Henna has been used as a natural hair dye for centuries, and even today many people prefer it to chemical dyes. However, the vibrant copper red hue commonly associated with the henna dye doesn’t suit everyone. This is why a lot of people wonder whether they can dye their hair other colours using henna. As a matter of fact, it is possible. Let’s figure out how to dye your hair brown with henna.
Henna is a natural plant-based dye prepared from dried and crushed leaves of the henna tree (Lawsonia inermis), which is grown mainly in Egypt, India, Iran, Morocco, Niger, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Sudan. Depending on the region where it is grown and the processing method, henna can dye hair various shades of red.
To achieve other colours and shades, henna is usually mixed with other plants, such as indigo, coffee, chamomile, amla, tea, or various Ayurvedic herbs. Depending on the original colour of the hair, the proportions of the ingredients and the exposure time, you can get shades ranging from dark blond to bluish black, which makes it possible to choose the one that suits you best.
The most common way to dye your hair brown with henna is to mix it with indigo. The indigo dye is obtained from processing leaves of the true indigo plant (Indigofera tinctoria). Pure indigo dye turns the hair slightly blue or green, so it is normally mixed with henna to achieve dark hues, from brown to black. The more indigo you use, the darker the shade.
The main drawback of dying your hair brown with a mixture of henna and indigo is that it is very difficult to figure out the right proportions of henna and indigo to obtain the desired shade. The “gold standard” is one part henna and one part indigo. It should dye the hair golden brown. If you mix one part henna and two parts indigo, you will get a chocolate shade.
One part henna mixed with three or four parts indigo results in very dark brown or black hair. Therefore, it is very important not to overdo it when you add indigo to the dye mixture: you can always dye your hair once more if the shade is too light, but if it is too dark, you’ll probably have to wait until your hair grows out because bleaching over henna may have unexpected results.
By the way, you can dye your hair with a combination of henna and indigo regardless of its original colour, even if you have grey hairs. However, you will achieve the best results if the amount of grey hair doesn’t exceed 40%. Otherwise it will be very hard to achieve an even colour, and you will probably have to dye your hair several times to achieve the result you want.
How to Dye Your Hair Brown Using Henna and Indigo?
To dye your hair brown with henna and indigo, you can choose one of the two main methods: either mix the dyes before applying them to your hair or dye your hair with henna first and then with indigo. The first method is quicker and easier, and the second method is better suited for covering grey hair.
To dye your hair with a mixture of henna and indigo, measure out the required amount of henna and indigo powders and put them in separate bowls. You need to brew both powders, but henna needs to be brewed longer than indigo. First, pour hot water (80-90 °С) over henna and let it steep for 20–70 minutes (read the directions on the packaging and deduct 20 minutes from the required steeping time). When the time is up, pour hot water over indigo and wait for 20 minutes. Combine henna and indigo and stir well to get a smooth paste.
Before dyeing your hair, apply some petroleum jelly or greasy face cream along the hairline to prevent skin staining. Apply the mixture to clean, wet hair using a brush and a comb. The best way to dye your hair with henna is section by section, starting from the back of the head.
After applying the dye, put on a shower cap and wrap your head in a towel. Leave the dye on your hair for 20 to 90 minutes, depending on your original hair colour and the desired result. The longer you keep henna and indigo on your hair, the darker and richer the colour will be.
Thoroughly rinse the dye off with warm water without shampooing. Do not apply hair conditioner or mask and do not blow-dry your hair after dyeing it with plant-based dyes. Natural pigments take more time to integrate themselves into the structure of your hair, so you should abstain from shampooing for 2 or 3 days after dyeing to keep the colour from fading.
To dye your hair brown using the second method, first use henna and then indigo. In a small bowl, mix the required amount of henna powder with hot water and let it steep for 40 to 90 minutes. Apply the dye to clean, wet hair, leave it for 20 to 90 minutes, rinse off without shampooing.
In another bowl, pour hot water over indigo, let it steep for 15–20 minutes and apply to clean, wet hair. Indigo works faster than henna, so it is enough to keep it on your hair for 20–30 minutes. Rinse the dye off without shampooing. As with the previous method, do not apply hair conditioner/mask and do not shampoo your hair for 2 or 3 days after dyeing your hair.
Dyeing your hair with henna and indigo allows to achieve natural shades of brown. If you mix these two dyes with other plant-based ingredients, you can get more interesting shades. For example, if you brew henna and indigo with strong tea or coffee instead of water, you will get a dark chocolate shade. To achieve richer shades of brown, add some amla (Indian gooseberry) or shikakai powder to the mixture.
Unfortunately, many people simply don’t have enough free time and patience to experiment with the proportions of henna and indigo and various additional ingredients, or don’t want to experiment at all because they are afraid to get the wrong shade. Luckily, there are ready-made herbal hair dyes with carefully calibrated proportions of active ingredients that provide a predictable result.
In our online shop Organic Store, you can buy 100% pure henna and indigo powders if you are ready to experiment, as well as ready-made brown henna powder and various brown herbal hair dyes, ranging from golden brown to dark brown. At Organic Store, we offer affordable prices, convenient payment methods, and international delivery to most parts of the world to make your online shopping experience as pleasant as possible.
