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?
which is the best henna that gives you light brown color?
I would never ever buy anything (again) from LUSH! I do not have allergies and loooove girly makeup, cosmetics and perfume; most of which I wouldn’t wear because of thier toxicity anyway. I tried Lush and every time – not exaggerating – it either made me get a headache or some weird reaction: the vanilla scented lotion bar did me in!
Read thier labels, at least by law they have to list thier ingredients and they don’t lie – total chemical cocktails. Thier advertising is false about purity. ‘Detoxing’ with LUSH is an oxymoron, unfortunately. Too good to be true.
I do like Lush cleansers, facial scrubs and mask and there bar shampoos, not a big fan of the conditioners. I, myself also tried the Henna hair dye, I used the Caca Noir, I was not happy with the outcome. My hair was dark before using the Henna. I read that the Caca Noir would have an Indigo/Blue-Black shade color with a touch of red. Let me tell you, there is not one strand of dark hair color in my hair. My hair is bright brownish/reddish. I should of done the hair strand test like they “recommend” we do. I already had dark hair, i thought it would make my hair look rich and healthy. That is not the case. I did reach out to customer service and they told me it was like a varnish, but if the first time I got more red than black, I don’t see the point in spending a lot more money for the same outcome. I am not happy with the results.
i would like to try henna, I do have questions though, I have right past my shoulders medium reddish hair. I have a lot of grey and need to do roots every 3 weeks at least. can I color my hair with henna and then retouch the roots with henna? how long does the henna last in my hair?
Henna is permanent and does not fade. at all. I am all gray and you can do henna on roots and all over. It makes your hair very healthy and shiny.
I got brown hair which I really don’t like and I would like to go with black hair…. what could be the suggestion… should I go with black henna or any other colouring agent…
There is no such thing as black henna. Henna is red. period. If you’re using something called black henna, it either has henna plus chemicals or henna with indigo. The indigo will fade slightly leaving you with red undertones, so that’s something to consider.
I have been using henna in my hair for about three years now and I love it. I love the red color that it gives and since I started after beaching out my hair, it’s got this nice ombre going on. I’ve had so many stylists criticize my choice for using henna, but as long as I stick with my red, it works well.
I use Reshma Femme Henna found in Sally’s Beauty. I mix it up with a teaspoon of lemon juice (the citric acid helps to release the color in the plant) and a dark brew of Rose Red Tea. I let the mixture sit over night to fully activate and then leave it on for about four hours. Yes, I do wrap my head in plastic wrap and a towel why it’s on my head, and yes it will stain anything it touches. Henna does smell odd, so I usually put in some sweet smelling oil like rose or jasmine to make it more pleasant.
It’s been about 3 months since the last time I hennaed my hair and while I am showing roots, the colored part of my hair has not faded or gone brassy like chemical dyes.
If you want more info on henna, you can check out http://www.hennaforhair.com/ They can answer most of your questions and their products are amazing, but I’m a bad procrastinator and usually wait until last minute to color my hair before some event. Hence why I get the Sally’s beauty stuff.
Which color of the FEMME HENNA do you use? I purchased the Rainbow Henna in Med Brown, my hair is brown now.. wondering what color I will come out with.. I want to add tea not sure which one to use.. I just want shine and some color but dont want a orangey color..
I’m pregnant and been debating if to colour my hair or not I read that henna is a safe option …is this correct ?
There’s nothing in henna that would affect your pregnancy. I say go for it! And congratulations.
I have been using henna (Herbique henna) for the past 10-15 years. Recently I noticed that my very thick hair has change – I have almost bald patches. Could this be because of the henna? Do I dare to continue with it?
So chemical dyes and henna don’t mix…. What about colourless henna for healthy, shiny hair? Do this combination (not simultaniously) mix?
I just used Lush henna like I’ve been doing for the past couple of years. For some reason, the consistency was thicker than usual…I think it got cold quicker this time. Anyway, I’m feeling freaked out that it might be blotchy. I’ve got another 3 hours before I wash it out. Has anyone here had a “bad” henna experience? Should I abort mission?
I’m 63 and have very fine, thin, short color treated hair. My natural color is a mousy brown but have some gray roots and especially at front hairline. I would like to have medium brown with reddish tones but unsure what brand of henna and mixture is best for me. The grays at my temples tend to be resistant to color and I really don’t want bright red hair. Any info would be greatly appreciated, thank you!
I live in Davao City, Philippines. I have a very sensitive skin. I am allergic to chemicals especially hair dyes. where to buy henna products. I want to try henna
That henna looks like it doubles as a curry roux!
I use henna and everything tbh from this company…solid reputation to provide clean, pure products. https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/catalog/bath-body/hair-care
Hello !
I am a fan of Henna. I have never used permanent / chemical hair dyes.
I have been using henna on my hair for over six years now. I apply it twice a month with coconut oil, castor oil and lemon drops. I leave it on my hair for 6 to 12 hours. My hair is and looks super healthy, shiny. I went from Brunette to jet black hair just with a mix of Henna and Indigo.
Now that I have moved to London, it is a bit difficult for me to find pure henna powder but I found that the Henna from Lush does an ok job.
My all time favorite is the Henna from Aromazone. It is amazing and they have great colours for next to nothing
🙂
Before using henna or mehndi in your hair you should test a small piece of henna on your hand or somewhere on else so that you can know the side-effects of henna if you show some side-effect then you should not use henna on your hair.
Can i perm my hair after henna?
Hello, I went off colour for a year and today decided to do the Henna indigo 2 step process on my nearly 90% grey hair (only 52 years young). I left the henna (henna, black tea and alma mix) on for close to 3 hours on my hair and it gave me a bright orange colour. The second step of Indigo (mixed in warm water with a little left over henna and a teaspoon of himalayan pink salt) gave me a beautiful dark coverage, but with a blue green tinge to my hair 🙁 !!!
Any suggestions how I can fix this, or as I have read other posts where it states the colour takes a couple of days to oxidise, as such would it lose the blue green tinge and give me a nice black/red toned look?
I will post back in a couple of days if there is a natural change in the colour, but in the meantime any suggestions/assurance would be great, Thanks
I remember once, years ago, using henna that turned my brown hair a dark brown with green tints. It did fade, eventually, but not quickly.
Have any of you tried HairPrint (new product)?
http://www.myhairprint.com/collections/all
I tried it and it smells like Henna. Both to me smell like straw or hay.
I am pleased with it. However, there is a lot of it, and you can’t just have a little bit (to my knowledge) to touch up your roots. I do plan to contact the company to see if there is a smaller amount I can purchase.
All Henna dyers: its convenient to apply henna at home but if you are travelling and need to touch up roots every 15 days, can you suggest temporary hair colour which can go well on henna dyed hair?
Hi! I have black hair & lately gray hair is showing up all over. I would like to cover my gray hair would rather have light brown or black. I want to try henna and not used any dyes before. Can you please help?
I went to the stylist the other day for streaks, and it didn’t take. No colour whatsoever when she was done. Does anyone know if I can use henna now? I have no colour from the dye, but I’m wondering if it may have still altered the composition of my hair in some way. I’ve used hennas off and on for many years, never anywhere near hair dye, though.
I use morrocan method for henna dye. http://shop.morroccomethod.com/
Best hair dye ever and comes in various colors
I use the henna powder you can buy at any IndoPak grocery stores. There’s many brands to choose from. I like Depur.
I’ve been using henna for 3 years. It’s messy and a pain but for $5 a coloring you can’t beat it.
I’ve found you have to leave it on for at least 3 hrs. I usually go to bed after applying and wake up in the middle of the night and wash it out. Takes 15 min. Soak hair lying in a bathtub and gently work the henna out. Then hop in the shower and wash w/ shampoo. I use conditioner w/ a few drops of evoo.
I’ve never had problems with my roots being lighter than the rest of my hair. I usually dye my whole head but when I had very long hair I only dyed my roots for a year. There was no difference bw the new or old color.
The only henna I use is what I purchase from Mehandi Henna. They carry, only after testing the henna themselves for purity and content, the best henna for covering gray that is pretty much chemical free from harmful chemicals. I say pretty much because nothing is perfect in love and war. I mix my dry henna (which you keep in the freezer until you use it) with lemon juice until it has the consistency of thick pudding (it needs acidic content) and let it sit for the day until dyes are released. I put a wooden chop stick in it as it will show color on the stick so you know it’s releasing. I like to put my henna in the window so it gets the warmth from the sun which helps it to release faster. I then put it on my hair and let it sit for 2-3 hours. It covers my gray perfectly and gives me a beautiful red with highlights through it. Sometimes, I use their indigo if I want a more brownish henna. That you don’t mix in until you are ready to use your henna. You mix the indigo with water and then mix through the henna paste. Never put indigo in the freezer or refrigerator. That will destroy the indigo.
Thanks for sharing all of that stuff with us, and your tips for reach best results 🙂
My name is Fab, I’d like to ask for a piece of advice please 🙂 🙂 🙂
I dye my air with a mixture for a light brown which contains Cassia obovata, Lawsonia inermis and Indigo tinctoria, I do it every month since February …however my hair colour is a way darker that I wanted to be since I started…
I thought I may start a new mixture to go lighter using Lawsonia inermis, Walnut hull, Cassia obovata, Curcuma and Add warm chamomile to it.
I’ m Still waiting to wash away the Indigo as you can see in these pics..
Are there any advice you could gently give to me pls?
How long should I wait before to try this new mixture, based on your experience?
Hope you can help me with that, I really do
I grew very tired of my hair and thought I would just go gray and be done with it, I hated it. but now I am unable to re dye back to red, The color washes out as fast as I rinse, will red henna help hold any color ? my color now looks like straw pinky kind of almost blond..
Hello,
Just a quick question
Will blonde henna darken, my already blonde hair?
Thanks
Google “Henna for Hair”. The website has very detailed information about using henna in addition to having high quality henna, indigo, cassia and amla for purchase. I started using henna about five years ago after a dye mishap that turned my hair magenta. After removing the errant dye, I tried henna. Not without misgiving because going in that I would have to let it grow out before I could dye it with a chemical dye. Fortunately, the red has been very close to my original color (back in the day). My hair and scalp are very healthy and everybody loves the color. Much better alternative than soaking hair and scalp in chemicals and the color is better than any traditional hair dye, especially for red hair. I am not associated with the subject website, but am a loyal customer.
I started using pure henna and ginger blonde henna from Henna Color Lab (US based company in Oregon) and the results are FANTASTIC. The ingredients list is completely natural and the results are stunning.
I saw a couple questions and thought I’d lend an answer.
No, henna will not lighten your hair, you can only go darker.
Yes, henna has an “earthy smell” which will go away after a couple washes. You can add a couple drops of essential oil to your mix to lessen the smell but personally I prefer it to the harsh chemical smell of regular hair dye. It doesnt bother me but not everyone like it.
Yes, your hair will be bright orange right after dying it and can also have green undertones but the color takes up to 48 hours to completely settle into a dark red and the funky undertones will go away.
Yes, henna is permanent and you should not use any dye that has metallic salts in it after using it, results could be from color not holding to your hair literally burning off because of the chemical reaction it causes. Henna binds to your hair unlike dye which only covers it. So if you like chemically dying, bleaching or perming your hair, DO NOT USE HENNA!
I had massive hair loss from years of chemically abusing my hair plus I got the implant birth control (which made my hair fall out at an alarming rate) so I switched to all natural henna and couldn’t been happier with the results. My hair has never been healthier and I’ve been seeking this color for years. In the sunlight it shines and looks like fire! I highly recommend HCL henna hair dye to anyone wanting to go chemical free!
Best of luch to you all <3
The henna plant is RED/ORANGE! If it is any other color then it has additives of some sort. I had bleached blonde damaged hair. I starting using Henna because I wanted to grow my hair out and my boyfriend’s mom said she used this and it did wonders for her. I buy my henna at the nearest Arabic store.
if you are superstitious then apply it 2x a month: cut & dye on a full moon. Dye on new moon
if you are not superstitious than just cut once a month and dye twice a month
First Time Applying Henna to my Hair:
boil 9 ounces of water
12 TBL spoons of Henna powder
a whole lemon
apply it to your hair
The second time and every time after that use:
boil 3 ounces of water
1 TBL spoon of Henna
and half a lemon
I have used a paste of bentonite clay mixed with water and apple cider vinegar applied to my hair to pull the henna coloring out with success in the past. It does not pull it all out, but it is noticeably lighter after each application. That may be something to try, if you don’t like your results.
I have been losing hair for the past few years, and due to Hair Loss I thought of using Henna for the last 1 year. I feel that may be due to Henna I am still losing lots of hair. Can Henna be the reason for hair loss. Pls advise.
Yes, henna can cause hair loss from not being rinsed out properly or through scalp irritation. IT can also cause hair loss due to causing excess weight from the product and other external factors gathering on top or even from the mechanical stress of having the product on the hair for so many hours during the dyeing process.
2 seconds to Google that, m’dear.
I actually would recommend for u to get blood test if u have not already. Could be diet. Thyroid. Or some vitamin deficient thats causing loss of hair. I had the same problem. Mine was hypothyroidism and with meds and the henna actually thickened my hair. U have to change u r diet with meds also. Good luck.
well thanks your info was very useful NOW THAT YOU SAID ABOUT USING A PERMANENT COLOR AFTER HENNA i REMEMBERED WHEN I USED TO DO HENNA BUT HAD FORGOTTEN !!
SO i THINK i WILL PASS HENNA THIS TIME,
THANKS THANKS THANKS
Can you use Henna hair dye as normal henna for your skin?
I made the mistake of using henna and then went to lighten my hair up again. My hair turned blue! No one will book me to fix this mess. If I could go back in time I would have chucked that hair henna back inside LUSH and ran for the hills. My hairs a mess and confidence is at an all time low.
Hello Megan. I have used Light Mountain Color the Grey (henna/indigo) hair color twice in the past month. My natural hair color is a medium dark brown color. My roots are pretty grey.The results were not pleasing – I now have reddy roots with my natural color ( I only did the roots). Before, I use Shea Moisture med. brown dye and was pleased but thought I’d try something less toxic. Well, I want to go back to using the Shea Moisture color but am wondering how long I should wait before using.
I use henna powder and it covers my greys and my roots. It does gradually wash out especially where shampoo is applied to the scalp. I refresh my color every three weeks. I dilute my shampoo do the scalp area doesn’t wash out.
Thanks so much for the great photos detailing the steps for applying henna, and for sharing a thorough explanation of your experience and what you learned. It was truly significant for me. I have been considering henna in lieu of the chemical (commercial) dyes I have been using; however, I already don’t like allotting 45 minutes touching up my roots, so I’m quite sure I would not be interested in two or more hours coloring my hair. Additionally, the caveat about not being able to “color” ones hair until the henna grows out was crucial. Your article was clear and honest, allowing anyone to make a better-educated decision based on their individual conditions. Thanks, again!
Uneven color is the result of either uneven application or insufficient time/heat. I used to do mine all the time. The trick is to wrap it in plastic (a grocery bag works fine) and sit under a dryer for an hour or so. It will dry on your hair and be hard to wash out, but there’s a trick for that, too: Work in half a bottle of cheap conditioner, use a wide-toothed comb to detangle, then start rinsing and working it out with your hands and the comb. Mixing it with coffee and red wine instead of straight water will deepen the color to a dark auburn that covers everything.
My sister suggested using henna for this reason……..I haven’t done it yet. Glad I read this article. Her stylist was going to do it the next time I was in her city. After reading this article I’m very leery about doing it. My natural hair at age 66 is grey, black, brown, and last but not least brunette. I’ve only done an occasional rinse over the years. Also I’m in stage 1 of locking my hair…….so does it matter what color it is? LOL. Thanks for letting me vent.
Hi, I am going to henna my hair soon after about 7 years of permanent red chemical dyes. I have waited two and a half months now and was going to wait a further 3 before I henna it as I read you can’t put henna on top of chemical dye. However, my roots are really starting to bug me now so I was looking to do it sooner. Did you put yours on top of permanent highlights?
Hi Megan,
Stumbled upon your website by chance whilst looking for henna dyes.
I have dyed my hair with henna for nearly a year now and I am loving the natural colour and the fact that it doesn’t harm me in any way.(Henna can, however, cause allergy in some people)
Radical colour change with henna is not the same as with a chemical dye, so I would say it is more suitable to give your hair a natural glossy and healthy look. It might be a good idea to go for a darker tone or a tone close to your natural tone, as then there won’t be such a strong contrast between the growing roots and the lengths.
I also found that adding hair balm into the henna mixture gives a nice soft bounce to the hair and if you don’t want to wait for the dye to prove and want a more vibrant tone, you can dry the hair with the hair dryer.
All the best
Yu x
As a natural redhead who will turn 59 in April, Henna has been my go-to hair dye for over ten years. It is always a messy, messy job that I do two or three times a year. I love it because adding a little acid, be it lemon or vinegar covers my grey that is now creeping in around my face, and it leaves it looking like I have very natural highlights. Henna is not for everyone, but it is for me and I will use it as long as it keeps working for me. I do add a little Indigo these days to keep the brassy tones under control. I am so glad you were not blond when you decided to try this. Blond’s can turn out with a Ronald McDonald Orange color. Henna does darken on your hair after two or three days, but most people do not know and they freak out a bit when they first try it. I always recommend newbies add about 1/4 indigo to avoid the “Orange” shock!
I have been using henna to color my hair for almost 10 years now and I have learned a lot of tips and tricks along the way. Let me know if you’re interested; I’d be happy to share my knowledge.
Thank you so much for your great article. I am wanting to use Henna for the first time. The information you have provided & knowledge you have shared has really helped me. Best wishes, Charis Boissevain
Hi, I’ve been using Lush henna for years, and discovered that of you clingfilm then your hair takes on more red tones. If you wish for browner/blacker/blue-blacker then wrap hair in a towel instead. True!
I’ve started using henna after 20 yrs of coloring my med brown hair blond. The first week or two while the henna oxidizes, I look my my head is on fire, but then it settles to a nice auburn. My hair feels so soft and healthy. My stylist is well trained in henna, so she uses a brand she likes and places around with the acids to get more red than orange. I miss my blond sometimes, but I love that henna is chemical free and covers my grey so well!
Have black hair. with one inch grey roots..Dyed roots with a natural henna black..roots came out blue..got to get rid of this..can you tell me how and can i use a permanent hair colorblack..i got my daughters wedding and i freaking out.need to fix but hear horor stores…..HELP..Thankyou
If you need to fix it quickly for a wedding, I would go to a professional hairdresser for help! The first time I used henna and wanted to have it fixed (Because my hair was two drastically different colors) my hair dresser was able to dye everything one shade darker using a semi-permanent dye. I think she had to leave it on my hair longer than normal because the henna doesn’t lift well, but eventually we did get my hair darker and more even in tone. Best of luck to you!
Henna covers roots beautifully. You made s mistake in your henns prep when you used hot water. Hot water releases the dye too quickly. It should never be mixed in anything warmer than room temperature. After applying the henna you wrap with plastic and to speed up the process you can wrap s warm old towel around your head. If you use hot water you kill the henna. With repeated dying most highlights are covered but darker sections will remain darker.