Ravenna's
2
Step Hennindigo Process
A lot of people have become more conscious about their beauty routines, especially since there is a barrage of man-made chemicals in most hair products and dyes, which are not always safe for human contact to the skin, no matter what corrupt government agencies tell you about their safety. New reports about parabens, BPA, and other chemicals come out every other day explaining how these things are actually bad for us even though they are considered safe and legal by the FDA. Many people don't want to use conventional products because of the inhumane practice of animal testing, and yet others simply have extremely sensitive, allergic skin. I figure it's a good idea to have
my color routine in a blog post in case anyone is curious how I get this blue
black color, and is interested in an alternative to using harsh chemical agents to dye the hair. A beauty routine sounds superficial, but every small step counts. So here it is, I'm going to try to keep the explanations simple.
Please keep in mind my starting hair color, which is dirty blonde, and my hair
type, which is 1C/M/II (slightly wavy, medium coarseness, medium thickness). The henna did take me from a 2B/C (wavy-almost curly) to a 1C (slightly wavy straight hair). I will
attest to the straightening abilities of henna.
Step 1: Henna
I like to use Jamila henna from the
Indian grocery. It is cheap, and the
quality and sift are good. One can experiment with more expensive or different
henna crops, and results may vary. For example, Mehandi's henna for AA hair is
particularly strong and the red really strikes through the indigo when you're
done. Moroccan Henna from HennaSooq.com
creates a lush purple-black.
I mix the Jamila with strong black
tea. I use 150-200g on my entire head.
My hair is currently just past hip. I use 2 tea bags and tap water in a
Pyrex cup to make the tea. The tea is blended with the henna until smooth.
Water is added as needed to create the consistency of pancake batter. This way
the mix is easy to apply to the head. I let the mix sit on the counter and wash
the hair. It is a good opportunity to clarify the hair right before the
treatment. The henna is then mushed into wet, detangled hair, starting at the
roots. A tint brush is useful for accurate, less messy application. The hennaed
hair is then piled on top of the head, and then wrapped with cling wrap. I wrap
it snug around a few times because this helps with drips. Then, to complete the
attractive, alluring look of the henna process, an old bandanna and wool hat
are applied. I leave my hair to marinade in henna for at least 4 hours, and
have been known to leave it on for 8 hours because I love the conditioning
properties. Afterwards, I rinse in the shower with water only, but sometimes I
apply a cone free conditioner to the ends and rinse out to aid in detangling
afterwards.
Step 2: Indigo
Once the henna is rinsed thoroughly
from the hair, it is time to mix the indigo.
I obtain indigo online, from either Mehandi or Henna Sooq. Do not mix your indigo in advance as indigo
dye demises quick! I use 100g to touch up my roots, as I don't need to apply it
to the whole hair anymore, because as many joke about it, indigo fades until a
few applications later it will never leave. If it was my first time, I would
use 200g for the entire length. Add two teaspoons of salt to the powder. Next,
add water. Cool or cold water is advised, as warm water will truly bring out
the smell of indigo, which IMHO is quite unappealing. The mix should be
slightly thicker than the henna was, to prevent drips, but not thick and lumpy
so it isn't workable. Make sure all the powder is mixed in and not lumpy, and
the color should be like bluish-green goo. Apply immediately after mixing.
First off, it helps to detangle the
hair. Care should be taken about the
application to the roots, as indigo doesn't mush and stick as well as henna. I
use a small, angled tint brush to really get the indigo worked in there. I use
the back end of the tint brush to section off my hair as I work it in.
Once the hair is completely
saturated you are ready to cling wrap your head again, and apply the bandana and
hat and whatever makes you looks silly and stop the dripping. Indigo drips more than henna. Sometimes it
helps to put an old towel around your neck or otherwise it may drip down your
body and that is not pleasant. Leave the indigo on the head for 2 hours.
Step 3: Final Rinse
Once the two hours have passed it
is time to rinse indigo from the head. I
find indigo needs more meticulous rinsing than henna, it is not as fine a sift
and is generally a clumpier texture of substance. Therefore, this step warrants
some heavy duty conditioning from your favorite conditioner. I prefer to have a silicone-free
henna-indigo experience and use any VO5 or Inecto Coconut conditioner. Pick whatever conditioner works for you.I condition 3
times in te shower to get the indigo out, taking care to massage the crud out
of the scalp. Also, it is beneficial to keep detangling with a wide tooth comb
in the shower. Following up after a good session of conditioner only and water rinsing, Apple
Cider Vinegar rinse is highly recommended. This seals the hair shaft and makes hair more manageable
after the process. I usually fill an old water bottle 1/4-1/3 full with Apple
Cider Vinegar, and then top off with water. I have this ready before I go in
for the final rinse off. Make sure to pour the mixture all over the head and
hair, and this feels refreshing. Leave it on the hair for a minute while the
rest of the shower activities are completed and rinse off. The hair will not
smell like vinegar once dry.
Extra Tips I Find Effective
1.
Make sure you are equipped with food and
beverages. I don't think anyone realizes how important this is until it happens
to them. It's not a good idea to cook while dripping everywhere, and nobody
wants to go out hunting for food with this ridiculous contraption on the head.
Indigo, especially, for whatever reason can turn an empty stomach. It makes no
sense because it smells disgusting but you get hunger pangs when indigo is on
the head. Trust me on this one. Stock the fridge.
2.
Be sure you really are committed to black hair.
I mean really really committed. There's the old saying "Once you go black,
you never go back." This applies to two-step Hennindigo. Any attempt to
remove it will result in green hair, fried hair, or a shaved/pixied head. I
spent months seriously thinking about this before taking the plunge and making
this ultra-permanent decision.
3.
There is a lot of controversy surrounding the
use of lemon juice with your henna. Personally, I have no use for it. I tried
it once, added a splash of it, and it made no difference in the final outcome,
which was black hair. Lemon juice makes dye release take longer and dries hair
out for some. When the dye release time of Jamila henna is described as 8-12
hours, it is meant with lemon juice. I get immediate dye release without lemon
juice and use it immediately.
4.
if you have leftover henna you can freeze it.
Just throw it in a ziploc bag, squeeze out the air, and freeze. Next month you
have some henna already prepared! Frozen henna does have better dye content
because freezing enhances dye content. This, however, in my opinion is
irrelevant for dyeing hair black. You're indigo-ing over it, so don't sweat it
too much. Fresh or frozen it will do the job.
5.
Since you're kicking around the house with your
head covered in goo, and it probably made a mess, it's a good opportunity to
clean the house as well! Or watch a movie, play video games, laze on the
Internet, or listen to music. Or take a nap with an old towel under your head.
Either way, equip yourself with things to do to make the time pass.
Enjoy your
new Blue Black hair in all its glory!
