Not only is henna all natural, it is good for your hair. It seals in oils and tightens the cuticle. Here I will show you how to color your hair with henna.
How to Color Your Hair with Henna
Henna is a natural herb that has been used for thousands of years to dye hair, skin, nails and fabric. It is really good for your hair because it seals in oils and tightens the cuticle.
It is a great alternative to the chemicals normally used to dye hair. Henna coats and seals the hair shaft. It helps protect the hair from the damaging effects of sun, salt, chlorine, wind, and pollution in the environment.
Most hair coloring agents use hydrogen peroxide or ammonia to strip the hair so the color will be absorbed. They use petroleum or coal tar based ingredients.
These have been found to increase the long term risks of cancer. Chemicals weaken and destroy the hair shaft over time.
Even if it says "natural" on the packaging, it is not necessarily safe. Some brands use peroxide in their products.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved henna to color hair. It is one of a select group of natural products to achieve official FDA recognition.
You can use it to color your hair, or strengthen and condition your hair with Light Mountain Neutral Henna. I will walk you through the process so that you can try it for yourself.
How Long Does Henna Last?
It lasts for about 4-6 weeks. It isn't as vibrant after 4-6 weeks, but the color is permanent.
How Often Should I Apply Henna?
It depends on how fast your hair grows and what color your roots are. If you start seeing roots that bother you, you're probably going to henna more often than someone who doesn't mind.
I usually henna every 6 weeks or so. I've even gone 8 weeks in between. It's a time consuming process, and sometimes I am just unmotivated to do it.
I love the color and the way my hair feels, so I will continue using henna for a very long time.
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First, you'll want to gather all your materials.
What you will need
- Henna (I used Light Mountain Natural Henna in Red)
- 12-16 oz. distilled water (for fewer chemical interactions)
- newspaper
- old towel
- old clothes
- safety pin
- clothespin
- ceramic or glass bowl
- wooden or plastic spoon
- plastic bag for trash
- mirror, if doing by yourself
*Instructions are at the end of this post.
I like to use a mirror since I henna my own hair. If you have someone do it for you, this may be unnecessary. It can be a messy process, so I put newspaper all over my bathroom floor and counter.
The consistency will be thick and creamy.
I use metal barrettes, which is a no-no. (Do as I say, not as I do.) The metal actually can react with the henna, but I am very careful to not let it touch. I remove the barrettes as I put the henna on.
I start at the bottom and work up. Some people prefer to start at the top and work down. It's all a personal preference.
Yeah, it looks pretty funny! It gets on my ears and neck and sometimes they are slightly orange for a day or two, but it's worth it.
Other DIY Natural Products
Finished!
How To Color Your Hair With Henna
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How to Color Your Hair with Henna
Materials
- Henna I used Light Mountain Natural Henna in Red
- 12-16 oz. distilled water for fewer chemical interactions
- newspaper
- old towel
- old clothes
- safety pin
- clothespin
- ceramic or glass bowl
- wooden or plastic spoon
- plastic bag for trash
- mirror if doing by yourself
Instructions
- Get all of the above ingredients ready. You will need to do a strand test first with some hair from a brush.
- Boil 12-16 oz. distilled water.
- Add the hot water to the henna slowly, stirring with a non-metal spoon. Do not add all the water at once. Check the consistency as you stir. It should be fairly thick and creamy. When you lift the spoon out of the mix, it should cling to the spoon. I usually only use about 12 oz. of the water.
- Depending upon the color you choose, it will need to cure anywhere from 10 minutes to 3 hours. Light Mountain suggests you cure the red henna for 1-3 hours, but I have applied it after 20 minutes and it has turned out fine. If you use the neutral, it doesn't need to cure and you can use it right away.
- Remove all jewelry. Metal and henna are not good together.
- Cover your floor, counter, etc. with newspaper.
- Wrap your old towel around your shoulders, and pin with a safety pin.
- Divide your hair into sections and use barrettes or hair clips for easier application. Even though I mentioned that metal should be avoided, I use metal barrettes for this. I just make sure to not have any henna touch the barrettes. I remove each barrette as I go.
- After putting on the included plastic gloves, start applying the henna from the bottom and work your way up the scalp.
- After covering all your hair, put the included plastic bag on your head and cinch with a clothespin.
- Leave the henna on for 45 minutes up to 4 hours. I usually leave it on for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Use intermittent heat for 5-10 minutes to help set the hair. To be honest, this is the first time I actually did this step. Normally I haven't and it has turned out just fine. The heat is supposed to bring out more enhanced red tones. If you are using red, auburn, mahogany, or light brown you may want to include this step. Just be careful not to melt the plastic bag-cap.
- Rinse with warm water. Light Mountain Henna says to aid in removing the mixture, apply conditioner to the hair, then rinse again. They also say to wait 24 hours before shampooing. However, I have used shampoo twice during the removal then conditioner, and not only has it turned out fine, it has lasted 4-6 weeks. This time I only rinsed because the consistency of the henna was really creamy. There were times when the mixture has been a bit gritty. It just depends upon the batch you get. If you get a gritty batch, don't let it deter you, it will still come out. Of course, a creamy batch is preferred, and if you stick with it, you will get many of those.
Notes
Retrieved from:
"Natural vs. Chemical Coloring" (n.d) - https://www.light-mountain-hair-color.com/natural-vs-chemical.html
Carolyn says
Very helpful but i need to know about possibly layering henna colours as a trial and error way to try various red shades one by one.. Im unsure whether to use Red, Light Red or Bright Red first. If I start with Light Red and dont like it, can i then use the Red on top of it?
Willow Moon says
My experience with layering is a bit limited, but I have done it. When I first started using henna for hair coloring (vs. neutral), I was going for a brown shade. It came out way to dark, so I used red henna over it and it came out great.
Kathy Hester says
No matter which boxed hair color I use and amount of time rinsing, my scalp is itchy and my hair is becoming brittle and frizzy. I have fine thin hair and some hair loss. I bought 3 boxes of Light Mountain Two Step for gray hair to inspire me to just use it. After reading about the unpredictable color change, I am a bit concerned. My last hair color was not my normal shade. Usually I use a 5N or 6N. I used a different brand and the results were shocking. The hue was 7.5, so lighter than normal. It is red with hot roots. I have Mahogany henna and I am worried that the roots will be hot red. Should I get my hair back to its normal shade before using the Mahogany henna. I do like some red, but not orange and not too light. I’m a natural mousy medium brown. Been dying (and dying) my hair for decades. Which color should I start with so this Mahogany henna looks reddish brown or brownish red? I color my hair about every 3 to 4 weeks. About 50% new gray and medium brown regrowth. I was hoping to cover this too orange red soon. I was happy to hear that I could with the henna without waiting, but then I read about possible brighter roots.
Willow Moon says
Hi Kathy, I only know about the two step process, but have never tried it. I have light brown hair with white hairs coming in. Not only have I used the red henna on the white hair, and they turn out as shown in the photos, but I have colored blond hair with the red henna and it comes out as in the photos. As for what you should do, I am not a professional, so I can only tell you from experience. I use the same henna every time, and it comes out the same color every time. I do get orange roots the first day, but it oxidizes and by day 2 and 3 it looks normal. As for what color for you to use, I would start with the chart on the box / website. And if you're scared about the outcome - do a patch test. You can use hair from a brush.
Tess says
Hi Willow, your hair is gorgeous. As a natural redhead I am very frustrated...between aging and illness I have lost my formerly glorious light Auburn. I am dyeing to henna (see what I did just there) but fearful of my white hairs going orange. My hair was never as Auburn as yours now and in my younger years considered henna for more punch. But now that I have white hairs in the roots it seems I missed the boat!!!
It feels so unfair that this amazing gift from Mother Nature can turn everyone from blondes to brunettes into a beautiful redhead but Natural redheads are doomed to use dye. 🥺
The two step process you mention, I am guessing is the one that uses indigo? But that would turn me brunette, which I never was before.
By now I am curious (not that I wish it on you) if you have any more white hairs now than you did in 2014 at the time you wrote this, and how this Henna (if you are still using it) is working out for you with more whites than previously!?
Willow Moon says
Hi Tess, thank you. Yes, I am still using the red henna even with more white hairs. I’ve seen the two step process product for red hair on websites, so if you went that route you should be able to keep the red. If you wanted to try the one step route, maybe you could do a test on a small amount of hair, keeping in mind the orange fades in 2-3 days.
Undraa says
I very happy to read. i'm writing from Mongolia. I'm using henna last 2 years. Henna natural color for hair
Willow Moon says
Henna is great, isn't it!
Karyssa Kern says
Oh my gosh how crazy. I was looking on Pinterest to see about henna hair dye I know a million years ago you and I talked about this. The first website I clicked on was this. As I was scrolling down I thought I recognized your awesome hairdo! I miss you lady! Shoot me an email and we should get in touch and chit chat one of these days!!!
Willow Moon says
Definitely, I'll email you soon!
charlsey popp says
YOur hair looks amazing where do i buy the Henna i have color treated hair and it is dark brown will it work for me thanks
Willow Moon says
Thanks! I buy it at Sprout's, Whole Foods, my local health food store, or Amazon which I linked to in the post.
Mary says
Hello!
Thanks for your helpful henna steps. I currently get my hair dyed at a salon and am thinking about trying henna, but scared!!! I am worried about the results and the time involved.
I was wondering if you still use henna and love it?
Also, I heard it is better for your hair. When I get my hair dyed, I love how it feels for the first few weeks then I start to notice more dryness and frizz.
Do you notice the same with henna or does it help with frizz and seem more conditioned up until you use it again?
Thanks for your help!
Willow Moon says
Yes, I still use henna and love it! My hair feels soft from when I use it until the next time I use it. I do get my hair cut every couple of months so that might help with softness / split ends too. The first couple of days after putting on the henna, your hair may not feel soft because some of the residue is still on your hair. (See #12 above.) Also, it will look bright orange (the red henna) at your roots. Don't freak out - this oxidizes and will go to normal after a couple of days.
*Also, if you are still coloring your hair, you may want to consult with a hair stylist. You definitely will want to do a patch test first! When I started I put henna over blond color treated hair and it worked fine.
And, as for the time involved, it takes me 20 minutes (or longer) to cure henna, then about 45 minutes to set, and 15-20 minutes to wash out, to give you an idea. I henna about every 6 weeks.