Help has anyone used henna to 'brighten' up fair hair?

[ppeatfruit]

So I've never used it before, due to not getting my usual ,gentle, but with amonia colour I got some. How long do you have to leave it in for the greys to be covered? I want a natural look so have mixed in clay with it.

Henna only gives a bright transparent orangey red colour, so the end result you get will depend on your natural hair colour. If you have very fair hair, expect a vibrant red/blonde. If you have brown hair, expect a warmer auburn with sparkly bits where you have greys. I love the effect, but appreciate it’s not for everyone. Oh and henna builds up each application so it’ll slowly get darker each time you use it. Great for the condition of your hair too.

Oh and apply it like a thick paste, for vivid reds cover your hair with plastic wrap, or for a slightly subtler tone, leave your hair uncovered. Just leave on as long as you feel comfortable - I’d say minimum 3 hours.

If you use mainly cassia powder with some henna you will get strawberry blonde. I think hennaboy tell you the ratio 75 cassia to 25 henna . You could always email them and ask.

Don't do it!

I coloured my dark blonde/light brown hair with henna for years. It’s lovely but it’s red. My hair came out a plausible auburn colour. People did think it was natural. It definitely has a lovely conditioning effect. If that’s what you mean my ´brighten it up’ then go for it. Bear it mind you can’t dye over henna with anything containing bleaching agents. Henna often has metallic salts mixed in which react with hair bleach and can melt you hair. Hairdressers will refuse to colour it for you so you have to wait for the henna to grow out before dyeing with a different method.

Can I henna my formerly auburn hair which has now gone a dark dull brown? It’s been getting increasingly duller over the years

My fair hair went a brassy red when I used henna on it, back in the 80s. Never again.

I henna my hair and it looks lovely - not orange at all but my hair is light brown to start with. @TramaDollface you can try but you might only get auburn tints if your hair is dark brown. Worth a try though!

Can I hijack to ask what the best kind of henna is please?

Moroccan henna not Indian - you can buy it on eBay for about £4.50 per 100g which is a lot - I use a whole packet on my long thick hair but shorter thinner hair would only need half. Then you need gloves, cling film, a mixing bowl and a plastic spoon. And an old sheet for the floor!

Do not use henna it contains metallic salts so if you even want to colour your hair normally again you'd have to grow out the henna first.

I just henna’d my dark brown hair and it was a beautiful deep red colour.

Because I’m lockdown bored, I then highlighted it. My hair is fine and didn’t melt or go green! I now have nice coppery highlights.

Oh thanks soo much for your replies! I've done a strand test which has indeed turned out very bright! ( But I left it on longer than 24 hours stipulated on the packet) I also did the elbow test which was no problem. Does it need to be left on for a short time if you want less brightness?

I think it might be too bright for me , I just want a gentle colour to make my hair look it's natural fair\blonde not grey.

24 hours??
I leave it on for 2-4 hours

You won't get blonde from henna

Nooo don't do it. Henna is also impossible to get out or dye over. This will not give you a subtle look.

Try Colour Effects toners from Superdrug for a gentle colour change.

Yes I'm not going to do it! I'm going to see if I can get my normal colour from the shop where we used to go,

Thanks everyone I LOVE mumsnet!!!

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