Light Mountain Natural Henna Q&A

What is Light Mountain Natural?

It is a pure, natural product made from the powdered leaves of three plant species of the Lawsonia, Indigoferae and Cassia auriculata. These powdered leaves are expertly blended by our trained staff. Our blends include red, neutral and black, which offer a rich medley of color. The colors may vary from crop to crop and season to season. Our blending helps compensate for these variations.

How does it work?

The Lawsonia leaf offers the red shades, Indigoferae offers the dark shades and  Cassia auriculata is for conditioning effect. When mixed with hot water they will coat hair and other protein cells as well as stain skin and nails.  This coating action is beneficial to your hair. It seals in oils and tightens the
cuticle resulting in a rich, healthy shine. After application, the new color will go through subtle changes over a period of two to three days.  Please note:

• Hair that has been treated with a dark shade cannot be lightened with a lighter shade of Light Mountain Natural.
• Light Mountain Natural can only add color to your hair.

Why a two-step process?

After years of research, motivated by customer needs, we have developed Color the Gray! to better meet the coloring demands of the more mature head of hair.

Why use the Light Mountain Natural brand?

It is one of the few completely natural, botanical hair colors on the market.  Our ingredients are 100% pure botanicals, straight from nature. Other brands use “all natural” only as a catch phrase on the front of the package, while the ingredients listed are synthetic conditioners for shine and metallic salts for color. Stay with the proven best, Light Mountain Natural—100% premium botanicals.

Why Patch Test prior to using?

Although Light Mountain Natural is a completely natural product, some people may exhibit an allergic reaction to it. You must perform a separate Patch Test for each of the two packages. (Packages are labeled Step 1 and Step 2.)

ALWAYS PERFORM A STRAND TEST on a full representation of the various colors, textures, etc... of your hair. This is essential for accurate results. (Follow Strand Test instructions for both Step 1 and
Step 2 packets.)

NEVER USE METAL DURING PREPARATION OR APPLICATION, UNDESIRED RESULTS MAY OCCUR.  Use a nonmetal container to boil water, a nonmetal bowl and spoon to mix and measure, and a nonmetal comb or brush to section hair. Do not use metal hair pins, curlers, etc... Remove all jewelry: rings, earrings and necklaces.  Use distilled water for fewer chemical interactions.

Botanicals have been used for thousands of years as a natural hair coloring and conditioning aid, and we offer the same guarantee offered by nature over the centuries... None!*, other than Light Mountain Natural is 100% pure, premium botanicals and the best that money can buy.  The Strand Test will indicate your depth of color. If after the Strand Test you don't like the color, you can try some of the Special Effects we have listed and redo the Strand Test (Step 1 and Step 2) with the changes. If you really do not care for the color, do not use this product.  If you are not satisfied for any reason, you may return proof of purchase and the box, and we will refund the purchase price. This is the total amount of
our liability expressed or implied. 

Patch Test—Perform Twice:

ONCE FOR THE STEP 1 PACKAGE AND AGAIN FOR THE STEP 2 PACKAGE.
PERFORM PATCH TEST 24 HOURS BEFORE USING.

A. Wash an area on your inner elbow or back of knee.
B. Mix approximately a tablespoon of the Light Mountain Natural you intend to use on your hair with hot water. Let mixture cool to the touch.
C. Apply cooled mixture with cotton applicator over a one-inch area of inner elbow or back of knee.
D. Allow to dry. Leave area uncovered and undisturbed for 4 hours before rinsing.
E. Examine test area during each stage:
• Shortly after mixture dries.
• 4 hours after beginning test.
• When mixture is rinsed off with water.
• 20 hours after beginning test.
IF SKIN REDDENS, BURNS, ITCHES, BECOMES SWOLLEN OR EXHIBITS ANY ABNORMAL REACTIONS, EITHER IN OR AROUND THE TEST AREA, YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO THIS
PRODUCT AND MUST NOT USE.  If no irritations or sensitivity exist, you can begin after reading all
information on these pages.

Why Strand Test prior to applying?

THIS IS YOUR MOST IMPORTANT APPLICATION STEP

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of regret. This test determines the length of time Light Mountain Natural remains on your hair to achieve desired color depth. If after the Strand Test you do not like the color, look at some of the Special Effects on page 4 and Strand Test again with the
choosen effect(s). If Special Effects are used they must only be added at Step 2. Do not make any changes to at Step 1. If you really dislike the color do not use this product. EVERYONE, EVEN PRIOR USERS OF LIGHT MOUNTAIN NATURAL, NEEDS TO STRAND TEST BEFORE EACH APPLICATION. This is a natural product and the color can change from crop to crop.  ALWAYS PERFORM A STRAND TEST ON A FULL REPRESENTATION OF THE VARIOUS COLORS, TEXTURES, ETC... OF YOUR HAIR. THIS IS ESSENTIAL FOR ACCURATE RESULTS.

Strand Test

NEVER USE METAL DURING PREPARATION OR APPLICATION.
Use a nonmetalic pot to boil water, a nonmetal bowl and spoon to mix and measure, and a nonmetal comb or brush to section hair. Remove all jewelry: rings, earrings and necklaces.

A. Snip a short length of your hair or remove 20-30 strands from your comb or brush. Tie one end with a piece of thread.
B.  Place a pinch of Step 1 in a nonmetalic container, add distilled, boiling water to obtain a creamy consistency. Let mixture cool to touch then, while wearing gloves, apply to hair sample.
C. Leave on hair for 5 minutes. Then rinse sample. The gray hair should show a red, pink or orange tint.
D. Rinse with water. No need to dry.
E. Place a pinch of Step 2 in a nonmetalic container, add distilled, boiling water to obtain a creamy consistency. Let mixture cool to touch then, while wearing gloves, apply to hair sample that received
Step 1 treatment.
F. Cover hair sample with plastic cap to keep moist. Apply heat if desired. Heat is not absolutely necessary, but it will enhance red shades. Heat sources such as a blow dryer, the sun, a sun lamp
or hot towels may be used. Never use an oven or microwave as a heat source. Be careful not to melt plastic cap.
G. Check hair sample every 12 minutes until desired color is achieved.
H. Rinse and dry hair sample. Check results in direct sunlight when possible.

Applying Light Mountain Natural

If you are about to apply Light Mountain Natural you have already:
• Read all information and instructions.
• Performed the Patch and Strand Tests.
• Remove all jewelry: rings, earrings
and necklaces.
• Put on plastic gloves.
• *Agreed to our guarantee.

A.  Keeping Clean

Wear the supplied gloves. The mixture will color any skin it contacts. Exercise care.  Apply cream or petroleum jelly to your skin along the hairline, ears and neck. This will help keep mixture from coloring these areas.

B. Mixing

Remember, never use metal during preparation or application.  Each box of Light Mountain Natural contains one to two applications, depending on your hair length. (Step 1 is 3 oz net weight. Step 2 is 4 oz net weight.) Place the Light Mountain Natural from the Step 1 packet in a glass, ceramic or
plastic bowl. For short hair use 1-2 oz., more for longer hair.  Start with 3 cups of distilled water, bring it to a boil in a nonmetal container (Corning Ware® or Pyrex®).  While stirring with a wooden or
plastic spoon, gradually pour the boiling water into the bowl of Light Mountain Natural. Add water until the mixture is creamy yet sandy.  There may be water leftover. Some crops of this product are grittier than others, the mixture should not be too thick or too runny. It should slowly slide off of the plastic or wooden spoon used for mixing.  Let mixture set for 2-3 minutes to thicken and stabilize. Add more hot water if mixture becomes too thick. Let mixture cool to a workable temperature prior to applying to hair.

C. Applying

To apply you may wish to use an all-plastic paint brush or a plastic squeeze bottle.  Divide the hair into sections, using a plastic comb or brush. Do not use any metal objects to hold the hair in place.  Keep metal hair pins, curlers, etc...out of hair.  Use plastic clips or string.  Begin applying mixture to the hair, starting at the top of the head, coating all strands from roots outward.  Cover hair with plastic cap.

Rinse gloves and all material used during applicaiton.  You will need these cleaned for later use.

D. Timing & Rinsing the Step 1 Mixture

These timing and rinsing instructions are used ONLY with the Step 1 packet.  Leave the Step 1 mixture on for five minutes. Rinse out with water. No need to dry. 

E. Mixing the Step 2 Packet

Repeat mixing instruction found at Step B. The only change is that you need to use the product from the Step 2 packet. If using Special Effects, do so at this time.

F. Applying the Step 2 Mixture

Repeat applying instruction found at Step C. Use clean gloves and applicator.

G. Obtaining Your Color with the Step 2 Mixture

To achieve results consistent with the earlier performed Strand Test, it is essential that you now follow the exact same process and timing.

H. Rinsing Out the Step 2 Mixture

Once you have left the Step 2 mixture on the hair for the length of time needed to obtain the desired color, wearing the gloves, rinse out with warm water. Should you experience difficulty in removing the mixture sprinkle some baking soda on hair and continue to rinse. Keep baking soda out of eyes. For best results wait 24 hours before shampooing with a mild shampoo.

How do I remove Light Mountain Natural?

Removal is best achieved within 24 hours after coloring, but if hair is light or porous even this may be difficult.  For lighter hair try a pasty mixture of 1/2 cup cream rinse/conditioner to a tub of Crystal Light Lemonade®. Apply mixture to hair, cover with plastic and a towel, and if desired apply heat. Heat sources such as a blow dryer, sun, sun lamp or towels warmed in the dryer may be used. Never use an oven or microwave as a heat source. Be careful not to melt the plastic. After approximately 45
minutes shampoo out to see effect. Individual results will vary.

For darker hair try a mixture of equal parts of baking soda and dark molasses.  Apply mixture to hair, cover with plastic and apply heat. Heat sources such as a blow dryer, the sun, a sun lamp or towels warmed in the dryer may be used. Never use an oven or microwave as a heat source. Be careful not to melt the plastic cap. After mixture hardens, shampoo out to see effect. Individual results will vary.
For a more gradual removal you can try a high detergent shampoo followed by a restoring conditioner.

How long does the color last?

The color remains for approximately four to six weeks, but varies with each individual. One advantage of a semi-permanent hair colorant is that it gradually washes out of your hair leaving no tell-tale roots.