Henna/Indigo for black hair....Tips/how to??

[diamond_storm]

I've decided to try dying with henna and indigo with the two step process!! The problem is, I can't seem to find a good explanation for how to do the two step process.

I apologize if I'm being redundant by making this thread. Although I've been able to find many threads about people doing the two step process, I've been searching for a while and haven't been able to locate a thread that explains HOW to do it.

I've hennaed in the past, but it's been years, and I'm not even convinced I did it the 'right' way before.

Anyone have any tips or advice for me?

My hair is dark brown and I want it as black as it can get with indigo, so I assume what I need to do is the two step process. If anyone has a link to how to do it, I'd be super grateful:o

[sumidha]

Here's a ink: http://www.hennaforhair.com/indigo/gwynindigo.html

If you poke around on that website there's more information, too. :)

[Alecia18]

I've done it for almost 3 years now. What works for me personally is to mix Henna with bottled water/or filtered water. No tap water if your tap water is hard. It's also recommended to add something acidic so I also add a couple of drops of lemon juice in the mix. Mix up the henna in the bowl until it's all nice and mushy, and not too watery either (you don't want it to drip while it's on your head). Cover it with either a lid, or saran wrap and make sure no air gets in so it can process. Once it's covered, I let the mix sit overnight, although the time can vary but overnight is the best option. If you applied henna before, you should know to cover your whole head in it, and everyone's technique on how to apply it to the hair varies, but it's pretty simple to slather it on. Once my hair is covered in the mud, I get saran wrap and cover my hair with it, AND then also add a plastic bag to make sure it's completely covered. To top it off, I get an old towel and wrap it to cover everything. I let it sit for about 8 hours to get super black hair. If you want pure black hair, leave it on the longest you can or sleep on it overnight.

Once you wash the henna out, mix the indigo. Some threads recommend hot water, but I think this is a huge mistake (along with a lot of other people too). It smells horrible to begin with and adding hot water will make it stink horribly. A lot of people have had amazing result with ice cold water, and it's also what I prefer. You also need to add salt to the mix to make sure the dye sticks (a couple of pinches). This requires NO waiting. I recommend to apply it to slightly damp hair, but not soaking wet. Applying it to dry hair is a lot harder. Once you mix it, immediately apply it.

I let the indigo sit for about 6 hours, although some people have said the dye stops processing after about 4, I let it sit longer just to be sure. DO NOT use any shampoos to wash it out. I don't even use conditioner to get the gunk out. I fill the bathtub with water and dump my hair in it and get it out that way. I give my hair a couple of days so the dye can oxidize before I return to my African soap/coconut oil routine.

Everyone's hair is different and you will probably have to tweak this a little bit once you start experimenting with it. Pure blue black hair is not impossible, but it can be difficult if your hair doesn't take well to indigo. Mine sucked it right up and loves it, but other people's hair will hate it and won't take to it. It just depends. Since you already have dark brown hair, you have a MUCH better chance at getting black hair. If you were blond, it would be a whole lot harder.

[Alecia18]

I assume you probably already know this, but since I forgot to mention it, make sure you also cover up your hair once your done applying the indigo to let it process just like with the henna.

[gthlvrmx]

If you can see blogs, try this http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/blog.php?%20u=14960&blogcategoryid=2529
The instructions on how to get black hair with henna and indigo are on there. I used those instructions with my moms hair and it came out really natural looking!

[pahbee]

I did it like maybe 3 times. I mixed my nupur henna from the indian store with water. This henna mix is already a bit acidic since they added indian herbs in. If yours doesn't have that, I've heard it was okay to not try to make it acidic. Or just apple cider vinegar, as I've heard bad experiences about people who tried citrus for some reason.

Then I put just a small spoonful of coconut oil. I left it thick enough so that it didn't run. Left it out (following directions) on a counter for 3 or so hours, then I slathered it all over my hair. I used plastic wrap to wrap my hair, then I wrapped a towel around my head and chilled out for another 3 1/2 hours. Repeated the same thing, but with indigo (another 3 hours, but I didn't have to wait for it to release).

I took this medium sized bucket, filled it up with lukewarm water, and dunk my hair in it to wash off most of the henna out. Repeated until the water was clear. Then I took my Herstyler Argan Oil Hair Mask and slathered over my hair, only brushing it over the top of my head since I don't like conditioners/masks touching my scalp. I rinsed it again, and my hair was clear of henna enough so I could condition & then air dry it. Cowash or conditioner probably works too.
Don't be shy about conditioning/masking it out, the henna kind of dries out hair so even if you use a lot of conditioner to get it out, your hair won't be greasy.

My first and second tries, it didn't turn black. Then the 3rd time it turned pitch black, the way I was going for. Then it faded in a week. But I'm guessing if you're persistent enough, it'll eventually stick.

[Seeshami]

If you put indigo in your hair and then later decide to lighten it, you will have weird colored hair.

[earthybee]

My daughter used a henna blend with indigo. She's a natural blonde and lightened it when she was tired. It turned lime green. She lightened it again and it was more light aqua. It was a mess. I've lighten recently over indigo not going to blonde just two shades (I have my license) and all was well.. Indigo is the joker and henna is the ex boyfriend that won't leave you alone :lol: