Henna and indigo are botanical dyes that colour the hair naturally and are a safe alternative to chemical hair dyes. Henna and indigo can be combined to colour the hair in black tones using a two-step or two-day application method. On the first day you will apply a mixture of henna & indigo paste to dye your hair brown. The next day you will apply only indigo paste to dye your hair black.
Both our henna and indigo powders are 100% organic with no preservatives or harmful chemicals like PPD. Henna and indigo also have other benefits such as promoting hair growth, repairing and adding shine to dry/damaged hair, adding volume to thin hair, and improving the scalp condition.
Natural hair colour can have different results for different people. Many factors affect the end result of natural hair dye such as current hair colour, hair condition, and hair type. For example, hair that is more porous dyes easily whereas hair that is less porous is more resistant to dyes. Since there are no harsh chemicals in natural hair colour, repeat application may be required to achieve the desired colour.
Please note, henna hair colour is more prominent on light and medium coloured hair (e.g. blonde, light brown, or white hair). On dark coloured hair (e.g. dark brown or black), the dye is less prominent and looks like a dark brown/black tint.
If your hair is already chemically dyed, you can still use henna to colour the hair!
Using henna and indigo for the first time? Click here to find out how to do a patch test.
Things You Need:
- Henna powder
- Indigo powder
- Water
- Kitchen weighing scale (recommended)
- Mixing bowl and spatula/spoon
- Hair dye applicator brush (recommended)
- Aluminum foil or plastic wrap
- Plastic bags/sheets
- Petroleum jelly
- Gloves
- Shower cap or plastic to cover hair
- Old towel
- Shampoo and hair conditioner
- Wide-toothed comb (optional)
Helpful Tips Before Getting Started:
- Natural hair colour works best on a clean scalp. We recommend washing your hair with shampoo a day before application. Please do not use hair conditioner.
- Henna can stain clothes and surfaces. Always cover the counter and wear an old t-shirt before applying hair colour. Cover your shoulders with a plastic sheet/bag. If you wear glasses, wrap the temples with plastic wrap.
- You can add a few drops of your favourite essential oil to the paste to add some fragrance. You can also add in 1-2 tablespoons of aloe vera powder for hair conditioning.
- You can replace the water in the recipe with black tea to darken the hair colour. Please make sure the tea has cooled before mixing it with henna powder. For indigo powder, use warm tea (not boiling hot).
Measure Henna and Indigo Powders
The amount of henna and indigo you need depends on your hair length and thickness. Please read the following charts to see how much you need for your hair for the first and second application.
For example, for long hair for first application you would need 150 g of henna and 150 g of indigo (total of 300 g) and for second application you would need 300 g of indigo. Water needs to be mixed with the powders to make the hair colour paste. The amount of water you need to add is also given in the chart. You will have to add more water later at the time of application.
First Application: Colour The Hair BROWN
|
|
Short Hair (ear length) |
Medium Hair (shoulder length) |
Long Hair (below shoulders) |
Very Long Hair (waist length) |
|
Henna Powder |
50 grams mixed with 0.5 cup of water |
100 grams mixed with 1 cup of water |
150 grams mixed with 1.5 cups of water |
200 grams mixed with 2 cups of water |
|
Indigo Powder |
50 grams mixed with 0.5 cup of warm water |
100 grams mixed with 1 cup of warm water |
150 grams mixed with 1.5 cups of warm water |
200 grams mixed with 2 cups of warm water |
|
For very thick or curly hair, please add an extra 50 g of henna powder (mixed with 0.5 cup of water) and an extra 50 g of indigo powder (mixed with 0.5 cup of warm water) |
||||
Second Application: Colour The Hair BLACK
|
|
Short Hair (ear length) |
Medium Hair (shoulder length) |
Long Hair (below shoulders) |
Very Long Hair (waist length) |
|
Indigo Powder |
100 grams mixed with 1 cup of water |
200 grams mixed with 2 cups of water |
300 grams mixed with 3 cups of water |
400 grams mixed with 4 cups of water |
|
For very thick or curly hair, please add an extra 50 g of indigo powder (mixed with 0.5 cup of water) |
||||
First Application: Colour The Hair Brown
Make the Hair Colour Paste
1) Prepare henna paste the night before application: Henna powder needs to be soaked overnight (8 to 12 hours) for dye release before it is ready to use. Check the chart to see how much henna powder and water you need for the first application. In a mixing bowl, mix the henna powder and water (medium temperature). Cover with plastic wrap/foil to make the bowl airtight and leave overnight in a cabinet away from light and heat.
2) Next morning: Take out the henna paste and mix well. You will see that the henna colour has changed due to dye release. Slowly add more water and mix until the paste has a beaten yogurt like consistency (not too thick and not too thin). If the paste gets too thin, you can add a little bit of henna powder to thicken it.
3) Prepare indigo paste: Check the chart to see how much indigo powder and water you need for the first application. Mix the indigo powder with warm water (it should not be too hot). Slowly add more water and mix until the paste has a beaten yogurt like consistency (not too thick and not too thin). Indigo mixture is ready to use immediately, no need to wait for dye release.
4) Now mix the henna paste and indigo paste together: Mix well and check the consistency to make sure it is not too runny or too thick. The hair colour paste is now ready to use. Please apply the paste within half an hour.
Prepare for Application
Comb and part your hair in the middle. Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly just below your entire hair line and over the ears. This will prevent the paste from staining the skin incase it drips down from the head. Cover shoulders with an old towel or plastic sheet. Wear gloves before starting the application.
Application
1) Start applying the paste from middle of head: You can apply with your hands or use a hair dye applicator brush. Take a small section of hair from the crown area (about 2 inches wide and 1 inch thick) and apply a thick layer of paste from roots to the tip. To ensure proper root coverage it is important to start applying paste from the scalp. Make sure the section of hair is covered with the paste from all sides, leaving no area dry. Twist the section of hair and coil it in a small pin curl on top of the head.
Tip: During application if you notice the paste is getting thicker and harder to apply, add one or more teaspoons of water to get it back to the perfect consistency. If the paste is too thin, add one or more pinches of henna powder to make it thicker. Remember, the perfect consistency is like beaten yogurt.
2) Apply paste to front hair first: Take small sections of hair right next to the bun, cover them with paste using the same technique, and wrap the sections around the bun (one section at a time). If you have shorter hair and cannot wrap the hair around the bun, pile the sections on top of the bun instead. The hair sections will keep sticking to each other because of the wet paste. Continue this process until all hair from the front of the head have been covered with paste and collected on top of the head. Now apply more paste at the front hairline to ensure proper coverage.
3) Now apply paste to the back hair: Use the same method. Take sections of hair right next to the bun, apply paste from root to tips, and wrap the sections around the bun. Continue this process until all hair from the back of the head have been covered with paste and collected on top of the head.
4) Wear a shower cap and keep head warm: Cover the hair completely with the shower cap. You can also use a plastic bag. This step is very important as the paste needs to stay wet in order to stain the hair. Dry paste will not stain the hair well. You can also wrap an old towel over the shower cap or wear a winter cap to keep the head warm. Heat helps bonding of the hair dye with the hair strands.
5) Keep the head covered for 4 hours for best results. Natural hair dyes are not harsh like chemical hair dyes and require time to stain the hair.
Wash The Paste Out
1) Wash the paste out with warm water: You may wish to wear gloves for this step. In the shower, let warm water run over the head (avoiding face and eyes). Slowly open the bun as the paste starts to loosen with water. Please DO NOT use shampoo. Spend some time to massage the scalp to get the paste out.
2) Use hair conditioner: Now apply a generous amount of hair conditioner on scalp and hair. You can use a wide-toothed comb to comb your hair from tips working your way up to the roots. This will distribute the conditioner evenly, untangle the hair, and make it easy for the remaining paste to flow out. Rinse your hair thoroughly. Repeat this step if required.
3) Dry and comb your hair: After washing, wrap hair with an old towel for 15 minutes before letting your hair air dry or using a hair dryer. Comb your hair well. If your scalp feels itchy, you can wash your hair again with conditioner only.
4) After 2 days, wash hair with shampoo and conditioner: The hair colour will get darker and strengthen over 2 days so it is best to shampoo after that time. If the scalp/hair feel dry, you may oil your hair for a couple of hours before this step.
Second Application (Next Day): Colour The Hair Black
Make the Indigo Paste
Check the chart to see how much indigo powder and water you need for the second application. Mix the indigo powder with warm water (it should not be too hot). Slowly add more water and mix until the paste has a beaten yogurt like consistency (not too thick and not too thin). If the paste gets too thin, you can add a little bit of indigo powder to thicken it. Indigo paste turns blue/black as it oxidizes but you do not need to wait until the colour changes. Use the paste immediately after mixing and apply within half an hour.
Prepare for Application
Please follow the same procedure as the first application.
Application
Apply the indigo hair colour paste following the same application procedure as the first application.
Wash The Paste Out
1) Wash the paste out by following the same wash out procedure as the first application.
2) After 2 days, wash hair with shampoo and conditioner: The hair colour will get darker and strengthen over 2 days so it is best to shampoo after that time. If the scalp/hair feel dry, you may oil your hair for a couple of hours before this step.
Please note, since there are no harsh chemicals in natural hair colour, repeat application may be required to achieve the desired colour. Repeat application every 3 to 4 weeks for best results and maximum grey coverage. With every application, the hair colour gets darker.
Root Touch-Up
After the first full head application, you may wish to only do a root touch up for the new growth of grey hair. To do this you will need to make the paste with: 2 to 4 tablespoons of henna powder and 2 to 4 tablespoons of indigo powder for the first application (colouring the hair brown) and 4 to 8 tablespoons of indigo powder for the second application (colouring the hair black), depending on the thickness of your hair. Prepare the hair colour paste for first and second day by following the same instructions.
Click here for the application method.
Colouring Hair in Red and Brown Tones
Henna can be used on its own to colour the hair in red tones - click here for more information.
Henna can be mixed with indigo to colour the hair in brown tones - click here for more information.
Luxe Organic Henna is committed to bringing you the best organic henna products for hair and body art. Our products are made with organic ingredients and contain no chemicals. We get our supplies only from reputable suppliers who strictly adhere to regulatory standards and have gone through testing and organic certification for their products.