Strand Test
A strand test is a good indicator of what to expect when using henna. Apply henna to a hair sample, gathered from your brush or a previous haircut. Unlike regular chemical dye, henna works as a gloss, resulting in a color that is a mix between the dye color and the base color of your hair. Keep in mind, henna takes several days to oxidize, meaning that the final color may become darker in the days following application. Lighter hair types may need to do multiple applications to achieve a darker color. You cannot lighten hair with henna.
Tools:
Small Mixing Bowl (glass or wooden preferable)
Plastic Sealable Baggie, 2
Mixing Spoon (wooden preferable)
Measuring Spoon (wooden preferable)
Gloves (vinyl/rubber)
How to Do a Strand Test:
Please read the "How to Mix & Apply Red Henna" instructions below to judge what liquid to use with the henna. If you are using apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, use only 2 tsp worth.
In a small bowl, take 1 tbsp of Red Henna and stir in enough liquid to achieve the consistency of yogurt. Cover the bowl in plastic wrap and let sit for 8-12 hours at room temperature.
Use hair removed from your hairbrush or clippings from a recent haircut. You can snip a lock of hair from the middle of your head as well. Ball it up or attach ends to a piece of tape to hold them together. You need enough hair to be able to discern color difference, so half a handful should be fine. While wearing gloves, coat the strands with the henna mixture, thoroughly saturating them.
Store strands in a plastic bag. Then double bag to prevent dye from seeping through. Keep it on your person, in a pocket for instance, to include body heat as a factor in dye release. Leave in bag for 1-4 hours.
Rinse henna from hair strands and inspect the color. Let strands sit for 72 hours to get the most exact result. View test strands in artificial light and sunlight, as the color does change with the light source.
How to Mix & Apply Red Henna
Tools:
Mixing Bowl (wooden or glass preferable)
Mixing Spoon (wooden preferable)
Measuring Spoon/Cup
Gloves (vinyl/rubber)
Plastic Wrap -OR- Plastic Shower Cap
OPTIONAL: Fabric Cap (beanie, ski cap, etc.)
Ingredients:
Black Tea, 2 cups strongly brewed and cooled
Apple Cider Vinegar, up to 3 tbsp (use raw, unpasteurized for best results) -OR- Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice, up to 3 tbsp
Red Henna Kit*
Warm Filtered water, 1 cup
OPTIONAL: Euro Oil, 1-3 teaspoons
OPTIONAL: Clove, Ginger, or Cinnamon, powdered 1-3 teaspoons (To lessen the smell of henna)
*One Henna Kit is enough for shoulder length hair. Longer hair may require additional kits.
Other Liquids
Black Tea with Apple Cider Vinegar/Lemon Juice is the most common liquid used when mixing henna. However, you may replace this liquid entirely with:
Apple or orange juice, 2 cups
Herbal tea (chamomile, rosemary, etc.), 2 cups strongly brewed and cooled
Filtered Water, 2 cups warmed (with or without lemon juice)
Mixing & Application
Pour Red Henna powder from packet into mixing bowl. Add clove, ginger, or cinnamon at this point to lessen smell of henna. Add apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. The more you use of either ingredient, the deeper the end results will be. However, it will also increase the time needed to release the dye and may have a drying effect on the hair and scalp.
Slowly add black tea to Red Henna until it is the consistency of yogurt. The mixture should not drip from the spoon but should still be easily spreadable. You may not need all 2 cups of tea to achieve this.
Add Euro Oil to mixture. Use more Euro Oil if you added a lot of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. Do not use more than 3 teaspoons, as the oil can prevent the color from sticking.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, pressing to remove any excess air, and let sit for 8-12 hours. If a generous amount of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar were used, we suggest letting it sit the full 12 hours. If the temperature is below 60 degrees, it may take longer than 12 hours. Check the surface for color change from the original green/olive/tan to a darker brown-red, which will signal the dye release.
Section your hair, put a towel around your shoulders, and apply Euro Oil to your hairline and ears to prevent skin staining. Using gloved hands, apply henna to clean, dry hair. (It can be applied to towel-dried hair but not wet).
Wrap hair with plastic wrap or put on a shower cap. Optionally, put on a fabric cap over the plastic to trap body heat. The key is to keep the paste moist and warm.
Leave mixture in hair for 1-4 hours. The longer it is left, the more dye will saturate into your hair. Do not leave it in overnight.
Unwrap your hair and rinse with water only. Use a drain catcher to prevent possible clogging. Use Pearl Essence Creme Rinse or a few drops of Euro Oil to aid in the henna rinsing process, especially if you used a lot of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. The Morrocco Method Scalp Massager may also help in removing the henna.
Do not shampoo your hair until 24 hours after the henna treatment. The full color will appear after 72 hours. This color will last 8-12 weeks.
Important Note About Chemical Dyes
Our Red Henna Hair Color is 100% pure plant dye. There are no chemicals, metallic salts, or PPD. Our henna hair color is the safest form of hair dye you can use, and it even has healthy benefits for your hair. You can safely use henna on previously chemically dyed hair, but we suggest waiting 6-8 weeks after your last dye job to allow for detox.
But if choose to continue with chemical dyes after applying henna, you'll need to wait 6-8 weeks until it fades. It won't "burn" your hair, which is a reaction to chemically-adulterated henna, but it can give you unpredictable results. Plant dyes don't lift easily out of your hair, leaving the end color unpredictable, and it fades faster because henna makes your hair less porous.
Going lighter cannot be done with a box dye, and the amount of developer you will need to lift the henna will damage your hair to the point where it won't take dyes well. When dying your hair with henna and indigo (using any of the Browns or Black), it will only lift the henna, and not the indigo, giving you green hair. The amount of chemicals you need to remove indigo from your hair will make your hair too damaged to hold any dye at all. You can, however, dye your hair the same color or darker.
