A Step by Step Guide: Applying Pure, Natural Henna Hair Dye to Your Hair

Many women prefer to use natural colors when coloring their hair, which is why it is increasingly common for hairdressers to ask us for vegetable dyes or even ask us how to apply henna dyes. So, to get rid of your doubts, here is a step-by-step guide and everything you need to know to dye your hair at home using henna so that the experiment does not end in disaster.

What is henna and what does it do to hair?

The first and most important thing is that you have to start by adapting your expectations to reality. As much as you have bought our Natural Henna, it will take some time to get the magic done. Henna makes the tone of your hair deeper or more intense but always respecting the original base. Synthetic chemical hair dyes have a first exposure part in which it bleaches the hair and a second part in which it colors the hair; the exposure time is about 30 to 45 min while in henna, the exposure time ranges from 2 to 6 hours (if you apply heat you can reduce the time by half).

Once this is clarified, we should start by testing the color before applying the henna all over the head. If you do not want to take an unnecessary displeasure, do a color test on a lock of hair on the inner part of the neck; alternatively, you can use hair from your hairbrush. Once the henna is applied to the hair, it cannot be removed and it is better to make sure what we are going to get when we finally remove it from our heads. It is true that you can always dye it again, but it is possible that in the first coloration it does not take the color tone you want well.

You should also know that in this post I am going to explain how pure henna, 100% natural, is prepared and applied (GET IT HERE), however, we also have natural hair dyes that we mix henna with other ingredients or plants (CHECK THEM OUT HERE); If you use this type of henna, strictly follow the instructions for use of the product you have chosen.

Step by step to dye your hair with Pure Henna

1. Prepare the mixture

For short hair we will use about 100 g of henna, and for a measurement below the shoulders the amount will be about 200 g. Prepare a large glass or plastic bowl, a wooden or plastic spoon (it is important not to use metal utensils) and cling film or a plastic cap. You can't miss out on gloves that fit your hands well to avoid ending up with an unflattering yellow-orange hue that can take weeks to wear off.

Use an acid compound such as lemon or apple cider vinegar to help oxidize the pigment in the henna: put 1 squeezed lemon and mix it with the henna powder until you get a homogeneous paste. If you notice that the smell is quite strong, a trick is to put a little cardamom or cinnamon in the mixture to reduce the smell of henna and avoid the smell that it leaves after on the hair. Pour hot water little by little until you get a mixture with a texture similar to that of yogurt, not too runny or too thick. You can also add a couple of chamomile tea bags to the water if you want a more golden finish, red tea if you want it more reddish or black tea to neutralize the coppery characteristic of natural henna.

2. Let it stand

Once the pasta is prepared, cover it with plastic, ensuring that no air enters. Let it rest for about 8 hours so that it activates and pigments better. Try to leave it in a place where the temperature is rather warm or you will have to increase the waiting time. However, if you see that you cannot apply the color in the expected time or you have a lot of henna left over, you can freeze it and remove it 24 hours before using it again.

3. Wash your hair

Unlike classic dyes, henna should be applied with clean hair. But it has to be completely dry and well untangled before proceeding. Do not use a conditioner or mask or hair oils so that they do not hinder the absorption of the henna. On the other hand, it is advisable to put about two tablespoons of extra virgin coconut, avocado or argan oil in the mixture to provide hydration to the hair, since henna is very astringent and otherwise you would have a very dry feeling on your hair. Stir well so that all the ingredients are integrated again.

4. Cover the bathroom floor

Take newspaper or old towels and cover every corner of the bathroom floor. Henna when it falls off can be very cumbersome and stain or everything and then it's hard to clean. Have another old towel handy and ideally dark by the time you finish applying the henna. Take an old shirt or t-shirt that you don't mind staining and take off earrings, chains, bracelets ...

5. Apply the henna

Apply some balm to the root area of ​​your entire head so that it does not get henna stains when you apply it. Separate your hair into several sections and hold them with tweezers so that they do not mix the clean strands with which you begin to impregnate with henna. With the gloves on and directly with your hands, put the henna on the hair strand by strand, following the direction of the hair. Put it down and massage it without dragging.

6. Cover and wait

When you have applied the henna all over your hair, wrap your hair in cling film making sure that no hair (or lumps) is left out. Put a towel over your head to warm it up just like when you get out of the shower. It is also convenient that during the long hours that you have to wait, you put a towel on the surfaces (the sofa) on which you go to this. Now it only remains to collect the bath and wait between 2 and 6 hours, depending on the intensity of color you want.

7. Clarifies

The time has come to see the final result. Start by rinsing only with warm water and when you see that henna no longer falls, wash your hair with your usual shampoo. You will probably need to lather about three times to remove all traces of henna. Apply your conditioner or your favorite mask, leave on, rinse and then, after applying a few drops of oil on damp hair, detangle and let it air dry or use the dryer.

Has it been as you expected? We certainly hope so!