Calling all CHERRY COLA or BURGUNDY henna heads!!!

[hennalonghair]

WHY did I create this thread?- To experiment with colour
-After 35 years of using henna & glosses it was turning too ORANGE due to increased silvers. Here is my starting colour under florescent lights
http://s50.photobucket.com/user/poll...kvfle.jpg.html

- I wished to experiment with other herbs to try & shift the colour to more blue red verses orange red

Did it work?
- yes, my hair soaks up colour like a sponge and I successfully got a bright cherry cola ( NOT BURGUNDY)
But the colour didn't cover completely the first try. Here is my hair with mixed colours of orange and cherry cola/ burgundy
Heres a pic outside in full sun
http://s50.photobucket.com/user/poll...hhqf6.jpg.html
Here is a pic inside with indoor lighting
http://s50.photobucket.com/user/poll...n1akj.jpg.html

What is my virgin hair colour?

- chocolate brown underneath, mousy brown / silver canopy
80% above ear area & around face
Don't have a pic of that.

How did I do it?

- first used 100 grans Deep Red from The Henna Guys on my roots and hair as a gloss using yogurt (which I'll never use again) but later did a full gloss using organic full fat coconut milk from a can ( made a thread about it $ it worked great. Hair was coloured, silky, soft, shiny and it was easy to apply and rinse.

This is how it looked with inside lighting .
http://s50.photobucket.com/user/poll...tml?sort=3&o=8

Did it bleed at all?
Yes! Especially using this brand of henna It says it's henna & hibiscus and it stains exceptionally well but the Burgundy had 5% indigo and stained even darker because I had both and tried them - this henna didn't need any dye release time, didn't smell like henna and in my opinion was questionable so I stopped using it - company added indigo to their burgundy mix without notice or changing the label

What other henna did I try?
Nupur ( darker orange )from Amazon great henna but has 9 other ingredients so henna is diluted some
Morroccan - ( dark copper orange ) from Henna Sooq- quick release dye = quick demise, can't freeze it
- Jamilla ( very orange ) from Henna Sooq - dependable colour but too orange for my use -
- Rajasthani - (deep red orange ) - tried this in a mix I got at an Indian store
- Yemeni - recently using this from Nightblooming - freshest henna I've ever used and stains very well but have mixed it with 15% to 20% other red herbs like powdered hibiscus/ beetroot powder and rosehip tea.
- Red Raj ? Haven't tried it that I know of.

I didn't use all of these hennas while I was going cherry cola red but used most of them.

Do I use a full treatment each time?
No! I only used a full treatment twice in 9 months but do colour my roots every 2 weeks?

Did I add anything but water to my mix?
Yes! When I do my roots I add some herbal tea ( rosehip/ hibiscus or camomile ) a few drops of tea tree /peppermint / lavender /and or Rosemary. - helps the colour stick to my greys and works for me
- touch of honey & sometimes hibiscus flowers ground in a coffee grinder - 2 tbsps. max
- simmered red herbs always shifted my henna to a blue red

For Gloss use canned full fat coconut milk in place of water - hydrates well for dry hair - impedes colour absorption for oiilier hair so not recommended.

How do you maintain colour without going darker?
Do roots only , full gloss for occasional touch ups.

Will it stain my clothes?
Yes it can? Henna can be very messy so prepare for it to stain whatever it touches? face , ears, neck, towels, pillow, blouse, bath, shower , hands, comb etc.

Can anyone get cherry cola or burgundy hair easily ?
No! Not everyone has porous hair or a starting colour that supports this type of hair colouring - oilier hair doesn't seem to stain as well - it washes out easily on some and on others they can't seem to wash it out at all. Everyone's hair is different as well as their wash routine , the products they use, etc., so no two people will get the exact same results.

How long do I leave it on for?
Two hours max.

Where do I get hibiscus powder?
Henna Sooq, Mountain Rose, Amazon, or you can purchase the dried flowers at health food stores or bulk barns (stores). Also often sold as tea.

Are there other ways of obtaining this colour?
Many others have had success with 50% henna/ 50% hibiscus powder. I haven't tried it this way but when I did try it with 30% hibiscus powder it didn't seem to stain as well as using less red herbs in tea ( but that's where we are all different)

NOTE: This has worked for me but might not work the same for you.

Does your hair colour look like your avatar photo?
No because it reacts differently in different light.

http://s50.photobucket.com/user/poll...tml?sort=3&o=8

http://s50.photobucket.com/user/poll...ml?sort=3&o=46

http://s50.photobucket.com/user/poll...ml?sort=3&o=33

http://s50.photobucket.com/user/poll...8zsgd.jpg.html

There's no photoshop or special effects
There's no trick photography. Lol

Is henna for everyone?
No! Henna is orange red- some strains colour lighter some darker, some more copper, some more orange , some deep red BUT it's all orangey red underneath no matter what you mix it with. Often the other herbs will wash out leaving you with a base coat of orange red.

Is it high maintenance?
Yes! This colour for me personally is high maintenance. I can't speak for others.

Does it wash out easily?
Not on me! I couldn't wash this out with anything. It's here for good.

Does henna smell nice?
It has an earthy fresh cut grass scent that often lingers around for days. If you have hay fever and are sensitive to certain scents then this might not be for you?

If you get chilled easily then this might not be for you.
An application of henna lowers body core temperature and can give some people chills. Covering your head with plastic and then a towel or turban will help keep heat from escaping and stop any potential runs you might get.

Does it take long to colour my hair?
A full henna will take much longer to do? At least half a day. Root touch ups take 2 hours.

What's the best henna to use to get a blue red verses an orange red ?
There's no henna strain better than others when it comes to staining hair. Each strain varies in colour and individual characteristics but to get a deeper richer colour that supports the cherry cola shift then 3 types are preferred by most:
Red Raj - Henna Sooq
Rajasthani - Henna Boys
Yemeni - Nightbloomng

Mixed henna - deep red & burgundy is questionable henna but that's my opinion and for you to decide.

Is this the only way to get this colour?
No! There are other ways but this is how I did mine.


This entire thread was made as an experimental thread. It was never intended as a 'one size fits all recipe for the perfect cherry cola / burgundy colour for every hair type and colour.

There's pros and cons to colouring your hair whether you get it done professionally by someone else in a salon or DIY at home. The first will cost you money and trust in the ingredients being used and the colourist. The second takes time, dedication, patience and knowledge which doesn't come all at once and the biggest difference in the two is that if it doesn't turn out the way you wanted, you can always blame the hair colourist . If you do this yourself then it's ALL on YOU!

The reason why I wish to express this is because many people have tried this and not gotten the results they wanted. Many people did get the results they wanted and some got the results they wanted but in a week it all washed out.


Disclaimer: Please do the research you need to do before you start messing with colour. Whether it's a conventional colour or a herbal / natural one , it can be a drastic change that you may or may not like and since this is a 'do it YOURSELF thread then please take this into serious consideration. I don't wish to be held responsible for someone else's decision making.

Happy colouring !

[hennalonghair]

Since starting this thread we have had many people ask how to get cherry cola/ burgundy with natural herbs like henna and hibiscus without needing to read 150 pages.

Using natural herbs to colour hair has a lot of pros to it as well as cons.
A great thing is that colouring with herbs is much healthier for hair than chemical treatments. In fact they can leave your hair gleaming.

Colouring with henna is like using water colours to paint your hair. The darker the pigment the darker the colour but it also has to do with what colour you are starting off with. if you are blonde or grey then jamilla will turn out very orange unless you use many coats of it but then you have to do that many coats to maintain(do your roots , which is something to think about before you start any henna journey because henna is permanent.
Also although henna is not a protein , it acts like a protein, so if your hair hates protein using henna might be a problem. A way to combat this is to use a good protein free moisturizing lotion and then a pea sized amount of shea butter , coconut oil ( or other quality oil ( or a good leave in)
Also if you apply full strength henna your first few times to get the colour that you want then you might only wish to do your roots from then on orherwise you may end up with a darker colour than you intended. You can always go darker but reversing it is much more difficult.
Henna Glosses- you might want to choose to do a henna gloss.
Some people use fresh henna paste after waiting for dye release while others just add some henna powder ( 1 to 2 tbsps. per 1/2 to 1 cup) of conditioner or coconut milk. This way is faster , more economical, easier and lighter in colour.
You can use henna before or after a commercial box dye treatment as long as it is pure henna or BAQ (Body Art Quality) henna meaning that it has been grown with no pesticides. Pesticides leave metallic salts in the henna which often interferes with other substances which can cause unpredictable results in colour and texture.
Henna compounds are not considered pure henna either and are also just as temperamental.
You are best knowing exactly what's in your henna, where it's from and what strain it is. This way you know how long to wait for dye release and how long to leave it on for.
Moroccan henna is 1 to 2 hours.
Red raj and yemeni is 3 to 4 hours.
Rajasthani and Yemeni is 3 to 4 hours.
Knowing your strain is very important because some hennas can't be frozen. Moroccan henna is one of them. Freezing henna in ice cube trays gives you a way to store prepared henna as well as measure it. Maybe you'll only need 2 ice cubes
to do either a gloss or root touch up.
Henna freezes well with other substances including oils and conditioners

Terpes?
Some people use essential oils to help bring out the henna stain. In my personal opinion these work great.
Some examples are : tea tree oil, Rosemary, lavender, peppermint , geranium,
I've also found these can be quite drying also so you might be best using on roots only or resistant areas.
However you choose to colour your hair it's good to take notes for future reference.

Cherry Cola/ Burgundy ????
To get these colours you need to start with a good solid henna that's already on the redder side and the best three are Red Raj Rajasthani and Yemeni. All of these have dye release times between 3 to 4 hours and have high lawson content so stain well.
Mixing 50/50 or a 1:1 ratio works great for maintaining this colour.
Mix 50% henna with 50% hibiscus powder.
Note: you can use powdered henna from a supplier like henna sooq who also carries the henna.
Nightshade carries Yemeni henna by itself or mixed with hibiscus.
I used some Yemeni mixed with hibiscus the other day and here are my results on silver roots. The picture is from 3 months ago when I had enough roots to really notice the colour difference.
http://s50.photobucket.com/user/poll...959-1.jpg.html

Use 3 to 4 tbsps. of dry henna.
Mix 6 tbsps. hot water, 5 to 7 drops terpe ( essential oil of choice)
1 tbsp. liquid honey or 1 tap. Sugar ( optional- creates a smoother paste)
1 tbsp. ACV ( apple-cider vinegar )
( optional)
Mix well and cover with plastic for 10 minutes.
http://s50.photobucket.com/user/poll...2nnf9.jpg.html

Add the same amount of ground hibiscus - 3 to 4 tbsp. with enough warm water (2 tbsps. ) mix, cover and allow to sit in warm spot ( do not place in full sun.)
Dried hibiscus flowers :
http://s50.photobucket.com/user/poll...oeebz.jpg.html

Ground hibiscus powder :
http://s50.photobucket.com/user/poll...cgilf.jpg.html
Mixed together with added water( liquid)
http://s50.photobucket.com/user/poll...4lcr4.jpg.html
Let sit for 3 to 4 hours. Apply to wet pre-washed Hair- cover with plastic and wait for 2 to 8 hours.
Henna needs to be moist in order for it to work therefore hair needs to be well covered. (No coverage will lead to dryness and possibly no staining ability )
Optional: cover with towel or turban for desired length.
Rinse! Rinse! Rinse! And rinse!
Add conditioner but refrain from washing with shampoo for 48 hours to allow for colour to oxidize.

This is 12 hours later
http://s50.photobucket.com/user/poll...nnhhd.jpg.html

http://s50.photobucket.com/user/poll...8chda.jpg.html

Note: I've had great results adding the hibiscus 'AFTER' dye release also and believe that adding too many ingredients before dye release can dilute the henna and interfere with the colour you are wishing to achieve.

Here are the products and where to purchase them.
It's very important to get a good BAQ RED staining henna to start with and here is a list of some of them.
Here is a list of the very red strains of henna and where to get them or what supplier to get them from. I will update this occasionally when more resources become available .

Red Raj - Henna Sooq ( ships worldwide from either canada or the US.

Yemeni - Nightshade / Nightblooming
Ships worldwide
Courtesy of Nightshade OR
Rehab Henna Malaki
Courtesy of Poli

Rajasthani - Hennacat - UK region
Courtesy of Flickm
Rajasthani can be found in various places throughout the world and is a very red stain
http://hennacat.com/
Another UK supplier courtesy of Anje
Sojat - Rajasthani strain henna
http://www.henna-boy.co.uk/

Red henna mix with added herbs courtesy of Minako and Poli
Poland Region
NOTE: this is NOT pure henna. It has added herbs

http://www.indien-produkte.de/produc...nna---Amla.htm

For the Netherland regions
http://www.henna-und-mehr.de
Courtesy of PirateJenny

From European Regions
http://www.aroma-zone.com
http://www.mademoisellebiologique.it...oor-p-544.html
Courtesy of Jackie_Brown

Important notice about a supplier called "The Henna Guys."
This henna has instant dye release regardless of liquid temperature etc.
The powder and prepared paste smells like cigarette paste and while I thought this was the nicest coloured henna I'd ever used, it gave me massive sheds. I think it has added ingredients that aren't disclosed. Plus the changed their ingredients in their burgundy henna with written warning or site info changes. They added indigo. While indigo is also a herb used for colouring hair and fabrics, it's also very temperamental and using it with other chemicals can have unpredictable results like swamp water green hair. People NEED to know these things.

Hibiscus Powder- you can purchase it or make your own by purchasing dried hibiscus and putting it through a coffee grinder or a vita mix dry container or a magic bullet but here is a place that sells organic hibiscus flower petal powder
http://www.hennasooq.ca/organic-hibiscus-petal-powder/

[texangrrl]

I'm curious about how the deep red will turn out. I prefer the red tones as opposed to the orangey tones. I have some red and some orange. But I've only done 2 full applications of henna. I would LOVE to have a rich red color.

[texangrrl]

I should probably mention that I do love the cherry cola color too!!! I'm just not sure if it would agree with my skin tone. I have a light complexion with warm, olive undertones.

[Beborani]

Isn't that premixed henna and indigo? I use the indigo from these guys but mix it with cheap henna from Indian grocery stores.

[hennalonghair]

Out of everything I tried the henna alone mixed with water produced the nicest clearest colour BUT after 10 months of experimenting along with many others, I've come to the conclusion that this henna is somehow tampered with.
It's called Deep Red henna by The Henna Guys & Burgundy by The Henna Guys.
The Burgundy ingredient list states it's henna with 5% hibiscus powder and it DOES indeed colour in strong burgundy tones.
All of us here have tried mixing our own henna & hibiscus and none of our colours even came close to it and some used up to 50% hibiscus. My theory is:
If 5% worked in this then why doesn't it work the same when we do it?

The Deep Red doesn't even list how much hibiscus is in it but it's apparently LESS than 5%.

There's NO WAY that this is ALL that's in that brand of henna.
It has instant dye release
It doesn't smell like henna ( smells like cigarette butts)
It doesn't look like regular henna with hibiscus powder add dry nor does it when wet
It doesn't stain like regular henna and hibiscus powder.

So while this brand of henna works best for attaining these particular colours , please use your own common sense and judgment.

There are other companies who make coloured henna but please note that not all hennas are created equal.

BODY ART QUALITY or BAQ is the type you want to use.
Why?
Because it's been cultivated without pesticides.
Pesticides have metals in them which get left in the henna and can play havoc with your hair colour if mixed with other things which makes it very unpredictable . Conventional dyes with chemicals in them can react to this leaving behind unwanted results.

Compound Henna
This is henna with other things added and because there are things added it no longer is BAQ henna. Some of the things added might not even be compatible with the water you are using which is why BAQ henna is always best.

Different Strains
Some people don't notice any difference in the different types but there are in fact differences in colour and characteristics for each individual strain.
Yes all henna dyes red but there is copper red, orange red , and blue red.
This makes a difference to those who want a specific colour and the people who usually notice the biggest difference are those with bleached hair, blonde or light coloured hair , dyed hair and silver grey hair. The reason for this is because their base colour is lighter so the stain shows up better. Unfortunately because it shows it better it takes much effort to match up the roots. If you have used numerous applications of henna to the point of turning bluish red then it's going to take as many coats of henna to match it up. Most people don't have the time or patience for this which is why a darker staining henna comes into play.
Also the darker staining henna takes far less time to stain making root upkeep quicker & easier. Roots can take as little as 90 minutes to get a deep red colour with no orange.
When you start doing roots only because you have to then these differences become more obvious.
This doesn't mean that you need expensive strains of henna. There are many great henna strains available at most indian stores or local ethnic food store and sometimes even health food stores ( usually they sell cheaper henna that's old , stale and mixed with other things.
You won't find any Red Raj because that's a strain name made by Henna Sooq but you can certainly find yemeni or rajasthani.
These strains aren't better, they are just darker coloured strains with higher Lawson content which makes it easier to stain quicker which becomes an issue when you start needing to colour often.

THIS and this alone is why your choice of henna is very important .

[hennalonghair]

Isn't that premixed henna and indigo? I use the indigo from these guys but mix it with cheap henna from Indian grocery stores.

And how does that turn out because I'm planning on customizing my colour also?

[hennalonghair]

Apparently the burgundy has indigo but the deep red doesnt. It has hibiscus added to enhance the reds.

[Beborani]

About 10-20% indigo gives me reddish brown on my whites. Rest of my hair is black--I don't want it to blend completely nor do I want it to stick out, so this seems like a good compromise. I have very very few whites yet so none of these show except to me.

[hennalonghair]

About 10-20% indigo gives me reddish brown on my whites. Rest of my hair is black--I don't want it to blend completely nor do I want it to stick out, so this seems like a good compromise. I have very very few whites yet so none of these show except to me.

Ok thanks. I see your profile pic now. What I lovely colour.
Does the indigo stick for you? I've only tried one type of indigo and although I liked the colour it washed out of my hair relatively fast leaving me with regular henna colour which is why I'm looking for alternative methods.
Thanks beborani. It's nice to talk to others who have been using herbal methods for a while and aren't scared of them.