Black cherry 2-step process?

[Kina]

I've been wanting to henna my hair for a long time, but really don't want to go really red.

My natural hair color is dark brown. Since I'm lazy and really, I'm lazy. I don't like doing twice what can be done once, I started dying my hair black since it didn't fade the way dark brown did when i wanted to cover gray.

I want a very dark hair color, but not blue black, more burgundyish or black cherry.

Can I achieve this with a 2 step process? Has anyone gotten to this color and would be willing to share a recipe? Pics?

I've read through the massive henna and hendigo threads but didn't find this covered, although I saw some very lovely dark brown colors.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Drynwhyl]

I used a pre-mixed henna (and probably indigo), I don't know if you can buy that where you live. Other members may have mixed their own, so they could help.
But anyway, it washes out after some time and turns more orange-y. Unless you're good with dying your whole lenght every month :p

[Queenie]

I've recently got some black cherry roots. I've got serious indigo buildup on my length from years and years of straight indigo, so it doesn't easily take henna anymore.
I got to black cherry by adding a small amount (3 tbs?) of dye released, frozen, thawed henna. I was really suprised because I just added it to make the black a little warmer. But it ended up having a nice red sheen in the right light. I love it! It's silly that it's just the roots though :lol:

[Queenie]

Oh, the kind of red also depends on your henna, obviously!

[Kina]

Oh, the kind of red also depends on your henna, obviously!

Oh? what kind did you use?

thanks for this, it's exactly what I want!

so, when you last did it, did you make a small amount for your roots only? If so, what was the proportion?

I'm not any good at math, but I have people who are

[Kina]

I used a pre-mixed henna (and probably indigo), I don't know if you can buy that where you live. Other members may have mixed their own, so they could help.
But anyway, it washes out after some time and turns more orange-y. Unless you're good with dying your whole lenght every month :p


I'm really very good at ordering online :-)

Did you get that black cherry color? Where did you buy the product? Was it good on your hair? I hear wonderful things about henna, I'm a little scared to lose my waves and curls, I actually like those .

[speakyword]

I used to do a 2-step black and the result was quite cool. A very true black. I loved it but I'm a bit too lazy for the full two step program. I later switched to a one step and what I have is a really warm black. Definitly a lot closer to cherry black than a two step. Mine would probably be a little more of a cherry black except that I add alma to tone down the red a bit.

Here's my recipe (except I don't really measure anymore so there's not much in the way of amounts, sorry)

about 1/3 henna
2/3 indigo
alma
coffee
cloves
cornstarch

I put the henna and the alma in an old cast iron pan with the coffee and ground cloves and let it dye release overnight. I try to stir it a few times because it seems to get darker that way.

In the morning I make a thick paste out of corn starch and let it cool. Then I mix the indigo with water and then stir the indigo paste into the henna paste and add enough cornstarch paste to make the right amount of dye for my hair

the cornstarch is to improve the texture, but also because I don't see a significant difference in colour or condition by doing it full strength.