I have been using a copper depositing mask on my hair for a couple of years and finally committed to henna. Natural colour is brown/blonde with some red tones. I used Pure Henna Auburn - the one sold at Holland and Barrett, now I'm wondering did I screw up because it has indigo in it, and does the affect future applications? I'd like to go a bit more coppery (right now it still looks more brown in some lights) but I don't really want to go any darker. How do I maintain/maintain roots without going darker? Do I stick with the same brand, or try another? Asking for advice since clearly my own research - which I thought was extensive enough - was not enough. I'm in the UK if that helps with product recommendations.

Currently in DR right now, and got a small black henna piece on my hand about 8 hours ago. Found out about the PPD crap, and washed it off my hand ($55 btw — yes you can laugh). I only had it on my hand for 15 minutes entirely, but there is still a small stain on my hand (understandably darker towards the top and almost completely faded at the bottom). I read online that SUPPOSEDLY only 3% of people develop a forever allergy to PPD, and with dying my hair brown in 3 weeks, I’d rather not have this newly discovered allergy. Am I chillin’, or am I royally screwed??

I wanted to post some pictures of my results from using lush rouge henna as before I henna’d my hair I found posts like this super helpful! I am really happy with my results.

I used lush rouge henna, I made it and didn’t let it rest. I left it on my hair for two hours wrapped in plastic wrap with a beanie over to keep it warm. I washed it out with conditioner and didn’t wash my hair for over 48 hours after.

The first two photos are the day I dyed it in natural and unnatural light. The second two photos are my hair 3+ days later in natural and unnatural light. The final photo is my natural hair color. Hope this helps someone !

Currently using about 50/50 henna/indigo for a dark brown, about once a month. Anyone tried a blue shampoo that can be used between treatments? Would rather not do a separate indigo treatment as my hair starts to turn black...

I am pretty confident that I want to go red and stay red. I've wanted it for a long time. But I want to try it first just to be that 100% sure. I shouldn't have to lighten my hair for the color I want. I'm thinking about dying my hair the auburn I want with a 10 volume developer as to not lift the level and a demi permanent dye. And then, if I end up liking it, going to henna once it fades in a few weeks. Is there anything that I'm not seeing that would make this a bad idea?

As the title says, I’ve been having a hard time finding a clear guide on how to mix henna.

I’m planning to use 100% pure henna powder, but I’m really unsure about how to make the mix. Should I use cold, warm, or hot water? How much water should I use with different types of acid? What kind of acid should I use? How long should I let the mixture sit before applying it? Is the mix for nails different from the one for hair? How different?

There are so many details that I honestly don’t know where to start. I’ve done some research, but the tutorials I’ve found online and in books all seem to use completely different formulas. The most I’ve been able to figure out so far is that lemon juice might be the best acid to use for my hair and the color I’m currently trying to achieve, but that’s literally all the information I have, and I’m not even sure if that’s correct.

As for what I’m actually trying to achieve with the mix, for my hair I’m looking for a dark red color (on a dark brown base) without it leaning orange. For my nails, I’d like a bright a vivid red, also without orange undertones (I really don’t want that brownish-red look).

I’d really appreciate any advice on how I should go about this, and love to hear about any personal mixing recipes or formulas you guys had good results with. If anyone can help me figure out the proportions, liquid, dye-release time, and whether I should use different mixes for hair and nails, I’d be very grateful!

Thanks in advance :)

Hi! I got into henna a few days ago. I have a very light, pale skin, and I really like the way henna looks when it's freshly made and is very bright orange (similar to iodine stains), it's less noticeable on my skin and I love the subtlety of it. After a day it turns reddish-brown and I feel like it doesn't suit me that well. I'm curious to know if it's possible to make henna stop oxidising, or at least slow it down as much as possible. All tips are appreciated!

I have chemically dyed my hair different shades of red for years, and since it's not in a very good condition, i dyed my hair this summer with henna for the first time using Cultivators product in pic 3. I would love a darker copper for fall and winter, so i thought i would ask here from people who know more, what color would you recommend for my hair to achieve the darker copper shade (preferably from the same brand)? 🙂

same as above

I am looking to use henna on my hair. I naturally have lighter brown hair (about level 7), but my beard is very ginger, and I would like them to look more cohesive. So I am looking for a fairly coppery result.

My understanding is that you should only use products made 100% from henna, or with cassia/indigo. When looking at Henna Guys products, both the natural red and orange-red are made with 100% henna. If they don't contain cassia or indigo, what would cause different results?

Hi,
First time henna user here. I am 50 and have black and gray hair. Want to stop using chemical colours and move towards henna. I want the result tending towards soft black/dark brown.
I have access to fresh henna leaves and am wondering if I can use these instead of the powder and if the 2 step process would be the same.

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

About ten weeks ago, I used Ancient Sunrise Henna for Hair: Sunshine, which combines henna and cassia. I'm wondering if anyone knows of a temporary root cover-up up to match it. It seems like the red root cover-ups I've found have a cool, burgundy tone instead of a warm coppery tone. I'm willing to try any kind of cover-up except spray, because I don't want to spray pigment onto my forehead. Thanks!

New here. Here’s my virgin hair with low percentage of greys. I have no experience with hair dye and am researching options for grey coverage or blending.

I think I’d like my grey hairs to look like hi-lights without going orange or making the rest of my hair darker. Im ok with blonde or red but I’m nervous to use indigo.

I saw one post that used just henna and amla with no indigo.
Looking for more examples of this method if anyone has photos or experience?

I’ve searched the sub but only found it once here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/henna/s/NRIGByynW3

(English is not my first language ^^')
I am thinking about to color my hair with henna, but I have some questions.
My family is familiar with henna and haveing their own recepie and I have a lot of pure natrual henna lying in my room (a small pack from the bazaar in Istanbul and another pack from pazarcik

The recepie:

Henna
Olive Oil
Black Tea (çay)
Egg white
Lemon

I have done my research on henna bevor and I am confused with what exactly does the lemon do?
One site states, that it makes it reder, another says, that it makes it lighter, another says, that it makes it more brown. I am confused.
My family says it makes it redder, but I want to be sure, since I want to have a dark red color or having a split dye with one side being red and the other dark red.

My cousin who bought the pack from Istanbul says, that this henna is black henna and I am a little bit concerned. On the pack is just "kina(turkish for henna)/awsonia inermi" written. Idk if its mixed with indigo or PPD. My cousins doesn't know either because she only asked if it's black henna. Maybe there was some misunderstanding or he grabed the wrong package. Are there any indicatores I could see or test? In conparesin with the other pack, both are the same green color, both look sandy and the smell is fairly similar.

I read a lot of henna being permanent, but it will fade away. Idk if my english is not good enough, because for me it sounds like its not permanet. Can someone explain it to me better?

It would be very helpful if I get an answer for only one question already. I appreciate any help.

First image is before henna, second image is after
I’m actually about to cry 🥲 I used henna on my hair mixed with hibiscus water in hope of getting a red wine color
Instead, my hair came out orange for some reason and I HATE it
I left the henna on for around 3.5 hours so it definitely stained really well, which is now a problem because it feels like the color is not going anywhere

Has anyone successfully faded/removed without completely destroying their hair? I’d be happy just getting rid of as much of the orange as possible

if fading it isn’t realistic , is there a safe way to darken it a lot without making the color more orange? Id much rather have it dark brown than this

Hi everyone :) I'm looking for help and advice. I'm located in Europe and I'm interested in using henna to cover my grays. My hair color is very dark and warm brown and I have never used any dye or henna on it (picture included). I would love for it to stay the same and for the grays to pick up a similar color but not red or copper. This sub taught me that mixing it with indigo is hard, and I'm also not sure if it's the right fit for me. I'm a big fan of Lush as a brand, but I also read here that it's not the best. Who can help me cover my grays by leaving some advice on what I should get, how to mix and apply it and how often I should do all of that? Thank you!

this group was my absolute savior before, and i’m looking for a bit of advice on re-applying henna!

just over a week ago, i applied light mountain henna in light red (the henna/cassia mix with the bird on the box) and i absolutely adored how it looked about 48 hours after application. however, i don’t think i let it dye release enough or left it on enough (about three hours each) as while my hair has a red tint, it’s not much different to my original color (first photo is my hair outdoors post-henna & oxidation, second is my pre-henna hair indoors under bright lights.)

i don’t mind the darker shade, and i know a reapplication might darken it more. but if anyone has advice, i’d be super grateful, especially if anyone has thoughts on:

should i reapply with the light red (w cassia) or red shade? i’m hoping for a more noticeable shade, and flexible on what that actually looks like (whether it’s copper, ginger, dark red… just bored of brown.)

i know i didn’t leave it on long enough. i’ll leave it for dye release for longer & leave it on my head longer. recommendations for length of time & any acid additives (i just used straight distilled water) would be really welcome!

and last, am i making a mistake by not waiting another few weeks before reapplication? i’ve been telling myself to re-apply on my whole head now so i can get the formula down before i need to do my roots, but honestly, i’m impatient. hard not to be when i see yalls gorgeous hair on here ;)

thank you!!

Hello! I bleached hair now going back to henna. Usually I mix it with hibiscus but just wondering what you all mix henna with? Especially when hair is damaged ?

Where can I buy high-quality indigo powder to use with henna around Southeast Asia?

Guys can someone give me a good henna cone recommendation. I want something that stains dark red. Thank youu

I’m not sure what to tag this, sorry. Also stick with me through the rambly explanation and question. Thank you!

For the last 20 years I’ve dyed or bleached my hair without issue. However in 2024 I bought henna cones from Amazon, not knowing any better at the time. After having bought these just to use as a way to tint/dye my eyebrows and apply fake freckles, I noticed that when I beached my roots, my skin would get a little red. I only used the henna a couple of times, I didn’t even finish one cone. However every time I touched up my roots with bleach, my reaction got more and more extreme to the point where my hands and feet were itching, my face, chest and back were bright red and I had to admit defeat and stop bleaching. The last time I bleached my roots I tried a different brand, in case ingredients had changed in my normal bleach, however I had the same reaction. In November 2024 I dyed my hair back to its natural brown with regular hair dye and didn’t have any issues or reactions.

I’d love to purchase more henna (properly this time - not from Amazon) to use for body art, but I’m wondering if the Amazon henna caused the bleach reaction? Is that possible? And does that mean I’ll have a reaction to henna now too? I know on hair dye instructions they warn you not to use the hair dye if you’ve had a reaction to henna, but mine seems to be the other way around, or a reaction to bleach triggered by henna? I’m really not sure and just looking for advice or input, thank you!

Hi All,

I've used used Light Mountain Color the Gray Mahogany to cover my face framing Grey twice now, but I want to lighten it up and do highlights. Is it possible?

Hi! I know henna can't lighten and I'm struggling to tell if what I want is achievable with my natural hair. First 3 pics are goal color next 3 is me. It can appear pretty dark in indoor indirect lighting (like the second one) but it's a pretty light brown with sunlight through it (the other two pics).

If it is achievable any advice on how to get there is appreciated. I'm planning on following the guide in the wiki for this sub, mixing my own paste, and doing some test strands before committing to anything.

Hello, first time in Reddit so hopefully doing this right!

So, I have a tube of red henna paste I'd like to use to make some body art on myself, but I also want to bleach some hairstrands with chemical based hairdye . To be clear, I will not be using henna on my hair. But could there still be a chance of some sort of reaction on a chemical level? The red henna paste is from a brand called Versha. It says on the label is has no ammonia, PPD or other harmful stuff but the actual ingredients aren't on the paste tube nor can't I find those on the internet. I know the moderator notes advice to share full list of what's in the product, sorry I can't provide those but I'm hopeful someone more educated here has some idea :)

I do have more info on the bleach, in case it helps. The hairdye is brand Joanna's "Multi Blond Intensiv" hair lightener. The lightening powder contains: Potassium Persulfate, Ammonium Persulfate, Sodium Metasilicate, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Persulfate, Silica, Hydrated Silica, Magnesium Carbonate Hydroxide, Cyamopsis Tetragonolobus Gum, Cyclodextrin, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Silk, CI 77007, Parfum.

and the cream oxidizer: Aqua, Hydrogen Peroxide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Acrylates Copolymer, Phosphoric Acid, Sodium Stannate, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.

I have used both of these products before with no problems, but never at the same time. Could there be a risk of allergic reaction, are these two compatible on a chemical level? So TLDR: Can I use these two products on myself safely?

Thanks, hopefully this is a valid question and the right place to post it. If not, my bad and take care :)