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Using henna and indigo in different ways can yield a wide range of colors. Neither product lightens the hair, so your color results will depend on the current color of your hair.

You can test color results by doing a strand test in an inconspicuous area or on hair taken from your hair brush.
Red Hair Color Tones
If you are looking for red, you only need henna. The lighter your hair the more red the color.

On white blond or gray hair you will get a super bold coppery red color.
Light brown hair yields an auburn color that varies in darkness and brownness.
Dark brown or black hair gets glossy red highlights in the sun.

How to Apply Henna on Hair for Red Tones

1. Mix henna powder
o Mix henna powder with lukewarm water until you get a consistency of thick pancake batter, but not too drippy.
o Set henna aside to release dye for 2-4 hours.
If you are using Jamila henna, set aside for 3-6 hours.
2. Using gloves, apply henna to clean dry hair or freshly washed hair (WITHOUT conditioner). Be sure to saturate every strand of hair and apply very thick.
3. Put a plastic hair cap over the hair and press it down so it touches the henna.
4. Remove any product that is on the skin, as it WILL stain.
5. Leave henna to soak into the hair for 2-4 hours.
The longer you leave it in, the richer the color.
6. Rinse the paste out of your hair. Do not use shampoo, but do use conditioner.
7. Optional: Blow dry hair for 10-15 minutes to help set color.

Important! This is not the final color of your hair. The color will oxidize over the next 1-3 days to reach its final color.

General Mixing Instructions
Below are basic mixing instructions for both henna and indigo for the hair.
Step-by-step application instructions for getting specific colors follow.


How to Mix Henna
As with skin henna, there are a million different ways to mix henna for use on the hair, but I'm going to give you the easiest most reliable recipe.

Remember, henna is a transparent stain that uses your hair color as its base. Do a strand test before committing to hennaing your entire head to be sure you like the results. Mix a little bit of powder with water and apply it to either your hair or hair gathered from your hair brush.

Mix henna powder with lukewarm water until you get a consistency of thick pancake batter, but not too drippy.
Set henna aside to release dye for 2-4 hours.
If you are using Jamila henna, set aside for 3-6 hours.
Tips
If you have hard-to cover grays, substitute approximately half the water for lemon juice.
If you added lemon juice to your mix, leave henna out an additional hour for dye release, and follow up dying your hair with a good conditioner.
If you have very thick hair and are having trouble working the paste into your hair, add a little sugar to make it easier to work in and out of your hair.
If you don’t like the smell of henna add a teaspoon of ginger powder to the henna to help neutralize the scent.
Essential oils can be used to change the scent, but they should be used sparingly.
Extra henna paste can be frozen for future use or made into a henna gloss.
If you need henna quicker, the warmer the water, the quicker the dye release.


How to Create a Conditioning Henna Gloss

Using a henna gloss is a great way to pep-up your color every so often. It’s also wonderful if you don’t want to commit to full blown henna color, because a henna gloss does not leave nearly as much color as the regular henna hair dye recipe.

1. Mix henna paste (left-over paste is great!) with your favorite hair conditioner in a ratio of 1 part henna to 3 parts conditioner.
2. Apply to hair and allow to sit on your head for 30 minutes to 1 hour. The longer you leave it on, the more color will be deposited on the hair.
3. Rinse.