Henna is an organic and herbal product that women have used to dye their hair for about more than 5000 years. These are used to dye the hairs, to cover the greys, applied as mehendi (Temporary tattoos) on palms and feet and are considered auspicious in many traditions. Mixing henna requires both science and art. For thousands of years, women knew how to create the perfect henna mixes for hair.
You can get different hair colors based on the mixes. Let’s see how to dye your hair red naturally with henna. The color you get will also depend on the hair type and the natural hair color. Two people mixing the same ingredients and following the same procedure might have slightly different shades of the color you intended.
Ingredients:
Henna- 200g – 500g ; depending on your hair length
Medium sized bowl (Iron bowl is mostly preferred in Indian homes, but you can also use plastic or other bowls)
Shower cap
Turmeric 1-2 tsp. (Only if your natural hair is towards darker side)
Honey 2 tbsp.
Cloves 1 tsp. ground
Lime juice- 3-4 tsp.
Warm water or boiled tea (green or chamomile, even normal tea works fine)
Mix:
Henna takes lots of time to release the dye, hence make sure you mix the dye at least over-night. Or you can also mix it
4 hours prior to application but make sure that it’s kept in a warm place.
Mix henna, turmeric and cloves (to aid the red color, if your hair is naturally towards darker side), honey, and mix it gently with the warm tea (for the amber tone) or water with the help of a spoon or ladle. Add lime juice. You can also add few drops of your regular hair oil- olive oil, coconut oil or almond oil to help in nourishing your hair.
The henna mix should have the consistency of whipped yogurt.
Cover and keep the mix at a warm and dark place.
Before applying, put on hand gloves and cover the floor in the bathroom/room with newspapers to avoid staining from the fallen henna. And also apply some petroleum jelly on our hair line, ears, and protect your clothing.
Divide your hairs into sections, and with the use of hair brush (or gloved fingers- whatever you are comfortable with) apply the henna mix onto the sectionals and apply the henna. When you cover all sections, pull your hair up.
Now, cover your hair with the shower cap and let the henna seep in your hair shaft for about 3-4 hours, depending on the hair color you intend. – more the time you let it dry, darker is the color of the hair.
After the intended time is up, carefully lower your head and pull your hairs in front of you and start running water through them to remove henna. Do not start showering to remove the color, as it is just NOT the best idea. Try washing
your hair only. After most of the henna is out, you can shampoo your hair with any shampoo to help in easy removing of the remaining dried chunks and condition your hair- even if henna has conditioning properties, its always good to condition.
Let your hair dry naturally. No use of any heat treatments to dry the hair.
You will have the characteristic smell of henna for about 2 days, but that will fade at the earliest. Also, the color is brightest on the first day, but the color deepens and shows only after 3 days.
Keep watching this space, as more amazing mixes are yet to come.
By: Archa Dave
