Henna Hair Dye Recipe


Henna hair dye is a natural product, prepared from the flowering plant Lawsonia Inermis. The leaves of this plant is used for hair coloring and body art. The plant contains an active ingredient called lawsone that gives color to the skin and hair. Basically, the natural henna hair dye colors are light red and burgundy. Nevertheless, additives can be mixed with henna powder to give different shades of color to the hair.

Since henna hair dye is a herbal formulation, it is almost free from the side effects that can be a result of harmful hair coloring products sold in the market. Most people use henna hair dye for gray hair covering, while some apply it for reducing hair fall, promoting hair growth and adding volume to the hair. Based on your purpose of applying, henna hair dye recipe can be easy to complex.

Henna Hair Dye

Similar to other natural hair dye recipes, henna hair dye is easy to prepare at home. You can make it just by mixing henna powder with water. However, complex henna recipes using acidic ingredients and additives also exists. Acid quickens the release of lawsone dye and is preferable for giving red color to the hair. You can also add coffee, tea leaves and essential oils to mask the henna smell, as well as to smoothen the hair texture. The ingredients and steps for brewing henna are as follows.

Supplies Required
  • Henna powder (preferably body art quality)
  • Citrus juices (lemon or grapefruit juice)
  • Plastic stain free container
  • Plastic spoon
  • Zipper bag or plastic wrap
Procedure
  • Depending upon your hair length and volume, take about 150-500 grams of henna powder in a plastic container.
  • Add 2-3 teaspoons of citrus juices or vinegar to the henna powder and stir the mixture well.
  • If you're using coffee, tea leaves and essential oils, add them in sufficient amounts in the mixing bowl.
  • Stir the mixture and check its consistency. If it is very thick, gently add water and continue stirring.
  • Stop adding water when the consistency of the dye resembles that of yogurt.
  • Cover the mixture with a plastic wrap or a zipper bag and leave it overnight or for about 6 hours.
  • You can check whether the henna hair dye is ready or not by dipping a white paper. If the paper is stained orange, then it is done and you can apply it.
In case, you do not want to go through the steps for preparation of henna hair dye, you can opt for pre-mixed colors of henna that are available in the market. There is a high chance that these products contain additional chemicals and metallic salts, hence, make sure you purchase it from a reliable brand.

Henna Dyeing Instructions

The same henna hair dye recipe gives different colors for varied hair types. So, do not proceed with applying henna hair dye, just because you like the hair shade of your friend who has recently applied henna. The best way is to check the color by conducting a strand test. You can use shed hair from the hair brush for this test. Prepare the dye in a small bowl as per your choice and add the shed hair. Soak for about 3-6 hours or as much time as you want to keep the henna mix on your hair. Wash and rinse the hair with cold water and wait for a few days to check the color. If you like the hair shade, only then apply the henna dye.

For applying henna hair dye, shampoo and towel dry your hair. To prevent staining your hands and clothes, you can wear gloves and old shirts. For easy application, you can comb and part the hair into sections. Using a squeeze bottle, start applying henna dye from the nape of the neck and cover the root of the hair till the end. Continue applying upwards till all the hair strands are covered with henna paste. Once you are done with henna application, wrap your head with a clean plastic bag to avoid dripping. Clean the drops of henna from the forehead, ears and neck (if any). Leave the henna hair dye for at least 2 hours and rinse with cold water.

This was in brief about henna dye recipe and instructions for its application. As the color of henna hair dye changes after oxidation, the actual hair shade is observed after a few days of dyeing. This henna hair dyeing is temporary and the color may retain for about two months. However, repeated henna hair dyeing helps in permanent coloring of the hair strands.

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