Indigo is a natural Ayurvedic plant-based dye (vegan) that is used with henna to color hair reddish brown, brown, dark brown and up to black tones. It lasts 4-6 weeks and will cover greys.
In this easy step by step video tutorial, I make the process of using indigo easy. Mixing indigo correctly is very important to the henna coloring process. When indigo isn’t mixed properly, your henna coloring treatment usually won’t give you those rich coloring results.
Common Mistakes
- Indigo is mixed with a cold liquid. Indigo must be mixed with a warm to hot liquid.
- Indigo is mixed with liquids other then water. Do not use other liquids when mixing indigo.
- Indigo is mixed with a heavy liquid such as yogurt, conditioner etc…Indigo does not work at all when mixed with heavy liquids such as these.
- Indigo is mixed directly with the henna powder. Mixing henna powder and indigo powder together at the same time won’t work since both need separate times for dye release.
- Indigo paste sits out for too long. Dye release for indigo is only 20-30 minutes max.
- Indigo is used alone. If indigo doesn’t have henna in it’s process either as a previous and recent hair application or directly mixed with henna paste then the outcome is a green hue on the hair.
- No patch test was done. Please always verify that you aren’t allergic to henna, indigo or ayurvedic herbs before using them. Do a small skin patch test to be sure.
Hi Khadija!
I just started using henna on my chemically relaxed hair a
month ago and oh boy, it has made a HUGH different in the condition of my
hair. Before giving henna a try, my hair was dry and brittle and coming out by the hand full. I will never ever use chemical hair dye on myhair again. My hair and self are so very
happy. Here’s my question, I used another brand 50/50 henna and indigo and it turned my hair almost black and my grey copper. I would like my hair color to be a chocolate brown or mahogany Brown if there is such a color or way to do that. Can you suggest or advise how I
might achieve?
Hi! I sent a reply on your other post 🙂
Hello. We recommend you add our aloe vera power to your recipe. That will help add moisture to your recipe and give it extra shine. Do you condition your henna and indigo out as well?
no, I didn´t use conditioner… just water. After a week I used a no poo shampoo, with no sulphate.
Now my hair is better but I can see a blue water running off my hair when I wash it.
I met some other people who had the same problem…
Hello Tasha. Thank you for posting on our blog.
Yes people can get headaches with indigo. The scent can be overpowering. For me personally that’s exactly what happens. Have you tried taking pain medication before coloring before you start? Also if you add essential oils to your mix that will reduce the scent and you shouldn’t experience headaches: http://www.hennasooq.com/henna-sooq-essential-oils/
It may be possible that you are allergic to indigo if it keeps bothering you.
Hi Steph! What color are your older highlights? What shades do you have in your hair currently?
The one step or two step you choose depends on which hair tone you want in the end. If you do a 2 step your hair will be black. For highlights then yes I’d presume you would then do sections so as to not color other strands you don’t want to. You may have to do a few applications/recipes to get other colors into your hair.
Oh sorry to hear!
Hello
The warm brown as highlights will be tough with your naturally hair color as henna isn’t a chemical that will lighten your hair tone. It’ll deposit red tones alone but not create a warm brown. It may work on some of your greys. For dark brown, I sent the instructions in another comment post reply back to you. Let me know if you received that dark brown recipe and directions.
Indigo and aloe vera are okay to be used together. Use 5% of aloe vera of the recipe you create. You add all dry ingredients together and then mix with liquid.