Henna Self Hair Coloring Tutorial

Supplies needed:

• Gloves
• Non-metal bowl 
• Non-metal spoon
• Shower cap
• Vaseline
• Time (plan on watching a movie... etc)
• Old t-shirt and pants (in case of drips)
• Hair clips
• Old towels

Instructions:

• Make sure your hair is clean and dry.
• Follow the mixing instructions on the packaged henna hair color (if applicable, body art henna mixing instructions will be posted later in this article).
• Gather hair from your hairbrush, and do a strand test. If you like the results of dyeing your hair from the hairbrush, proceed with dyeing your entire head.
• Change into your "painters clothes" (old t-shirt, pants).
• Apply vaseline to the skin of your hairline and ears.
• Cover your shoulders with an old towel.
• Have your henna mixture and other supplies handy, apply gloves, and section hair.
• Make a section at the nape of the neck first, clipping all of your other hair on top of your head and out of the way, (if you have short hair you may skip this step).
• Coat the first section with your henna mixture, then create the next section, coating that one in the same way you coated the first.
• Move forward until you reach your hairline. Cover the hair of your hairline well.
• Sweep your henna-covered hair up on top of your head, and apply shower cap.
• Leave henna on according to either package instructions or recipe suggestions.
• Rinse henna out until water runs clear.

Classic Henna Recipe: Body art quality henna powder, lemon juice.

It's really that simple. The amount of henna powder you need will depend on your length of hair. The amount of lemon juice will depend on the amount of henna powder. Mix top-quality henna powder with lemon juice until it's the consistency of mashed potatoes. Then, cover it with plastic wrap and let it steep for about 12 hours. Before applying, add more lemon juice until it's the consistency of gravy. Apply to hair, and let it set for 2-4 hours.

Classic Henna Results: (will vary)

Blonde + Classic Henna = Brilliant Red

Gray + Classic Red = Copper Penny

Ash/Dark Blonde + Classic Henna = Red

Red + Classic Henna = To Dye For Red

Medium Brown + Classic Henna = Irish Setter

Dark Brown + Classic Henna = Cherry Wood

Black + Classic Henna = Black with Red Halo (in the sun)

Interested in the Classic Red recipe, but want a gentler color? Substitute half of the henna powder with powdered cassia and viola, tamer red!

Brown Henna Recipe: Two parts body art quality henna and one part indigo powder, lemon juice. Mix in the same way as the Classic Red recipe.

Brown Henna recipe results: (will vary)

Blonde + Brown Henna = Light Brown

Gray + Brown Henna = Light Brown

Ash/Dark Blonde + Brown Henna = Light Brown

Red + Brown Henna = Medium Brown

Medium Brown + Brown Henna = Medium Brown

Dark Brown + Brown Henna = Brown with warm highlights

Black + Brown Henna = Black with warm highlights

Espresso Henna Recipe: One part body art quality henna, two parts indigo powder, lemon juice. Mix in the same way as Classic and Brown.

Espresso Henna Results: (will vary)

Blonde + Espresso Henna = Dark Brown

Gray + Espresso Henna = Dark Brown

Ash/Dark Blonde + Espresso Henna = Dark Brown

Red + Espresso Henna = Dark Brown

Medium Brown + Espresso Henna = Very Dark Brown

Dark Brown + Espresso Henna = Very Dark Brown

Black + Espresso Henna = Warm Black

Raven Henna Recipe: Henna and indigo powders, lemon juice.

First, mix up henna and henna hair exactly as instructed for Classic Red Henna. Then, mix up indigo all by itself and apply to hair. Let indigo set for 1 hour, then rinse. It may take more than one application of the indigo to dye lighter colored hair black, but if you want 100% natural black hair, it's well worth the time invested.

Blonde + Raven Henna = Black

Gray + Raven Henna = Black

Ash/Dark Blonde + Raven Henna = Black

Red + Raven Henna = Black

Medium Brown + Raven Henna = Black

Dark Brown + Raven Henna = Black

Black + Raven Henna = Black

by Wahine