Henna hair dye

[heyjoeyitsestelle]

Anyone know of a good henna hair dye for brown hair? I am allergic to ppd so can't use most hair dyes and have always wanted to change colour. I would like to try auburn and quite bright but obviously very limited. Do most of the henna dyes only work on blonde hair?
Anyone used any they can recommend?
I am also getting some greys at the back but assume a brown henna would be fine for this

Firstly, go for it! Your hair will look gorgeous and be in fab’ condition. Secondly, get yourself some good, body -art quality pure henna on line. Do NOT get the stuff that promises all sorts of colours - it ain’t henna and may contain chemical nasties. After that: my way after years of henna-ing my hair goes like this. Line your bath with old newspapers (you’ll thank me later). Make sure your hair is squeaky clean with no product on it and that it’s dry. Put barrier cream round your hairline and don’t forget your ears. Wear disposable gloves to apply the henna or you’ll have orange hands and nails. Mix your henna according to packet instructions and admire resulting substance that resembles a cow pat. Hang your head over the bath and smoosh that stuff all over your hair paying particular attention to roots and greys. Once you’re done, you will appreciate the presence of the newspaper in the bath as you contemplate the splatter. Scoop your hair up and cover with a clean plastic bag or cling film and enjoy smooshing your hair through the cling film. Leave it as long as possible before washing off - around 4 hours is fine. Use loads of conditioner and patience. Dry your hair and enjoy the amazing chestnut/red/auburn highlights.

Wow thank you so much for such a detailed response! So if I buy normal henna online it doesn't say a specific colour? My hair is probably medium/dark brown.

I have actually never bought a newspaper ever haha! So I will line the bath with bin bags or something.

Thank you! I'm going to browse now. Honestly I just really want a change in colour as I've never been able to do it!

LUSH Henna. No chemicals or other nastys. The caca brown is still quite red.
Look at how to u tube videos, I tend to take a mirror out into the garden to do mine, section your hair and wear old clothes and gloves. Wrap hair in clinfilm and leave for at the very least 2 hours, rinse and condition but don't shampoo for at least 24 hours.

Yes, Lush is fine - or you can buy pure henna online (search for Lawsonia Inermis and check seller reviews).

Normal henna is always red. It can be mixed with indigo to make a browner shade (this is what Lush does for its marron and brun versions) but there is no such thing as brown or black henna. So-called brown or black henna sold online often contains PPDs, so steer clear of it.

As pps have said, it's messy. My tip is to put on a peel-off face mask before applying the henna - this stops it staining your face if you get any stray blobs. I also use one of those towelling head wraps on top of the cling film because henna works better when it's warm.

Although the ones from Lush are good, it's such a faff and it's full of bits of grass like substance. The easiest and most nicest ones I've found are from Holland and Barrett. It's a fine powder you just mix up with water and put on. There's a few browns and reds and a blonde. Plus it's a bit cheaper than Lush. I ll try and find a picture of the box for you

I find it easiest to melt Lush henna in a bain marie. It is expensive, though, compared to powdered henna.

I am second gen forrin and henna is used very widely where my parents are from. It can be used on any colour of hair. Here is how we do it:

1. Use black tea as the liquid to make up the henna. The tannin in the tea brings out the colour, hibiscus tea is actually the best but most people just use an ordinary tea bag.

1. Apply the henna the way you would a hair dye, in sections and try to get as close to the root as possible. Use a plastic bag to cover your head and tie it to seal in the heat and prevent mess everywhere.

1. Traditionally it is left in overnight, but this results in a very strong red which you may not want (and it gets very cold, henna is often used for headaches because of the cooling properties) but if you have dark hair I'd leave it in minimum of 6 hours.

1. Be very prepared for lots of mess when washing it out. Shampoo your hair up to 3 times if necessary.

I'm an old hand, been henna-ing for many years now. I buy the pure stuff off Amazon, mix it up with a little hot water and a squeeze of lemon. My hair is naturally very dark sadly going rapidly grey but the henna gives it a deep mahogany shade, chestnut in the sunlight. Any greys go a brighter shade, sort of coppery. They also hold the colour less well unfortunately. A few pointers:

Be very cautious if you've used commercial dyes before. I've heard henna can clash with any residual dye and turn your hair a lovely shade of green! I've never used anything but henna so can't confirm or deny this.

Vaseline! You want Vaseline all around your hairline (not on your hair, obviously!) on your ears and the back of your neck. I use a cotton bud to cover my parting with it too. Any skin that isn't Vaselined that comes into contact will go orange, and stay orange.

For that reason, wear gloves when applying the stuff! I use an exfoliating cleansing wipe to make sure my hairline/neck/ears are henna free after it's all done, with my hair up in the shower cap.

If you sleep deeply, apply it before bed, sleep in it (old towel over pillow!) and wash it out first thing in the morning. It's uncomfortable hanging around for hours with a shower cap and a towel turban during the day, especially if you wear glasses because the arms are pressed against the side of your head. I always do it at night.

Don't wash it out too thoroughly. I mean you want to give it a good rinse to get rid of the actual henna, but don't shampoo that first day, give it time to sink in. I wash it out with water and conditioner (you'll want lots and lots of conditioner!) and then leave a thick layer of conditioner on and leave that for an hour, then wash again. I try not to use shampoo til the next day. With each shampoo the henna will lesson.

It smells. It really really smells. Sort of a sickly niff. Not much you can do about it, but be aware that it is a bit nauseating!

I love it though. My hair always looks and feels gorgeous the first couple of days. After that the roots start to fade, but I only redo it every 2 months.

Another point - if you have cats, they will love the smell and try to poke their noses into it.

I've used henna for years. I buy pure henna from eBay (I use the Jamila brand), and simply mix with hot tap water, and some cheap conditioner, to a puddingy consistency, and apply to roots wearing gloves. Hair doesn't need to be clean first, I don't bother with a barrier cream, I put on a shower cap and a beanie to keep head warm whilst it takes, and wash out after a couple of hours.

Stuff you should know: henna is red but translucent, like a coloured acetate filter, so your own base colour affects the outcome.

Henna BUILDS colour with each application - from a slight copper, through orange, red, and eventually burgundy, with enough layers.
It's important to learn how to do roots only after a full head application to prevent colour deepening beyond what you wanted.
Heat styling can burn henna and change its colour.
Fresh henna is very bright, but will oxidise over a few days into a less vivid hue.
Henna is rock solid permanent. You can grow it out or cut it out but this is a commitment.
Do a strand test. Use old hair from a hairbrush and see what you think.

This is the one I've been using for years.

Just a point about Lush Henna blocks (which are great) - I’m not sure Lush is processing any on-line orders at present due to the lockdown. Any pure henna powder will work great.

And, yes, as PP have said, henna itself is only ever red. You get different results on different hair tones because its transparent. If you want dark tones, you can experiment with using things like indigo with henna, but unless you have a lot of grey, you shouldn’t find brown hair goes very red (any greys will give you lovely bright highlights).

Duh, goes very red with ordinary henna, I mean!

I much prefer baq henna powder to lush. Cheap as chips, available on eBay or amazon, very pure and easier to wash out.

I'm a long term user too, and it leaves my hair looking thick and shiny. Although it definitely does stink for the first couple of days.

I use coconut oil all over my ears and hair line. Make the henna up with hot water and a good squeeze of lemon and let it sit for a while after making sure you've really mixed well. Not too sloppy or it'll drip. Gloves and stand over an old towel, and work it in well to cover every strand. I tie a couple of carrier bags round my head or a shower cap. Rinse with lots of conditioner til it's clear, and air dry for the first couple of washes or it darkens. Henna oxidises anyway, so don't panic of it starts really fiery!

Thank you everyone!
How much would you say I need to make up? Like how many grams?
My hair is really thick and fairly long say to shoulder blades

avoid Lush. Just get yourself some decent henna powder (I often order from Hennaboy).

I would check YouTube for videos how to use it. The paste needs to be prepared several hours in advance so the dye gets released before you slap it etc. YouTube is full of henna tutorials.

For your hair length, I would use about 100gr. I have dry hair and also always put a bit of olive oil and clear honey into the mix too as Henne can be a bit drying.

@heyjoeyitsestelle

About 2 rounded tablespoons of powder maybe? A little bit of water goes a really long way when you make it up, so add that just a teaspoon at a time. You don't want too much as it's really thick and gross to wash down the drain the next day.

FYI I only recommend Lush as when buying of amazon etc I'm never sure if they have added metals which I would rather avoid, even packets advertised as non metallic makes me feel nervous! Amazon are buggers for allowing counterfeit or not fit for purpose items to be sold. Back in the 80's I used HennaHenera which was easier than Lush 'brick'.

I use Lush brun and it’s really improved the condition of my hair (not done it since a month before lockdown and my hair looks noticeably more brittle). However, it doesn’t exactly cover greys but highlights them, and now that mine are rapidly increasing I’m a bit concerned about getting an orange henna “glow” (my hair is naturally very dark brown). It’s a bit of a faff but so cheap (one block lasts me three applications, usually once a month).

Another point - if you have cats, they will love the smell and try to poke their noses into it

One of the guinea-pigs poked his nose under my henna hat ( ok, I was hennaed up and cutting his claws and he threw his nose up) . He went a lovely sludge green shade even though we washed it off immediately .

I had my henna cut out a few years ago and I'm going for grey now . I'm planning to use the Colourless Henna if I can track any down.

Henna is messy and time consuming .
Lush henna smells like Turkish Delight which is nicer than the Body Shop henna from years gone by which smelled like fag ash (but a-mazing colour)

My tip is - when you remove it , use a cheap conditioner to saturate your hair then rinse . The conditioner stops it clumping on your hair . Then shampoo till it runs clear , condition and dry .

When my hair was PixieCrop I used 2 squares of Lush. Melted in a Pyrex bowl+ hot water over a pan of water . don't use metal on henna .

I tried to time the henna with my bathroom cleaning . I got into the shower and rinsed . So the bath, tiles and shower curtain needed cleaned .

It doesn't wash out but it fades a bit .
And it'll darken over the next 48 hours ...do a Strand Test .

Henna Boy Cassia - it's colourless . It says I'd need 300g for my shoulderlength hair (which is £12)

I might Go For It

70, no way you will need 300 gr but if you mix up that much and don't need it, you can freeze the ready made paste. I actually always prepare the paste in a bigger bowl and freeze a few portions.