I took excerpts from two different articles that I liked)... Maybe it will be useful for someone else, and for myself, of course)

Henna and basma are natural dyes that do not penetrate the hair. They are able to bind to keratin and are fixed at the cuticle level, envelop the shaft and are placed on top of the main pigment of the hair. Therefore, the color after dyeing will depend on the original hair tone. Also, it is impossible to obtain a lighter shade with henna and basma.

Henna contains orange dye, basma - blue.

The color after painting depends on several factors:

Depending on the duration of dyeing - the longer, the richer and darker the color. Duration varies from 15 minutes to several hours.

It depends on the temperature - the warmer it is, the better the coloring process goes.

From the original hair color - the lighter, the brighter. The darker, the richer and deeper the tone.

Depending on the thickness and structure of the hair, thin and damaged hair is colored faster and brighter.

There are two methods of coloring:

Combined - when henna and basma are mixed and coloring occurs in one stage.

Separate - coloring is done first with henna, then with basma or mixtures in different proportions.

When dyed together, the colors are warmer in red, chestnut, brown and chocolate tones with a reddish sheen.

If there is little henna in the mixture (1 part henna and 3 parts basma), you will get the color of dark chocolate with virtually no red tint. On light hair that has not been previously dyed with henna, a high content of basma can give a greenish tint and be quite light. Therefore, if you want to dye your light or gray hair dark, for the first time it is better to apply dyeing in two stages - first with henna, then with basma.

When dyed separately, the colors are cooler in light brown, brown, chocolate and black tones without a reddish sheen. But in order for such a shade to be fixed on the hair (since basma is washed off faster than henna and a warm red color begins to appear), you need to do several dyes once a week or two, reducing the exposure time (you can use one basma - if there is henna on the hair, basma does not give blue color), so as not to darken the tone, after this you can only tint the regrown roots.

Extract first henna on the hair, then basma:

15 - 20 minutes (brown shade)

1 - 1.5 hours (dark chocolate)

2 - 3 hours (black cool color)

Henna and basma tend to accumulate on the hair; after repeated dyeing, the color becomes richer, deeper and darker.

Very light hair, blond

Red shade:

in half an hour he will give us a composition in which there is 2 times more henna than basma. We will get a fiery red tone in just an hour and only from henna.

In 4 hours the color will turn dark red.

Chestnut shade:

will give a solution with double or triple the advantage of basma compared to henna: the more basma, the darker the color.

Also, the longer the procedure, the more intense the result, so we begin observation after half an hour, and the maximum time that gives a golden chestnut tone is 4 hours.

A spoonful of cocoa or ground coffee, but not instant coffee, will add an attractive chocolate tint.

A soft chestnut tone will appear from brewing the mixture with 2 tablespoons of chamomile infusion.

Dark brown:

Blondes will acquire a dark brown shade only with repeated dyeing. It is even more difficult for them to get black.

At the same time, we take 4 times more basma than henna.

Light brown and ash brown hair

Light shades:

We will get a reddish tint from henna alone: ​​in half an hour - a light reddish color, in an hour - a full reddish one, and in 3 hours - a dark reddish one.

Chestnut color:

we are guaranteed an equal ratio of basma to henna.

In half an hour the color will become red-chestnut, in an hour - natural chestnut, in 4 hours - dark golden chestnut.

Dark shades:

Hair will turn dark brown with a double portion of basma compared to henna.

In an hour, the color of the curls will become perfectly brown, in 3 hours - matte brown.

Compositions with a triple dose of basma and one dose of henna will make us brunettes in 4 hours.

Adding dry cloves to the gruel will enrich black curls with reddish tints, and a decoction of oak bark will speed up their darkening.

Brown hair

Ginger:

Again, we can achieve a red color exclusively with henna: from rich - in just half an hour to chestnut with a reddish shine - in 4 hours.

Chestnut:

We will achieve dark chestnut color from the same amount of basma and henna.

We leave the thick consistency on the hair for from half an hour to 4 hours, depending on the depth of the desired tone.

We brew the paste with chamomile infusion to soften the brightness or with oak bark to, on the contrary, enhance the color.

A couple of spoons of red wine will illuminate your curls with a charming reddish shine.

Black:

A perfect black color will be obtained by combining a triple portion of basma with one henna. However, for light toning, take half as much tea leaves, coffee, cocoa - and the undertones will be more refined.

Cloves crushed for culinary spices do not contain acid, and therefore do not weaken the tone, but decorate black curls with reddish reflections.

A decoction of pharmaceutical oak bark in the coloring mass guarantees the desired darkening of the strands.

Dark brown, black hair

Auburn:

Henna with the addition of chamomile infusion and juice from half a lemon will provide a pleasant reddish tint to very dark strands within an hour.

Black:

A full-fledged rich black color with rich chestnut highlights will suit us in 4 hours with a composition of 1 part henna, 3 parts basma and steeply brewed tea, exclusively black.

On a note):

• We will not then repaint strands colored with henna or basma with chemical cosmetics, otherwise the result will be unexpected;
• We also do not expose curls previously colored with modern synthetic dyes to basma or henna;
• We protect hair after these natural components from other hairdressing chemicals: highlighting, curling, lamination, toning;
• Sometimes you need to refresh the color so that a purple tint does not appear on basma-dyed curls.

For the purpose of treatment or coloring, henna is used for hair; the colors can be varied depending on your desire. The most in demand today are natural and attractive tones such as golden, copper chestnut, chocolate and light brown. It must be said that when dyeing with henna, there is a certain degree of unpredictability of the result, so it is better to use proven methods of mixing the dye with additives that change the final color.

Henna shades

Golden color

Components:

• chamomile;
• saffron;
• rhubarb;
• turmeric.

Using turmeric spice, chamomile, dried rhubarb and saffron, you can get a honey-golden glow on your hair. A red color with a persistent golden tint is guaranteed to be obtained by dissolving henna in a previously prepared hot infusion. To prepare this remedy, you will need pharmaceutical chamomile. Take 2 tablespoons of flowers and brew them with a glass of boiling water, leave for a while to infuse. Heat the filtered infusion to more than 90 degrees and use henna powder as a solvent. If you choose turmeric, then you need to brew the henna in the usual way, then pour this powder into the pulp ready for application. To prepare a dye with the addition of rhubarb, you should take 200 grams of dry stems and boil them in wine. It is optimal to use a bottle of dry wine, preferably white. Cooking continues until the volume is reduced by half. Alternatively, you can cook rhubarb in water in a similar way. Dissolve henna in the prepared decoction. To give your hair a shade of aged gold, you need to boil saffron in water for about 2 minutes, then make a mixture with henna.

The exposure time in all cases should be selected experimentally. Try dyeing a small strand in an inconspicuous place and evaluate the result after a certain period of time. To give your hair golden shades you need to wait about 30 minutes, perhaps a little more.

Copper range

Components:

• carnation;
• a raw egg;
• ginger;
• cinnamon;
• turmeric;

To create a classic copper color, take 7 packages of dye and add ginger, turmeric and cinnamon powder to the powder in small quantities. Dilute the mixture with highly concentrated infusion of black tea. The brightest copper tones appear on light hair.

If the goal is to dye it a deep red color that plays with beautiful copper notes in the light, then the paint should be prepared as follows: brew 4 packages of henna in the usual way, then combine the paste with warm floral honey and cloves. If you have a problem with excessive dry hair, you should enrich the mixture with a raw egg. In this case, in order for henna to give red-copper hair color, it is recommended to leave it on for about 2 hours.

Chestnut color

Components:

• coffee;
• cocoa;
• hop;
• amla;
• buckthorn.

In order to obtain a bronze-chocolate (in some cases black) color, freshly brewed black coffee is added to henna powder. If you add a spoonful of ground coffee to 25 grams of dye, the result will be a natural chestnut color. When henna is combined with cocoa powder, a pale chestnut tone is achieved. For a bag of paint, 4 tablespoons of cocoa are enough; the mixture is diluted with non-boiling water. Having prepared concentrated hot black tea, combine the infusion with henna and a spoonful of hops, the result will be a chestnut-chocolate color. Different variations of chestnut color can be obtained by dripping regular iodine into a mixture of brewed black tea and henna. The coloring result will depend on the natural color, the amount of iodine and the time the product is left on the hair.

Amla is a pharmaceutical product that can be mixed in equal parts with henna to create brown shades. Buckthorn is added to the powder to enhance the depth of color. First you need to boil the berries, then mix the broth with henna. Take 100 g of berries per glass of water.

Dark brown color scheme

Components:

• cocoa;
• Peach oil;
• liquid vitamin E;
• unrefrigerated kefir;
• Cedar oil;
• yolk from a raw egg.

Having prepared henna in the standard way, add the remaining ingredients in small portions. Beat the yolk in advance. Before applying the mask, you only need to slightly moisten your hair so that the product adheres well. The holding time is more than an hour.

Hair coloring with henna

Original color

Select the optimal exposure time for natural dye based on this list, which reveals the results of henna dyeing natural hair of the most common shades:

• if you apply henna without additives to light brown hair for 5-30 minutes, you will get a shade close to light chestnut;
• when applying the dye to light brown hair and leaving it for 20-30 minutes, it will turn brown;
• a copper color will appear on dark brown hair when henna is left in for 30-50 minutes;
• Dark brown hair will acquire dark brown notes if you leave the dye on for 50-60 minutes.

How to wash off henna?

Often girls are dissatisfied with the color they received after dyeing or simply want to change their look again. Naturally, the dye is not washed out of the hair so quickly, it has a high degree of durability and penetrates deeply. To speed up color fading and prepare the base for new henna dyeing, use the following available methods:

• make a mask of heated burdock oil, lasting about 2 hours;
• soak your hair generously in alcohol, after 5 minutes lubricate it with natural warm olive oil, warm it up with a warm hairdryer for 30 minutes, and finally wash your hair;
• after thoroughly washing your hair with ordinary laundry soap, apply any vegetable oil in large quantities for half an hour, then wash off the oil with soap, this procedure is intended to open the scales and quickly wash out the pigments of the paints;
• make useful long-term masks from fermented milk products, for example, kefir;
• Rinsing with acidified water works well; for this purpose, use a small amount of vinegar or fresh lemon juice, after which a moisturizing balm is applied.

By practicing natural dyeing in different variations, you will see that henna gives the most varied colors for hair and in almost all cases they are very beautiful. A huge role here is played by: the initial color, type and condition of the hair, the duration of the session, as well as the amount and coloring ability of additives.

A lot has already been said about hair coloring with henna. But I would like to note one thing: getting the desired shade with henna is very difficult, because the color depends not only on the proportions and dye recipe, but also on the quality of your hair, on its type, structure, and on your natural color.

Important: the color from henna will last quite a long time and is very difficult to wash out of your hair. After henna, it is not recommended to dye your hair with chemical dyes, perm or long-term styling. After henna, chemical dye may simply not color your hair or color it in an unexpected tone.

Different shades using henna

1. To obtain a purple tone (Bordeaux), dilute henna in beet juice, hibiscus tea or elderberries.
2. To do this, heat the beet juice to about 60 degrees, then stir a bag of henna in it.
3. In order to enhance the red tint, you can also add 2 liters to the paint. madder root.
4. For the “mahogany” shade, henna must be poured with hot Cahors. The same shade can be obtained by adding cranberry juice.
5. For chocolate and chestnut color, add natural black coffee to henna (1 tbsp per 25 grams of henna powder). In order to dye your hair with henna and coffee, you need 4 tbsp. pour natural coffee into a glass of water and boil for 5 minutes. When the coffee has cooled a little, add a packet of henna and stir until smooth.
6. For a cherry tone - heat any red wine to 75 degrees, add henna and egg yolk.
7. For a bright golden color, add chamomile infusion to henna (1 tbsp chamomile flowers per half glass of water)
8. A golden honey hue can be obtained using rhubarb, saffron, chamomile, and turmeric. Add saffron on the tip of a knife to a small amount of water and boil for two minutes. Then add to henna. Chop the rhubarb, add water and cook over low heat for 20 minutes. Then strain and add to henna.

What kind of henna is there?

• Colorless henna. In a package of colorless henna you will find a greenish powder that looks like regular henna, but is actually made from Cassia Italiana. This plant and Lawsonia belong to different genera and, from a biological point of view, are not close relatives. Perhaps the initial confusion in the names occurred because the Latin name for Cassia Italiana - Sennaitalica - is consonant with the name for henna - henna. In addition, both regular and colorless henna are used in almost the same way, but for different purposes. Colorless henna gives hair shine, improves the texture of damaged hair, and nourishes the scalp.
• Black henna. Two different colorants may be sold under this name. The first is regular henna, to which paraphenylenediamine is added. The product obtained in this way is used to create black tattoos and dye hair in rich dark colors. However, paraphenylenediamine can cause severe allergic reactions and cause serious damage to the skin and hair, so its use is now banned in many countries.
• Sometimes black henna is also called basma. It, like colorless henna, is not related to lavsonia. Basma is a powder made from indigofera tinctifera, which is native to India. This dye is safe and, when mixed with henna, you can get different shades of auburn and chestnut. In addition, black henna can cover gray hair and protect hair from ultraviolet radiation.
• Red henna is real henna, a powder made from the leaves of Lawsonia non-prickly, containing red-orange dye molecules. Henna gives hair volume, makes it silky and smooth, stimulates hair growth, improves blood circulation in the scalp, and also eliminates dandruff.

How to get different shades with henna

To dye your hair strawberry blonde, prepare a mixture of clear henna and red henna in a ratio of four to one, mix with water and let stand for twelve hours. Then apply the resulting paste evenly on your hair and wash it off after three hours. Please note that real strawberry blonde when using this dye will only be achieved on light hair.

To dye blond or light brown hair copper-red, use clear and red henna in the same way in a one-to-one ratio.

There are several ways to dye your hair dark copper or chestnut using henna. If you have dark brown or dark brown-ish hair, try keeping the henna on your hair for three or four hours instead of the usual one and a half hours. Often the desired color can only be obtained after the second or third dyeing, so be patient. You can also mix red henna with basma, obtaining lighter and darker shades - depending on the amount of basma in the mixture and the original hair color. For example, if you dye dark brown hair with a mixture of henna and basma in a one-to-one ratio and leave the dye on your hair for two or two and a half hours, you will get a chestnut color with a rich reddish tint. If you use a mixture of henna and basma on the same hair in a ratio of one to two, the hair will become dark brown.

A rich chocolate color with a faint reddish tint can be obtained by mixing henna not with water, but with strong black tea (two tablespoons of tea leaves per three hundred milliliters of water). A dark red or even burgundy hue can be achieved by mixing henna with beetroot juice. Depending on how rich the shade you need, use only beet juice or juice mixed with water to prepare the paint.

If you want to dye your hair dark brown, you can also mix henna with ground coffee. The ratio of henna and coffee depends on the original hair color, but, as a rule, one or two spoons of coffee are enough for 100 grams of henna.

But the most popular component in a mixture with henna is considered to be basma. Using different proportions of henna and basma, you can also get a wide range of shades.

• if you add 1 part basma to 2 parts of henna (2:1), you will get a pleasant bronze shade
• a mixture of equal amounts of henna and basma (1:1) will give your hair a dark brown color
• by mixing 1 part henna and 2 parts basma (1:2), hair can be dyed black
• to get a more saturated black color, henna and basma should be taken in a ratio of 1:3. The more basma is added to the composition, the darker the hair becomes.

What color does henna give?

Henna is a natural plant dye obtained from the leaves of the Lawsonia Enermis shrub. Henna contains 2 dyes - yellow-red lawson and green chlorophyll. These components give the hair a particular shade; it may differ depending on the original hair tone.

Henna powder in its pure form dyes hair in orange-red, red-red, red-brown shades, such tones are caused by the main dye of henna - lawson. However, today, henna dyeing produces a wide variety of colors. To do this, other coloring components are added to the henna powder when diluting the dye.

But you need to keep in mind that vegetable dyes do not combine well with chemical dyes. A variety of colors can be achieved by mixing henna with natural additives and herbs. Therefore, it is not advisable to use synthetic dyes until henna-dyed hair has completely grown back, and vice versa. The interaction of chemicals and lavsonia can give a completely unpredictable result, even radically green, orange or blue. In addition, chemical paint may apply unevenly, and the shade will be uneven.

There are 2 types of henna on sale:

• Indian henna;
• Iranian henna.

Using any of them you can achieve a variety of shades. Without adding additional dyes, henna will leave a bright sunny tone on hair with an ash or light brown hue. But naturally dark curls will become copper-golden or reddish in color. The copper shade is fixed with onion broth, which is added directly to the paint or used as a rinse.

To get shine on your hair, a noble and soft shade, professionals recommend diluting henna with an acidic liquid: a weak solution of vinegar, diluted lemon juice, dry wine, kefir. To avoid drying out the strands, it is advisable to use acidifiers only for oily hair types.

Different colors when dyeing with henna

1. To give your hair all kinds of shades with henna hair dye, a variety of natural ingredients and even their combinations are added.
2. The thick honey-yellow color is ideal for fair-haired girls. To obtain it, make a chamomile decoction by brewing 2 tbsp. l. in 200 ml of boiling water. Add the decoction to the paint and use according to the instructions. Similarly, use saffron tincture (1 teaspoon of herb per 200 ml of boiling water), turmeric or weak coffee. Not only a color, but also a very useful additive that gives the curls this shade will be a decoction of rhubarb. Boil 200g dried rhubarb stems in 0.75L dry white wine until half the liquid has evaporated, usually 30 minutes. If you don't have wine, take plain water. Add a package of henna to the resulting decoction. Apply the dye to your hair and leave for 30 minutes.
3. The addition of saffron will give your hair the color of old gold. Take 2 grams of saffron and boil for 5 minutes in water to dilute the paint. After boiling, add henna to the broth, cool, and you can apply makeup.
4. A beautiful chocolate shade is given to the hair by the inclusion of walnut leaves in the dye. Boil 1 tbsp. l. leaves in water to dilute henna, add 1 packet of powder.
5. A similar option - chocolate chestnut - can be obtained by using ground cloves, strong coffee, black tea, cocoa, buckthorn and basma in a strong dilution together with henna: 1 part basma to 3 parts henna.
6. The following components give hair a red tint or burgundy:
7. To get red-cherry color of strands with a lilac tint, use the same beet juice, but you will have to heat it to 60 degrees, then add a bag of henna.
8. Cocoa powder will give your curls a mahogany color. Combine henna with 3 tbsp. spoons of cocoa and brew the mixture with hot water. Apply the resulting dye to clean and dry hair.
9. Madder root will help in obtaining a bright red hue. For this, 2 tbsp. Boil tablespoons of crushed root in a glass of water, add henna powder and use paint according to instructions.
10. Ground coffee gives the hair a rich chestnut color with a reddish tint. 4 tsp. with a top of natural freshly ground coffee, pour a glass of boiling water and boil for 5 minutes. Cool the solution to a tolerable temperature and add a bag of henna.
11. You can get a dark chestnut with a red tint if you add 2 tbsp to 100-150 grams of henna. l. coffee, matsoni, cocoa, olive oil. The longer you keep this dye on your hair, the richer the final hair color will be.
12. A noble shade of dark cinnamon can be obtained by adding a decoction of walnut shells to the paint. For this, 2 tbsp. l. Boil crushed shells for 1 hour.
13. Henna and basma, mixed in equal quantities, give the curls a bluish-black tint. If you want to maximize the effect, take 2 parts basma to 1 part henna.
14. A bronze shade of hair can be obtained using the same basma. Without henna, basma gives hair a greenish-blue tint. Therefore, to create a bronze tint on your curls, take 2 parts henna and 1 part basma.
15. The exposure time also significantly affects the final result. The maximum effect of dye with henna for light hair will appear in 5-10 minutes; on dark hair, henna needs to be kept for 30-40 minutes, and black curls for dyeing will require at least 1.5-2 hours of exposure.

What effect does henna have on hair?

Such a varied effect is due to the biologically active substances in the composition. Henna, unlike other types of dye, penetrates deeply into the hair structure, rather than enveloping it on the outside. This property is not always positive, because the use of henna also brings the opposite effect: removing the color from the hair will be quite problematic.

How to prepare paint for coloring?

To release the active substance of the red-yellow dye, you need to mix the powder with a moderately acidic liquid. This will make the color more saturated and stable. For example, you can mix henna or a mixture of henna and basma with lemon or orange juice, wine or vinegar, or slightly acidic herbal tea.

It is not recommended to mix natural dyes with yogurt and other fermented milk products, since the proteins in their composition absorb the color and interfere with the release of the dye from the powder. It is also worth bearing in mind that when you add coffee, the color will become darker, but your hair will smell bad, which can cause an unpleasant headache. Clove powder also enhances color, but often causes irritation.

If you don’t like the smell of henna or basma, you can add a spoonful of dry cardamom or ginger to the mixture so that your hair emits a delicious aroma. If your hair is damaged or dry, you can add 2 tbsp. olive oil. If you want to get a fiery orange color, then dilute henna with boiling water.

How to dye your hair with henna at home?

Before you start coloring with natural dyes, to find out what color you will get in the end, you need to do a test. To do this, you need to take a small strand of hair from the neck area, apply a little dye, wrap the curl with film and leave for 2-3 hours. Then you need to wash the strand, dry it, wait a few days for the color to settle and evaluate the result. If you are not satisfied with it, then experiment with proportions and additives.

If you are completely satisfied with the test result, then you can start coloring your hair at home:

1. Cover the collar area with polyethylene or an unnecessary towel, and put on gloves.
2. Hair must be washed first. Read more:
3. Along the hair growth on the forehead, neck, behind the ears and the ears themselves should be covered with any cream to protect the skin from pigmentation.
4. The hair should be divided into small strands of 2-3 cm.
5. The mixture is applied to clean, dry or damp hair, but the dye is better absorbed into damp strands.
6. Using a brush, apply the product from the roots to the ends of each curl. If after applying the paint to all the strands, the mixture remains, then distribute it over the entire length.
7. Put a film or plastic cap on your head and insulate it with a towel on top. When painting only with basma, there is no need to cover it.
8. Then you need to wait some time. To obtain light shades, you will have to wait 30-40 minutes in a warm place or 50-60 minutes at room temperature. Darker shades will require 45 to 80 minutes. If your hair is long, then 120 minutes. If only basma was used, then you need to stock up on napkins, since basma flows.
9. After the set time has passed, you need to wash each strand with plenty of water, and then the entire head of hair using shampoo and hair conditioner.
10. Then the hair is dried, combed and styled.
11. The hairstyle will get its usual structure and stable color after the third wash.

Video: how to get different shades using henna

Good day, my dear readers! Now the question on everyone’s mind is “what gift should I choose for my family members?”, but I have another question - to tell you as clearly as possible how to properly dye your hair with henna, because my last visit to the hairdresser only strengthened me in the opinion that henna is extremely useful product. And not even because it cements marriages...

How my friend almost married a Turk...

A year ago, one of my friends told the following story: a Turk was courting her, he kept trying to introduce her to his parents, but she didn’t care. I wanted to roll her up in a carpet and take her to Istanbul, but then I resorted to a trick. He brought a bag of powder and asked me to open it and pour it into my palm. The friend laughed and refused, the Turk lost his temper and didn’t bother me anymore. What was the matter?

It turns out that in some countries the bride, as a sign of fidelity to the groom, had to spend the night with henna clutched in her hand. In the morning, the dye would leave a stain on the palm, which meant a practically sealed marriage. The Turk hoped that henna would help him cement the alliance, you know?

And yet, henna, or ground leaves of non-thorny lavsonia, is better known to Russian women as a means for dyeing hair at home, but has anyone thought about its harm?

To be or not to have henna on your hair?

I don’t know about you, but standing in front of the counter many years ago, I was rather captivated by the cheapness of henna. The last thing in the world I thought about was the effect and further use - I wanted to do it myself (it’s never too late for any “woman over 25” to do this) and do it with minimal damage to the family budget. It was then that I appreciated all its healing properties, the healing of split ends and the ability to create volume by thickening the hair.

Henna acts as a film for the hair, smoothes out its scales, and resists aggressive environments such as salty sea water or hot sun. It even improves the water-fat balance, which can promote the growth of new hair and eliminate dandruff. This powder is also used to heal hair.

What effect do you want to get after using henna?

• Make your hair shine (half a cup of henna, a quarter of water, a raw egg. The mixture will be ready in 30 minutes)
• Overcome dry and brittle hair (as in the previous recipe, use 2 tablespoons of yogurt instead of eggs)
• Achieve aroma (to henna and water you need to add a quarter teaspoon of ginger, cinnamon, black pepper and nutmeg)
• Strengthen hair (colorless henna is suitable for use)

Interesting! Colorless henna was known back in the 16th century BC. It does not change hair color and has an antiseptic effect. There are rumors that the substance can even eliminate headaches and improve blood circulation.

There is another side to our product - a negative one, and I must warn you about it. It is better not to use it for coloring dry hair, because it contains tannins and some acids. Hair can quickly become dull, coarse and begin to fall out.

In addition, you should understand that while you are applying henna, it is better not to use chemical dyes - there is a risk of turning green or purple. And if the transition is inevitable, then you should first prepare your hair for it, for example, make 3-4 restorative masks with kefir. This same magic recipe will be useful to you if, before using henna, your hair was permed or highlighted, and now you decide to start using a natural dye.

But if you have weighed everything and decided to take a risk, then my advice to you: choose Iranian henna. In its palette, when mixed with other components, you will find many more shades than in Indian.

I dye my brown hair...

And now you have begun the coloring process itself. Pre-washed your hair, freeing it from excess oil. Wear gloves because henna can stain your hands and will be difficult to wash off. We treated the scalp, neck, and ears with a rich cream.

Start diluting the mixture. Do this in glass or plastic containers. Can I use ceramic? Can. The main thing is that it is not made of metal that can react with paint.

Add warm water to the powder, but not boiling water; there is no need to leave the mixture to “brew” for several hours. Add oils or substances that contribute to the appearance of an acidic environment, for example, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar or kefir.

Start applying the composition to your hair. Usually the hair on the top or back of the head is dyed first, and lastly on the temples, behind the ears and at the forehead, since it is usually thinner here. Leave 1-1.5 centimeters between partings.

Simple rules

• Apply henna to the roots, and then distribute the dye along the entire length of the hair using a comb.
• Wrap your head in a towel. Henna loves warmth (and so does your head!).
• You need to wash off the powder from your hair with plenty of water without adding detergents.
• Do not dry it with a hairdryer afterwards.
• You should not wash your hair after dyeing for three days. The longer you don’t wash, the brighter and more saturated the color will be.

How long to keep our powder on your hair? It all depends on what you want to get as a result.

If you only want to improve your hair health with henna, then you only need to wait 15-10 minutes. If your desire is to acquire a red or red color, then leave it at 40. Are you a brunette? Then you can hold it for two hours. If you have light hair, then already in the third minute you can get a golden tint, and in the sixth - light red hair.

The color will appear stronger if you drink a cup of coffee while you wait for the effect - it will increase blood circulation in the scalp.

Which color should I choose?

The brightness of the color may depend on the expiration date of the henna. If the powder has a gray-green color, then it is fresh; if it has already acquired a brown tint, then, most likely, it is no longer suitable.

Thanks to the dye contained in henna, you can get any shade, from golden to blue-black. Everything will depend on the concentration and the addition of additional substances.

1. To get a copper color you will need 200 grams of rhubarb and a bottle of dry white wine. Place the mixture on the fire and “boil” until exactly half of it remains. Then add the contents of the henna packet and leave the finished mixture on your hair for half an hour. Instead of wine, of course, you can just take water. And to obtain darker golden shades, saffron (2 grams) or (2 tablespoons) is suitable.
2. The cherry red color is achieved by adding beet juice. They say it can even turn out to have a purple tint.
3. The color of mahogany will appear when mixing henna with cocoa (3-4 tablespoons). And chestnut - with ground coffee (4 teaspoons per glass of water) and walnut shells (2 tablespoons).
4. A packet of henna with the addition of a tablespoon of hops will help you dye your hair chocolate color. In red with a copper tint - four sachets of the substance and two spoons of flower honey with a spoon of cloves.
5. If you want to add a red tint to your natural black color, it is better to first lighten your hair with hydrogen peroxide (30-40 g).

Remember! Not a single henna you come across on the shelves is capable of lightening your hair. Do you have white henna in front of you? This means that they slip you a clarifier, and a very cheap one at that. You can lose your hair forever with it.

Henna and a million shades of gray

An equally popular natural dye is basma. You've probably heard that sometimes you dye your hair with henna and basma at the same time.

Basma is a green-gray powder obtained by grinding the lower leaves of indigo. The relevant literature suggests that even the Prophet Muhammad himself did not hesitate to use it!

The powder is taken in equal proportions with henna to dye it a chestnut color. If you want to get blue-black hair in the end, then you need to put twice as much basma in the dish. Bronze shades? - twice smaller.

I want another one!

It happens that you don’t like the resulting color and then the question arises: “what to do?” When it comes to henna, everything is both simple and complex at the same time.

The reasons for getting the “wrong color” can be the strong porosity of the hair, its structure in general, as well as the natural color.

If in the first day after dyeing you realized that using henna is not for you, then there is no point in waiting for the third day, when the color becomes intense and deep, when it finally appears under the influence of oxygen. Wash your hair thoroughly with shampoo several times.

If the color seems beautiful to you, but you need to make it less bright, then you can neutralize it by rubbing heated vegetable oil into your hair. As soon as the procedure is completed, you start working with a hairdryer, then wash with shampoo. You repeat everything until your desires come true.

On the contrary, it seems to you that there is not enough juiciness, what then? Then you need to use essential oils, for example, tea tree, incense or eucalyptus. If you add a few drops of lavender, you will also protect your skin from irritation - it is considered hypoallergenic and suitable for use even by pregnant women and small children. There are also recipes with geranium or rosemary oil.

I like the color, but it wouldn’t hurt to remove the redness... you will be saved by: chamomile decoction or fragrant turmeric, ginger (which, however, can create a burning effect), lemon juice.

No redness, but want darker hair? Use strong tea or oak bark infusion. Try to achieve the desired shade with coffee or cocoa.

What's the end result?

As you understand, henna is not as harmless a remedy as it seems; you need to be careful with it. It can weigh down your hair and then you will only dream of its volume. But it can add an additional, coloring, zest to your beautiful feminine look. Try to change yourself, your appearance, while you are young at heart and feel strong!

That's all I have for today. I can only say that I myself am a big fan of Iranian henna and have been strengthening my hair with it for many years. I am often asked about various secrets of appearance, I say: - read my blog, with its help you will learn all my secrets. Share with your friends, subscribe to updates. See you in the next article!

Dyeing your hair with henna is a rational alternative to using chemical dyes. Henna is a natural dye; it has a gentle effect on the hair structure, penetrating deeply into each hair. Natural henna is a green powder without any impurities.

Pigment properties of henna

The pigmenting substance tannin is the main component of henna leaves. It is impossible to visually recognize tannin, since the substance is masked by chlorophyll. By rubbing the leaves and then combining them with a slightly acidified liquid (lemon juice), the dye molecules will be released. This occurs due to the dissolution of cellulose cell walls. From the dye mixture, molecules penetrate directly into the hair shafts.

For a more objective perception, the described process can be compared with the pigmentation of tea tannin. If you wet a tea bag and leave it on a light tablecloth, tannin will penetrate into the fabric fibers, forming pigment spots. Over time, the stain darkens. To release the henna molecules, it is recommended to add lemon juice to the powder and leave for 10 hours.

What are the benefits of dyeing your hair with henna?

• Reliable protection against dandruff.
• Preventive action against itching and irritating scalp manifestations.
• Activation of hair growth.
• Increased hair thickness.
• Hair restoration and strengthening of its structure.
• High-quality gray coverage with anti-aging effect.
• Cooling effect that is felt well when painting.
• Natural antiseptic with hair-refreshing effect.

Indications and warnings regarding dyeing curls with henna

• with sectioning and weakening of the hair structure;
• after frequent use of chemical dyes and styling products;
• if your hair is often heat styled;
• with increased greasiness of the root zone, since henna has drying properties.

"Remember!" If your hair needs emergency help, it is advisable to use henna. The product returns curls to their original aesthetics and health.

Extremely undesirable:

• after recently done chemo;
• if you plan to change the color of the strands soon;
• for very dry curls.

"Advice". You should not ignore these warnings, otherwise, instead of the desired result, the condition of the strands will only worsen. A correctly thought-out situation is the key to making the right decision.

Variability of the color palette after dyeing hair with henna

The final shade of the strands directly depends on their original color. By binding to keratin, the red-orange molecules envelop the pigmented hairs. Since everyone's base hair color is different, the results will vary for everyone.

In all the photos, the hair is smooth and shiny, which clearly proves the healing properties of henna. Henna shades harmonize very aesthetically with the natural color of the strands.

"Advice".To check what shade you will get on your own hair, just dye a small strand. If you are completely satisfied with the color, you can safely pigment all the curls.

Step by step dyeing hair with henna

The properties of henna are more effective if dyeing is done on clean strands. The diluted powder can be applied to both wet and dry hair. For better absorption of the dye, it is still recommended to moisten the hair.

Painting stages:

"Important!"Preliminary use of hair conditioner is unacceptable, since the product prevents the penetration of coloring pigments into the hair structure. The mixture is prepared exclusively in non-metallic containers. To keep the color as saturated as possible, it is advisable to wait three days after painting and then only use shampoo.

Basic painting

The dyeing method is suitable for minor damage to the hair structure, for re-pigmentation and color refreshment.

• Combine 100 grams of green powder with 250–350 ml of hot water.
• Treat the entire hair with the mixture.
• Make a film wrap on your head.
• Wait 60 minutes.
• Wash your hair thoroughly. Water acidified with apple cider vinegar is suitable for rinsing.

Express painting

An ideal way to remove oily shine from hair, for primary coloring and to obtain a light shade.

• Add a packet of powder with lemon juice. Add strong tea (100 ml), honey (20 ml), egg yolk.
• Make a homogeneous mixture from the powder, lemon juice, honey and yolk.
• Add tea leaves to the mixture and bring to a smooth consistency.
• Leave the product in a warm place for 30 minutes.
• The product is ready for use.
• Exposure time – 60 minutes.
• Rinse without shampoo.

Global painting

The option is a priority for obtaining durable paint with a bright and rich palette. A rational method for eliminating serious damage to the hair structure.

Varying shades by dyeing henna with other additives

By combining henna with other components, you can get a wide variety of shades of hair.

Possible colors:

• Golden honey. The paint is supplemented with rhubarb, turmeric, saffron or chamomile.
• Reddish. Natural dye is mixed with hot wine or hibiscus.
• Cherry red. The color is obtained by adding beet juice, which can be replaced with cocoa powder or elderberry juice.
• Deep chestnut, chocolate. Henna is combined with ground coffee or black tea. An alternative to hot drinks is walnut shells.
• Black. A combination of henna and basma.
• To add richness to any range, kefir is added.

For exclusively medicinal purposes, the choice should be made on colorless henna, the effect of which is aimed only at strengthening the roots and restoring the hair structure without the slightest pigmentation.

Dyeing hair with henna and basma

Pure henna has exclusively red pigment. To get closer to the most natural range, hair coloring is done with henna and basma. The products can be mixed or used alternately. Consistent application is still a priority. So, if henna dyeing is unsuccessful, basma can neutralize the unexpected effect.

By varying the ratios of the proportions of dyes and the time of their exposure on the hair, a wide variety of shades is obtained - from light tones to deep black. Plus a nice bonus - the natural appearance of the strands is preserved. The procedure for painting with henna and basma is identical to painting with chemical paints. The only difference is the need to wash your hair first.

The healing properties of basma are similar to the healing effect of henna, which brings double benefits to the hair structure. The amount of dry powder is determined by the length of the curls, and the ratio of dyes depends on the intended color and its saturation. The same proportions of dyes are taken to obtain chestnut strands. If you take henna and basma in a 1:2 ratio, your hair will turn black. In order for the hair to become bronze, the amount of henna should prevail (2:1). Dark tones are obtained by increasing the amount of basma and the exposure time of the dyes.

Is it possible to dye hair after henna?

Chemical hair dyeing after henna is fraught with unforeseen consequences:

• obtaining a darker color than expected;
• quick paint wash. After henna, the hair becomes smooth and less porous, which prevents the absorption of chemical dyes.

If you plan to darkly tint your hair, there should be no problems. But for better quality of dyeing, it is better to pre-lighten the strands. The bleaching process is quite labor-intensive, because henna protects the hair structure well from deep penetration of aggressive components.

"Attention!"Given the early comprehensive use of henna and basma, it is extremely undesirable to resort to chemical dyeing in the near future. You will probably have to admire green hair.

Methods for neutralizing red color

Oil masks

The method is gradual and requires several procedures. But after a while it is possible to completely remove the redhead.

Treat your entire hair with jojoba or coconut oil (or olive oil). Apply a film wrap on your head for 1 hour, periodically warming the mask with a hairdryer. Wash your hair well with shampoo.

Vinegar wash

Prepare a solution in a basin of 10 ml of 9% vinegar and 1 liter of water. Immerse the curls in the resulting solution as
for at least 10 minutes. Wash your hair in the traditional way. Repeat after 2-3 days. After the third wash, the color will noticeably lighten.

"Attention!"Vinegar remover has drying properties. This deficiency can be neutralized by providing additional nutrition to the hair - appropriate balms or folk remedies.

Kefir-yeast wrap

Dissolve 40 grams of yeast in 250 ml of lukewarm kefir and leave for 15 minutes. Do a two-hour wrap. Rinse off as usual.

Suitable for daily use for hair benefits.

Washing with laundry soap

Laundry soap completely reveals the scales of all hairs. This is a good alternative to shampoo if the goal is to neutralize red hair. A month's course is enough to neutralize the red color and apply a new coat of paint.

"Attention!"Alkali causes hair to become stiffer and fade, so it is advisable to additionally make nourishing mask-wraps.

Eliminating brightness with peroxided sour cream

To slightly soften the bright shade, sour cream masks are suitable. Plus an additional bonus - optimal nutrition for follicles. The use of sour cream is similar to oil wraps. Sour cream masks neutralize brightness, the color becomes calmer.