How To Mix Henna for Hair Coloring

We all have the desire to look our very best, but in today's world it's difficult to maintain a natural, chemical free, and environmentally friendly approach to beauty, especially when it comes to hair color.  That's where the amazing options of natural henna mix for coloring and tinting come in.  Henna comes in a variety of semi-permanent shades and is great for use on all hair types and for women of any ethnicity.  The process is simple and can be implemented to change the tone of hair colors ranging from pale blonde to natural black, and because of the natural herbal components found in henna leaves, the hair is left soft and silky with a healthy sheen.  To achieve a precise color blend, other natural plants are often added to hair coloring henna, such as indigo, walnut, saffron, and rhubarb.  Allergic reactions to these herbals are extremely uncommon, but as with regular color products, a skin test may be administered before use by simply mixing a small amount of the dye and applying a dot somewhere on the body.

Here's how to color your hair with henna:

1. Purchase the pre-mixed henna powder in your desired shade from a reputable online market or your local Middle Eastern or Indian grocery.  Most women will need between 200 and 400 grams.  If your hair is extremely long or thick, opt for 500.
2. Make certain that everyone who will be touching the henna coloring mixture is wearing gloves and smocks to prevent staining of skin or clothing.
3. Mix the henna hair coloring powder with warm water until it forms a thick paste about the consistency of pudding.  For shades being used to brighten blonde, gray, or mousey hair, lemon juice may be added to the paste which should then be left to sit several hours.  Most boxes will be printed with individual instructions for this.
4. Apply the mixture liberally to small sections of hair until the head is covered.  Depending on the type of henna and the preexisting hair tones, the mixture is generally left on underneath a shower cap or plastic wrap for one to four hours. Again, individual boxes and ordering sites should contain accompanying instructions as to specific timing.
5. After processing, the henna hair color mix can be washed out with regular shampoo.  Chemical straightening, perming, and use of hair colors containing ammonia should be avoided after the use of henna coloring products in order to prevent hair damage.