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Here are some simple recipes for mixing your natural hair products. Please visit www.forums.longhaircommunity.com and www.longhaircareforum.com as you will find a wealth of information, along with techniques and various recipes. You can even ask questions on their forum! Please remember when using any new hair product it is always recommended that you do hair strand tests first!

Important: Please keep in mind that everyone has their own unique hair texture. Herbal treatments can be drying for some, and it is recommended that you add hair oil to your recipe, or deep condition your hair afterwards. We recommend that everyone keep an open mind when using henna and natural herbs on their hair, and use the recipe that works best for you!

Henna, also known as lawsonia inermis

Mixing henna for healthy hair and beautiful red tones:

-Mix henna with warm water, or warm lemon juice, and allow the paste to sit from 2-12 hours (as this depends on the dye release of your henna powder chosen). Add enough liquid to make a paste the consistency of pancake batter.

-After dye release has been achieved, then apply the henna paste to your (damp or dry) hair by sections starting from the back and moving forward. Make sure you wear gloves when applying henna, as it will stain your hands.

-Wrap your hair and allow to sit from 1 to 6 hours. The longer you leave the henna in, the more dye will penetrate your hair.

-Rinse or wash the paste out.

-Your hair’s color will settle over the next 2 days.

Optional

  • For redder tones you may add hibiscus or paprika.
  • For browner tones you may add coffee, black tea, or even amla powder (this will tone down the red dye and give you great volume all at the same time).
  • You may also try out a henna gloss. You can do this by adding some henna powder to your conditioner and let it sit in your hair for 30 minutes as a deep conditioning treatment and be able to achieve a less amount of dyeing.
  • Feel free to add orange blossom water, rose water or essential oils to leave your hair smelling great!

How to store your powder: freezer.

How to store your henna paste: freezer.

Indigo, also known as indigofera tinctoria

Mixing indigo for jet-black hair:

-Follow the instructions on how to henna your hair first, then you will indigo your hair as soon as you have rinsed/washed the henna out of your hair.

-Mix indigo with warm water and allow to sit for 10-15 minutes. Add enough water to make the paste the consistency of pancake batter. Optional, add some salt (1 tsp per 100 grams of powder) to help darken the indigo or add CMC to thicken up your paste.

-Apply the indigo paste to your hair be sections starting from the back and moving forward. Make sure you wear gloves when applying indigo, as it will stain your hands.

-Wrap your hair and allow to sit for 1-2 hours.

-Rinse or wash the paste out. Some prefer to use only conditioner when washing the paste out.

-Your hair’s color will settle over the next 2 days.

-This method is called a two-step process.

How to store your powder: fridge, or cool dark place.

How to store your paste: throw leftovers away as indigo paste does not freeze or keep well.

Mixing indigo for brown hair:

-Prepare the henna paste as directed.

-Once henna is ready, mix your indigo as directed (with warm water and allow to sit for 10-15 minutes). Mix these two together. The more indigo you add the darker the brown.

-Apply the paste to your hair by sections starting from the back and moving forward. Make sure you wear gloves, as it will stain your hands.

-Wrap your hair and allow to sit for 1 to 6 hours.

-Rinse or wash your paste out

-This process is called a one-step process.

-Your hair’s color will settle over the next 2 days.

Optional: You can also add CMC (Carboxyl Methyl Cellulose) to your indigo paste as it tends to be drippy. This will thicken your paste up, and is used to thicken up store-bought salad dressing and in the making of silk paper. You only need 1 gram per 100 grams of indigo.

How to store your powder: henna in your freezer and indigo in your fridge or cool dark place

How to store your paste: throw leftovers away as the paste does not freeze or keep well.