The Henna Hair Treatment: How Too

Hey everyone, I'm finally getting around to sharing my Henna Hair Treatment How Too! I did not mean to wait this long, but time just slipped by. I am REALLY excited to share this with all of you and I hope it will help any of you who are interested in using Henna to color your hair but have no idea where to start. There is information online about Henna, but not a lot and most of it is kind of confusing. I hope this is easy to understand; it is a process, but when it is all said and done it REALLY is not that complicated. Feel free to leave any questions you might have in the comments!


The Henna Hair Treatment

Supplies Needed

v  Red (Pure Henna) – MorrocoMethod.com
v  Light Brown (Henna and Indigo) –MorrocoMethod.com
v  Amla –  Amazon.com *this is not the Amla I used, but it looks like a good choice.
v  Euro-Organic Oil – MorrocoMethod.com
v  Brewed Black Tea (For light hair use chamomile)
v  Lemon juice/Apple Cider Vinegar
v  Test containers
v  Loose hair samples (collected from hair brush)
v  Glass mixing bowl
v  Wooden spoon
v  Measuring spoons
v  Latex gloves (2 pair)
v  Old clothes
v  Towel
v  Shower caps (2)
v  Winter hat (to hold in heat)
v  Hair drier (to add heat) optional
v  Hairbrush (to help get the treatment out of hair while in the shower)

The Testing Process

Mix several small test batches using various ratios of Red, Light Brown, and Amla and let sit for 8-12 hours or overnight. Test on loose hair samples to determine the desired shade. *Note that this is approximately what it may look like when applied to the entire head, but may not be exact.

My testing combinations were:

v  100% Red (Pure Henna)
v  75% Red (Pure Henna), 25% Amla
v  50% Red (Pure Henna), 25% Light Brown (Henna/Indigo), 25% Amla
v  50% Light brown (Henna/Indigo), 25% Red (Pure Henna), 25% Amla
v  100% Light Brown (Henna/Indigo)

*The hair on the far right is my natural color

The Treatment Mix

(This is the mix that I created after determining the correct ratio for my desired color using the above testing process. I chose to split the difference from my two favorites and do 90% Henna 10% Amla.)

        v  8 Tbs. Red

        v  1 Tbs. Amla

        v  Brewed Tea (enough to make a paste)

        v  1 Tsp. Euro-Organic Oil

        v  Lemon Juice/Apple Cider Vinegar (- Tbsp. or enough to make a Greek yogurt like consistency.)

Prepare the treatment mix and let sit for 8-12 hours.

The Application Process

              After the treatment mix has set for 8 -12 hours you are ready to apply it to your hair. Protect the area where you will be doing the treatment as the process can be messy. Wear old clothes that you don’t mind getting messy or possibly stained. I used Euro-Organic Oil to coat around the edge of my hair line to keep my skin from getting stained by the henna.

  

Begin with clean DRY hair. Section off hair. Put on latex gloves and starting at the base of your head apply from root to tip thoroughly.

 When each section is thoroughly and completely coated, let down the next section. It is good to be a bit excessive at this stage because the more you put on the better. It will look and feel like someone coated your head and hair with mud or cow manure. But don’t worry, it will be worth it in the end! When all of your hair is coated with the henna take a few moments to massage it in, just to be sure that you have thoroughly coated each strand.

 Coil your hair up on the top of your head like you would if you were making a bun.

 Cover with a shower cap behind ears and then a second one over the ears.

Slip the winter hat over the shower cap to keep in the warmth which will help the henna to develop.

Leave the treatment on for 2-4 hours. I left mine on for 3. Relax during this time by reading a book, watching a movie, surfing the internet, or basically anything that you enjoy. Try not to focus on the treatment or you will get impatient.

Rinsing Away the “Mud”

(You can use the shower, bath, water hose or even a more natural location such as a lake or creek.)

              Put on the second pair of latex gloves so that your hands do not become stained during the rinsing process. Remove the winter hat and shower caps. Rinse, rinse, rinse (the hairbrush may come in handy at this time), until the “mud” is totally out of your hair. Preferably, let hair air dry. Do NOT wash hair out with shampoo until at least 24 hours after treatment.

The Results

(Results may vary from person to person.)

The color may be extra bright at first, but as it oxidizes and settles it will tone down. This may take 3-5 days. Your hair will most likely feel thicker and healthier and will look fresh and vibrant!

*The first two pictures are immediately following my henna treatment and the last two are 2 days later. Unfortunately I didn't stay consistent with my photo taking so my "after" picture is actually one taken 5 days after my second henna treatment. 

*Indoor lighting

*Outdoor lighting

Congratulations! You just completed The Henna Hair Treatment! Go enjoy your fresh locks!

* Due to the fact that I was inconsistent with taking photos, the after picture is actually several months later, after my second application. I believe there was a slight deepening of color with the second application.

~ Clair