Thread: Henna Hair Dye Recommendations?

Hey Bhuzzers!

I'm thinking about dying my hair... it used to be a beautiful copper/gold/reddish blonde, but it has dulled and almost turned green in the last year... possibly due to my thyroid thing.

I really hate using regular hair dyes as they are so caustic and horrible for the environment and your hair. My hair is really brittle and fine right now, so I've been looking into henna hair dyes. Do any of you know anything about them? Ever get good results? Are there brands of henna hair dyes that are non toxic and biodegradable and safe to use on damaged hair? Are there colors that you'd recommend staying away from? Places to buy online? I have really long hair and would like to keep it that way... how often would I have to do a touchup of the roots? This probably depends on how close I get in color though. Sorry, I'm pretty new to hair dyes. I dyed my hair once several years ago and liked the outcome, but did not like the caustic smell and burn of the dye so I stopped.

I'm looking that the Morrocco Method dyes since they only have henna and indigo in them... not additives.

I've been using this Logona natural henna-based powder hair color stuff for several years:
http://www.naturaleurope.com/ne/pers...r_powders.html
You can mix it with just boiling water, but I like my results better when I mix in lemon juice until it is all just moistened, then add a strongly brewed/boiled thick coffee until I get the consistency for application.

I like this product because it contains some kind of vegetable starch that gives it a smooth pudding-like consistency and also helps it to rinse out of the hair. Ordinary henna is messier. It's crumbly and seems to get all over the place when you apply it, and I always found it terribly hard to rinse out.

I have long hair, almost to my waist, and with one box of this I can color my new growth and also refresh the color on all of my hair. For a person with short hair I think you could get two applications out of one box.

Also I should add that this stuff does not damage my hair. Since I've been using it I've been able to grow my hair much longer than I was able to while using chemical hair dye. With the chemical dyes it would only grow to a certain point because the ends, after having been exposed to the product too many times, would just break off.

Rosette

http://www.hennaforhair.com

Everything you'll ever need to know. And then some.

The basics:

Henna does not come in "colors." It comes in reddish brown. Period. You can achieve other colors with other additives, and these are perfectly natural and safe and lots of people use them, but if anyone tells you you can go blond, black, brown, etc. with henna alone, run far away, because they're lying. Their product might not contain anything bad--simply other herbs and such--but still: they're lying, so choose accordingly whether you want to use their product. And you won't be going lighter than your original color with henna, unless you bleach first. Henna functions sort of like wood stain..it adds a layer of color over whatever you're rocking originally. On blonde hair, you can go very red. On black hair, you're more likely to get just a red sheen in the sun.

Plain old pure henna like you'd use for mehndi on your skin is your best bet. You don't need fancy "brands" with fancy instructions. Mix it up, slop it on wearing your oldest nastiest clothes, leave it for an hour or a few, wash it out carefully, you're done. Expect a mess, but that's the most complicated thing you should encounter.

Do a strand test first with some hair you pull out of your hairbrush. Really. Especially if you have color-treated or permed your hair in the past. Henna is permanent, so better to be safe than sorry!

As above: henna is permanent. If you get tired of it, either you'll be bleaching your hair into oblivion, or you'll be shaving your head. That's why I've never done it-- I'd love to, but I'm not sure I'd want to be a redhead forever, and I just couldn't rock a buzz cut without being mistaken for a teenage boy or something.

It's not going to wreck your hair. Maybe some hairdresser told you that; there are a lot of misconceptions out there, some of them based on weird "mixed" brands of henna that contain strange stuff or outright other dyes. But if you use the pure stuff, your hair isn't going to fry or fall out or whatever. Most people see a vast improvement in the quality of their hair. Some people who have color-treated, permed, etc. extensively in the past don't even have any trouble with the pure stuff. That's why the pure stuff is recommended. You know what you're getting.

Keep it fresh. If it's stale/old, you're more likely to come out looking like Lucy or Bozo (if it dyes at all). If you're into that sort of thing, go for it; otherwise, don't buy the stuff that's been sitting at room temperature on the shelf of the Indian grocery store for six years. If the box is dusty, back away.

I dye my hair with henna. I mix henna powder with lemon juice or orange juice, let it soak over night, and then the next day I mix in some tea so the gooeyness is the right consistency.

Thank you for the information so far!

I'm a medium/dark, mousy, dishwater blonde right now... any others with similar hair color have good luck getting a nice strawberry blonde look from henna? Have any personal mixes that worked well for you?

A wholehearted second for the Henna For Hair website. The info can be a wee bit overwhelming, but it is a great source for henna powder, and I found that the description of how the result is supposed to look is a good indicator how my hair will end up.

Basically - I mix the powder with lemon juice, let it stand in a warm spot for 8-12 hours, smear it on my head (use gloves!!!) without getting to fussy, wrap the whole thing up in saran wrap, and leave it on for 1-8 hours, depending on the circumstances. No recipe or whatever here.

Did not meant to give the impression BTW that I buy the Logona product through that web site I posted. That was just something I found to show info about the product. My local food co-op store orders it for me.
Rosette

been a henna for hair user for a year or so... henna followed by indigo- very happy and my chemically dyed and died hair was very happy- made a big difference.

ran out and my roots are showing at this point- but I'm a little low on fundage- but I'll be ordering more shortly!

good luck with it- its more expensive than chemical processes and more time consuming/labor intensive but I think its worth the trade off.

Hi Lesedi,

I also have long vaguely reddish medium-blonde fine hair (okay maybe you could call it "dishwater red"). I use Rainbow Henna with good results. I buy it at Whole Foods, but you can buy it online. It consists only of finely ground henna powder that you mix with boiling water. I've used the following colors:

Neutral--did nothing whatsoever
Persian Copper-more orangey-red
Persian Red--super bright cherry red
Persian Mahogany--I mixed it 1-3 with the Copper to try to go a bit darker, but I'm not sure if it had that effect.


It's a pain in the a** to apply and wash out of long hair. Or maybe I just suck at it. Either way if anyone has any tips please post! Anyway, it does dry hair out a bit for a few days, but then goes back to normal and seems shinier.

Note that henna cannot make your hair lighter--we unfortunately cannot go from medium-dark blonde to strawberry blonde. Henna goes over the top of your natural haircolor to enhance the color or cover grey and actually makes your color a bit darker.

I've also used Soraya brand premixed henna, assuming it was "all natural", etc. etc. but was shocked to discover an industrial solvent, N-methylpyrrolidinone (NMP), in the ingredients list. They've since reforumulated it.

Wishing Good Hair Days to You!
Fionna

i'm another who recommends the henna for hair website, which is where i got my 'recipe'...i'm a natural medium ash blonde with gray, but i get my henna from castleart.com, and get their 'henna for hair', which is older crops used for mendhi, and have always been happy....i combine it with red wine (the acidic liquid needed) and ground cloves which gives it a deep coppery color and smells wonderful. i usually let roots go and do a whole head every 3 months or so, but since it's henna, the roots don't show that much...a hairdresser friend commented on the health of my hair (almost waist length) and it's sheen.....i think you'll love it if you don't mind the messiness :p....

I really like that henna for hair website... thanks for pointing me to it gals! I like how it has a ton of recipes with some before and after pictures.

I thought I'd go and figure this out now since I'm getting married in August (and seem to have more gigs this year than last). I want to have nice hair for the wedding, so I thought I'd experiment in advance just in case I don't like the result.

Just checking out ingredient list of the product I use. I use the "Chestnut Brown" shade, though it comes out brighter color on me because my underlying natural hair color is pretty much white.

The consistency comes from algin, hydrolyzed wheat protein and jojoba oil. All the rest is vegetable coloring agents listed in this order: Henna, cassia, walnut shell powder indigo, hibiscus, rhatany root, coffee, curcuma root, beet root.

Rosette

Yes, the H4H website has a great section where people show before and after pics, along with the mixes they used to achieve it. One of my fav parts of the site. I'm a "dishwater blonde" too (though I find "dark honey" sounds nicer AND better describes my color) and there are a lot of people on that section with site who start out with that color hair and achieve everything from a slight strawberry look, to right-out red.

I used some leftover body art stuff on a hairball I'd saved out of my brush once, and it came out a lovely shade of Irish-setter red after two not-too-careful applications. If I could be certain I'd love being that color forever, I'd definitely go for it!

Originally Posted by Fionna

Hi Lesedi,

I also have long vaguely reddish medium-blonde fine hair (okay maybe you could call it "dishwater red"). I use Rainbow Henna with good results. I buy it at Whole Foods, but you can buy it online. It consists only of finely ground henna powder that you mix with boiling water. I've used the following colors:

Neutral--did nothing whatsoever
Persian Copper-more orangey-red
Persian Red--super bright cherry red
Persian Mahogany--I mixed it 1-3 with the Copper to try to go a bit darker, but I'm not sure if it had that effect.


It's a pain in the a** to apply and wash out of long hair. Or maybe I just suck at it. Either way if anyone has any tips please post! Anyway, it does dry hair out a bit for a few days, but then goes back to normal and seems shinier.

Note that henna cannot make your hair lighter--we unfortunately cannot go from medium-dark blonde to strawberry blonde. Henna goes over the top of your natural haircolor to enhance the color or cover grey and actually makes your color a bit darker.

I've also used Soraya brand premixed henna, assuming it was "all natural", etc. etc. but was shocked to discover an industrial solvent, N-methylpyrrolidinone (NMP), in the ingredients list. They've since reforumulated it.

Wishing Good Hair Days to You!
Fionna

you can achomplish all the shades you listed with varying levels of leave in time or adding indigo directly to your henna (the more indigo the more brunette effect it will have. If you do it as a 2 step process- henna than indigo you get jet black.)

I think thats one of the beauties of just plan pure henna. i
Also henna sets up better with an acidic mix- lemon or orange juice (although I have never heard till this thread much less tried it- I stick with lemon juice)
I would try ordering just plain henna and see how that treats your hair.

henna shouldn't dry you're hair out not that I have noticed- I haven't had any drying issues- but I never henna ONLY- so maybe I get a different result due to the indigo I use- I tend to over "fondle" my hair because I ADORE the first 2 or 3 days- its so soft and silky.

Being said I am a no-shampoo user- I wash with SLS free conditioner and I use pure coconut oil with a little jaboba oil after I get out as a "conditioner" so again- maybe its just different processes.

You are absolutely right you cannot go "lighter" with henna- I am a dirty dishwater blondish and when I henne-ed the first time- DAMN... fire engine copper red. But I left it on for like 8 or 9 hours- it was beautiful but not what I wanted- so I pressed on with the indigo- and have been very happy ever since. :)

Henna 4 Hair website. Definitely. Catherine Cartwright Jones knows her stuff inside out.

One of my dance sisters/instructors Hennas my hair (and hers). I leave it in for at least 6 hours - and love the results!

If your hair is chemically treated, read the H4H cautions carefully - test on hairbrush hair! Really. Go back and read that again...

Thanks for the website link! I bought a jar of powdered henna at Whole Foods and tried it - it came out in a gooey, gloppy, mucky mess and was nearly impossible to "comb through." Hubby and I wound up just glopping it all over my head, massaging it in, and then I let it sit for an hour or so. The results were great - my hair had amazing shine and lovely reddish/coppery highlights.

My hair is shoulder length, dark brown, and hasn't seen artificial color for about 14 years, so I started with a healthy head. Would definitely henna again so thanks AGAIN for the website link!

Originally Posted by Lesedi

I really like that henna for hair website... thanks for pointing me to it gals! I like how it has a ton of recipes with some before and after pictures.

I thought I'd go and figure this out now since I'm getting married in August (and seem to have more gigs this year than last). I want to have nice hair for the wedding, so I thought I'd experiment in advance just in case I don't like the result.

Lesedi, I'm joining this thread late, but your post above scared me. Henna is not something that you experiment with, unless you have extremely short hair and can cut off and regrwo an unsuccessful experiment. Henna is the most permanent red hair dye in the world. It is a long term commitment. From your first post, it sounds like it may be fabulously suited to your goals, but if it is not, it will not be easy to modify.

It is not at all like conventional hair colors, where you can just wait a few weeks and go on to the next color blend.

My natural hair color is light brown with a bit of red, and I use a 50/50 blend of henna and cassia, and I only leave it on two hours. This has kept my hair a natural light auburn for two and a half years. (the danger I want to avoid is using too much and having the hair color go too dark of a red or burgundy). I also touch up the roots monthly but do not reapply to the length of my hair.

Originally Posted by Fahimi

Thanks for the website link! I bought a jar of powdered henna at Whole Foods and tried it - it came out in a gooey, gloppy, mucky mess and was nearly impossible to "comb through." Hubby and I wound up just glopping it all over my head, massaging it in, and then I let it sit for an hour or so. The results were great - my hair had amazing shine and lovely reddish/coppery highlights.

My hair is shoulder length, dark brown, and hasn't seen artificial color for about 14 years, so I started with a healthy head. Would definitely henna again so thanks AGAIN for the website link!

Fahimi, next time don't try to comb it through or massage it; that will only cause massive shedding and possibly breakage. The henna mud is goopy -- just goop it on, use ALOT, and make sure all your hair ends up thoroughly embedded in the mud. When you have enough, it will feel like you have about 10 lbs of mud or clay on your head.

Originally Posted by zorba

Henna 4 Hair website. Definitely. Catherine Cartwright Jones knows her stuff inside out.

Yes, excellent site. Anyone contemplating using henna for the first time should read everything on that site thoroughly.

One of my dance sisters/instructors Hennas my hair (and hers). I leave it in for at least 6 hours - and love the results!

And just to clarify for newbies -- a 6 hour or more application can be done on brunette hair but would be disasterous on light hair colors unless you want to make your hair permanently dark burgundy. ~2hrs will take light hair to a natural auburn color. If you are blond and want to go strawberry blond, less than that that even.

excellant advice

Originally Posted by ssipes

Fahimi, next time don't try to comb it through or massage it; that will only cause massive shedding and possibly breakage. The henna mud is goopy -- just goop it on, use ALOT, and make sure all your hair ends up thoroughly embedded in the mud. When you have enough, it will feel like you have about 10 lbs of mud or clay on your head.

I use henna monthly and love it. What works well for me is to use a wide-toothed comb to part the hair and separate it--squeeze the henna paste on that section (I put it in a plastic bag and snip a corner), spread with gloved fingers, flip the hair section aside and take another section with a comb. I have waist-length hair and it takes me about 20 minutes to apply to the roots all over(longer for the first time/full length). Wear gloves. Wrap your hair up in plastic wrap so it does not dry out, or it will be harder to rinse. I like to leave it on 3 hours. Rinse head-down in the shower for several minutes, then flip over & rinse more, then apply a cheap conditioner & rinse again.

Here's my henna red hair pic, been using henna 2 years. My real color is medium brown.
https://picasaweb.google.com/sabined...23693252120866

Originally Posted by ssipes

Yes, excellent site. Anyone contemplating using henna for the first time should read everything on that site thoroughly.



And just to clarify for newbies -- a 6 hour or more application can be done on brunette hair but would be disasterous on light hair colors unless you want to make your hair permanently dark burgundy. ~2hrs will take light hair to a natural auburn color. If you are blond and want to go strawberry blond, less than that that even.

AND it should be noted that subsequent applications of henna will darken the color. That is part of the reason some people only do their roots for maintenance.

Another good source for henna/hair info is The Long Hair Community: The Long Hair Community Many of the members there swear by henna, and they've come up with all sorts of tricks and mixes. Plus you might just plain enjoy the site if your hair is long.

twenty-year henna user here! I henna my hair every 4-6 weeks, or it would have a lot of gray. I really love Maison Kenzie's products, I trust her henna-for-hair to be pure and fresh. No store-bought henna for me!!!
modern mystical adornment - super fresh henna from morocco and henna artist in New York City

It does give a dry feeling (because it's mud coating the hair shaft I guess) but immediately after rinsing (not washing) the henna out I use a small dab of that frizzy-be-gone stuff, whatever that is...

...love henna!