Henna or mehendi continues to be a preferred choice of natural hair colourant. But alas I find that most people load the henna packs with all sorts of incongruous ingredients. Tea, coffee, walnut bark, onion juice, lemon juice, grated beetroot, amla, shikakai, betel nut and many other ingredients are added so it seems as if they are cooking a henna korma!
I marvel at these innovations and wonder how people come up with such complex combinations of ingredients. So, I have decided to reduce the stress of henna-fans and give a few quick and very effective natural hair-colouring recipes.
Do keep in mind that henna should always be applied to clean hair and rinsed with just water. The hair should be oiled and shampooed the following day.
Here are three recipes — one for using henna for conditioning, another for giving your hair a dark burgundy colour and last, a recipe for getting that deep blue-black hair tone.
Conditioning henna
200g henna powder 20g burnt amla powder 20g shikakai powder juice of one lemon
For dark burgundy colour
200g henna 250ml brewed and strained black tea water 20g burnt amla powder 2 tsp coffee powder
20ml walnut bark brew (should be 20g walnut bark simmered in 200ml water and reduced to 20ml)
For deep blue black colour
200g henna 250ml strained tea water 5g indigo powder (a highly potent and effective herb that's available at herb shops and those selling ingredients for Ayurvedic products) 10g brahmi powder
So, now that you have some very special, natural henna recipes stay clear of the henna korma and the Archie Andrews look!
