Henna Question (dye, color, blonde, product)

[nightbird47]

I use this over commercial dyes on my hair. I like making it dark red, but it takes two full applications and it has an orangish tone until it cures. It seems only to be the really light hairs which take up the brassy look. What I'm going to do is a brown first, and then seperately apply the red. Still two applications, but I'm hoping it gets me to my color sooner.

Anyone ever try this? Or should I mix them. I don't know what I'd get then. Taking a while isn't a problem, so I'm thinking the brown first would also even the tones, with grey, blond and the residual reds from last time.

[ContraPagan]

If it takes 2 applications, the henna you are using doesn't have a strong enough dye content. I use Ancient Sunrise Rajasthani Twilight from mehandi.com, which has a 2.8 dye content. I get auburn from putting it over my naturally blonde roots (I do full-head applications every 5-7 weeks).

Henna will always have an orange cast until it oxidizes, assuming you are using pure BAQ henna, and not the cheap garbage that too often has adulterants added to it. Even a high dye content henna like Twilight does that.

So what are you doing? Putting henna over a brown commercial dye? I would ditch the dye entirely and just use a high dye content henna like Twilight. It is expensive stuff, as you can see from the prices on the link I posted, but it is also certified pure by an independent lab, so you don't have to worry about adulterants. I've been using this brand of henna for 7 years myself.

[nightbird47]

Originally Posted by ContraPagan

If it takes 2 applications, the henna you are using doesn't have a strong enough dye content. I use Ancient Sunrise Rajasthani Twilight from mehandi.com, which has a 2.8 dye content. I get auburn from putting it over my naturally blonde roots (I do full-head applications every 5-7 weeks).

Henna will always have an orange cast until it oxidizes, assuming you are using pure BAQ henna, and not the cheap garbage that too often has adulterants added to it. Even a high dye content henna like Twilight does that.

So what are you doing? Putting henna over a brown commercial dye? I would ditch the dye entirely and just use a high dye content henna like Twilight. It is expensive stuff, as you can see from the prices on the link I posted, but it is also certified pure by an independent lab, so you don't have to worry about adulterants. I've been using this brand of henna for 7 years myself.

The henna is a pure product, but I like it to be dark red. The older hairs and the new mostly grey take on different colors. Usually I apply it twice as well. The other huge benefit I've found is my very fine and breakable hair is *much* stronger and when its not pale colored looks like there's a lot more.

The brown is also henna. I'm thinking if it darkened the really light hair the red would look more even.

I trimmed it quite a lot a few months ago to even it off as it was breaking off so its also shorter than usual.

I've always had 'baby fine' hair and henna is the only product I can use to color it which doesn't just damage it so much it splinters a lot. And once a commercial variety turned out purple instead of red. Interesting but....