Moroccan Henna Hair Dye

Moroccan henna hair dye is very fast to prepare, easy to use and gives great coverage over grey hair. The shades are deeper than is found with henna from India and the colour does not fade. This henna in 100% pure with no additives.

Grey hair becomes fiery-red and dark hair shines with red highlights. This henna hair dye is also highly recommended for traditional Berber and Mehndi body art.

In dyeing the hair, this Moroccan henna hair dye imparts a deep metallic sheen and creates a range of tones from a fiery red-orange on grey hair to red highlights on black hair. This henna does not fade. However many women henna their hair on a monthly basis, or more frequently to cover grey hairs. On the skin and nails, henna leaves an orange-brown colour which endures for about three weeks.

Original hair colour – Colour after henna

Grey – Fiery Red
Blonde  – Red
Light brown – Red/Auburn
Medium Brown – Auburn
Dark Brown – Reddish Brown
Dark Brown/Black – Red highlights

Quantities

100g short hair, 200g collar length hair, 300g shoulder length hair, 500g waist length hair

A Basic Recipe for Moroccan Henna Hair Dye

Standard Henna Hair Dye Recipe  1

• Mix 100g henna powder in a bowl with approximately 300ml of  water which has come off the boil.
• Mix the henna so it has a loose consistency (you might not need to use all the water) and continue mixing until it is completely free of lumps.
• It is ready to use as soon as it has cooled down from hot to warm.
• Adjust the proportions if using more henna for dying longer hair.

The Ultimate Conditioning Henna Hair Dye Mixture, Recipe 2

At Natural Spa Supplies we have pioneered the ultimate henna recipe using seaweed extract. Hydrating the henna with an extract made from organic serrated wrack seaweed fronds gives many advantages: For longer henna hair dyeing applications, the seaweed acts as a conditioning agent helping to protect the hair and give deep conditioning. The seaweed nourishes the roots of the hair enhancing hair growth. The 'slippery' compounds in the seaweed makes the henna easier and faster to rinse out reducing water consumption. Plus with the extra conditioning, any hair loss during the rinsing of the hair is almost eliminated.  The freshly hennaed hair will have instant shine, great body and hold natural waves.

• Take 10g of organic serrated wrack seaweed fronds and add 300ml of water.
• Simmer over a low heat until the the seaweed water takes on a browny-greenish hue.
• Add the seaweed extract (without the fronds) to 100g henna powder. You might not need to add all the liquid.
• Adjust the proportions if using more henna for longer hair.
• Mix into a smooth paste, being certain to remove any lumps.
• Allow to stand until an orange fluid is visible in the meniscus at the edge of the bowl and the top of the henna mixture starts to darken which means that the dyes are activated. It only takes a few minutes to activate this henna. Generally once the henna has cooled down from hot to warm it is ready to apply.
• Use the henna mix straight away or freeze the mixture for future use. Do not add lemon, vinegar or oil to this Moroccan henna hair dye. It just doesn't need anything else and it could make your hair too dry or the oil could prevent the henna dye from colouring the hair.

How to Dye the Hair with Moroccan Henna Hair Dye

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wwMxozzf_U

• Cover the floor and delicate surfaces with newspaper or go outside. Wear old, dark coloured clothes. Place an old towel around the shoulders. Apply a fine oil, fast absorbing oil such as our organic argan oil to the forehead, ears and neck to help avoid staining of the skin.
• Wearing gloves, apply the henna to clean, damp hair. I use a hair dyeing brush to apply the henna and one of our hair parting /styling combs to control and section the hair - consequently I have found, there is no need to wear gloves. Read on and you will see how you can make the whole henna process plastic free!
• Check the consistency of the henna and adjust it is needed. This is very important. If the henna is too dry, it could damage the hair. If the henna is too wet, it will drip and run down the neck and face.How can you tell when the consistency of the henna mixture is just right? Here are two ways. Apply henna to the hair dye brush and stroke it on the crown of the head. Can you get the brush to easily push the liquid henna down the the roots? If so it is good. As as further check - When you have stroked the henna onto the hair with the brush and you pull the brush away, does it drag lots of hair with it - If it does, the henna is too dry! Adjust the consistency before continuing.
• Section long hair on the head and apply henna systematically to the hair. With the last remnants of the henna retouch the hairline around the forehead, the edge of the face, any strands of hair which grow in front of the ears and at hair line at the nape of the neck.
• Now for our next innovation...bundle the hair up three sheets of newspaper. This keeps the henna warm, helps to prevent drips and it is very comfortable. Failing that, wrap the hair in an old pre-dampened scarf (reserved for henna use). Then cover the whole lot in a stretchy hat. A shower cap is not suitable and a plastic bag or cling film is very uncomfortable, causes drips and add to environmental harm.
• Keep the hair wrapped for a number of hours. For guidance I have fine brown hair with many grey hairs - I need to keep the henna on for 3 1/2 hours. If your hair is thicker or darker you will need to leave it on for 4-6 hours.  Do a strand test if you are not sure (see below) Wipe any drips from the skin immediately with a damp sponge.
• Wash the hands (our hemp oil soap removes henna traces very well) and clear up any splashes or drips. Wash all the equipment you have used.
• Then rinse the hair thoroughly in warm (not hot) water until the water runs completely clear. It helps to wash the hair in some rhassoul clay at this point, to remove any final traces of henna and to leave the hair super shiny and soft. If you have any seaweed extract left, use this up, leaving it in for a few minutes. Give the hair one final quick rinse under the tap and wrap it in a towel until the excess water is absorbed. Then allow it to air dry.
• Rinse and wash the towels straight after use to reduce the risk of staining.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9xB80AM67w

I never comb my hair after dying it until the hair is dry. If you comb the hair while it is wet, you will stretch the hair and damage the hair, plus if you are using a horn comb, you will damage the comb. Wait until the hair is dry before combing it, and go steady! If necessary prepare some of our organic marshmallow root extract and spray it in as a combing aid. It makes a tremendous difference.

Variants

Henna can be mixed with other herbal ingredients to alter the colour: Add saffron to the henna to give blond; walnut powder (unsuitable for people with nut allergies) to give brown; woad to create chestnut brown and Indian indigo to give black. You would need to experiment with the mixes and times by testing on harvested hair. Many of our customers like mix the henna with our organic Indian indigo to create a dark brown colour. Some customers use a two step process to achieve a jet black, first by hennaing the hair, then by applying our organic Indian indigo.

How to Turn Your Hair Dying Henna Session into a Deep Conditioning Treatment with Seaweed

Here are the results of me having hennaed my hair with the seaweed mixture.

You can see the results in this video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke6AGWsalsk

TIPS We always like to pioneer new ways of using our moroccan henna hair dye. If I haven't washed my hair on the morning before I apply the henna, I an organic soapnut or two into the saucepan with the seaweed. The soapnuts are heated with the seaweed for 10-15 minutes to release the saponins. We do this to cut through any grease and to enhance the penetration of the dye into the hair shaft. Now it is even faster to henna the hair! What will you do with the spare time you create?

See the full and fastest possible process on the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUko6DGNZpg

How to decorate the skin with henna – Mehndi Art

Henna creates an orange-brown stain on the skin. Make the mix as above, but include 1-2 tablespoons of brown sugar to give a smooth sticky consistency necessary for piping and to slow down the drying time of the henna.

Cover the bowl and leave the mixture to mature as described earlier.  During this time the plant cellulose will dissolve, liberating the lawsone dye. Some people like to leave the henna in the sun while it is maturing. Once the surface of the henna mix has turned brown, the dye has been released and the henna is nearly ready to use – just add a little more lemon juice if the mixture is too thick and mix until a smooth consistency is obtained. Sieve the henna to remove any lumps and place the paste in a piping cone to allow a thin, continuous line of henna to be extruded. Using either templates or working free form, pipe the henna onto the skin.

To make the henna pattern darker and more enduring, while the henna is drying make the ‘sealing mixture’. Just cover some sugar with lemon juice in saucepan and bringing the mixture briefly to the boil. Once it has cooled, carefully dab this mixture onto the lines of henna paste and cover the skin in oiled gauze, with further covers to retain the body warmth. Apply the seal indoors to prevent attracting wasps and other insects. Under wraps, the henna will dry more slowly and aided by body heat, the result will be darker still. Leave the henna covered, on the skin for 6-8 hours. Then remove the wrapping and wash the dried paste off the skin. The design will darken further over the course of the next few days, and then fade over the course of several weeks. A mehndi artist, or in Arabic, al Hanaya is highly skilled. If you are going to practice on yourself, traditional designs can be found on the internet.

CAUTION
Do not use henna on people with a Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency also known as a G6PD deficiency as this can result in a medical emergency.

Do a patch and strand test before use if you have any concerns about allergic reactions or if you want to check the final colour on your hair or skin.

Henna use FAQs

How do I do a strand test?
If you have not used henna before, or if your hair has been  chemical dyed or treated, you might be curious or concerned about how your hair will turn out. It is easy to find out: Harvest some hair from your comb or hairbrush and press three balls into the mature henna mix. The remaining mix can be frozen until the test is complete and then defrosted (never in a microwave) before use. Take one ball of hair out of the henna mix after 1/2 an hour, rinse the hair ball and allow it to dry. Assess the colour and condition of the dyed hair with henna in both natural and artificial light. Repeat with the remaining balls at half hourly intervals.

How do I do a patch test?
Allergic reactions to henna are rare, but if you have not used this product before, it is wise to conduct a patch test. Place some henna paste onto the inside of the forearm. Cover and leave for as long as the henna will be in contact with the skin during the course of hair dying or while the mehndi paste is kept damp on the skin. Cover to prevent evaporation. Remove the henna paste once the time is up or sooner if   there is a reaction. Examine the condition or the skin.

Can I use henna hair dye if I have already dyed my hair with synthetic hair dyes and used chemical treatments?
Yes you can apply henna to hair which has been dyed, bleached, streaked, highlighted, relaxed and permed, but it is best to wait for at least two weeks before using henna. Even the best henna hair dye in the UK does not react with the ammonia activator used in synthetic hair dyes.

Can I remove henna from the nails?
No. Henna stains the nails permanently. The colour will only vanish as the nails grow. The toe nails can take a year to grow!

Can I remove henna from the skin?
Before dying the hair with henna, apply a fine oil such as Argan oil to the edges of the face to help prevent staining. Wipe any drips away immediately. When henna is used for mehndi art, the colour on the skin gradually fades over the course of a few weeks, as the skin is exfoliated. Henna binds with the proteins in skin and the pattern vanishes as the skin renews. Henna fades from the thick skin such as the soles of the feet over the course of 12 weeks. For brief exposure a damp sponge will wipe away henna drips. Hemp oil soap is also very useful for washing the hands and for removing accidental splashes from clothing.

Can I remove henna from the hair?
Henna acts as a permanent dye on the hair and can not be removed.

Can I use synthetic hair dyes and chemical hair treatments after using henna?
No. Using synthetic and chemical hair treatments after dying the hair with henna gives very unpredictable results and the hair will certainly be damaged. You can not switch from using henna back to synthetic products unless you want to cut the henna treated hair. Using henna is an ethical lifestyle choice.

How do I store the henna powder?
The preserve the quality of the dye, keep your henna powder in a dark, cool and dry location. Or if you if you are not going to use the henna powder for a while, keep it in the freezer.

How do I store the henna mix?
You can keep the henna mix in the refrigerator for a few days or freeze the henna mix. Defrost the mix before use in a bowl of hot water.

Where do I find Henna in the UK?

Many Indian grocery stores in the UK sell henna powder. You may also be able to find henna cones or paste at some Indian grocery stores. You might also find certain types of henna at health food stores. But we recommend buying it right here at Natural Spa Supplies!

Natural Henna Powder

Blue Indigo

For Dark Brown or Black Hair

Ethics of henna use

• We supply premium quality 100% pure moroccan method henna hair dye in the UK containing no additives whatsoever. Hand cultivated in the terraced gardens along the Drâa river valley, our henna is grown at the sacred Rissani oasis in Morocco.
• The henna plant is very pest resistant and pesticides are not used at all in the Rissani henna gardens.
• The henna plant needs very little water to flourish and produce high quality henna powder preserving precious water resources.
• The henna crop is vital in sustaining the livelihoods of farmers through episodes of drought when other crops such as the palm harvest fails.
• An increase in the demand for henna in Western countries is giving rural farmers in henna growing regions long term security and helps to prevent rural depopulation.
• The use of henna does not cause pollution to the environment at the time of production or use.
• The use of henna does not contaminate the human body with synthetic chemicals. Often when the brains of women who use chemical hair dyes are exposed in an autopsy, the outside of the brain tissue is stained by the chemical dyes. Hair dressers who used chemical dyes are greatly increasing their risk of bladder and breast cancer, as are users of chemical hair dyes. Women should never use chemical hair dyes when they are pregnant or breast feeding.
• Henna has been tried and tested on humans and their favourite animals for thousands of years.
• Chemical hair dyes can contribute to cancer and neurological conditions. They are very polluting to the environment. We should avoid using them.

The whole of the henna plant is valued: The flowers make a wonderful perfume, the roots are used in traditional medicines, and the stems for fuel. The crop of henna leaves for henna powder production really represents the thinning of the plant, and the shrub continues to grow for many more years before it needs replanting.

Did you know?

• Moroccan Henna helps to repel insects, gives resistance to mildew and has some antibacterial properties.
• People who habitually walk with bare feet paint the soles of the feet and toe nails with henna to protect from fungal infections.
• Henna has a cooling property and helps the hands and feet and scalp to feel cool in hot climates.
• Moroccan Henna acts as a sun block and the skin directly under a henna design will not tan.
• Henna is traditionally used to dye leather, silk, wool and wood.
• Henna was widely used in Europe during the Medieval period for use in the textile dying industry.
• Still in Morocco, henna is also used to dye the legs, tail and manes of Arabian horses and sacred animals.
• Henna, the crushed leaf of the Lawsonia inermis plant, has been used since the Bronze Age for dyeing and conditioning the hair, nails and skin.