Did you know there are several schools of thoughts on how to use henna, on the preparation and application of herbal hair dyes?
Well, I’m going to share with you the method that I’ve been successfully using for many years. I obviously chose the simplest and most practical way, and, in my opinion, the most effective one, as well!
Everything I’m going to share with you in this henna guide shouldn’t be followed literally. In fact I ask you to do your own experiments and draw your own conclusions. Then, if you'd like, we can go deeper into the subject in the comments area down below.
My intention is to share with you in this how to use hennaguide everything I learned in these past eight years during which I applied monthly henna and herbal hair dyes on my hair. I would also like to offer you a different perspective on the complex and fascinating henna world, other than the ones you may get by reading forums and blogs.
The above video-tutorial is in english with italian subtitles.
henna with sodium picramate, a synthetic substance that enriches the color and intensifies the shades of red.
Sodium picramate is toxic for fetuses, so it’s not very healthy for us, too. But if you decide to use henna with sodium picramate because you’re looking for a deeper and more intense color, just remember that it can react chemically with your previous dyes, running the risk to obtain strange colors. Hence:
To make sure you are completely happy with the results, always make a test, applying the mix on a hidden lock of your hair to find out what color you will obtain;
Remember to verify, before the application, the Ingredients List of the natural hair dyes, in order to avoid unpleasant surprises. On the label of pure henna, you should only read the Latin name of the plant, that would be Lawsonia Inermis.
Required tools
Make sure to have at hand:
A ceramic or glass bowl
A wooden, plastic or ceramic spoon (avoid metallic ones)
A pair of disposable, rubber gloves (you have to wear them as soon as you start managing the herbal hair powders)
A hair-dying brush (you can buy it in any supermarket)
A wooden wide-tooth comb (use it to prevent damp hair from breaking during combing)
Plastic film or a disposable shower cap, to cover your head and to maintain a high humidity rate
A wool hat (humidity and heat help the color release)
Clean or dirty hair?
Make sure to have clean hair before preparing the henna mix. It doesn’t matter if your hair is damp or if you have washed it within the previous 12-24 hours. What it's important is that it is not dirty.
I myself tried to cheat applying henna on dirty hair :D but sebum, dust and smog don’t help and the results were not satisfactory. Besides, another pro for applying the henna mix on clean hair is that you won't have to necessarily shampoo during rinsing therefore you don’t risk the color to be washed away.
Don't know how to calculate the percentages in your henna mix? The video-tutorial down below will help you:
The video tutorials are in Italian, but English subtitles are available!
How to prepare the henna mix - instructions:
Many people prepare the henna mix 12 to 24 hours before the application, adding to it an acidic ingredient like vinegar or lemon juice, but I insist on telling you that IT’S NOT necessary because it makes no difference in the color release but, if you want to make your life difficult, then do it :D
Lawsonia itself creates the acidic ambient necessary to the release of the color.
If you think it might be useful to your friends, feel free to share it.
Add warm water (not hot!) to your henna powder ( decide the quantity according to your hair thickness and length) until you obtain a mix with a texture similar to yoghurt, not too liquid nor too dense, because the application should be easy and it shouldn’t drain while you have it on.
How to use Henna - Common Errors
For different reasons, it’s common to add to the mix various ingredients:
Lemon, tea, yoghurt or vinegar to create an acidic ambient (but in the long run they end up drying your hair)
Coffee or cocoa to intensify the darkest tones of the dye (it’s false because neither coffee nor cocoa contain dying agents)
Honey, oils or vegetable butters to soften the hair and to contrast the dry / frizzy effect due to herbal hair dyes after the application.
Essential oils to cover the herbal hair dyes scent.
You should NOT add anything other than warm water!
Each ingredient you may add, it only interferes with the dye, blocking the color release on your hair! Butter and oil, for example, film your hair.
In the below video tutorial you may see an updated version of how to prepare & apply henna in order to cover your grey hair naturally & successfully!
Quick Guide on how to improve the consistency of the henna mix
If the mix you’re applying falls into pieces all over your bathroom, it’s likely that your henna mix contained sand. Unfortunately there are a lot of dishonest sellers that add sand to the mix in order to increase its weight.
How can you tell if your herbal dyes are pure?
You can only understand it during the preparation and application of henna, by looking at how the mix appears. 100% pure herbal hair dyes make creamy mixes, that can be easily spread on hair, that don’t drizzle and don’t fall in pieces staining you, your clothes and the room you're in.
To improve the henna mix consistency, I boil flaxseeds in water (1 tablespoon every 300g of water) and then I filter the water when it becomes a not too dense gel. You have to pay attention because if you leave it too much on the gas, the gel becomes too dense making it too difficult to spread on your hair.
Just remember that adding any type of "solid" ingredient (cassia, cocoa or any other powder) to improve the consistency of the mix, dilutes the final color you may obtain. I strongly suggest you not to do it if you want to dye your grey hair.
How to use Henna: application instructions
Once you added the warm water to henna or to the herbal hair dyes mix, you have to mix well until you obtain a creamy texture. Then you have to proceed with the application on clean hair immediately, dividing your hair into sections. For best results, work from the roots to the tips.
In the video tutorial linked at the beginning of the article, you can find my application method.
Remember to use latex, rubber gloves when you’re using herbal hair dyes. Lawsonia Inermis stains your hands and fingers yellow or orange. Fortunately, henna doesn’t color the skin around the ears or the forehead. But, to prevent any accident, I recommend you to use old clothes because the stains made by herbal hair dyes can't be removed.
How long should I keep the herbal hair dyes on my hair?
Make sure to cover all your head with plastic film or with a shower cap to maintain a perfect humidity rate. Then wear a wool hat (even if it’s summer!) to keep a high temperature and to help the color release easier.
The ideal would be to leave the mix sit on your hair for 2h hours, but it’s subjective. It all depends on:
How intense we want the color to be
The hair's porosity and its absorbing power
How delicate our skin is.
Even though I have a 75% white regrowth I manage to get a good coverage of the white hair by letting the mix sit only about 3 hours.
How to use Henna: Rinsing and washing instructions
Not using shampoos would be ideal because henna and herbal dyes are applied on clean hair, so it’s not really necessary.
If I massage and rinse the scalp for a long time, I can avoid using shampoo even though I use a tiny bit of conditioner on the ends, to make the combing easier.
If you have a delicate and sensitive scalp, I suggest you to diminish the sitting time to 2 hours (henna and herbal dyes are natural, but after a long time on the scalp they are no longer so gentle on the skin) and to use a delicate shampoo (which I recommend you should dilute in a separate bowl) to wash away every little piece of herbal dye that may cause redness and itching after the application.
In all the other occasions when I wash my hair I use the Beautilicious Delights Hair Spray which thanks to its acidic pH substitutes the vinegar, but without running the risk that it may become too harsh on the hair because of the acidic pH.
Remember that you will see the real and final color of your hair only after 3 or 4 days from the application, when the herbal hair dyes finish their oxidation process.
Henna hair colour is safe to use as often as you like. Use multiple applications to build an intense & bright color.
And, considering the percentage of grey hair that I have, I might say the results are pretty nice, aren't they? :) In the end, all that matters is always our satisfaction.
This is my guide on how to use: prepare and apply henna and herbal hair dyes that I’ve been successfully using for more than seven years.
It doesn’t mean that any other application method is wrong or that it’s less successful, but between a complex life made of oxidations / acidification processes (resulting in dry and frizzy hair) and a simpler and more practical method, I obviously chose the second option!
And what about you? How do yo use henna? What’s your application and preparation method for henna? Do you have any suggestions or any tips that made the difference for you or that could improve my guide to henna & herbal hair dyes preparation?
I recently tried the Organic Red Henna and Indigo in a two step method to dye my resistant gray root regrowth. This was my fourth time doing henna and my most successful! The previous times with a store bought Bio brand I only achieved colors from light brown to cooper when I wanted a deep black. I was starting to despair thinking I just couldn’t do it so I’m super happy that this time it worked! The products definitely felt superior in texture and the mixing and dye release was easy. I also found the blog and videos helpful. Thank you!
This is the best natural Henna and indigo to colour my hair.
I used to buy other henna products on the net but i had bad alergic reaction after using those products.
Thanks Beautylicious .
I never had an allergic reaction to this henna and indigo.I used
Some other henna products on the net and my scalp was sore for months.So I 'll keep buying Beautylicious products
Thanks a lot
I have been using it for a year or more. It is great, specially if you have problems with hair loss. I only use these natural herbal color treatment for my hair.
I tried many different organic hennas before and they never covered my gray hairs. I followed your video advice and henna recipe to make dark chestnut brown. The colour is beautiful and I couldn’t be happier. My gray hairs are light golden brown but since this is my first application with your henna I hope they will darken with more henna applications. Thank you so much 😊
These products exceed my expectations. I used a combination of natural, red henna and indigo and the results were amazing. I got my desire colour the second time that I applied the product, following the website video indications. Highly recommended. I have been using henna for more than 20 years and this is the best product I have come across. My only complaint is that the company needs to offer bigger packaging sizes.
I was intimidated at first to use the Natural Hair Color Cosmos Organic but after watching your video I jumped right in and did it. I am so very happy with the results and no allergic reaction. Thank you Thank you
Very good product. I mixed it with indigo I buy from this site and lawsonia I buy from a Moroccan shop. I haven't been able to get the exact colour I want from the mixture, nevertheless I know I will with some more trials. I'd like to thank Rozalia for her help with the video tutorials, they are so useful,clear and honest!!
I have been mixing cassia with henna and indigo to make gray hair brown for four years now. My hair is stronger and healthier than it has been since my teen years. I really think that it is attributed to this product line for hair color.
I have been mixing this henna with indigo and cassia to achieve great gray coverage for almost four years. My hair is healthier than it has ever been. I learned how to mix and use it on Beautilicious Delights you tube channel and blog. So grateful for the products and the information. 💕
Henna Washes Off in the Sea or in the Pool? Here Are Some Tips!
Dye your Gray Hair Chocolate Brown using Henna! Henna BEFORE & AFTER Pics
How to use Henna: The Ultimate Guide to Herbal Hair Dyes!
Did you know there are several schools of thoughts on how to use henna, on the preparation and application of herbal hair dyes?
Well, I’m going to share with you the method that I’ve been successfully using for many years. I obviously chose the simplest and most practical way, and, in my opinion, the most effective one, as well!
Everything I’m going to share with you in this henna guide shouldn’t be followed literally. In fact I ask you to do your own experiments and draw your own conclusions. Then, if you'd like, we can go deeper into the subject in the comments area down below.
My intention is to share with you in this how to use henna guide everything I learned in these past eight years during which I applied monthly henna and herbal hair dyes on my hair. I would also like to offer you a different perspective on the complex and fascinating henna world, other than the ones you may get by reading forums and blogs.
The above video-tutorial is in english with italian subtitles.
You can find brief indications on the preparation and application of henna and herbal hair dyes both in the above tutorial, and in the blog post: “F.A.Q Facts you should know about Henna & Herbal Hair Colors”, but this article should remove any doubt you may still have.
How to use henna: preparation & application guide
As you may know, there are two types of henna on the market:
- red henna - lawsonia inermis - 100% pure
orSodium picramate is toxic for fetuses, so it’s not very healthy for us, too. But if you decide to use henna with sodium picramate because you’re looking for a deeper and more intense color, just remember that it can react chemically with your previous dyes, running the risk to obtain strange colors. Hence:
Required tools
Make sure to have at hand:
Clean or dirty hair?
Make sure to have clean hair before preparing the henna mix. It doesn’t matter if your hair is damp or if you have washed it within the previous 12-24 hours. What it's important is that it is not dirty.
I myself tried to cheat applying henna on dirty hair :D but sebum, dust and smog don’t help and the results were not satisfactory. Besides, another pro for applying the henna mix on clean hair is that you won't have to necessarily shampoo during rinsing therefore you don’t risk the color to be washed away.
Don't know how to calculate the percentages in your henna mix? The video-tutorial down below will help you:
The video tutorials are in Italian, but English subtitles are available!
How to prepare the henna mix - instructions:
Many people prepare the henna mix 12 to 24 hours before the application, adding to it an acidic ingredient like vinegar or lemon juice, but I insist on telling you that IT’S NOT necessary because it makes no difference in the color release but, if you want to make your life difficult, then do it :D
Lawsonia itself creates the acidic ambient necessary to the release of the color.
Please check out before proceeding this article: Henna Application & Preparation: Oxidation - Acidification - YES or NO? in which I fully explain whether the oxidation and acidification of henna is necessary or not.
If you think it might be useful to your friends, feel free to share it.
Add warm water (not hot!) to your henna powder ( decide the quantity according to your hair thickness and length) until you obtain a mix with a texture similar to yoghurt, not too liquid nor too dense, because the application should be easy and it shouldn’t drain while you have it on.
How to use Henna - Common Errors
For different reasons, it’s common to add to the mix various ingredients:
You should NOT add anything other than warm water!
Each ingredient you may add, it only interferes with the dye, blocking the color release on your hair! Butter and oil, for example, film your hair.
In the below video tutorial you may see an updated version of how to prepare & apply henna in order to cover your grey hair naturally & successfully!
Quick Guide on how to improve the consistency of the henna mix
If the mix you’re applying falls into pieces all over your bathroom, it’s likely that your henna mix contained sand. Unfortunately there are a lot of dishonest sellers that add sand to the mix in order to increase its weight.
How can you tell if your herbal dyes are pure?
You can only understand it during the preparation and application of henna, by looking at how the mix appears. 100% pure herbal hair dyes make creamy mixes, that can be easily spread on hair, that don’t drizzle and don’t fall in pieces staining you, your clothes and the room you're in.
To improve the henna mix consistency, I boil flaxseeds in water (1 tablespoon every 300g of water) and then I filter the water when it becomes a not too dense gel. You have to pay attention because if you leave it too much on the gas, the gel becomes too dense making it too difficult to spread on your hair.
Just remember that adding any type of "solid" ingredient (cassia, cocoa or any other powder) to improve the consistency of the mix, dilutes the final color you may obtain. I strongly suggest you not to do it if you want to dye your grey hair.
How to use Henna: application instructions
Once you added the warm water to henna or to the herbal hair dyes mix, you have to mix well until you obtain a creamy texture. Then you have to proceed with the application on clean hair immediately, dividing your hair into sections. For best results, work from the roots to the tips.
In the video tutorial linked at the beginning of the article, you can find my application method.
Remember to use latex, rubber gloves when you’re using herbal hair dyes. Lawsonia Inermis stains your hands and fingers yellow or orange. Fortunately, henna doesn’t color the skin around the ears or the forehead. But, to prevent any accident, I recommend you to use old clothes because the stains made by herbal hair dyes can't be removed.
How long should I keep the herbal hair dyes on my hair?
Make sure to cover all your head with plastic film or with a shower cap to maintain a perfect humidity rate. Then wear a wool hat (even if it’s summer!) to keep a high temperature and to help the color release easier.
The ideal would be to leave the mix sit on your hair for 2h hours, but it’s subjective. It all depends on:
Even though I have a 75% white regrowth I manage to get a good coverage of the white hair by letting the mix sit only about 3 hours.
How to use Henna: Rinsing and washing instructions
Not using shampoos would be ideal because henna and herbal dyes are applied on clean hair, so it’s not really necessary.
If I massage and rinse the scalp for a long time, I can avoid using shampoo even though I use a tiny bit of conditioner on the ends, to make the combing easier.
If you have a delicate and sensitive scalp, I suggest you to diminish the sitting time to 2 hours (henna and herbal dyes are natural, but after a long time on the scalp they are no longer so gentle on the skin) and to use a delicate shampoo (which I recommend you should dilute in a separate bowl) to wash away every little piece of herbal dye that may cause redness and itching after the application.
Please check out the blog post "Allergic to Henna Hair Dye? Henna Itchy, Sore & Burning Scalp? Here's what you can do!" in case you experience itchy sore scalp after applying henna.
Lastly, I always rinse my hair with cold water and vinegar (one tablespoon of vinegar in 1 liter of cold water) to fix the color and close the hair cuticles. This trick leaves my hair shiny & silky. In order not to get aggressive in the long run, I only use this trick when I henna my hair.
In all the other occasions when I wash my hair I use the Beautilicious Delights Hair Spray which thanks to its acidic pH substitutes the vinegar, but without running the risk that it may become too harsh on the hair because of the acidic pH.
Remember that you will see the real and final color of your hair only after 3 or 4 days from the application, when the herbal hair dyes finish their oxidation process.
Henna hair colour is safe to use as often as you like. Use multiple applications to build an intense & bright color.
And, considering the percentage of grey hair that I have, I might say the results are pretty nice, aren't they? :) In the end, all that matters is always our satisfaction.
***************************************************************************************************
This is my guide on how to use: prepare and apply henna and herbal hair dyes that I’ve been successfully using for more than seven years.
It doesn’t mean that any other application method is wrong or that it’s less successful, but between a complex life made of oxidations / acidification processes (resulting in dry and frizzy hair) and a simpler and more practical method, I obviously chose the second option!
And what about you? How do yo use henna? What’s your application and preparation method for henna? Do you have any suggestions or any tips that made the difference for you or that could improve my guide to henna & herbal hair dyes preparation?
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Take care of your skin and hair consciously. You'll find everything you need (even herbal hair colors) on our online shop. Click HERE to visit it!
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