Are you tired trying to find the right hair dye?
No matter how natural any hair coloring product claims to be, all commercial dyes, herbal or not, have some type of added chemical which affects your hair and scalp. Over a period of time, it will either make it dry, increasing the number of gray hairs or turn your hair lifeless. You may also start experiencing hair loss. For most of us, this is a very frustrating experience.
The natural and herbal way to color the hair has been the use of Henna leaves. The challenge with Henna leaves is that the hair tends to get a red tone, and unless you have natural red or brown hair, it does not work very well. For black hair, Henna proves to be a sub optimal option.
But, there is good news: a completely herbal and natural hair color that you can make yourself for black hair. Henna and indigo are natural herbs that will only benefit you while giving you that rich black color you always wanted, without any side effects! It works amazingly on blonde or gray hair! People have used indigo alone or in combination with henna to dye their hair black for at least 4000 years.
What is Henna?
Henna dye comes from the crushed leaves of the henna plant (lawsonia inermis). Henna plant dyes are made by crushing and then finely sieving the dr
ied leaves of these plants.
What is Indigo?
Indigo dye comes from the crushed leaves of the indigo plant (indigofera tinctoria). Indigo plant dyes are made by crushing and then finely sieving the dried leaves of these plants.
Here’s how you do it:
You can safely apply henna and indigo over dyed, bleached, and chemically treated hair. To avoid any reaction, test first in a small area, as you may be allergic to these herbs. Here’s how to dye your hair black using pure henna and indigo powder, with no chemicals:
Step 1:
Mix henna with water or coconut milk (optional to get a good result) and lemon juice to make a paste as thick as yogurt. Let it sit for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight) for dye release.
Tip: Lemon juice or any acidic liquid will keep the hair color from fading. In fact, the color will gradually deepen and look more natural.
Step 2:
Put on gloves while handling this as it will stain your hands! Apply the henna generously into sectioned hair. It is important to get a thick coating on every lock of hair, clear down to the scalp. When the hair is completely covered, wipe off excess from the hairline and ears.
Step 3:
Wrap your hair in plastic wrap or a shower cap and let it sit. After 3-4 hours, rinse all the henna out of the hair and towel dry. Don’t shampoo yet and air dry your hair, as your next step will be applying indigo. You can apply indigo either the same or next day.
Tip: When sleeping without shampooing, place a towel over your pillow to prevent color transfer onto your pillowcase.
Step 4:
Mix indigo powder with water or coconut milk (optional to get a good result) with a consistency just as the henna. If you think you might have dye-resistant hair, throw in a teaspoon of salt.
Warning: Put the indigo immediately after mixing with coconut milk into your hair. Do not wait for dye release from indigo. It’s very important, because when indigo dye is released before applying, it may not be as effective team collaboration.
Step 5:
Wrap your hair in plastic wrap or a shower cap and let it sit. After 2-3 hours, rinse all the indigo out of the hair and towel dry. Don’t shampoo yet and let your hair air dry.
Tip: When sleeping without shampooing, place a towel over your pillow to prevent color transfer onto your pillowcase.
Step 6:
The next day, shampoo your hair thoroughly. You can use coconut milk as a natural conditioner. Air dry your hair, and enjoy your newly dyed black hair, all from natural herbs!
Tip: Depending on the resistance of your hair, another option is to simply add water and make the Henna paste a couple of hours before applying. Immediately before application, mix Indigo into the paste and apply it into your hair. You can also experiment with the quantities of both herbs to achieve the desirable color that works for your hair.
The combination of Henna and Indigo is a bit of a chore to use as a hair dye, but the results are healthy and gorgeous!