Pale blonde, gray, and white hair will wind up with a true, vibrant red shade. Mid-tone hair colors, such as dirty blonde and light brown, typically turn a richer, almost auburn shade. If you have red or auburn hair, you likely won’t see much change with henna. However, it can enhance the natural tones in your hair and cover grays. Dark hair shades, including chocolate brown and black, won’t see any real color change with henna, but your locks will look shinier and glossier afterward. If you do have some grays mixed in with your natural color, keep in mind that you won’t wind up with a uniform color. The henna will make the gray pieces appear like highlights, which can be a nice look with light and mid tone hair shades. With dark hair, though, the red highlights may look strange.
If you have short hair no longer than your chin, a 100-gram box of henna is usually enough. [1] X Research source For shoulder-length hair, start with 200 grams of henna. [2] X Research source If your hair is past your shoulders, you’ll want to have at least 300 grams of henna on hand. [3] X Research source For extremely long hair, you may need as much as 500 grams of henna to color your entire head. [4] X Research source Make sure that you’re using natural henna powder—there are a lot of artificial ones out there.
You can use other liquids to mix your henna. Lemon, orange, and grapefruit juice are common alternatives. If you don’t mind the smell, vinegar is another option. [6] X Research source You can even add essential oils to your mixture. To get the consistency right, it helps to add the liquid a little at a time so you have better control. If the mixture is too thick and stiff, you can add more liquid. It’s also a good idea to have extra henna powder on hand, so you can add a little more if the mixture becomes too thin or runny. Just as with the liquid, though, add the powder in small amounts to ensure you don’t overdo it.
If you’re in a hurry and don’t want to wait 12 hours to apply your henna, try to find a warm spot to set your henna. Letting it set somewhere that’s approximately 95 degrees can have your mixture ready in two hours. [8] X Research source
Wear clothes that you don’t mind getting stained when you apply the henna because drips or spills may happen, and you won’t be able to get the color out of your clothing. It’s a good idea to apply your henna in the shower or bathtub, so you don’t have worry about getting it on your furniture, carpeting, or other surfaces. If you do get henna on your skin, wipe it away immediately. The longer that it sits on your skin, the worse the stain will be. It can take several days for a henna to fade from the skin.
Do your best to avoid getting henna on the sections that you’re not working on at the moment. Henna can tangle your hair very easily, which may make it harder to work with the other sections later. You can use a piping bag or squeeze bottle to apply the henna if you’re having trouble controlling where it goes, but it’s usually easier to use your fingers so you can really work it into your hair. [12] X Research source For total coverage, apply the henna all the way up to your scalp. You may notice some slight staining, but it typically fades with a couple of hair washes. [13] X Research source Because the thickness of henna can make it difficult to apply, you may want to ask a friend to help you color your hair, especially if you have long or extremely thick hair. [14] X Research source
Letting your henna sit on your hair for three to four hours will usually give you a nice, rich red color. If your natural color is dark, you may want to leave the henna on for six hours to ensure that you get a noticeable red hue.
Start rinsing with straight water. If you’re having trouble getting all of the henna out of your hair, you can use a gentle shampoo to help remove the residue. Using a shampoo can also help get fade the earthy scent of henna that may last for several days in your hair.
Because henna is actually good for your hair, you can use it as often as you’d like. It will help condition and boost the shine. When you’re touching up your color, you can do a spot application and just apply the henna at the roots or cover all of your hair as a conditioning treatment.
