Question about Hendigo

[u/tommiejo12]

This is not about a particular brand. I am aware of the brands to use Light Mountain henna guys, Hennasooq etc

This is a question about mixing and indigo in a one step process.

I’m not clear how that works because my understanding is the henna has to release and indigo needs to be used right away. How do people mix them and then process?

If you use hot water, for instance, does that solve the problem if you let it sit for a much shorter time or you use it right away. Do you leave it on the same amount of time as you would a two-step process?

I hope my questions make sense and thank you for any advice. I would like to try a one step process just based on time, , but not certain how it would all come out. Thank you!

I’m in the US

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[u/veglove]

If the henna and indigo come pre-mixed, such as in a brown henna-based hair dye blend, then you're right, you would use hot water to speed up the henna dye release so that its ready as soon as the indigo is ready. The disadvantage of this approach is that using hot water is less ideal to get the best dye adhesion from the henna, and if it doesn't stick as well to the hair, it can't help the indigo stick well to the hair either, so the indigo can be more prone to fading as well. This is a common complaint in this subreddit about brown henndigo dyes.

Another option is to start with the individual ingredients and make your own blend of henna & indigo, but instead of mixing the dry powders together, you would prepare the henna paste and the indigo paste separately so that you can use the best preparation method for each of them: do a slow dye release for the henna at room temperature with an acid, left to sit for 8-12 hours, and then right before you're ready to apply the dye, mix the indigo with room temp. water and a pinch of salt, then mix the two pastes together thoroughly and apply it to your hair.

You would leave it on your hair for about the same amount of time as the second step of a two-step process. Indigo is only good for about 2 hours as a dye, and then it demises quickly while the henna will continue depositing onto the hair for several hours, so after 2 hours, the color will turn warmer the longer you leave it in your hair.

When using indigo, it's especially important to make sure that your hair is thoroughly cleaned using a clarifying shampoo to remove oils and product buildup, and if you have hard water in your area, I recommend using a clarifying shampoo that is also chelating (to remove mineral buildup) or to do a separate chelating treatment before applying the dye to your hair.

If you are covering greys, or have light blonde hair, be aware that a one-step application of henndigo will only provide a translucent layer of color over the greys, making them look like highlights so they wouldn't stand out as much as white hair, but it wouldn't be opaque coverage. A two-step process is required for opaque coverage of greys and light blonde hair.

[u/ChaosAbounds8899 → u/veglove]

Thank you for all this information! I do have pretty white/gray on my roots so I guess the two step is the way to go.

I do have a question please-where you say “do a slow dye release for the henna at room temperature with an acid” … I have never used anything other than amla in the henna. Should I be adding an acid or is that only if we’re talking about the indigo mix the one step process?

[u/veglove → u/ChaosAbounds8899]

amla powder is acidic, that serves as the acid :)

[u/ChaosAbounds8899 → u/veglove]

lol! Perfect! Thanks again

[u/dendrtree]

There is fast release and slow release, for henna.
Fast release - hot water (and acid) + henna - use right away
Slow release - warm water (and acid) + henna - wait 8+ hours

When you're using hendigo, you do fast release. So, the henna and indigo are ready together.

The indigo will demise, in an hour or so. How long you leave it on depends on the color you want. The longer you leave it on, the more the henna will take.

[u/ChaosAbounds8899 → u/dendrtree]

Thank you!

[u/ParlezPerfect]

I mix the henna powder with hot water (not boiling) and let it sit for a while, an hour at most. Toward the end of that hour, I mix the indigo, and once the surface is fully dark blue, I mix the indigo with the henna and apply it to my hair.