How can I achieve a burgundy/red wine colour with a henna mix?

[infinity_girl]

I did a henna on my hair last weekend with 100% mehendi henna. The colour took well on my darkish brown hair but the colour is a sort of orange/coppery tint which I really don't like that much. I want to try and achieve a sort of red wine/burgundy colour. Is it possible to add something to my henna mix that would help me get this colour? Also, would I still need to add lemon or can I add camomile to make it less acidic and less drying.

[luciferia]

My hair is definitely burgundy from just henna. The last henna I used was Ancient Sunrise Rajasthani Twilight. My length had been dyed previously with the Celebration henna, but the Twilight even dyed my 'blondette' roots burgundy. I'm not sure if it's because I left it on for 8 hours or just because it's a really good henna, but it is amazing.

I did mix it with a bit of red wine vinegar (probably about half a tablespoon total), but I don't think I needed it at all.

[Alienor]

The more often you will do henna, the more it will get dark shades (burgundy- red wine), it will not be too difficult with your dark brown base.;)
There is also some henna famous for giving this kind of shades (Rajasthani or yemeni for example). And I don't think adding lemon is necessary, from my side I don't like it as it is drying my scalp.

[Neecola]

As Alienor said, you can go darker by doing multiple applications in a row. The higher the % of lawsone content. the more saturated (darker) the color deposited. Celebration was high in lawsone and I believe H4H's Rajasthani Twilight is supposed to be similar.

[Blond On Blond]

I use Rajasthani from Henna Sooq. It gives a nice red color, not orange. I suppose that with several applications it will build up to a burgundy.

[infinity_girl]

Brilliant! Thanks for all your replies, very helpful!

[xovictoryxo]

try Hibiscus. :)
I am trying to acheive burgundy too :)

[indigonight]

anyone achieve this?

[ladylowtide]

I have a deep red color. It has taken many whole head applications of henna. Also I found I get a more orangey stain when I use lemon juice, as opposed to red wine vinegar, which is what I use now with greater success.

My mix is:
1.5 cup straight henna from an herb store
1.5 cup of more as needed Rooibos pomegranate celestea brewed with filtered water.
3-4 tablespoons of red wine vinegar.

I have hair is that is very color resistant, when I have used other henna mixes in the past, it would just wash out of my hair, or fade drastically, not allowing for any color over lap to get the nice deep red. This mix starts out a light red on my hair, and with repeated applications become a richer red. I will note that my hair is pretty dark brown. Like a level 3 or so, and very ashy. So you might get better results. My current red/brown is in my avatar and sig pic.

[indigonight]

Thanks for the recipe ladylowtide! I will try it Monday!!

[GoblinTart]

I have darkish brown hair. My first henna gave me orangey tones. My second henna gave me a deeper red. Just did my 3rd henna, and It's still reddish-orangey, but It's deepening to a burgundy color. Yay! I'm just using hair quality jamila henna.

My blonde streak went from lightly hennaed red, to a deeper red this last application. It still stands out, but it no longer pops. It blends more.

I think just keep doing henna, and it'll deepen to that burgundy color you're going for.

[indigonight]

Thanks Sandrajo- glad your colour is going towards what you want. Yes Jamila gives stunning tones. unfortunately I could not get a hold of any from my usual supplier, who has run out therefore thought I'd try yemeni which I'd heard gives deep red tones. I may rehenna although those who told me to have patience were right, today the colour oxidised and although it is not burgundy red, it is a deeper red and those nasty orangey bozo strands have calmed down and look a lot more pleasant! I also indigoed some strands last night which now look a lovely reddish chestnut brown and I'm pretty pleased with the overall look.
Think I'll give it time to settle and see the overall outcome before I do anything more.

I'll give it a week and then I may consider re-hennaing with wine, beets and red wine vinegar to push the whole mix twds burgundy.

[CurlyMopTop]

I achieved the color with just multiple applications using that same henna. I tried it both ways too, just using hot water, and mixing with lemon juice/chamomile tea. I've found that I like mixing with just plain old hot water the best and applying before bed. That way it stays in all night and I just sleep through it. It's not nearly as drying either. :D

[Scarlet_Heart]

Mine ended up wine/burgundy.

1. It helps if your hair is on the darker side to begin with. Mine was a light ash brown before henna.

2. Also, a henna with a high dye (lawsone) content will yield a deeper stain. Hennas with high dye content include Yemeni (Henna Sooq/Henna Boy), Red Raj (Henna Sooq), and Celebration (Mehandi).

3. Last, as others have said, the more times you henna, the darker it will get.

HTH :flower:

[Xxanderia]

Glad I found this post! I'm trying for a burgundy as well. I've never used henna before so this should be fun! My ultimate goal is to reach the burgundy shade and then maybe add some indigo to make it a darker color? If that would work..maybe a gloss because I don't want it too black..
Sort of like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Long-25-in-Curly-Dark-Burgundy-Hair-Wig-NF38-/260821158801#ht_4067wt_1139

[cmg]

Xxanderia: I think you are on the right track there. The indigo can push you towards black, but if you are careful you have a good chance to get this color your after.

/ CMG

[Xxanderia]

Thank you for the reassurance! I've been reading through the forums and it's almost daunting trying to figure out how to properly do the henna/indigo. There's so many options! I'm excited to get started though.

[indigonight]

I think red wine and red wine vinegar are definitely the way to go!

[indigonight]

Doing a red wine henna tomorrow! and perhaps a little post indigo to push it darker.
I'll let you know how it goes!

[Xxanderia]

Please do! Don't forget pictures! I'm having a hard time trying to come up with a good ratio. All sorts of confused at this point. :p

[anikadear]

Coming in kind of late here, but I have dark hair also, and what I did was henna my hair several times in a row. First henna gave orange tones. I waited four days and re-did it, another four days and one more set after another four days. I find that using Red Raj or Yemeni from HennaSooq does the job nicely. I also add hibiscus tea to my mix which really brings out the red. If you can't find hibiscus tea, I've also used raspberry zinger tea since the first ingredient is hibiscus.

a few things I do that bring out better dye quality:

1. mixing henna with hibiscus/raspberry zinger tea
2. transferring mix to plastic bag and freezing until completely frozen, then thawing in warm water before applying (for some reason the dye quality is massively better this way, and the henna mix is easier to apply)
3. leaving mix on for as long as possible (I apply before bed and sleep on it)
4. using the darkest % of lawsonia possible (Red Raj or yemeni from hennasooq is my favorite)

I'm not sure if all of this makes sense or is too much information but that's my process and it seems to be working fantastic for me :)
3.

[Marcellaa]

I achieved my burgundy color simply by lots of whole head applications of henna. It took my about a year of monthly henna dyes that I achieved the burgundy color.
My naturel color is medium brown.

[Xxanderia]

Marcellaa - your color is beautiful! How do you do your roots so they stay matching to your length?

[Marcellaa]

Uhm... Honestly I don't really know. I usually don't dye my entire hair anymore now. The lengths have so many layers of henna that they don't change color anymore. The henna color won't come off, and more henna doesn't make it more red or whatever (I always wanted really red hair, but now I embrace the burgundy).
I henna my hair now once a month, only doing the roots and everything above my ears.
And the only difference between my roots and ends is that my ends are a bit more reddish.

[tabertooths]

This is great advice, thank you all for sharing. Re: hibiscus tea, does this bring out red when used on its own as well?

[cmg]

I achieved my burgundy color simply by lots of whole head applications of henna. It took my about a year of monthly henna dyes that I achieved the burgundy color.
My naturel color is medium brown.
I'm so jealous about people with pigmentation of their own under the henna. It is much easier to get a cooler shade. It actually took me one gloss and two full head applications, going from strawberry blonde (by henna on virgin whites) to reach the same darkness as your hair. I would like it more aubergine though, not just like burgundy/oxidized copper. I am not prepared to use more indigo or katam yet. Well, lets see how it will develop. I can still do some more treatments with only henna and se where it goes.

/ CMG

[Marcellaa]

I'm so jealous about people with pigmentation of their own under the henna. It is much easier to get a cooler shade. It actually took me one gloss and two full head applications, going from strawberry blonde (by henna on virgin whites) to reach the same darkness as your hair. I would like it more aubergine though, not just like burgundy/oxidized copper. I am not prepared to use more indigo or katam yet. Well, lets see how it will develop. I can still do some more treatments with only henna and se where it goes.

/ CMG
Wow, that's really quick! I know lots of people who want my color but are blond (or bleached blondes) and I always tell them henna will make them turn into Pippi Longstocking :D.
And you only used henna? I'm impressed!

[cmg]

Well, it looks that dark indoors. I wish it were a bit darker, so it would be a cooler shade outdoors as well. In sunlight it still looks quite fiery (is that a word?) :) I still have a bit to go from here I guess. I use noname hennas mostly, but also Herbiques. I am using a very cheap one lately.

/ CMG

[anikadear]

This is great advice, thank you all for sharing. Re: hibiscus tea, does this bring out red when used on its own as well?

I'm actually not share about that...you could always try a few tea rinses and see? That's a good idea I may try it myself.

[tabertooths]

anikadear, let me know how it turns out!

[cmg]

There is not much dye in a cup of hibiscus tea. It will not show at all for dark haired people. It will act like a few drops of ink.

/ CMG