How To Choose The Right Henna Powder

There are so many different henna powders, how do we choose the one that will work best for us?

There are a few things that are a must when choosing any henna powder:

-Fresh. You must always buy fresh henna powder. If you want a great stain, don’t just grab henna off the shelf (since who knows how long it may have been sitting there) Even from crop to crop you will notice that the freshest henna powder gives the best stain results. After all, doesn’t a chef use the freshest ingredients in the preparation of our meals?
-Body Art Quality. This means that the henna powder is the best quality since they take the leaves from the top of the plant with the most dye content. It also means that it is 100% pure and natural. This term is usually used to describe henna that is also used for body art.
(Please remember that not EVERY henna powder nor herb is body art quality. Ask yourself this: Is this henna powder or herb used as a body art product or really for hair usage? This term is sometimes only used for marketing purposes. Always be well informed.)
-Finely Sifted. None of that dirt, grit, sand, nor sticks help with getting a great staining henna paste. Even if you try to sift it yourself, you lose most of the henna powder you purchased.
-Pure. Must contain no pesticides or chemicals. No PPD nor any other powders or ingredients. Only get 100% pure henna powder.

Now that we have the basics down, now comes the individual henna powders.

Jamila Henna Powder

Jamila henna powder yields great stains results and comes conveniently packaged in 100 grams foil packages in sealed boxes (when it is stamped with summer crop for body art usage, and is also used for hair). It does have the longest dye release, taking up to 24 hours to prepare for body art, and 12 hours for use on hair, before ready to use. It is a reliable henna powder, but not great if you need henna quick. It has the ultimate best sift of ANY henna powder. It is very popular amonst professional henna artists, and for hair dyeing. It washes out of the hair very easily, and the texture pf the paste is similar to melted chocolate. It yields deep reddish-brown tones for body art and for hair orange-red tones. This henna comes from Pakistan.
Please read our more detailed article on Jamila henna powder.

Organic Rajasthani Indian Henna Powder

In ever increasing popularity, the organic indian henna powder from the Rajasthani Region, is very well balanced. You get dye release in 8-12 hours for body art. So you can start a batch in the morning and have it ready by the evening. The stains results are some of the darkest I have ever seen. Typically reddish tones (burgundy/mahogany) and sometimes near cherry black on skin. For hair it yields a reddish-burgundy tone.  For hair usage, this powder we recommend you allow it to sit from 3-4 hours, and then apply onto your hair. It is triple sifted and through nylon cloth. On lighter hair it may come out more orange-copper toned.

Yemeni Henna Powder

The yemeni henna powder comes from the Sana’a region. It takes 8-12 hours to achieve dye release for body art. For hair, we recommend you allow this henna powder to sit from 3-4 hours before applying it. It is well known for being one of the stringy hennas. This henna powder is now much better sifted (since the 2009 crop), since the company has upgraded its henna processing facilities. Now many more henna artists are using this henna powder. It is absolutely one of the most popular henna powders for hair dyeing, and covers grey very well. It gives the most gorgeous, deep red tones of any other henna powder currently.

Moroccan Henna Powder

A very popular henna powder for both body art and hair, this henna is found in the Western Sahara. It has the quickest dye release. It is best to let this henna sit at least 2-6 hours for body art. For hair usage, only allow to sit for a maximum of 1 to 2 hours and then apply it. The dye can demise quickly if left out too long. It’s not a good henna to freeze as a henna paste. It is also a stringy henna. It has great color, usually very bright and becomes quite dark suddenly (on skin). We usually recommend this henna powder for achieving brown to black tones along with indigo, when used in hair dyeing because the least amount of red tones will show through on your hair. We recommend it because it has a fast dye release, and alone on hair it gives orange to red tones.

We do hope that this guide has been helpful to you, please let us know if you have any concerns or further questions by contacting us directly at info@hennasooq.com

1. 

   Kendra says:

   May 5, 2012 at 9:20 am

   Hi,
   I came across your website. I am a henna user but so far never attained the auburn red I have always wanted. I have very black hair and very resistant. Do you think Raj or Yemeni henna will give me the auburn red I am looking for without the orange tone?
   Thanks in advance
2. 

   Khadija says:

   May 7, 2012 at 9:36 pm

   Hi Kendra, thanks for posting. I’d recommend our Red Raj. That would really give nice rich red tones, and do you regularly apply henna every 4-6 weeks?
3. 

   Kendra says:

   May 8, 2012 at 6:52 pm

   Hi khadija,
   Thank you for your reply. Yes, I use henna every 5 to 6 weeks.
4. 

   Khadija says:

   May 8, 2012 at 6:56 pm

   Hi Kendra

   Okay great then please do let us know how it turns out with Red Raj when you can.
5. 

   Alli says:

   May 9, 2012 at 1:00 pm

   Hi, I purchased the Red Raj henna at the World Natural Hair show in Atlanta, and I was very impressed! The color is not as vibrant as I wanted, even after leaving it in overnight, but my hair definitely looks, and feels better. I will be recommending this to my friend for sure!
6. 

   Khadija says:

   May 9, 2012 at 4:58 pm

   Alli, thanks for posting. I’m so glad you like it. Is this the first time you’re using henna or no? I’d recommend our organic hibiscus powder to boost red tones and henna will give you more red tones over time.
7. 

   Lynne NaturallyBlessed Hannah says:

   May 11, 2012 at 8:20 pm

   What henna would be best for me to get deep brown and cover my gray? I used a henna once before that i purchased at Earth Fare but i don’t think i used it correctly. Any suggestions are welcome.
8. 

   Khadija says:

   May 15, 2012 at 8:35 pm

   Hi Lynne. For brown tones we’d recommend using Jamila with indigo. Make the indigo be at least 60-70% of the whole recipe as well. The instructions come with it but when you head to HennaSooq.com then take a look their and read the More Info tab and video tab and let us know from there if there are other questions. I hope this helps
9. 

   Vernita says:

   May 15, 2012 at 9:45 pm

   Hi Khadija,

   I’ve done 2 Henna treatments in the past 2 weeks, but I still haven’t been able to get to the burgundy red shimmer I would like for my grays. The 1st time I used the Godrej Nupur Henna I had purchased. This turned my grays more coppery orange. My grays are mostly along my hairline and concentrated in a few areas about 1/4-1/2″ from the root. My hair is shoulder length and almost black. The henna did great on the dark part of my hair. The 2nd time I used Red Raj and added 3tbs hibiscus petal. My liquid was lemon zinger tea with hibiscus flowers mixed with coconut milk. I prepared the mixture the evening before and let it sit overnight. I froze it the next morning. When I was ready to henna, I unthawed the mixture and added 2tbs honey, 1tbs olive oil, 1/4 yogurt and some sweet orange essential oil. I applied and let it sit over night. After rinsing out and waiting 48 hrs, there is still more off a coppery orange tint to the gray hair. I did add amla powder the 1st time to preserve my curls, but it didn’t have any darkening effect.
   I didn’t want to do the 2-step henna + indigo because I didn’t want all jet black. I really want to get that deep red/burgundy for my grays.
   Where should I go from here? Keep hennaing with Red Raj and hope it gets darker eventually. Or do I need to henndigo? After the second henna, I know I need to add amla to preserve my curl pattern. It did loosen the second time when I didn’t add amla.
   Sorry for being wordy. Hope I explained my problem.

   Great blog!
   Thanks for your help
10. 

    Mary Beth says:

    May 15, 2012 at 9:59 pm

    I have medium brown hair that is lighter at the top and much darker at the bottom, which is from previous dye. I tried dying my hair with box color that is auburn red… It came out okay, but the top came out a bright red where the ends are still a dark brown with a reddish hue. I am afraid of lightening the bottom with bleach because of the damage it will do. can I use henna to color in order to receive a lighter color on the bottom in order to blend in to the top? or is there a specific kind that would just even it out?
11. 

    Khadija says:

    May 16, 2012 at 8:15 am

    Hi Vernita, thank you for posting again. IN our recommendation you’re using too many ingredients and diluting your henna and hence the lesser amount of red results you’ll get especially with use of heavy liquids like coconut milk, and yoghurt.
    Also the dye release is way too long. The Red Raj instructions on the back of the box states 3-4 hours only. Please follow those.
    I’d recommend that you tweak your recipe once more to get better red results. 3-4 hours only or dye release. No yoghurt and no coconut milk in your recipe. You can moisturize afterwards. Adding oils is okay but small amounts like between 2-3 tbsp per 100 grams.
    After your henna treatment then soon after do an amla treatment all over your hair to preserve your curls. I hope this helps!
12. 

    Khadija says:

    May 16, 2012 at 8:18 am

    Hi Mary Beth, thank you for posting here at Henna Blog Spot. It’s normal that that would have happened because of the two shades of your hair to start with and would have happened even with natural henna and ayurvedic hair dyes like ours.
    You would need to either lighten the darker area with a honey treatment or color your lighter area more so.
    Are you aiming to return to your natural hair color? Like the lighter area of your hair? Henna won’t lighten the darker area of your hair but it’ll add red tones. I’d recommend that you add an extra henna application on the lighter area only and get it to match a bit more. Then you can use henna regularly all over your hair. I hope this helps.
13. 

    Verb it's says:

    May 16, 2012 at 11:17 am

    Thanks Khadijah,

    I’ll definitly give your suggestions a try!! Henna has definitely made my hair softer n stronger. I did see some strands after the treatment, but I believe they were coming out anyway. My hair had been over moisturized and was stretching terribly while pre washing. It felt like it was all going to over stretch and break off! The henna solved that…now to keep that protein/moisture balance.

    Another girl in love with Henna!

    Vernita
14. 

    Khadija says:

    May 16, 2012 at 11:18 am

    Vernita! You’re more then welcome.