Safe Haircoloring Raw Beegan Style!
from this... to this!
So after a number of years of keeping my hair natural and rather silver, I did more research on the natural alternatives to hair dye and discovered that with the addition of indigo it is possible to use henna to color hair a deep rich brown which is as permanent as any conventional hair dye which needs roots touched up every 4-8 weeks depending on hair growth.
The problem with all conventional hair color is that it is really toxic. According to The Green Beauty Guide not only are conventional hair dyes filled with toxic heavy metals & chemicals, but the chemical reactions they cause with hair release fumes which are carcinogenic. Not something I want to come even remotely close to.
So after a few weeks of dreaming about indigo hair, I went to HennaforHair.com and ordered 400 grams of indigo for my experimentations. Initially I was planning to use just indigo, however a hair swatch test confirmed my fears that I would look like a green haired swamp mermaid if I did just that, so I proceeded to purchase some bulk henna at my local NFS.
I followed the instructions on HennaforHair.com which explained that a 12 hour dye release of henna using lemon juice is far more effective and less brassy than simply adding hot water to henna and putting it on quickly. So at about 3 AM on New Year's Day I mixed about 60 grams of henna with the juice of 3 lemons and left in in a ceramic bowl to cure for the next 12 hours. The following afternoon I mixed 100 grams of indigo with enough water to make it like thick pancake batter and them mixed the two together throughly and then dressed in old clothes and with the floor tarped I entrusted myself to my dear husband's care. After he wrapped my head in plastic wrap. I put on a hat and sat at my desk doing other things for more than 3 hours before washing out the mud mix I wore on my head. I waited 24 hours before using any shampoo on my new color to let the henna and indigo set and then washed off the surface color. The intial results were a scary greenish brown. Fortunately after a few days it oxidized (as the Henna for Hair site clearly notes) to a lovely light auburn.
However I really wanted my color to be richer, deeper and browner, so after about 10 days we did a second pass with a mix with a higher ratio of indigo to henna which consisted of 25 grams of henna mixed with the juice of 2 lemons and released overnight to 50 grams of indigo mixed with a pinch of Real Salt and water. This time I also added some honey (about 1/4 cup) to the mix to help thicken the paste and condition my hair. I left this mix on for 4 whole hours before hopping into the tub to rinse it out. Initially the color was nearly black, however after a few days of oxidation and 2 shampoos to rinse out the surface indigo, it is now a deep rich dark mahogany brown.
One of my last pics with my silver hair, what a difference, one could say Black & White!
Ready set Blast Off, New Years Day in the Boo House. Rawk N Roll Henna Style!
Saying goodbye to my silver hair, already at the point of no return... I am a trusting wife & he is a willing husband!
Thank heavens for gloves and garbage bags! This was a no fuss no muss process!
A new year, a new hair color, thanks to my fearless Boo!
I must say... the latest fashion in mud pies!
The latest in Henna Fashion! 4 hours with plastic wrap & hat while I wipe the drips off the left side of my neck.
Right after the first batch of henna/indigo was washed out, obviously rather green!
the day following henna before oxidation (note the greenish tint to the hair color)
After the first round of henna & indigo and a few days to oxidize it is a light auburn color.
The second pass right after wash out, note how blue it is.
A few days later after a couple of washes with shampoo & oxidation of the henna
second pass of henna & indigo with more indigo in the mix and a few days of oxidizing.