Henna Hair Color & Care For Women Archives

Posted on October 29, 2016 January 28, 2019

Tips For Coloring Stubborn Hairline Gray With Henna Hair Colors

Below are some tips for coloring stubborn hairline gray with henna hair colors or henna hair dyes.

I have had a few people ask me this question “henna hair color works great for me, but it doesn’t seem to cover the stubborn hairline gray, what should I do?” This is not because henna hair color doesn’t cover gray but the reason for this is because, you guessed it, the gray along your hairline are resistant to henna hair colors and the solution to cover the gray is very simple.

Slather on the henna hair color on your hairline really thick to where the hair is completely covered and you can’t see the hair at all and then some, more the better, just layer it on.
Another tip is to leave the henna color on for an extra hour from what you normally do. This should further help with color absorption and covering of the gray. Keep the color on your hair for 3.5 – 4 hours.
Also, when you’re covering the hairline, to make sure you got it all, start from beyond the hairline to make sure you’ve covered it all with henna hair color.
Also, make sure to mix your own henna or henna and indigo colors and follow the right processes so their optimum level colors are released.
Make sure to add a bit lemon juice, orange juice or apple cider to your henna mix for optimum color release.

Let us know about your experiences with covering stubborn gray hair. Have these simple techniques worked for you? Please feel free to comment and share your experiences with using henna hair colors/dyes and do share useful tips too.

Posted on October 20, 2016

How To Cover Your Gray/Color Your Hair Medium Brown With Henna

How to cover your gray/color your hair medium brown with henna hair colors? If your base color is a medium brown with some gray in it and you’d like to cover your gray/color your hair medium brown with henna hair colors, you would need to mix 50% of henna with 50% of indigo. If your brown hair has natural highlights or lowlights and gray, then please remember that they will all absorb the color on their base color and the resulting color will have natural lowlights and highlights too.

How To Mix: Mixing your own henna hair colors is the best route to take because you’re able to figure out exactly which color is best for you as everyone’s base color is different. Henna takes a longer time to develop than indigo. So, first mix your henna with some tea or distilled water and a couple of tablespoons of orange juice or apple cider vinegar. The consistency should be that of yoghurt, you don’t want it runny. Now leave the henna to develop for 6-8 hours.

When the henna is ready for application, mix the indigo with water and a teaspoon of salt in a separate bowl to the same consistency as the henna and then mix it right away into the henna paste until the colors of both henna and indigo blend together and it’s an even color. Apply the paste to your hair immediately.

How To Prepare Your Area And Yourself:

Cover the floor where you’ll be coloring your hair with newspaper to catch any blobs that may fall on to the floor.

Wear old clothes, which you wouldn’t mind getting messy.

How To Apply:

Divide your hair into two, tie one side up in a bun and work on the other side. Section your hair and apply the henna on thick from the roots to the ends. Roll up your first completed section of hair into a bun, and roll/wrap all the remaining sections around it. When done, you should end up with 2 buns on top of your head:). In the end your head should look like a sculpted mud head with all the hair completely covered. If you have gray along your hair line, make sure to cover it really well as they are resistant to absorbing color if not covered well. Cover with shower cap enclosed.

How Long Should You Leave The Henna On?

At least three hours.

How To Wash:

Rinse off under the shower until water runs almost clear, then wash off with conditioner. Do not use shampoo.

The color takes a few days to settle in, so please don’t wash your hair with shampoo for at least a week.

Posted on August 31, 2016

Should You Create Your Own Henna Hair Color Or Use Pre-Mixed Henna Hair Dyes?

Should You Create Your Own Henna Hair Colors Or Use Pre-Mixed Henna Hair Dyes?

This shouldn’t even be a question folks, it’s better to create your own henna hair colors as they’r more effective and provide better results because everyone’s hair is a unique shade. The second reason is because of the the way these natural colors and herbs work (the chemistry of their development). For the sake of this article the term henna hair colors will be used as a broad term for hair colors created using any combination and proportion of henna/indigo/amla/cassia. Also, when we say pre-mixed henna hair colors, we’re referring to pure henna hair colors from reputable sellers and not the henna hair colors that advertise a range of shades, which they create by adding ppd and other chemicals. They then try to sell it as “all natural,” so please be aware and educate yourself on what constitutes as good henna hair colors.

Now if the pre-mixed box of henna hair color says it’s a dark brown, yes, it’s probably going to color someone’s hair dark brown but not yours (as in not for the majority of you) as everyone’s hair color is different. The same advertised brown can be achieved by creating your own henna hair color. Say your friend has light brown hair, you have dark brown hair and your friend has red hair, each of you will need different proportions of the key herbs to achieve the same brown. This is why a standard box of brown will not work on all hair and it is advised that you mix/create your own henna hair color.

Henna hair colors do not work like conventional hair colors. Conventional hair dyes color over your current hair color, whereas henna hair colors are translucent dyes; they bind to your current hair color to give you the resulting hair color. So the exact same pre-mixed henna hair color that’s applied on different hair colors will give you different results with unique-to-you highlights and lowlights. Now that you understand why, it’s time to create your own henna hair color!

Henna and indigo on medium brown hair — Indigo, Henna & Amla On Medium Brown Hair

The second reason why you should mix your own henna hair colors and not used pre-mixed henna hair colors is because of weak color development. The two main ingredients of most henna hair colors – henna and indigo develop their respective colors in varying time frames. Henna takes longer to develop – anywhere from 4-8 hours and indigo develops in 5 minutes and is ready for application. So, how can a premixed package containing both of these ingredients work effectively? If you prepare the pre-mixed henna/indigo combo for application and let it sit for 4 hours, the indigo is going to lose it’s potency. And if you create the paste and apply it within 10 minutes of mixing as many sellers suggest, the indigo is going to work just fine because it develops within minutes but the henna in the mix wouldn’t have reached it’s full potency yet, so you’re going to end up with a diluted color which is not the true color. Had you mixed henna hair colors the right way — to allow for maximum potency, it would give you the true and desired color.

For many of you, the pre-mixed colors may seem easy but it’s not going to give you the color you want. Don’t think of mixing your own henna hair colors as a chore, it’s 15 minutes of time well spent, to give yourself soft, silky beautiful hair in the exact shade and color you want. It may take a little bit of experimentation to figure out the exact combinations needed for your desired color but it’s not going to ruin your hair, so go ahead and create your own unique henna hair colors. Here’s the Natural Nirvaan Henna Hair Color Chart and Natural Nirvaan Cassia Hair Color Chart to help you with process of choosing the shade you want, which is to be used as a basic guide only. Remember you can adjust the proportions for the all the ranges in between these basic shades to find a color that suits you better. Make a little time for beautiful healthy hair just as you do for your health and wellness. Your hair is your crowning glory and do what you can to keep it healthy and shiny for the rest of your life! Be bold and beautiful – create your own unique henna hair colors!

Posted on July 26, 2016

How To Do Root Touch Ups With Henna, Indigo & Cassia Hair Colors

How To Do Root Touch Ups With Henna, Indigo & Cassia Hair Colors

First of all, can you touch up your roots with henna, indigo and cassia hair colors? Yes! In this article, we will show you how to do root touch ups with henna, indigo and cassia hair colors (or henna and it’s related hair colors, in short henna hair colors). With henna hair colors, it is suggested that you first go through a couple of complete henna (indigo/cassia) hair color sessions to allow your hair to settle into the color you want before switching to doing just your roots. And, of course, use your judgment to figure out how often to do root touch ups. Ideally, you want to color your entire head of hair every two to three months or so and switch root touch ups in between the hair-coloring sessions.

And how do you do your roots with henna, indigo and cassia hair colors? Use the same method you do when you normally color your hair with henna hair color paste but instead of applying the paste to the entire length of hair, just apply the henna paste generously to about an inch up from the roots. Fill the henna up in a squeeze bottle and use it for easy application or just slather it on with your gloved fingers, which I like best and find easiest. Our Natural Nirvaan hair colors come with a pair of free gloves and shower cap for your convenience.

Here are the steps broken down simply:

First divide your hair into two sections on either side of a center part, tie one side up into a pony tail or a put it up into a bun, or if it’s really short, you can ignore this step.
Next, work on the free side, in little sections. Use the pointed tip of the handle of your comb to draw an imaginary line from your front hair line to the top of your head, as far back as you can go, to the right or left of the center part (depending on which side you start with).
Hold the hair up in this section and apply the henna paste about an inch up the hair shaft. Then push this hair over so you can work on the next row of hair and so on.
You can also work in square inch sections and cover it up with aluminum foil but the previous way is better because if you have any left over you can use it to glaze the remaining hair to condition it!

So that’s the way you touch up your roots with henna, indigo and cassia hair colors, if you’re confused or if you have a different method, please share it with us. Questions and comments are always welcome!

Posted on July 24, 2016

Are All Henna Products 100% Pure & Chemical Free?

Are All Henna Products 100% Pure & Chemical Free?

The answer would be no, not all henna products are 100% pure and chemical free. Even if they advertise it as “natural” there may be PPD etc. in it. Before you buy henna from a vendor – whether it’s from a brick and mortar store or online, make sure you’re buying it from someone who knows their products well including exactly where they’re sourcing their products from. A vendor that cares enough will get their products tested for quality by an independent lab. A lot of the henna store owners out there will buy their products just based on price and not on quality because their motivation is making money and not to bring you a quality product, to change the world or free it of harmful and synthetic chemicals.

Here’s a recent incident from March of this year, which was reported by Fox News Health, to illustrate that not all henna products available on the market are 100% pure and chemical free. Chemese Armstrong, from Austin, Texas, discovered she had an allergy to PPD (paraphenylenediamine), a harmful chemical used in most permanent hair dyes, and her dermatologist recommended she use henna to color her hair. So, she went to have her hair dyed with henna, which if pure does not have PPD. Before coloring her hair, the stylist even did an allergy test, which did not result in any reaction. They went ahead and colored her hair with the “pure PPD-free henna” and a couple of hours later Armstrong ended up with a really bad allergic reaction to the henna, which obviously contained PPD, to where she ended up in the Emergency Room. Consequently, Armstrong reached out to question the salon about the henna but they did not respond.

This type of behavior is sheer carelessness on the part of the salon owner. If the salon owner in Austin did not know that the henna contained PPD, that’s not ok. They better know what exactly it is they’re selling. They did not care enough to make sure that their products were 100% free of chemicals or they would’ve gotten the product tested by an independent lab to hold their vendor accountable.

Plus, it also shows that they don’t care enough for their customers to make sure they’re selling them a product they say they are selling. If it’s 100% pure, it better be 100% pure. And if they knew that the product contained PPD and used it on Armstrong knowing that she has an allergy to PPD, then it’s negligence on their part. You can read the complete article here – Texas Woman’s Allergic Reaction To Henna Hair Dye

We at Natural Nirvaan would like everyone out there to be aware that 100% pure and natural henna and indigo hair colors do not and should not contain any chemicals. Henna, indigo and cassia are single-ingredient products. It’s unfortunate that henna, indigo and cassia hair colors get a bad name because of the unscrupulous practices of henna manufacturers fed by the demand of sellers that buy these products and pass them off of as 100% pure and natural.

We care about your wellbeing and want you to have a safe and lovely henna journey, please educate yourself about what pure and natural henna, indigo and cassia hair colors are, how they work and what you should look for. If you take the right path to henna hair color – purchase the right product, color your hair the right away, we assure you, this will be the most beautiful and healthiest your hair has ever been.

Posted on July 7, 2016

How To Get Rid Of The Hay-Like Scent Of Henna?

Not everyone likes the organic dry-leafy scent of henna, some think it smells similar to hay. First, why does it smell like hay you might ask… Simple, because it’s made from dried leaves. Henna leaves are dried in the hottest sunshine of the arid, dry regions they grow and thrive in and then is powdered and sifted at least three times to get the fine quality powder that is Body-Art-Quality Natural Nirvaan Henna.

From experience we have learned that the best way to neutralize the dry leafy scent of henna is to add about a tablespoon of ginger powder. Adding ginger powder neutralizes the hay-like scent of henna quite nicely!

Now the next question is, Where can you find ginger powder? You can find it at most, if not all, health food stores. If like me, you like saving money, then check the bulk spices section where you only need to buy as much ginger powder as you need at a reasonable price.

Posted on July 7, 2016

Go From Gray To Lustrous Black With Henna & Indigo Hair Dyes

You’re almost 80% gray and have been using conventional hair dyes for most of your life leaving your hair brittle and damaged. You still want the gorgeous black hair that once framed your beautiful face but want to get away from chemical hair dyes. We have the answer for you – use Natural Nirvaan’s 100% chemical-free henna and indigo hair dyes.

So, how do you dye your hair jet black with henna and indigo? How do you cover your 80% gray hair with a nice shiny black? By dyeing your hair with both henna and indigo in a 2-step process! The same process works for going from any lighter color to black.

Step 1: Apply henna to your hair, leave it on for three bourse and then rinse/wash off. Don’t be alarmed if you’re hair is any shade from orange to orangish-red. That’s going to change soon.

Step 2: Once your hair is dry. Mix indigo with a teaspoon of salt and apply it to your hair and leave it on for a few hours. Rinse off. Voila! Your hair is a beautiful shiny black!

Let us know if you’ve tried this process and what your results were.

Posted on June 17, 2016

Why Is It Important To Use Body Art Quality Henna To Color Hair?

Why is it important to use Body Art Quality Henna or BAQ Henna to color your hair? The answer is simple, Body Art Quality Henna or BAQ henna is the best quality henna you can get. Variables for quality when it comes to henna include – purity, fineness or how well it is powdered, which is measured in microns, and how high the dye content is.

Countries that produce BAQ henna reserve the best henna or that with the highest dye content for body art. Body Art Quality henna is finely ground and triple sifted to remove all the fibre and stem materials so that a very fine powder remains. The resulting fine powder makes it easy for artists to create intricate designs for henna tattoos or body art. In countries of North Africa, Middle East and South Asia the application of henna tattoos is traditionally and culturally used to celebrate festivals and special occasions like weddings.

The finely powdered Body Art Quality Henna not only has a high dye content, which is an important quality to function as a hair color, but is also easy to wash off. So be careful when you buy henna, always buy from a vendor who knows where their product is coming from and whose vision is to provide you with the best quality products. Here at Natural Nirvaan our products are sourced directly from the farmers in India where their main crop is henna. So we are able to bring you the best Body Art Quality Henna at the best price possible because there aren’t multiple middlemen or -women. We also have our products tested at an independent laboratory for quality.

To sum it up, make sure to buy Body Art Quality Henna to color your hair, it’s the best henna hair color you can purchase.

Posted on June 3, 2016

How To Mix 100% Henna Hair Color For Dyeing Your Hair Red

How To Mix 100% Henna Hair Color For Shades Of Red. I say shades of red as the color will vary depending on your original hair color. Click here for the Natural Nirvaan Color Chart. Herbs added to your henna may be good for your hair but they dilute the color of henna. If you’re going for the strongest shade of red possible with henna, then use just 100% henna.

Your hair color results will depend on your original hair color, it’s variations in shade etc. because henna is a translucent dye that binds to your hair protein to create the resulting shade.

Mixing henna powder with the juice of a citrus fruit (lemons/oranges) helps in optimal release of henna dye and tea helps in boosting the color released. Brewing your tea with loose leaf tea produces a stronger tea compared to that brewed from tea bags but if tea bags is all you have access to, then that would work just fine but you may have to use a lot more of them.

Mixing your henna with only water produces a very weak release of the henna dye. And do not use hot water or hot tea, you will end up with a weak dye. Below is a short video on how to mix 100% henna hair dye when you want the deepest shade of red possible with henna. What is your experience with dyeing your hair with 100% henna? Please feel free to get in touch with us here with any questions or comments you may have.

Posted on March 24, 2016

What Is Henna & How Does It Color Your Hair?

Henna or Mehendi powder is made from the sun-dried leaves of the Lawsonia Inermis plant. It is a single ingredient product that can also be used for the application of beautiful temporary tattoos to the skin and is also the best alternative to chemical hair dyes which are harmful for your skin and health. And if you’re someone that develops allergies to PPD (paraphenylenediamine) and/or any other synthetic chemicals found in conventional hair dyes, henna hair dyes are the perfect option. Lawsone, the red-orange dye molecules (ranging from 0.3% to 3% or higher at harvest) that naturally occur in henna leaves is what stains your hair or skin a reddish orange to reddish brown.

This dye is released when the henna powder is mixed with a mix of water and citric acid (lemon juice or orange juice). When applied to hair the dye migrates into the hair shaft and binds with the proteins in it to color your hair. Unlike chemical hair dyes henna hair dye is translucent, which means that it will attach to your natural hair color to give your hair natural highlights and lowlights depending on the varying shades of your natural hair color.

You must be wondering how you get varying shades of browns and auburns and black with henna? Well, you do that by mixing henna with indigo powder (processed from the indigo plant or Indigofera tinctoria). In order to color your hair effectively with henna and indigo it has to be mixed and applied in the right away, pre-mixed henna and indigo dyes do not work as well because of how the dyes in henna and indigo develop. They both have different rates of development or the amount of time both dyes take to release is different. We will cover that in the next blog.