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Henna is a non-damaging plant-based dye that you can use to stain your hair a reddish-brown color. Applying henna dye to your hair can be quite messy, and you have to take some precautions to make sure you don’t stain your forehead or surroundings. Once henna is on your hair, you have to wrap it in plastic and let it soak in for a few hours before you can rinse it out. The key to dyeing your hair with henna is the preparation, because the powder must be mixed and left to sit for several hours before it can be applied, so make sure you mix the powder in advance.
Things You Should Know
- Create your henna mixture by combining 1/2 cup (50 g) of henna with 1/4 cup (59 mL) of warm water.
- Wash and dry your hair before you dye it, and rub a protective layer of petroleum jelly across your hairline to prevent dye stains.
- Use a brush to apply the henna paste to your hair in 2-inch (5-cm) sections. Twist the dyed sections into a bun along the top of your head as you go.
- Cover your dyed hair with plastic wrap and let the dye sit for 2-4 hours.
Steps
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Mix the henna powder . Henna comes in a powdered form, and you must mix this with water before you can apply it to your hair. Mix ½ cup (50 g) of henna with ¼ cup (59 ml) of warm water. Stir to combine. Stir in more water by the tablespoon (15 ml) as necessary, until the henna paste becomes the consistency of mashed potatoes.
- Once you’ve mixed the powder and water, cover the bowl with plastic and let it develop at room temperature for about 12 hours.
- When you're ready to apply the dye, mix in a bit more water until you have a thick but spreadable consistency.
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Shampoo, then dry your hair. Before applying henna, you'll want to start with clean hair. In the shower or bath, wash your hair with your regular shampoo to remove dirt, oil, and styling products. [1] X Expert Source Moushami Iyer
Henna Artist Expert Interview. 12 July 2021. Rinse out all of the shampoo. Once out of the shower, towel dry, blow dry, or air dry your hair.- Do not condition your hair, as the oils in the conditioner can prevent the henna from penetrating your roots properly. [2] X Research source
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Protect your hairline with oil. If you have long hair, gather it up and tie it back so it’s out of your face and off your shoulders and neck. For short hair, put on a headband to keep your hair out of your face. With your fingers, apply some coconut oil, body butter, or petroleum jelly to your hairline, including your forehead, neck, and ears. [3] X Research source
- The oil will create a barrier between the henna and your skin, so this will prevent stains around your hairline.
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Comb and part your hair. Let your hair down and comb it with a wide-toothed comb. This will remove tangles and knots without making your hair frizzy. Part your hair in the center, and let your hair fall evenly to either side of your head. [4] X Research source
- You don’t have to section off your hair, because you'll be dyeing it in layers.
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Protect your skin. Henna tends to get everywhere, so it’s a good idea to wear old clothes and to protect yourself with a rag or old towel. Drape the towel over your shoulders. Arrange the towel to cover your neck and shoulders, and use a pin or hair clip to keep it together. Because henna can stain the skin, put on a pair of rubber or nitrile gloves to protect your hands and nails.
- You can also use a plastic sheet, poncho, or a cutting cape.
- Keep a damp rag nearby to wipe drips off your skin immediately.
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Apply the paste liberally to a small section of hair. Starting with the topmost layer of hair, grab a thin 2-inch-wide (5-cm-wide) section of hair from the middle back of your head. Comb this section away from the rest of your hair. With a large tint brush or your fingers, apply 1 to 2 teaspoons (2 to 4 g) of henna to the roots of your hair. Spread the henna toward the tips, adding more paste if necessary.
- Henna paste doesn’t spread as easily as conventional dye, so it’s important to ensure that your hair is fully saturated from root to tip.
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Twist the hair on top of your head. When you’ve fully covered the first section of hair, twist it a few times and then wrap it into a bun on top of your head. The henna paste is quite sticky, so the coil of hair will just sit there. [5] X Research source You can pin it in place if you like.
- For short hair, twist the section and pin it on top of your head to keep it out of the way.
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Apply paste to the next section. Working with the same topmost layer of hair, take a fresh 2-inch (5-cm) section of hair from beside the original section. Apply henna paste to the roots with your fingers or a tint brush. Work the paste toward the tip, adding more paste if necessary, until the entire section is saturated with henna paste.
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Twist and wrap the section over the original bun. Twist the dyed section of hair a few times. Wrap it around the original bun that you created with the first section of hair. Because the henna is so sticky, the coil will stay, but you can pin it in place.
- For short hair, twist the section, place it on top of the original section, and pin it in place.
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Continue applying paste to the rest of your hair. Work in small sections, like before. Work toward the front of your head, applying henna to the hair on both sides of the part. Continue working in thin 2-inch (5-cm) sections to ensure proper coverage. When you’ve dyed the topmost layer of hair, repeat the same process with the layer below until all your hair has been dyed.
- Keep twisting and wrapping each section of hair around the original bun. [6] X Research source
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Touch up around the hairline. When every section of hair has been covered and twisted into the bun, go around your hairline and add more paste to areas where the henna looks sparse or more coverage is needed. Pay particular attention to the hairline line and roots. [7] X Research source
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Wrap plastic wrap around your hair. When your hair is fully covered, take a long sheet of plastic wrap and wrap your hair. Wrap the plastic all the way around your hairline and completely cover your hair and the top of your head. Don’t cover your ears.
- Wrapping your hair in plastic will help keep the henna warm and moist, and this will allow it to set. [8] X Research source
- If you have to go out while your hair is like this, you can wrap a scarf around the plastic wrap to cover it.
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Keep the henna warm and let it set. Henna generally takes between two and four hours to set. The longer you leave it on, the deeper and more vibrant the color will be. You can encourage color development by keeping the henna warm. Stay inside if it’s cold out, or wear a hat if you must go out.
- You can leave the henna on for as long as six hours if you want to achieve maximum vibrancy. [9]
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Research source
[10]
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Expert Source
Moushami Iyer
Henna Artist Expert Interview. 12 July 2021. - A few hours should be enough if you're just nourishing your hair with henna. [11]
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Expert Source
Moushami Iyer
Henna Artist Expert Interview. 12 July 2021.
- You can leave the henna on for as long as six hours if you want to achieve maximum vibrancy. [9]
X
Research source
[10]
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Expert Source
Moushami Iyer
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Rinse with conditioner. When the henna has had enough time to set, put your gloves back on and remove the plastic wrap. Hop in the shower and thoroughly rinse the henna paste from your hair. Rub conditioner into your hair to help loosen the paste.
- Continue conditioning and rinsing until the water runs clear and there's no paste left in your hair.
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Wait a few days for the color to develop. Henna takes about 48 hours to develop properly. When your hair first dries, it will look very bright and orange. Over the next couple of days, the color will deepen and become less orange. [12] X Research source
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Touch up roots as they grow out. Henna is a permanent dye, so you don’t have to worry about the color washing out or fading over time. You can reapply to achieve a deeper and more vibrant color, or just apply more paste to your roots as they grow out. [13] X Research source
- When touching up roots, leave the henna on for the same amount of time as the original application to achieve a similar color.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow long should I leave henna in my hair for color?Moushami Iyer is a Henna Artist and the Owner of Pastel Zenna, an art store in Chicago featuring Moushami's specialty in blending Zentangles and Henna. With over five years of experience, Moushami specializes in Henna tattoos, Henna-inspired art, woodwork, and offers Henna parties.If you want henna to have a color effect on your hair, leave it on for several hours.
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QuestionShould we apply oil to hair before applying henna?Moushami Iyer is a Henna Artist and the Owner of Pastel Zenna, an art store in Chicago featuring Moushami's specialty in blending Zentangles and Henna. With over five years of experience, Moushami specializes in Henna tattoos, Henna-inspired art, woodwork, and offers Henna parties.No, there's no need for that! Henna on hair works best if the strands are not too grimy or oily.
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QuestionCan I let henna sit for 6 hours?Community AnswerHenna takes between 2-6 hours to be absorbed properly into the hair and roots, so you can surely leave it on for 6 hours. In fact, the longer it is left on, the darker and more prominent the color becomes.
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Tips
- Henna always creates a reddish color. If you start with dark hair, you'll end up with a reddish-brown. If you start with blonde hair, you'll end up with an orangey-red.Thanks
- Protect floors and countertops with drop cloths to prevent staining.Thanks
- Sometimes henna can drip after being applied. Try adding a quarter teaspoon of xanthan gum to the henna to gel the mixture.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- Put cold cream on your face before applying henna to your hair so if the henna gets on your face, you can quickly remove it.
- For dreadlocked hair, double the dying time.
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Warnings
- If you’ve never used henna to dye your hair, perform a strand test a couple days beforehand to ensure you'll like the results. Apply the dye to a small and inconspicuous strand of hair. Let it sit for two to four hours, then wash it out. Wait for 48 hours and then have a look at the color.Thanks
- It is not recommended that you use henna on your hair within six months of perming or relaxing your hair. Avoid using these products for six months after putting henna in your hair as well.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Henna powder
- Towel
- Coconut oil
- Brush
- Old clothes
- Old towel
- Hair clip
- Gloves
- Damp rag
- Comb
- Plastic wrap
- Conditioner
References
- ↑ Moushami Iyer. Henna Artist. Expert Interview. 12 July 2021.
- ↑ http://www.mehndiskinart.com/BAQ_Henna_Recipe.htm
- ↑ https://detoxinista.com/6-things-you-should-know-before-using-henna-hair-dye/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_IGWNP--zY
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_IGWNP--zY
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_IGWNP--zY
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJA4pFpwsQY
- ↑ http://www.mehndiskinart.com/BAQ_Henna_Recipe.htm
- ↑ https://detoxinista.com/6-things-you-should-know-before-using-henna-hair-dye/
- ↑ Moushami Iyer. Henna Artist. Expert Interview. 12 July 2021.
- ↑ Moushami Iyer. Henna Artist. Expert Interview. 12 July 2021.
- ↑ http://offbeathome.com/dying-your-hair-red-with-henna/
- ↑ http://offbeathome.com/dying-your-hair-red-with-henna/
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To apply henna to your hair, first wash and dry your hair completely, and apply petroleum jelly around your hairline to protect your skin. Then, comb and part your hair down the middle. Starting with a small section at the top layer of hair, brush the henna on liberally. After a section is coated, twist it into a bun on your head and repeat until all of your hair is covered. Wrap the hair in plastic to keep it warm for 2-4 hours while it sets. Wash and rinse your hair with conditioner, and wait 2 days for the color to develop. For more tips, including how to mix henna paste, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Now I have a good idea of how to dye hair with henna. The description of how to coil the hair on top as you apply the henna really helped in particular, as I had been struggling with how to apply it and keep the strands that have been dyed separated from the strands that need dye yet. Thanks so much." ..." more
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"Now I have a good idea of how to dye hair with henna. The description of how to coil the hair on top as you apply the henna really helped in particular, as I had been struggling with how to apply it and keep the strands that have been dyed separated from the strands that need dye yet. Thanks so much."
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"Thank you for the detailed information & step-by-step instructions. And I particularly liked the drawings that show the exact actions. I always go to wikiHow-to when I look for things! This is an excellent source of information, especially when all the libraries are closed!"
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"After having an allergic reaction to my normal hair dye, I wanted to research natural alternatives. This has been the most helpful article by far, it was good to watch the video and to read other users' comments. I am much more confident about trying this."
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"I love henna. Turn the grey strands gold. I add turmeric and other essential oils pending what smell I want. I use hot dark coffee for the moisture. I add lemon juice too, never the same potion for the last 3 years, makes for soft, silky shiny hair!"
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"I've used henna off and on for the last 40 years and these instructions are quite different from those on packages or prescribed by others. These instructions are clear, leave no quandaries, and the results are better than my previous applications. "
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