Henna, Cassia . . . and Amla?

[weatherwax]

Hi all,

I've been happily coloring my hair with a 20/80 henna/cassia mix for awhile now. However, I'd like to nudge the red a bit more toward auburn. Amla seems like the way to go, but I'm not sure how much to add, nor whether it'll work without some indigo in the mix. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks!

[Beesweet]

I think I might have something to ad. I was using that mix with a weakish henna from Henna for Hair...the Pakistani henna, but in a gloss only. I did purple things to my hair by accident from doing too many full head applications of very strong henna. I cut that all off and started over. It took a couple of years.

I am doing glosses only, but because my hair is dark blond/light brown on it's own, the gloss adds enough color to make me reddish.
The cassia made me a little brassy, even with the henna. I stopped using it all together. Not sure it was any good at all mixed with amla.

I was using amla for curl properties, not color, but I believe I did get somewhat auburn properties with henna and amla together.

When I started to do henna/amla, the roots of my hair ( and all the "underhair" that didn't get highlights from sun, was a darker brown, but very nice, and the part that the henna gloss took to was reddish.

I had some color issues before starting all of this, as I had lighter hair on ends from old chemical highlights, and natural lightening. My hair is still a little two-toned.

I will see if I can get a picture or two for you so you can see what I mean. For me, with the gloss, the amla seemed to keep the red from doing anything too copper at all in virgin hair. Just the lightest auburn. But, I am doing glosses.

I did a gloss today. I am trying to go for a little more red, so I stopped the amla. The gloss came out slightly more reddish than with amla. I think I need a stronger henna.

I have some photos on old threads I will try to dig up.

[weatherwax]

Thanks, Beesweet!

I ended up adding 10g of amla to the 40g of henna, and adding that to the cassia after the dye released. There was a definite shift in tone. The color is not quite what I expected--the orange is browner, but not as much cooler as I'd hoped. Next time round I'll use the cassia before it releases its color and see what happens.

[smcm1232]

Good ideas! Got to make note...Thanks :)