it I still have 2 foot to go to get it the length I want it. Thanks ya’ll
Ask Sally but I think I used an ash brown over regular hair color not henna and it covers well. I have used the cholesterol and like b it. I have thin hair so I like the Paul Mitchell knock off brand at Sallys. I like the leave in conditionerror alot.
I recommend using a reddish brown semi permanent color to not further damage the hair from all the processing and the previous henna dye. The reddish brown will cancel out the greenish blues it sounds like the brown color you had is still too ashy and is not cancelling out the ash in your current hair color. I really like Ion shine brilliance demi permanent if you feel your hair can withstand some peroxide but remember a 10 volume or lower will give you the best results for deposit colors. Good luck!! Also invest in a deep conditioner mask they really help damage ends and keep your hair soft instead of brittle.
Can u save leftover henna to use again ??
I imagine you could save the henna that you didn’t use, if there is a portion that you didn’t add water to. Once you’ve added water, I imagine it would be likely to spoil fairly quickly.
hi there you can freeze the remaining solution. I saved it in plastic food container for about 12 weeks and it eas fine after defrosting overnight.
You can freeze the henna paste that is left over from the batch that you’ve mixed up for your hair. Just make sure you get it in the freezer in an air tight bag or container, and do it as soon as possible. you might like “mehandi’s” website. There is a wealth of information on there and they sell the best, purist henna in my opinion. I always get beautiful results.
I saved mine and used it a few months later because I had used two boxes and I had SO MUCH left. But, I Froze the gloppy remainder of my henna mix in a cheap plastic container and put another bag around it in my freezer. When I was ready to dye my hair again- I pulled it out of the freezer and had it on my counter to thaw for a few hours. That evening I decided I didn’t have the time and kept it in my fridge for two days until I had another day off and a lot of time to let the dye sit on my hair. It smelled the same and the consistency was about the same although I think I did end up adding a teaspoon or 2 of water to thin it a bit. This time I left it on my hair about 3 hours. The color turned out fine and what I really love about henna is that it improves my very dry naturally curly hair. It is like dye and conditioner all in one. I have to say that I don’t really mind the smell because it reminds me of green tea. I’d much rather smell it than some chemical dyes!
Could anyone please tell me about their experience with black henna? Did it turn your hair to pure jet black?
I use a henna and indigo mix for a black then on top of that I use a red henna for my hi lights
My natural hair color is jet black and I have very few greys but i had never dies my hair before and i didn’t what to use harsh chemicals. First I tried the Lush Caca noir it did nothing for color. I tried Mehendi henna and indigo( that indigo is the worst smelling indigo ever). I didn’t think it was possible but my hair seemed more black again nothing for the greys. Most recently I used rainbow henna which you can usually find in your local health food store and that worked perfectly my hair is a silky deep ink black and all my greys are out.
Lush was the easiest to rinse out rainbow was the hardest the wash out. Light mountain is a brand my cousin uses and it worked well to also in health food stores. Rainbow is about $7 Light Mountain is about $6/7 I like the rainbow and light mountain because your hair doesn’t have to be dry.
I washed my hair and detangled it combing it out in sections for henna then I covered my bathroom in plastic got the plastic wrap, gloves, and brewed some dark roast coffee. then i mixed my henna; my recipe for the rainbow henna is… 1 1/2 cup henna +2 tbsp vinegar + 1 egg+ 4 tbsp avocado oil (coconut oil can work) and 1 cup of boiling coffee mix add coffee gradually and mix until creamy texture add more coffee if necessary. I hope this helps
I am planning to use Lush’s Caca Rouge in September but I’m wondering if I do not like it, would it be okay to re-dye it using Caca Marron or Caca Noir? I understand using non-natural/permanent dye will have scary results. Anybody re-deye with the same henna different color? I trying to prevent significant damage or a nasty silt color.
i’m very conflicted, i know you’re not supposed to put permanent dye over henna, but i tried black henna a week ago. after i rinsed it out, my hair was still it’s natural color and no darker. i bought black hair dye to use, but i’m seeing all these warnings to not use it on henna. i’m just confused because if the henna didn’t affect my hair in the first place, would the warnings really apply to me?
Has anyone else ever used colora henna powder? It does contain other natural plants besides henna. I use light brown or gold brown, sometimes mix them together as the gold is quite orange y on my naturally dark blonde hair. The top of my head is mostly gray and the colora covers it nicely. The ends wind up darker as I just do the whole head every time, but still a quite natural look. Lots of people ask me if my hair is natural. It seems to have different tones just like un-dyed hair looks. It is made in the USA, the company is in Little Ferry,NJ. I have been using this product for at least 10 years, yet have found very few other people who use this brand. My method is to mix the powder with warm water and microwave for about a minute, mix in a little lemon juice and apple cider vinegar to set the color. Apply to damp hair and wait an hour and 10 minutes. Rinse using plenty of conditioner to rinse out grit. Love it!
sounds like something I want to try. Is it stocked in stores or do you mail order it?
I just purchased some Colora on eBay. My hair is almost completely white. I, after ordering another color, realized it would make my hair a shade of red. I just received wheat blonde today, but have yet to try it. I used Henna almost 45 years ago and recall it leaving my hair gritty. Perhaps, I didn’t condition and wash it thoroughly. I now use Wen shampoo conditioner, but am still tentative about using the henna.
Hi! I’ve used MEHANDI several times and it always makes my hair so silky and crazy shiny! I love it! I can promise you that it would never make your hair “gritty” …….quite the opposite. I don’t know what brand you used, but perhaps it wasn’t true henna? Or maybe it was old? I don’t know. The only con to using henna is that you have to leave it in for at least 3 or 4 hours. I think the longer, the better the results, but that’s just my opinion. And the other bad part is that it takes a little while to wash out in the shower. But I’ve found that if you have a good heavy conditioner that you can mix through your hair it helps the henna to slide off the hair much easier. Even after all that, it’s worth the results. And it doesn’t damage your hair at all like regular hair color does over time.
It does have a grit to it but that is just the tiny leaves of it. I find it conditions my hair and also find that it takes about 3-4 washes afterwards to get all the tiny little bits of the henna grains/leaves out from my scalp. I still think it is worth it for the conditioning effect and the deeper set dyeing effect that it gives my hair. I do have very dry fuzzy/curly hair though and it takes time to rinse anything out real good.
I’ve been using Colora Henna for over 35 years. I am highly allergic to regular hair dyes. I have a blender that I use only for mixing my henna. I’ve been using Red Sunset all these years. I put it in the blender with almost boiled water & a good quality olive oil.. I apply it with the squeeze bottles with pointy tops that salons use. I do my entire head every time. I love it and it covers my Grey. I put it on and pile my hair on top of my head making sure it’s all covered. Then I wrap my head in Saran Wrap & keep it on for 4 hours. At this point in my life I have it down to a science. It’s a little messy but always comes out great!! Because of my allergies, I have no other choice! My hair is dark brown naturally, but now it’s all grey, so it comes out RED! I have mixed some Colora brown in it too to cut down on the red!
I have black hair but I have lists of grey too. Recently I’ve developed an allergy to hair dyes. My hair has gone from thick to extremely thin in months. I’m just sick about it. Im oping I can use henna. Can I still get my hair dark without red.
Worked and scared.
The same thing happened to me! Developed an allergy to hair dye and now it falls out like crazy! Did u try the henna
2 step method for brown to black hair – works best for those trying to cover grey hair.
Step One: How to mix henna for hair
Mix henna powder (100 grams is a good amount to start for medium-length hair) in a bowl with water and a bit of acid, like lemon juice, vinegar or orange juice. Add enough liquid to make it the consistency of pudding. Cover the container with plastic wrap and let it set until you see dye release (Google it). Once the henna has dye released, apply the henna paste to freshly washed hair. Wrap head in plastic wrap, then place a shower cap over the top of that. Let set for 2-6 hours then rinse out the henna.
Step Two: How to mix indigo for hair
Place amount of desired dry indigo powder into a bowl. Add enough warm water to the powder to make paste the consistency of pudding. Stir well, until all of the lumps are gone, then immediately apply to the hair. You may need to add more water as you are working with the paste, as it will thicken as it sits. Wrap head in plastic wrap, then place a shower cap over the top of that.
Leave the paste on the hair for the following amount of time to achieve the desired colors:
Black – leave on for 45 minutes to 1 hour
Brown – leave on for 15 to 30 minutes, depending on how deep you want the brown to be.
Rinse the paste out. Do not shampoo for 24 to 48 hours, as the indigo will need time to oxidize.
Special notes:
If you have trouble with the indigo color staying in your hair, you can try adding the following:
-Add salt to the warm water that you are mixing into the indigo. About 1 tablespoon per 100 grams of powder that you are mixing.
-Add amla to the indigo. Mix the amla powder at a ratio of 1 part amla to 4 parts indigo. Mix both powders together dry then add the warm water.
-If you’re trying to achieve a more auburn-brown color, try adding some henna to your indigo in the second step.
I just had a henna Ms .Grinch emergency. I didn’t use red henna, just a brn mix and my greys tuned green. Well, thank you Annette at Light Mountain CS. She told me shampoo, rinse, then cover my greys in red henna for 20 minutes, tops. Then rise well and do my dark brn indigo/henna mix over the red areas 50-60 minutes. Well, it was still grn, but over the next 48 hours my hair oxidized a med brn w/ red highlights. My greys are covered. I really like the results.She said lemon will bring out the reds, so I skipped the acid effect. I’m thrilled. I also learned henna is temperature sensitive, so apply heat. I will always do the red, then brn 2 step process going forward. Fabulous results. I don’t want Breast Cancer or Lymphoma, and I was periodically using an “8” on the EWGs Skin Deep data base to cover my stubborn greys. Even if Henna isn’t 100% risk free (I read Chemistry Reports online-processing), it’s a better solution. Aging is hard on a woman, isn’t it?
Oh sorry, Annette said the lemon would help the henna stick, but for this correction skip it.
She is up there with other professionals and such a mensch.
I don’t have thinning hair but henna does make my hair feel stronger and I love my natural black hair and have no desire to change it the best henna to keep your hair black that i have tried is rainbow henna I posted my recipe you can search for my name among the comments
Where do you get the rainbow henna, is it powder ?
I will try for the first time the Henna ( rainbow) I m light brown,
lest see how I end up 😛
I have been using henna for over 25 years now!!! Its great and natural and my hair is soft plenty and shinny (I am 66!!!) I don’t use conditioner after shsmpooing with the great L’oreal Ever Pure-sulfate free!!! And this is an important information: to several dear friends that have been diagnosed with cancer in the last years : when their hsir regrew their phisicians recommended using any henna instead of chemical dyes. Hope this can help somebody
I used Colora and had good results. It is hard to find in beauty supply stores. I unwittingly ran across it in a beauty supply store. In Virginia at Janaf shopping center.
can anyone tell me of a salon in little India (located in Cerritos, California) that might apply pure !00% henna to cover my grey roots? I might be able to buy the product myself or maybe they carry pure henna mix for dark brown hair.
Hi, I am brand new to the whole henna thing and have a question I’m hoping you can answer. I’ve been using regular hair color for several years and am wanting to go completely natural (chemical-free) with my color but I’m very nervous about the fact that once you henna, you can’t use regular color anymore. I am considering a semi-permanent henna (2 to 12 weeks they say) and wonder if you know if it’s possible to revert to regular dye after using a semi-permanent henna color (like maybe after the 12 week mark?). I would hate to use henna, not like it, and then be stuck for the next few years, so I’m hoping the semi-permanent henna would be a good route. Any advice? Thank you!
http://www.hennaforhair.com/faq/ has lots of detailed info and a hotline for product advice.
When trying a new product ALWAYS take the extra time to do your research! By the way the only reason regular dye is not to be used after Henna is because some brands of henna have metallic salts in them that have VERY bad reactions with chemical dyes. Look for henna WITHOUT metallic salts. I’m trying henna for the first time and, unfortunately, this is the least informed article I’ve read yet. I’ve spent nights staying up late researching this. After all, it is PERMANENT hair color. http://www.hennaforhair.com/faq/ has lots of detailed info and a hotline for product advice.
I used henna and my hair turned violent red. After patiently (6 weeks) trying everything the company (Morocco Method) told me to do, I called my hair dresser. She made me wait two weeks and then had me come in and she colored it, very successfully. I do want to add that they are an Aveda salon, using Aveda dyes, which are a little better than what you typically find in salons and a whole lot better than what you find at a drug store. I only use Aveda, I travel a lot and I can take the color formula anywhere there is an Aveda salon and they can mix the exact color.
The thing about my hair is it’s white – not gray, white. I started loosing the pigment in my hair when I was a teenager and now the color’s just gone. Don’t use henna if you have white hair. Straight henna is the only henna that will bind to that kind of hair. So if you want violently red/orange hair, then use henna, otherwise, don’t use it. Go to an Aveda salon, it’s not a perfect solution, but it is better than nothing.
How do you feel about working with Morocco Method. I’m new to henna and they have been advising me. However they have given me some conflicting information. Do they have quality henna and guidance?. Thanks!!
TRY THIS OUT! For Pinkish-Redish (dark burgundy)dark tint
take natural henna powder 250gm
1 lemon juice + 2 tsp coffee powder + 2 tbsp Amla powder (Phyllanthus emblica, its ok if not available) + 20-30ml amla oil or almond oil + **BEETROOT water (grate beetroot & boil it, drain the mixture, add when it cools down)
MIX all ingredients in a iron container, keep overnight.
While Applying add a egg to it, mix to a good consistency (you can add remaining beetroot water to get good consistency OR Strong black tea water)and apply.
Keep it covered with shower cap for 2hrs, then rinse your hair.
**NOTE : BEETROOT is very essential ingredient for the tint.
Coffee is a good conditioner, lemon get rid of dandruff, amla adds darker shade & nourishes your hair. This mixture gives you shinny, dandruff free, lustrous hair with a beautiful color.
Do try. Happy Coloring. 😉 🙂
I have bleached blond hair with abt 3-4 inch light brown roots. I was wanting to grow my hair out bc of the toll the bleach has taken on my locks. It’s just not very pretty to look at anymore and I am getting antsy. Is there a Henna or natural counterpart I can use to darken my bleached hair closer to my natural color (the color of my roots)? I am not walking back into a salon. I want to be in control of the health of my hair. What should I use to darken??
I want to know how much water should we add to dilute the henna?
also, if I accidentally stain some dye on my skin, can it be washed off?
I found this post so great!!! Thank you everyone! I have been using henna for a year now and writing about it myself. I also had the same as Megan did in the beginning. I had roots and bleached out damaged hair. My daughters called it straw hair. Being a cancer survivor I should have known better than doing that to myself. I researched and made the plunge. Yes for the first 3 days I would say I was the brightest orange head. I would add to Megan’s post on one more thing to know. It takes a few days for your hair to oxidize and calm down. Knowing that now I wouldn’t have done it right before our grand opening event for our Happy Healthy Living LLC business. I wouldn’t go back to chemical hair dyes ever again though and there is such an abundant healthy feeling henna gives to me!
I started henna’ing my hair about 3 years ago and I love it. I don’t use henna to change my hair color but to cover up the mass amount of gray hairs I have. I get a medium brown color from Rainbow which is close to my natural hair color, and add coffee, vinegar and olive oil to the mix to help darken the henna, cover the grays and condition the hair, and then I put a plastic hair cap over my head, secure it with one of those fabric headbands that encompass your whole head (not just the top half like those plastic ones) and go to sleep. When I wake up, I wash it out and my hair feels and looks amazing. The grays turn to copper highlights, and although my hair does get a red (natural red) shine to it when in the sun, it looks like my natural brown color in normal indoor lighting. I’ve done the boxed hair dye game and have even gone to salons where they’ve left me under the dryer for too long, resulting in “platinum blonde” highlights… basically making me look like I had even more grays. I buy Rainbow henna which for the color of my choosing is a mixture of henna and indigo plant. They have all different shades of henna that are mixed with other plants to achieve the color you are looking for. You want to make sure the henna hair coloring you’re getting is all plant based though. So be sure to read the ingredients and google anything that doesn’t look familiar.
I’ve had bad henna experiences from several companies including Lush 🙁
After lots of trial and error, and almost having to cut my hair ultra short to fix it, I found a powdered henna from Henna King (www.hennaking.com) and won’t use anything else. Even bought their Karma shampoo & conditioner line for the organic properties as well.
Because I wanted to make sure that this dye was in fact 100% plant only, I called the company direct and received amazing customer service from an actual person who told me I could mix Henna King dyes together to make a custom color 🙂
I started with grey/white hair with a bit of brown hair in the back after months of chemo and radiation. I started with Lush Brown. It turned out blonde. I went back to the store and they told me to layer it. The third time it came out orange. I put a rinse of soy sauce and vinegar overnight and the next morning I was back to blonde. I went back to Lush and asked them if I should try black and they told no and to melt the Lush brown without water.
So I purchased pure henna from Silk and Stone. I followed a recipe from SuperPrincessJo. I added 2oz Greek coffee substituted for her Nescafe and mixed it with about a pint of warm brown tea. I put it in a cast iron pot and left it overnight. The mixture turned brown. I only kept it on for an hour because the smell was nauseating and the coffee gave me a headache. Where the Lush barely took, this henna took very well and completely covered the grey in a short period of time but it is flaming orange. I was going for brown.
So I’m torn between trying a henna indigo mix or a Medium Brown Henna from the Henna Guys.
I’m in a cold cap clinical trial that helps you keep your hair during chemo and I kept all of it. I can only use vegetable based dyes which as far as I can tell is henna.
Any advice?
Shielo is my new holy grail shampoo! It leaves my chemically treated hair very clean, very moisturized, fuller looking and softer feeling, no matter which conditioner I pair it with. I use the Shielo Hydrate Shampoo & Conditioner and I seem to get fuller and healthier looking hair with each and every use. It’s the best shampoo I have ever used. In addition, it’s sulfate free.
I found that I’m allergic to most hair dyes from the store and at the hairdresser. Was wondering if I would be able to use Henna. Really don’t want to go completely gray! Saw this at Walgreens and wondered what you think? Light Mountain Natural Henna Hair Color and Conditioner, Chestnut. Would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!
Hi there… Wondering if anyone has any tips for me. I have been dyeing my hair with henna for a few months now. A little background: I have med-dark brown hair with quite a few gray strands that is naturally wavy and had become extremely dry and course from traditional hair dyes. I started using the mahogany color from the henna color lab (all natural) which is a mix of indigo and henna and is supposed to come out looking like a mix of brown, black, and red. Well even from the first application, I’ve always felt like my roots come out looking mostly Red and the rest of my hair comes out looking mostly dark brown/almost black. I’ve tried to brush it off, thinking that it’s just the way the light is hitting it, but I’ve asked family members and they agree. I feel like each time I dye it, this problem gets worse. It looks great until I wash with shampoo the first time, then as soon as I wash it, it looks Red at the top, dark on bottom. I use an all natural shampoo that is supposed to be color safe, so not sure what’s happening. With traditional hair dyes I would always just put it on my roots only to get even coverage when I was just doing a root touch up…I’ve been putting the henna all over every time because of the conditioning benefits, but maybe I need to do roots only. Anyone have any thoughts/tips?? Thanks!!
how long to set henna? ‘overnight’ is not a time.
how many hours?
be specific. nobody lives in your house so we don’t know what your ‘overnight’ is.
I first found out about Henna when I lived in San Leandro Calif. Longs Drug store sold a brand in a pretty tin called Egyptian Henna and I bought the neutral for the conditioning properties. When I moved to Point Richmond, Calif. the grocery I went to sold COLORA HENNA. I loved it!! I’m a dark golden blonde and I was using Mahogany. The color was awesome and my hair was silky and shiney. It is a bit messy to mix as I used the dry form you mix with hot water into a paste. I was paying less than $4 a box. I had actually gone online to purchase some because since I moved back home to Hermitage Tennessee I have been unable to find it anywhere and what Hennas I did find were all jet black. Apparently, hair salons around here won’t touch it.
I just used henna for the very first time after I saw 1-2 grays. I used a mixture of red henna and black henna (equal parts) with coffee as the liquid and a tsp of amla powder. I ended up with a reddish tint on those gray hairs, but I’d like them to be a bit darker brown. I stayed away from Lush because they have a lot of extra ingredients and I thought that at one point, I had seen carrageenan, but I don’t see it now on their website. Will need to look again. It wasn’t as messy as I thought it would be, although it was a pain to leave it on my head for 4 hours! But, overall, I LOVED doing henna on my hair. I liked the grassy smell and I felt that my hair looked better. I plan to do it now once a month to see how it goes. 🙂
So henna doesn’t come in an other colors?
As far as I know, it’s perfectly fine to use chemical hair dye after using henna to dye your hair….as long as you’re using 100% body art quality henna. I use Red Raj, though I know Jamila is also a good body art quality brand to use; I dye over my hennaed hair once or twice a year when the color has gotten too dark from too many back-to-back henna applications, and I’ve never had a problem. No damage to my hair, no scary green color, no chunks coming out. These are all issues you get when you use henna dye that also contains junk like metallic compounds.
If you’re looking for all-natural body art quality henna, I consistently get good products from Henna Sooq. They have all their henna batches lab-tested for lawsone content before selling it, and the Sooq will give you personalized advice on how to achieve the specific color you want using henna mixed with other herbs.
How much water to didute the power? And how long to let it stay before you dye?
Hi,
I’ve been using Glory henna for 20 years, after it was chemically fried at the hairdressers. I won’t ever change. But once u started using henna u have to let your henna dyed hair grow out before using any chemical product again.
Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who gave Henna Sooq shout outs and recommendations 🙂
With Henna Sooq you can use and go back to chemical & color treatments safely. But why would you since our products WILL cover greys?! We can customize and guide you through your henna journey. Just drop us a line!
I have a question, if you have dyed red hair and then put red henna on top what would happen? Would it just revitalize the red? Thanks for the help and great article!
hello ,I bought Lush black henna ,I have plenty of white hairs I APPLY IT AS IT IS WRITTEN IN INSTRUCTION FOR 5 AND THE 8 HOURS BUT NO RESULTS JUST SOME OF THOSE WHITE HAIRS HAD BECOME ORANGE .
try rainbow henna black I had the same experience as you with LUSH
I just used light mountain today for the first time – Auburn. My natural color is auburn (a dark brownish-red), but I’m going white and have used semi-permanent dyes for years. I wanted to go to something without any toxic chemicals because I am now having some kind of thyroid problem.
I love the color my hair came out! Yes, the white hair is a bit bright red, but it’s fun. I would probably go for something a touch darker next time, but it is great anyway. This product contains pure henna plus senna and indigo, all rated “0”, except henna, which is rated “1” for occasional allergic reactions. I only left it on for 35 minutes. The white is covered. I’m very happy.
i’m planning to just do streaks…i have very dark hair and i’m opting dor all natural henna with lemons and cloves..WHAT EFFECT WILL IT DO TO MY HAIR? i want red…
Just an FYI, if you want more even color you can reapply henna as many times as you want as soon as you wan after a previous application. However, waiting at least 72 hours between applications is advised simply because it takes that long for the true color to set. Also, do not wash it out in those 72 hours, rinse it out, and use conditioner if you want, but do not use shampoo, this will help the color stay even as well. As for chemical dyes, do not use henna about 6 weeks after a chemical dye job, and vice-versa, if you use henna and decide to go back, wait about 6 weeks after latest application.
Great tips from everyone.
I have used Lush henna for years and started when I had few white strands and am naturally dark brown. White strands pick up the red (rouge or marron) colors best, BUT it can get brassy (ie orangie). I do red first to color the whites then go over it w/brune a day or week later.
To apply, I would break the brick into smaller blocks, and I store what I don’t use in the frig in a ziplock.
Melt the amount you are going to use, apply with a brush like they use to apply highlights at the salon, then covere with plastic (you can use disposable shower caps) then USE A HEATING CAP for at least an hour. THE HEAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE IN SETTING THE COLOR.
Rinse your hair outside to prevent the mud going down and clogging your shower drain, shampoo after rinsing. Hope this helps someone, I took me a little while to figure out how to get the best results for my efforts
PLEASE I CANNOT USE NO HAIR DYE BECAUSE OF A TATOO ON MY FOOT CAN I USE HENNA HAIR DYE I HAVE A LOT OF GRAY JUS AROUND MY FOREHEAD I CANNOT USE NO FORM OF HAIR DYE BEC I HAVE TO SEE THE DOCTOR MY FACE IS SWOLLEN AN RED ICHING SKIN I NEED AN ADVICE
I use Lush Caca Rouge Henna. I love the results. I only need a 1.5 squares. I added what other suggested, cinnamin, ACV and clove. From past experience I have noticed that if you don’t leave the henna in long enough the color doesn’t turn out at nice as it would if you left it in a minimum of 6 hours. I have darker brown hair with plenty of gray. My end result is awesome! I have beautiful red highlights with a deep brown/red base. My hair feels fully and healthy after and super shiny. I get many compliments. My gray actually looked a bit orange when I first rinsed the henna out but the color continued to develope and left beautiful color. Yes, appling the henna is a pain, messy, and takes a long time. The end result is worth it. And so is not having all those chemicals on my scalp, not having damaged hair because of it. I’ll take a henna anyday over traditional coloring options. I also never use shampoo or condition. I actually use 1 egg yoke with a few drops of essential oils added. I add warm water and mix just before I pour if over my head. I massage it in and rinse. That’s it. My hair is clean and healthy. I only need to do that once or twice a week. I no longer need any styling products. My hair has plenty of body and shine. I wet it down every morning with water and blow dry. Thats it!
*** PLEASE READ! ***
MADE ME SICK! NAUSEA, HEADACHE, THROAT SWELLING, DIARRHEA.
I finally colored my greys with henna today for the first time. After it sat on my hair for about 3 hours, I became nauseated,I had a headache, and I even had diarrhea. I even slightly started to feel as if my throat might be swelling. The symptoms subsided IMMEDIATELY after I began rinsing out the henna. I don’t know if this is normal, but please be aware that this can happen.
You mentioned you colored your hair for the ‘First time’… Could it be you may have been stressing a little bit about your ‘First time’ coloring your hair, and you’ve had an anxiety reaction. The symptoms you wrote are also stress related issues.
All the best going forward ….
I have colored my hair for years and ONLY with henna, but it was the Clairol Brand “Cover the gray” henna. Just recently I switched to a different product( “The Henna Guys’;try a different brand; see how newer products work)….First time…hmmm…very red/orange…headache/nausea. Second time(this past Saturday) headache, nausea, diarrhea, the shakes…felt like whole body was rebelling)….I don’t think that it is as much as the henna as it might be the “extra” ingredients that the The Henna Guys added to their product. So, don’t give up on henna! 🙂
i’m half indian and have very dark hair. i’ve been using henna once a week for the last 5 years, give or take. so i have many, many layers of henna in my hair. i get it done at my aunt’s home (she’s a beautician) and it’s either pure henna or henna with indigo. my thoughts are as follows:
–no color difference on my very dark hair (except my 10 strands of gray, which are dark red and blend in well)
–softer, shinier hair but only after 3-4 washes after applying henna. right away my hair is dryer and courser.
–i keep mine on overnight and would recommend the same for anyone with black or dark brown hair, where color won’t be an issue. the longer the better.
–if possible do NOT shampoo your hair after henna, just rinse and use conditioner. this is annoying, but it helps allow the henna to set.
–detergent based shampoo will wear away the effects of henna. natural shampoos are best.
–i never use chemical dyes and when i have in the past, DISASTER. if you henna, you can’t do anything else.
–indigo is drying, so keep that in mind. if you want black hair, use henna first then apply indigo in a 2nd sitting. if you want brown hair, mix henna & indigo to your preferred result, i.e. add more indigo for darker result and more henna for redder result.
–my hair is thick and strong, but naturally frizzy. henna really makes it softer and more conditioned but you have to put up with a lot. it’s messy. it needs to stay on for hours. hair is dry before it is shiny. sometimes there is henna residue even after washing, you can’t dye your hair with anything else, etc. etc. it’s a longterm commitment.
You can actually dye your hair with chemical color after- you just need to develop it differently. No need to wait for roots 10 minutes- apply to all hair for 30-40 minutes. Definitely go with darker color. Some highlights may occur, but overall it should cover it. After work with henna several times to get color you desire. Mixing it with herbs helps. I just don’t know which ones to use. Some I heard use coffee(strong brew, no instant).
i have left the salon behind but don’t like the grays or dullness of my natural hair. i have been using surya brand henna cream at home. i don’t like messy hair products or the drama they bring so this works perfect for me. look on vita cost.com for reviews and info. i have been very pleased with it and the results it brings, especially for the price!! its convenient, easy to clean up with little or no staining. the only downside is it washes out in about 2-3 weeks and summertime swimming is the biggest issue for me. still…. a good alternative i think. check it out!!
Hi, how long does it last? Will it “wash out” after some time?
Albena Todorova I had to go to henna as I am allergic to conventional dyes. My hair grows fast an inch a week . I have to cover gray every 2 weeks. I only do roots for covering gray. My hair is more than 50% gray and long- 8 inches below my shoulders. I have been using Henna for 10 years. 5 years from India, now 5 years Rainbow Henna from Vitacost.com. (I used semi permanent hair coloring for 10 years prior). I mix 2 colors and add 2 Tablespoons of vinegar to the mix and use coffee instead of water for the liquid. You can read everything about it on the vitacost.com website. Rainbow henna also has shampoo and conditioner. Hope it helps~ Melody
Im tired of the quemical dyes and i want to try henna but i was reading that it has to be pure henna and from a reputable place.. Will u recond it then ?
I’ve been using henna for a couple of years now and at first I was scared to death but I felt like you…hated the chemical dyes and what they were doing to my hair. So I’ve been getting Red Raj henna from Henna Sooq which has a high dye content and has always worked extremely well and is very stable and dependable. Others I’ve tried that are good are from Mehandi.com. I don’t have to straighten my hair anymore, as henna has relaxed my curls and has smoothed my frizz. My hair is now wash and go and starting to use henna was the best decision I’ve ever made about my hair. I get more compliments now than I ever have. I color on 100% gray/white hair and it comes out this beautiful light auburn. Very shiny now, too. Sometimes it takes a few coloring to get it the way you want it, because it might be very bright and orangy at first, but since henna doesn’t fade and it just keeps depositing color, try it a couple more times if you’re thinking of giving up.
Can you color it with henna twice in one day? Can you mix 2 colors of henna? I want auburn hair color and my hair is naturally white/ Gray. Also can you put henna over permanent color from a salon?
Henna takes a long time to process. You need to leave it on ur hair anywhere from 4 hours to overnight. I don’t think you will want to put that much stress on your hair by doing it twice in one day. It gets heavy on your head. It’s like mud and weighs your hair down while on your hair. It is probably best to wait a couple of days if not a week because trust me the process takes hours.
Yes but you need to wait a couple of months for the color to wash out. Box dye has nasty chemicals which react bad with henna
I had my last permanent color done at the salon, then when the roots start to grow, I’d touch up with henna on my own. I found this strategyy less intimidating since I’d have to only focus on putting henna only on my roots and not my whole head.
The first time I tried using pure henna, my roots turned out red. Then I bought pure indigo. When I follow it with pure indigo for 20 mins. my hair did turn very dark. I really want a dark brown looks, so now it’s a matter of learning the right amount of mixture. I mix my pure henna with lemon juice and cover overnight. Then when I’m ready to color, I mix the indigo in a separate bowl and finally stir everything in together. I would process my hair about 2 hours. That’s as far as I have the patience for.
What I enjoy about using henna is I can multitask at home while my hair marinade. And the fact that these days, young people are using crazy rainbow colors on their hair, I don’t feel too weird going around with my new experimental roots. This range from red, magenta, purple…but again, i’m talking about 20% gray, and that’s not too much to call for attention.
You can mix colors all you want! I purchase my henna from morroco method and I even chemically dyed my hair afterwards so I know it’s pure! Their website has tons of info about dying with henna.
HI what colour did your hair used to be before the grey? What hair dye colour did you use? I am thinking of using the blonde one or the honey blonde? My hair is very grey is spots 🙂 Cher
Henna does only ONE color. All the colors you see like Auburn, burgundy, black, etc, means henna is no ed with chemicals. So be careful. I have been using henna for ten years now and I know is a lot of work, but I don’t regret it.
Hello women, I need advice. I found pure organic henna on iherb.com here: http://www.iherb.com/Light-Mountain and I would like to order it for me and my mother, but I do not know what colour. My mother have brown hair and needs to cover gray hair to match her hair. There is regular kind and Color the gray kind of henna hair colour. I have read ingredients and it says lawsonia – henna, indigo and senna (depends on the color you choose). Pure red is lawsonia only. Do you think there is any difference between both kinds (except the size and packaging)? I would order light brown for her from Color the gray. And me, I have dark blonde hair and I would like to have really red hair, but not copper and I do not know which color to choose, bright red, red…? If I use red from Color the gray and I do not have any gray hair, would it be ok for me? I have long hair and this package would be better for me. Do you have any experience with this brand? Sorry for my English, I live in small country in Europe. Thank you very much for your help.
Check out Henna Color Lab online. Good quality product and I’m really happy with the results!
Henna Color Lab is the best. I’ve tried many different places and I’ve liked theirs the best. And they have a variety of colors!
I buy Ancient Sunrise Henna. The proprietor wrote her doctorate on henna so not only is she incredibly knowledgable and shares it via a FREE ebook (http://www.hennaforhair.com/freebooks/), she also sells very pure, affordable henna. I have dark, brown hair – very thick and long – and so I buy between 200 and 300 g of Rajasthani Twilight and an additional 100 g of Rajasthani Jasmine because it makes the batch super smooth. This time I ordered 12 g of a powdered citric acid called Malluma Kristalovina. I credit it for giving me the boldest red yet!
I was able to hold out for 4 hours (trying to sleep) but between the increased bulk of my muddy head, combined with the sweat I could feel rolling down my scalp due to the plastic wrap turning my head into a little greenhouse, I finally just got up and rinsed. THE RESULTS MAKE IT ALL WORTH IT.
I have very long hair too, I have pure white roots that need touched up every 3 weeks . And if really like to just have plain (boring) light brown.
1. Do you know if lite brown is available
2. Do you touch up your roots w henna or w semi perm color ? (From a box??)
No. There is not “light brown” henna. Pure, safe henna comes in one color. red. Depending on what your hair color is now, your results will vary. Henna cannot make your hair lighter, it can only add color.
I colour my hair with black Henna and I would like to know can I put red will the black go red also or should i stay with black
There is no such thing as “black” henna. Henna is “red” and only red. The black all naturally dye is called “Indigo” ……….If you want to dye your hair brown, using the all natural method, you must first use henna, then 24 hrs. later you mix your henna up and add some Indigo to the Henna until you reach the color brown you want. It’s a two day process, but it’s the only “all natural” way to get brown hair dye.
Hello, the best results would be if you use pure organic henna and pure organic indigo. There is a lot of good advise on the web. Wait at least 2 days before shampooing or re applying, if you would like stronger colors. The reason to wait is because henna and indigo would continue oxidizing and the colours would get darker. I have waist long hair with 50% gray and like it pure black or dark brown, so I apply the two step process – i.e first henna with amla, sleep over night, wash just with water and apply the indigo paste for just over an hour. It works for me very well.
John freida match to the nearest or a shade lighter. I was so fed up with chemicals I ordered lush caca rough a red arbun hair as I have grey roots I do touch up with John Freda range after trying so many. I will the whole of my hair 8 wks as henna is a messy but a worth it. Hope it helps please test box colours 48 hours before use.
John Freida tests on animals and is full of awful chemicals. Just a thought…
Please post here what the vinegar does to the henna? And you use coffee to darken it? I have red hair, but the gray coming out does NOT match my natural red when the henna is applied, it looks brassy -an orange tint and it’s a lot of work (I have very thick hair) so a 2-step process sounds horrible!
I have all – gray hair too. If yours is coming out too orange-y, perhaps you’re not using a henna with a high lawsone content. Buy one that certifies a high lawsone content. Mehandi.com or Henna Sooq. Make sure you’re using a terp oil to darken the stain. Lavender essential oil works best. Make sure you’re also leaving it on long enough – 6-8 hours. This together should all work to give you a nice auburn insteada of orange. I’ve had very good luck with that and I love my hair now.
Heather – I don’t know what the vinegar does – I remember it sets Easter egg dye, so maybe the same for henna – I don’t know. BUT – what I do know is that if you put two or three bay leaves – the kind you cook with – in a pot with a little water and bring it to a nice boil and let it simmer 10 or fifteen minutes while you make the rest of your henna paste, then ad it to the mix (it won’t look like much – just clear, slightly brown water), your hair color will come out more auburn than orange. I have white streaks and if I don’t add the bay leaf brew the streaks come out Bozo the Clown orange, but with it they come out a pretty soft red and the rest of my hair comes out a really lovely dark auburn. I have dark hair, so for you I’m guessing your red will stay about the same but your white should mellow out. I also use whole-milk yogurt, olive oil, an egg and essential oils like rose and jasmine just for the nice smell. You could almost eat my paste for lunch. I wrap my head in two super market bags clipped to hold them, and only leave on the dye for about four hours, then shampoo out and go from there.
Keep at it – I’ve been hennaed up for about nine years now and my only problem is my hair color and texture are too young-looking for my old face! Have fun!
I started having grey hair when I was in my early 20’s. They are premature. In 2009, I started coloring my hair with commercial dyes through hairstylist because the greys are mostly above my forehead. I am now early 40’s and just recently after I got a new hair color in January, I felt my scalp got tired. Just this week, I decided to find a natural way of coloring my hair, so henna got into the picture. How would I know if the henna that I could buy is original? Please help. Thanks a lot in advance.
Got to your local Middle Eastern or Indian grocery store. If you’re not sure which brand is the most natural, ask the check-out girls and they’ll know.
I have become increasingly more allergic to conventional dyes over the past two years….the last time I went to the salon, I had actual burns that scabbed over, so embarassing and hurt! I did a lot of research and read a lot of reviews and came to the conclusion that henna was my answer. (I was nervous about the color (turning red, and the mess)
I just used my first Rainbow Henna today. I used the dark brown with coffee and apple cider vinegar for covering the gray. I was pleasantly surprised! The mess was nothing like a typical dye…just crumbly, I might add some olive oil next time. I left it on the minimum time which was 45 minutes because I was worried about it affecting my scalp. The color was beautiful! Next time, I will leave it on maybe five minutes more.
My recommendation is once it on to cover it with a cap or hat to keep it warm, and then you won’t have to leave it on your hair as long.
Hi Rose. I also, after years of dying my hair, gradually developed a reaction to the dye (itch scalp), until I had a full-blown burn and wound up in the emergency room. I found a product at Whole Foods that was (mostly) natural and it was ok for a while. I dyed my hair last weekend and my scalp is killing me and I have areas of burn/scabbing.
I guess it’s time for plan C.
I am not all over gray/white – but have the typical crown white roots.
I’m glad to hear that Henna is a viable alternative.
Any other information you can share will be appreciated.
I’m a lucky expatriate living in a country where I can buy the most lovely henna – out of big barrel, by the kilo! It only costs about 10-12 dollars a kilo, which would last me for about a year but I buy by the half-kilo because of the room it takes in my cabinet. My point is, if you can get it from a market where things middle-eastern (or Indian) are sold, chances are it’s going to be more natural and un-processed. The problem with most beauty products in the west is that the producers can’t let well enough alone, and to make the products more attractive, they do weird stuff to it. Like Olive-oil soap (which I also buy by the kilo), which ends up soft, greasy and smelling of not-olive when you buy it in England or America, most of the henna on the western market has been gentrified and the cost reflects that. So you all you want your henna to look like is muddy-green powder. (and olive-oil soap should smell like olives!)
But I’m old-fashioned….
Hi dear, where do you live, and can you buy for me and just pay you. Badly needed that kind of stuff. Thanks
my sister is a henna artist. (henna rising) she will save the henna she doesnt use and freezes it for us to do our hair which weve been doing for years now. Ive always loved coloring w/ henna, it tamed my curly hair, always got compliment on it, and it made my hair grow long and full, no complaints re. henna other than the mess and length of time it stays in before washing
Now at this point i have a good amount of gray,….my roots start to grow out w/i 2 weeks of coloring,..so I’m thinking of seeing what i look like gray,…and im tired of all the work to color w/ henna for 2 wks of real satisfaction.
so now i have at least an inch of grey hair, looks awful and i have a funeral Saturday. my sis told me and i read that u cant cover over henna w/ chemical permanent dye because of the mineral salts in them. so i just got some temporary root cover up, we’ll see how that works. todaya Thursday, funeral on Saturday, no real room for error. wish me luck, im going in!
p.s. henna rising sells henn! for hair including indigo, and other forms used to customize your color. lots of henna, lots of uses! she has a website as well as facebook,
This is my problem also, very itchy scalp all of a sudden. Would like to hear the reply to this question. Thank you.
Rose, what color did you end up having dark rich brown? Thanks
Hi. I wonder if you could advise me. I too used henna for many years before starting to turn grey. Recently I’ve decided to chance applying henna again. There was only one type available, henna pulver. Although the shopkeeper said it ok to use on hair I’m dubious as it only showed skin dye on the box. Help!
I use the similar methods with lemon juice, coffee and vinegar. My hair grows fast and Henna works fine with me.
yj;i716ave tried to follow the directions to blend the rainbow henna. the end result is a very gritty texture (i saw from youtube that the final consistency is supposed to be a creamy texture) almost like the product never really combined. Do you have this experience? How hot is the liquid supposed to be when combining the product.
thanks.
What exactly are the steps that u take preparing the henna?
Hi, I have gray roots and waist length black hair. I just need root coverage. But I hate the orange color that Henna gives. Is there are way to make it brown or black? I tried Indigo powder, but it made my hair blue .
you should look on hennahair.com it has before & after pics along with a detailed discription about what the henna was mixed with and how long it was left on the hair.
I am in my 40s and have fast growing grey hair. I had to dye my hair every 2 weeks to cover the grey hair.. Since i used chemical hair dyes. Every dying session was very irritating. And even chemical hair dyes were not lasting more than a couple of weeks. One can imagine , how much time consuming it is. I have always been searching for a better alternative.
For that, i talked to my friends , searched on internet. And it took no less than 6 months to hear about pure and natural hair color. After that ,it was another search to find a brand , which really have pure and natural products. One of my friends purchased light brown from online store for me. I did the first application reluctantly, as never used such products before. I dint like its smell at all. But with its application, felt no irritation like as chemical hair dyes. It covered 70% of my grey hair. And gave a shiny brown color. Then on my own , i used dark brown hair color from same company brand name “THEHENNAGUYS”. I added few drops of essential oil for eliminating its foul smell. This product gave me exactly what i have been dreaming for and without any problem. With Dark brown color , all my grey hair with beautiful color. I do the hair color after 3-4 weeks. Since then i am stuck with pure and natural hair color from THEHENNAGUYS.COM.
they also have plenty of information about hair colors and have other pure and natural skin and hair care products.
Hi my name is maria I love u r honesty.considering trying this product.I have black hair down to waist I really like your recommendation to my hair.should I use how much my hair is almost50% gray. The last time I colored was in September of last year.I was tired of spending money every 4 weeks. A d hate the smell of it.would sent me the site again. Y coworker says that she add a whole egg with the mix for more protein and shine.what do you think.thankyou very much.
Hi there,
How long do you have to leave the dark brown on for please? To cover Gray roots.
Been having a night mare with orange vibrant roots. In desperation tried to lifhten the patchy black (from dark red henna over bleached hair to correct botched foils) the previous bleached has gone green 🙁
I’ve tried chestnut brown henna for 4 hours, gray roots go brassy gold/orange within a week.
Can’t cope with the upkeep, especially if it doesn’t last.
Thanks
Heather
I think all henna should be allowed to activate atleast 8 hours and left on hair for the bare minimum of 4 hours. Then it should last 2 months, atleast in my experience. Remember that the more often you henna your hair, the shorter it lasts.
Hey there, I’ve always used black box dies and I’m looking for a natural alternative. I’m naturally blonde and I’m worried that the black henna will fade to orange like the tattoos do. Anybody have experience with the black henna hair dye? Thanks, lauren
Hi Lauren !
As an answer to your question, I would suggest you to use lighter colors on your hair ( as you are blond any coulour would cone great ) and you can even try with highlights of different nuances. Chocolate coulour to dark brow or blond highlights would be a great choise.
I’m suggesting this as it is a pitty to go straight black without taking advantage of trying different lighter versions; because black can not be removed or highlighted after neither to use chemical coloring because it will affect your hair. I used black henna ( as the original one can be only auburn red or black) and it faint away in a deep dark brown NOT orange in any case.
So I would try to enjoy more colors then go straight to black ( which also make you look more mature ). I use henne Creme Color France, as a ready prepared cream ready to be used (2 in 1 product hair dye and conditioner ) they also provide a wide range of shampoo and conditioner that really gives glow to the hair ).
Hoping this was useful,
My greeting to all
Adela D.
I have hip length brownish- red hair and wanted to go to brighter red. I do henna tattoos, so I just went to the shop from which I buy my body art henna: Empire. I know they have a website, which I have included. Anyway, “black henna” is not henna and can be very dangerous. What you are looking for is indigo or indigo/henna mix, depending on what you want. You might want to give it a try. The owner did her doctoral thesis on henna and has a ton of information: The also have a number to call if you need any help with the process.
I just buy Rajasthani Twilight, mix it with lemon juice and a cardamom and cloves tea. I do it all by myself and have never made a huge mess. I then wrap it in plastic wrap and a towel, sit back, and binge watch Netflix.
http://www.hennaforhair.com/indigo/index.html
What proportions if each ingredient are you using? I m about to try my first henna since chemical dyes damaging my hair. Thinking to start with simpler Rainbow research which is color ready, and then progress to make my own mixes.
Agnes
Hi! I wonder if you know whether using henna pulver, used in body art, can also be used to dye hair. I bought a box from an Asian supermarket. The male staff told me I could but I’m a little dubious. Can anyone help?
I have medium brown hair but I have been using dark brown color, I am going with Henna color, how much brewed coffe do use with the apple cider vingear
You can use all coffee for the liquid. Use a high terp oil to add in, too, to darken the stain. It still won’t come out brown, though. You’ll have brown hair with red tints and tones in it.
I’ve used Rainbow Henna for years- for a long time I used red tones, which gave my naturally strawberry blonde a very intense red. These days, I’m using the marigold blonde (still from Rainbow Henna) to cover my grey. It can be messy, but I just prepare for it. I’ve done it enough times now that I have a pretty good routine to control the mess! My hair always feels amazing after I do it- even if you just do the natural, colorless, henna once in awhile, it is so good for your hair.
I love it! The biggest problem with using henna is that once you start, you can’t switch to other kinds of dye. For me, I ended up shaving my head a couple times over the years when I wanted to go back to my natural color. I know that doesn’t work for everyone, but I found it refreshing to do once in awhile. But that was back when I was doing the red. Now I’m just using blonde to cover grey, so the outcome is basically my natural color anyway (sans grey!). Also, it’s less work for me to cover grey- because I primarily am grey up front, around my temples. So I can just target those areas the majority of the time and then henna the rest of my hair only occasionally.
I am very interested in using henna. I have never use it before and am going to need a lot of help.
You wont need help applying it.. It gets pretty messy so you just have to be careful. My mistake was that I like to go lighter in the Spring and dark in the fall. I used henna last fall and it washed out in a couple months. I thought all the henna was gone so I tried to go back light. My stylist attempted to do a balayage and my hair turned green.. After several attempts it’s still not lighter. If you want to freedom to go dark and light don’t get henna. If you usually stay dark henna is ok..
hello
I have never dyed my hair and i want to try black henna. How long does it take for the color to leave completely from my hair?
As I understand it, henna color doesn’t leave your hair, so you just have to wait for it to grow out. There are lots of tips in the previous comments, too!
I’d recommend http://www.mehandi.com (ancient sunrise @ amazon). There is a wealth of information written by someone that researched henna for their Ph.D. at Kent Univ. She literally wrote the book (there is an ebook) on the topic. People get caught up in adjectives “natural”, “chemical”. Everything is a chemical. And natural things can be poisonous too. mehandi sells henna and it is tested by an independent lab for lawsone content, heavy metals, contaminants, adulterants. What I found while searching is that when people say they used henna isn’t always true. They used a product that contained henna and other stuff. My image of India is not “organic and pure’, but of over pop, poverty and the Ganges river. I definitely want anything coming from India tested. I placed my first order with them. The customer support was super helpful for this newbie, but I appreciate the the volume of material on their site and the independent testing. I know it takes some of the fun out it but I alway research everything I buy and check at sites like http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/.
They seem to say, in the troubleshooting section, that you can dye your hair with store bought dyes after “henna”. But with the caveat, if you used their henna, indigo or cassia. I believe they say that because they know the purity of their product and what’s in your hair, known and unknown, may react. So it seems you need to know the quality of ALL the ingredients in the product used if it wasn’t only henna.
I do all my henna business with Empire (the physical store for Mehandi.com (The Henna Page). It is located in Kent, Ohio. I absolutely adore the people there and Catherine Cartwright-Jones, owner of The Henna Page, has done extensive research on henna–her doctoral thesis was about henna–and speaks out about the harm tat can be caused by so-called black henna.
The customer service is outstanding.
I had considered trying Lush, but decided to just go with a packet of henna from Empire, after looking at the ingredients and reading reviews. (Cocoa butter can inhibit the dying process. I use it around my airline when I henna my hair.) I have been doing henna tattoos for a long time, so I knew I could get a good stain with the stuff from Empire.
So what color should I use for my hair is jet black and strait. Thankyou.
http://www.hennaforhair.com/indigo/index.html
It is a bit of work, but they have a number you can call for help.