It can be very frustrating and confusing when indigo doesn’t take on your hair. It’s common that we hear from clients regarding indigo concerns, especially those just starting out.
There can be a number of reason this occurs:
-Existing product build up on the hair
-Indigo not dye released
-Indigo dye demise
-Indigo not covered while on the hair well enough
-Using Organic Indigo rather the Indigo for hair. Indigo for hair has a higher dye content and offers better grey coverage
-Conditioner used after henna and before indigo
-Resistant grey hair (may require more than one treatment)
-Resistant hair in general (may require more than one treatment)
-Acids added to indigo (indigo does not like acidic liquids)
-Indigo not left on long enough
-Shampooing or oiling after indigo paste removal can wash it out
-Not oxidised enough. The colour shall deepen 2-4 days after paste removal
-No salt, or not enough salt
(posted by Vanessa on Henna Sooq’s FaceBook Page)
Do you run into any of the same issues? How did you remedy your issue?
Shop Indigo for Hair at Henna Sooq
In order to achieve full coverage of grey hairs to matched my black hair I used the TWO STEP process.
FIRST) Washed my hair with a mild but clarifying shampoo prior to applying the henna.
SECOND) Rinsed out the henna with water only (no conditioner or shampoo)
THIRD) Applied my Indigo and left on for at least an hour or perhaps a little longer.
FYI: when mixing my Indigo I added the salt suggested in ‘hennablogspot’ and allowed 10-15 minutes for dye release.
FOURTH) Rinsed thoroughly and followed up with an intensive hydrating conditioner.
My stray grey issues are done! My hair is completely black, shiny and healthy!
I now keep some frozen henna paste handy to do touch-ups on the random hairs along my hair line and mix up a table spoon or so of indigo to make them jet black.
TIP: Use regular indigo rather than organic indigo as mentioned above, It does make a difference.
Happy henna-ing!
What great feedback!! Thank you Sandi
I used the henna/indigo combination as directed by henna sooq, Initially I was very satisfied, but after a week, I washed my hair w/ a sulfate free shampoo, and the grey on my roots showed all over my hair…..I was disappointed after engaging in such a long process. The henna/indigo color remained on the tips of my hair. I plan to touch up but not for another 2-3 weeks, but I am afraid to wash it again. I realize I do not want to indigo my roots black, as it is too dark, but would like suggestions on touching up the roots a dark brown. Is that possible and what product suggestions do you have?
Natalie thank you for your feedback. For a dark brown you just have to do the dark brown recipe you used before with henna/indigo in just a smaller quantity for a root touch up. I hope this helps. If this isn’t the right answer please let me know
Thanks for the response……I didn’t use a dark brown henna the first time I henna my hair. I used the Jamila henna, and followed up w/ indigo. But the indigo color did not remain on the roots of my hair. I would like to touch up the roots w/ a dark brown henna color, but wasn’t sure if I need to use a dark brown henna, or some other combination of henna/indigo. Which Henna Sooq products do you recommend?
I wish mine washed out! I did a henndigo one time, months ago, and the ends of my hair are still a yucky black/greenish combo! Can’t get it to budge!
This is very interesting to me. I have very short salt and pepper hair and have been considering coloring, but I have so much to learn about what to use and how. I don’t want something that’s high maintenance and/or hard to do. I will keep following to educate myself and learn from everyone here. Thanks!
Yep I get a great and gorgeous almost-black with the 2-step process… And then it’s gone within about 2 weeks. Makes me crazy. I may just go back to henna only. At least I know it will stay!
I’m wondering if Pam used a compound henna sometimes bought in specialty shops? It’s made with heavy metals and the greenish cast could be due to mixing with a metal spoon…I’ve done this in the past, but now only buy my henna and indigo from Henna Sooq …My roots can be resistant though so I’ll try a little salt and touch up the roots a bit..Thanks for the tips.
Thank you Donna Maria
Have you tried adding a bit of salt to your recipe to help the indigo cling better ? Or review the shampoo and conditioners used to see if they’re all color safe ?
HI I may be too late to the party but I’ll ask anyway..
So after the 10-15 minutes for dye release, does yours have a very dark layer on top of the green mix or is does it darken all through the mix/paste?
Hello! Never to late to ask questions on the blog 🙂 But it should have a dark layer (without being mixed throughout the sitting period) after at least 15-20 minutes.
Is it ok if you don’t get all of the henna out before doing the indigo? I usually do a cowash to get the henna out. My greys in the front don’t dye.
It’s okay if you’re following up with indigo anyhow. Shouldn’t inhibit any color. For the front smaller hairs do you get any reddish tint on them? Do you touch up the roots sometimes? Or a thick application on the edges will help a bit more as well.
I do a think application on the front. I don’t touch up the roots. I do a whole head application. Is it ok to do a touch up with braids in? Also I do get a reddish tent on the greys in the front. I just can’t get them black with the indigo. I follow the instructions to a T. I think the cowash in between the henna and indigo may be the issue.
Yes you can touch up even with braids. That should be fine as long as you don’t manipulate your braids too much that they loosen. Oh maybe skip the co-wash in between and then see if the indigo sticks better. Also do try to add some aloe vera powder to your recipe on each step so that way you get your moisture in the recipe directly.
If my hair is dark brown naturally, am I able to just apply the indigo to achieve a deep black color? Or must I use henna first?
Good day Toni. You still can’t use indigo on its own as even on dark hair tones it can leave a green hue. You have to always use henna when using indigo on your hair.
Can I rinse the indigo out with conditioner? I have locs.
Yes you can do so.
Thank you
Welcome!
Help! My hair is green, and I am being told that the indigo did not “take” and I need to redo. Everything I read says my henna was exposed to metal, I made sure to use glass and plastic and distilled water. My hair was virgin and squeaky clean.It sounds like I got a bad batch of henna.
Hello! Which henna did you use? Was it from us here at indigo? It does sound like that based on your description you would need to redo your coloring with henna and indigo. What color were you originally trying to achieve?
No, it was not from you all, but I am asking my question here only because I have scoured the web and you have very comprehensive and knowledgeable information (and obviously you are very responsive!) I really tried to purchase pure products locally but was unable to, so I ended up buying a box from a local health food store (the color was to be medium brown). I thought I would be okay because the only ingredients are lawsonia inermis (henna), indigofera tinctoria (indigo) and cassia auriculata (senna). I really wanted to mix the powders myself, but they came premixed. What has happened is that I did wash my hair several times with dishwashing liquid, and although my hair still had a green cast after the washing, the next day, the green was gone.
Thank you! Appreciate that 🙂 It just gives me an idea of how I’d move forward in my recommendations. Metals like stainless steel should really be okay with henna powders that are 100% pure and indigo. Those shouldn’t conflict. We use stainless steel for years now. I would recommend you do another application. It sounds like the indigo just left that green hue on your hair. This is why we don’t carry blends or use blends ever because the color consistency is always off in some way or another. It’s a bit of a risk as henna and indigo both even have different times for their own individual dye release. Hence why we have them separate in just their natural raw form.
I’m glad to hear the green cast is gone. That’s just not something anyone wants.
For brown tones in the future you can buy the henna and indigo separate and mix accordingly. We do carry those online at http://www.hennasooq.com and the shipping is descent. We also have some great videos on our youtube channel about mixing etc…: https://www.youtube.com/user/HennaSooq
Hey, I Heena and indigo my hair in two step process 4 days back. My hair was black after that(covering greys) but now I can see few orange or dark brown colour of greys. I think indigo is fading. Can I just indigo my hair now since hair are orange
Hello Maxy. It does sound like it might be fading. Do you use color safe shampoo and conditioners?
Hi there, I am looking every where to get some first time henna / indigo coloring tips. I bought a Light Mountian Dark Bbrown Henna and Indigo combination. I haven’t used it yet but want to be sure I know what I am doing. I have a ton of allergies to chemicals including Benzoperoxide. So I am looking to color my gray in a natural way to save my scalp…. suggestions for a first time user? I am African American and have 3c 4a texture. The ends had been blonde and brown highlighted last year. I have no color on about 5 or 6 inches of new growth. I will take any suggestions
Hello Steph. Thank you for posting on our blog. What color were you trying to achieve? We’re not familiar with how that brand works or steps as its not from our brand. Each brand varies with the steps and recommendations of use. Definitely do make sure to add our aloe vera powder to any of your henna hair coloring recipes as you’ll beed moisture as henna can be drying: http://www.hennasooq.com/organic-aloe-vera-powder/
Hi Khadija:
I received your products. Aloe Vera powder henna powder and indigo powder. I would like some instruction on when to mix the aloe vera. Would also like some instruction on how to do the two-step process if I want to use the henna and indigo for highlighting. The colors I’m looking for are warm brown tones with some slight reddish brown tone as well
Hello. Instructions can be found here for indigo use: https://hennablogspot.com/newly-updated-how-to-henna-and-indigo-your-hair/
For aloe vera you can add 5% total to your whole recipe. You just add it directly as a powder and then add your liquid and mix. We hope this helps but do let us know if you have any other questions.
Hello. Which is our henna and indigo powders did you use? You can repeat the same application so that way your color is the same. In general the henna and indigo shouldn’t fade that quickly.
Hello
No sorry you can’t use indigo alone as it’ll make your hair green hued. It must be used along with henna as your base.
No sorry you can’t use Indigo alone unless you’d like green hues on your hair. It must be used with henna as your base.
Welcome Steph. This would be a good start: https://hennablogspot.com/newly-updated-how-to-henna-and-indigo-your-hair/
It’s quite detailed and would be long to rewrite here in the comments. This should overall generally keep your hair healthy. This would be a coloring recipe. Do you have any other hair areas of focus?
Hi Khadija
Looking to use more of your products for growth. Any suggestions?
Hello. Yes we have a whole growth category that you’ll just love: http://www.hennasooq.com/hair-care/ayurvedic-herbs/growth/
I did one step process to get a dark brown hair,but I got dark green hair,I soak henna for two hours only,is that the reason?
Hi Kriti. Oh no that sounds like the henna didn’t work. Which henna and indigo did you use from us?
Hello. I’ve tried 2x to rid of my greys with your process of henna and indigo and its very frustrating because it isn’t working
Hello! Great to hear from you. Are you doing a one step process or a two step process? Which henna and indigo are you using ?
It’s a much harder process and takes several applications to not get blue but only a blue-black tone usually. The lighter your hair or more grey the better the chances.
You can try with a brown recipe in a one step and then follow up with indigo only. This would again require several applications to give that blue-black tone. This is the only method I’ve known to work.
Please let us know how it’s going and if you have any questions.
We apologize there was a disconnect on my end with the flow of comments. We didn’t get a reply on my last question regarding which henna and indigo are you using from us? We carry several different henna and two different indigos. We also need to know are you doing a one step process or two step process. I need those answers in order to figure out what areas we can have you improve on to get you better results.
Please note blog replies take a little longer to hear back from. If you require faster replies please do call us at 410-579-4543. Speak soon. Thank you so much!
Yes we do mean store bought ones if you happen to be buying your own locally or our shampoo bars that are gentle such as Mad Moisture and Argan Oil bars. Color safe products will help not pull the color out. Gentle washing products will help. Or you may also need to just build up your henna and indigo so that it layers and get stronger and deeper. How often do you repeat the coloring?
Yes you can repeat a new coloring treatment every 4-6 weeks. Its normal for it to fade in a month as that’s usually when clients have to do their hair again.
Hello
Thank you for message on our blog. Is this indigo from our company? For our products we recommend that treatments be left in minimum 3-4 hours or under heat 1.5 to 2 hours. You may also need to add indigo to the first step of your process. Adding 50/50 of each creates a darker base and then your second step will be just indigo. We do agree it’s safe for pregnant women but we also aren’t medical professionals. So we generally recommend you consult your doctor or midwife to give you advice based on you. The henna shouldn’t sit 2 days. Is there a reason that our instructions weren’t followed? Or is this from another brand? For best results our instructions if these are our products, must be followed. Instructions are on packages and online at http://www.hennasooq.com.
Hello.
No unfortunately you can’t use indigo alone nor a while after you’ve done henna especially not on faded henna. Indigo must be done within 3 days after a henna application if done separately. I’m not really sure what you mean about the different mixtures as really it highly depends on how you use the henna and indigo on which color results you’re aiming for. What color are you trying to achieve? Have you reviewed our instructions?
Usually body art quality henna powder like we carry at http://www.hennasooq.com won’t ever be grainy as it’s triple sifted. Are you using a hair only quality henna powder? Using BAQ for hair works the best and is so smooth and creamy.
I’m not familiar with how other brands of henna work but only with the henna our brand has. For the staining around the hair line we recommend you use our Henna Care balm to protect from stain. The balm works so much better then oils. Oils are too thin.
We hope this helps. Please let us know.