How long do you leave your henna on?

**C_Bookworm** · September 23rd, 2020, 01:08 PM

I’m another overnighter, usually in about the 6-8 hour range. Since I am shooting for the darkest color possible with 2-step henndigo, it’s important to me to get a nice rich henna base.

**hennalonghair** · September 23rd, 2020, 03:22 PM

It’s been 5 years since I’ve hennaed but when I did I’d leave it anywhere from 2 hours to 8 hours depending on the henna.

**shelomit** · September 27th, 2020, 12:24 PM

Our practice has always been to leave it on for at least three hours, but to rinse it out before it gets dry. It's such a hassle to rinse out dry henna : P Typically put it on mid-morning on a weekend and rinse out in the afternoon.

**Zanthia** · December 20th, 2020, 10:55 AM

This thread is so surprising. I aim for an hour and sometimes it ends up being more like an hour and a quarter or an hour and a half.

I only let the dye release (just henna in slightly warm water) for 15-30 minutes, too.

I wonder if henna quality is something to do with it? I have chestnut brown hair that's going very grey and I get perfect coverage in an hour, so it's not about having dark or grey hair.

I would find the times in this thread extremely drying. Maybe I have dry (porous?) hair and it takes the henna better for that reason? Even so, I always aim to henna my hair when it needs washing or it gets so dry I can't stand it.

**Inazina** · December 21st, 2020, 02:21 AM

I'm doing strong glosses (half overnight released henna and half deep moisturising mask) and leave them between two and four hours. This covers well my brown hair and the few gray ones.

**Carol92** · December 21st, 2020, 08:53 PM

I leave it about 4 hours. I think it gives me a nice stain. But if the day is colder, the "mud" is not dripping and I'm comfortable with it, I can leave for longer.

**Fimu** · January 13th, 2021, 11:56 AM

Usually 3.5 - 4 hours. I have high-porosity hair and use Raj henna powder with water (no acidic additives).

**Morphinea** · February 7th, 2021, 10:14 AM

I try to leave it at least three hours minimum, sometimes almost six. Usually I get headache because my head feels so heavy so three hours is average.

**Helleborus** · March 6th, 2021, 07:51 AM

I have left it on for anywhere from 1.5-5 hours. The last time I did a treatment I used red raj and I left it in for 3.5 hours, but I honestly could have rinsed it out earlier the dye got my hair a bit darker than I expected as it was on top of my lighter copper red henna colour i had previously.