wise up to truly natural hair colour !! wise up to truly natural hair color !!
( natural + effective + safe + chemical free desert earth hair colour)

Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854.

Natural Hair Colour / Natural Hair Color (!) for All Seasons !

Hi,

I’m Sabrina Oz.

My aim in setting up Renaissance Henna is to bring real henna alive again and to introduce you to a world of natural beauty entirely from plants. It´s synthetic chemical free, paraphenylene diamene /PPD free, and additive free, natural hair colour and natural hair treatments which are pure, and noble, in their own right. It's the herbal world of henna, indigo, and cassia obovata and it’s the natural alternative to today’s commercial synthetic chemical hair dyes and synthetic chemical based hair care products. I offer you the beautiful alternative to the commercial chemical hair industry fired by multi zillion pound marketing and vicious images of glorious glossy hair on super model women (& men). Self abuse has got to be the height of disrespect. Learn what PPD is and you’ll understand. We live in a world so hungry for images of beauty that we’ve become impervious to truth and blind to danger. We strive for what the industry promotes as fantastic, whatever the cost. I invite you to the height of true beauty and the heights of common sense via the self respecting path. Each one of us is blessed with beauty, and we are individuals capable of acquiring knowledge and exercising choice, and beauty has so many aspects and so many degrees. So celebrate it. And respect it. And come to know incredible and lasting colours you probably thought were not possible from plants alone. It’s pure competition for the big guys and the big guys aren’t bothered to promote it because the bucks lie in what already sells. What does it matter if it might cause cancer if it's raking in the billions every year? Take a look at this : http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/1047

Henna Hair / Indigo Hair / Cassia Obovata

Beauty and bucks aside, just take a minute to consider the reputed popular benefits of henna, cassia obovata, and indigo, and you’ll realise that these pure and precious herbs are indeed tonics like precious jewels straight from the wilderness of the earth. There is so much healing and wellbeing for us in these ancient herbs that is sadly overlooked, ignored, and forgotten. Try it, experience it, benefit from it. “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” Albert Einstein.

Henna Hair Color with Indigo : A Natural Hair Color for Grey Hair !

I can promise you that you'll get perfect hair colour coverage on grey hair. It is the natural hair color for grey hair. Once you've tried this, you'll have one regret - that you didn't find our henna hair color with indigo sooner ! Try it, love it, and benefit from it ! Enjoy henna & indigo !

Henna Hair Colour - A Natural Hair Colour for all Hair Colours !

What's your natural hair colour? Black hair color ? Brown hair color ? Blonde hair color ? Red hair color ? Mixed with grey hair or completely grey hair ? Used hair dyes before ? Still using hair dyes ? Used compound colour henna before ? Read on............... henna hair color with indigo is for everyone, whatever your hair colour history ! It can be funky hair color or natural hair color - whatever you want it to be !

Henna Hair Colour : The Summer Hair colour !

It's the hottest natural hair colour around and you can mute it to subtle hair colour by using indigo ! There's nothing like cooling henna on a hot summers day - this summer hair color is a stunner !! You'll get an absolute symphony of gorgeous hot summer hair colour that the sun just loves to shine on. It's natural beauty and it makes you feel good ! Henna is naturally cooling and naturally healing. And henna hair color not only gives you color that glistens in the sun, but it protects your hair from sun damage as well.

Reputed popular benefits of henna & cassia obovata :

Hair Colour / Hair Color doesn't have to be L'Oreal Hair Colour / L'Oreal Hair Color to be absolutely stunning ! So..........What is Henna Hair Colour & Indigo Hair Colour :And how do they differ from chemical hair dyes?

They are natural hair dyes, sourced purely from plants; they are not “extracts”, they have not undergone any “treatment” process, and they do not contain man made chemicals or additives.

They can be used safely on ALL hair types and, generally, on ALL people including:

Henna dye comes from the crushed leaves of the henna plant and indigo dye comes from the crushed leaves of the indigo plant - see below for the full botanical names of these plants. For centuries, these two plants have been used to colour hair and to heal the body. The incredible thing is that those who have previously used henna - like myself - were just never aware of the fact that henna is meant to be used with indigo ! They go together like birds of a feather and the fact is they were always meant to flock together. That is, if you don’t want red orange or auburn tones in your hair. If you’re aiming for reddish tones anyway, then straight henna is for you. But if, like me, you were always aiming for more muted natural browns to black, then you always needed indigo to go with henna, but you just never knew it ! And the sad thing is that some people have used indigo in the past with henna, but not correctly. My past is full of henna disappointments, but the key was always to use it with indigo. And there is a method of application - set out in the Renaissance Henna Hair Colour Kit - which will give you the results you wanted but could never previously achieve. The instructions are detailed and may require a comfortable armchair read before you get started. But think of it as a learning experience, and I think you’ll only gain.

The difference between henna and indigo and chemical hair dyes is that, firstly, herbal colours are natural and will not kill you or damage your health - they will only provide benefits
(*see http://news.homesandproperty.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/womenfamily.html ) And, secondly, henna and indigo leave well alone inside your hair and do not disturb the natural chemical make up of the hair that you were born with. The colour coats each individual hair shaft without infiltrating it and is self sealing. It locks itself onto your hair and makes it feel immediately thicker, fuller, and altogether more alive. The exception seems to be grey hair - henna will penetrate the inner hair shaft of grey hair and dye it red orange, but using indigo immediately afterwards will turn it a deep brown to black, depending how long you leave the indigo on for. The more you dye your hair with henna and indigo, the better - for your hair colour, and for your health. This is my view. I’m not a scientist, but I am someone who’s tried and tested chemical dyes and plant dyes on myself and found that my hair and health have improved enormously since I’ve been using plant dyes.

How do Chemical Hair Dyes ( like a Loreal Hair Colour ) Really Work?...............the truth about the silent killers

Chemical hair colours, on the other hand, work by first causing swelling to the hair shafts and actually opening them up - that’s what makes your hair feel fuller when you’ve used a chemical hair dye. They open up and permeate each hair shaft, flood the cortex of each hair with some degree of hydrogen peroxide to “strip” the natural colour, and then invade big time with military precision by infiltrating and depositing toxic chemicals into your hair strands. The underlying aim - with your full consent - is to remain there as long as possible. You might feel good after a chemical hair dye but, if you’re dying your hair in this way, I believe you’re killing yourself softly. Those toxic chemicals enter the bloodstream and the nervous system through inhalation - and possibly through the scalp as well - and do all sorts of damage.

Hair Dyes & Cancer Link.....bladder cancer.... rheumatoid arthritis.......can it get much worse????

I personally believe that, in the long run, continual use of chemical hair dyes a) contributes towards a breakdown of the immune system and b) that there is a link between hair dyes and cancer.
See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4071114.stm. And see the links in red on the My Story and My Statement page [ GO TO MY STORY - WHY I DITCHED LOREAL HAIR COLOUR ]. Further, there appear to be well researched concerns which virtually establish a link between the use of hair dye and rheumatoid arthritis, and between the use of hair dye and bladder cancer. See http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn1306. Can it get much worse than this? The bottom line is that the beautiful and glorious images which the commercial hair care industry are mass marketing - to you and me - are deadly. Poison. They’re killing us softly with their song. And money is no excuse to promote illness and early death.

For information on the safety of henna and indigo hair colour for cancer patients, and for those who are allergic to PPD / chemical hair dye GO TO HENNA DANGERS & INDIGO DANGERS

Everything that deceives may be said to enchant.
Plato, The Republic
Greek author & philosopher in Athens (427 BC - 347 BC)

Bleaching Hair

By the way, bleaching hair is dangerous and involves altering the natural make up of your hair - the melanin which provides your natural hair colour is chemically altered to a colourless compound and the change cannot be reversed. The hair is permanently damaged and will become brittle and probably unmanageable. Nothing can restore it. Thankfully, hair grows, and new hair growth spells hope ! If you’ve bleached your hair, do yourself a favour and let it grow out, and then honour it with henna and indigo.

Henna Hair Colour / Henna Hair Color - Maybe not Nice ’n Easy, but Definitely Love ’n Respect !

Real henna and indigo are pure herbal hair colour, and in my view they are hair strengtheners, as well as mind and body strengtheners, and entirely hair and health friendly. The herbal dye colours strive to tone naturally with your hair to give natural hair colour. On darker hair shades like black hair colour and brown hair colour / deep brunette hair colour, you’ll just be able to decipher a rather different hair colour which enhances your own natural hair colour and shimmers in the light. The natural hair dye gives colour which is natural to you, and therefore the end result will always be unique to you. On lighter hair colours like blonde hair colour / ash hair colour, the results will be more dramatic and just with henna hair dye used alone you’ll get a funky hair colour ! It’ll be red / red orange. But if you don’t want red hair colour, then you can tone it down to a brown hair colour or a black hair colour with indigo. If you’ve previously used hair dyes, you’ll get a beautifully different hair colour which is totally unique. You’ll need to explore the Hair Colour Gallery photos here to grasp what I mean.

Henna and indigo hair colour are positively unpredictable. And by that, I mean they’re unpredictable in an entirely positive way. You won’t be disappointed ! Whether it’s funky hair colour or natural hair colour you’re after, you will get translucent colour that shimmers in the sun and reflects light. They coat the hair with herbal colour and with protection. They colour grey hair. Henna and indigo hair colour will protect your hair from the harsh effects of sunlight, cold, and heat - naturally. Even regular blow drying will not damage hennaed hair as much as blow drying chemically treated hair ( in fact it’s arguable that regular blow drying on a moderate heat will not damage hennaed hair at all). I believe that regular use of henna and indigo hair colour also boosts the immune system and results in the deposit of a wealth of goodness into your blood which contributes towards good health. Correctly used, they build up hair colour which the chemical hair colour industry can never match - these colours stand out, naturally, in their own right! And they last ! And, by the way, they’re sincere to a fault and they will never be your enemy in disguise. They may not be entirely nice and easy hair colour, but they have a clean heart and they’ll always treat you with love and respect.

Henna - Why Hairdressers Love to Hate Henna ! .............and why Compound Hennas [ pre-mixed henna colours ] are Bad

I think you’re likely to find that just about all hairdressers are “anti-henna”. Not that I blame them ! Their concern is how to colour hair safely. You’ve got to remember that if your hairdresser is anti-henna, this is because the hennas which your hair dresser has come across in the past are “compound henna” - i.e. henna powders mixed with dyes and metallic salts such as lead acetate which act as fixatives to “fix” the so called henna shade which the manufacturer is marketing. Remember that pure henna does not come in “shades” - it’s always going to be red orange/auburn. Any henna hair colour which contains anything other than just 100% pure lawsonia inermis is likely to be a compound henna mix, unless it’s only other ingredient is 100% pure indigofera tinctoria. A compound henna mix is not a chemical free hair dye. Do get used to reading through the ingredients [ on henna powder packs and on all products ]. It’s the metallic salt fixatives in the compound hennas that get onto your hair and react badly with perms and chemicals in hair dyes and bleach solutions. Any hair dresser who knows what real henna is and what real indigo is will not put you off using it; having your best interests at heart they will only encourage you to fly, fly, fly towards henna / indigo. But the fact is that it’s highly unlikely that your hairdresser has actually come across pure henna and pure indigo before, so expect them to be dubious, suspicious, and off putting. And excuse them for it. They’re thinking compound henna metallic salt mix. They’re thinking how to colour hair safely. They want to save you from sheer catastrophe.Then refer them to the Renaissance Henna Hair Colour website so they can learn and understand what pure henna is and so they can start to overcome their fears and discover a world that’s pure and beautiful and that won’t cause harm at all.

It’s very important to know the difference between a compound henna and pure henna because the two are totally different. Metallic salt chemical cocktail henna has given pure henna and indigo a bad name. And it’s totally undeserved, born out of ignorance and misunderstanding (like so many other prejudices which we harbour in our hearts). Pure henna will never result in fried hair or colour catastrophe. You can use pure henna (and indigo) safely on any kind of hair - bleached, dyed, permed, ...fried....etc. And you can use it pretty much straight away, except in the case of hair that has just been permed or is about to be permed. I suggest a gap of 2 weeks either way . Other than that, you’re safe to go, but I personally recommend a waiting period. Make it as long as you can. Let’s say a minimum of two weeks. And the only reason for the wait is simply 1. to rid your hair of chemical build up and 2. to allow for the best possible colour take from henna and indigo herbal hair colour. Please read on for further information about this.

How My Henna Hair Colour Differs from the Big Brand Latest Hair Colour Hennas

I have undertaken some brief research into the big brand henna companies that sell latest hair colour henna in beautiful hair picture boxes, sometimes mixed with indigo. To their credit, lots of the big henna companies are using natural ingredients which is reassuring, but I'm concerned that they are not 100% natural products and that the companies which sell them are not 100% clear on what it is they are selling. There are some major differences between my henna / indigo product and the big company products - for one, if you check their boxes, you'll see some of them, like Light Mountain Hair Color, are using something they call “Indigoferae folium”. I use indigofera tinctoria to tone the henna to natural hair colour like brown and black hair colour. Indigofera tinctoria is the plant which gives the deepest and most lasting hair color, hence its name “tinctoria” because it gives colour. Interestingly “indigoferae” folium is not a botanical name but a pharmaceutical name and therefore it is not possible to precisely pinpoint which species of indigo indigofera folium is ! The indigofera tinctoria which I sell is the one which gives the deepest colour stain in hair and you will get very good coverage with henna and my indigo. You can get brown through to black, sometimes with slight reddish, burgundy, or blue undertones, depending on how much gray hair / white / or blonde hair you have, and depending upon the method of application. Overall I'll say that you can achieve superb natural hair color with my product if that's what you want, and fantastic coverage on gray hair. Full instructions come with the Renaissance Henna hair Colour Kit.

Lush use indigofera tinctoria as well. I cannot seem to find ingredients, however, for the Henne company which is surprising given that they state their ingredients are all natural. Some websites selling the Henne brand of henna seem to imply that henna alone can produce black hair colour which simply isn't true. I would steer clear of any site selling a product which does not state the full ingredients. Never be afraid to approach the company direct and ask - that's the only way to find out. And many companies are adding PPD to henna so it's no longer pure henna anymore, it's chemical hair dye - watch out !!!

Light Mountain are not using cassia obovata in their products, but another cassia. Cassia obovata is nature's supreme natural beauty product amongst hair conditioners - it relaxes the hair into its natural state and conditions, leaving hair feeling thick and full of body. I would also suggest that some of the big companies are using very stale henna that just doesn’t do the job. And Lush are adding perfume (a product with perfume added is no longer 100% pure!!) to their henna colours as well as clove bud oil which I consider to be a potential irritant as well as having the potential to interfere with colour take. My henna / indigo are 100% pure, natural, herbal, and chemical free. They do not contain any added ingredients like perfume or clove bud oil; oil. I also sell cassia obovata which you can add to your henna mix , or use on its own. You will find is the best hair conditioner and hair booster that nature can offer you.

Finally, the biggest difference between my henna / indigo and the henna colour you get from the major mass marketing henna companies like The Body Shop, Light Mountain, Lush, Rainbow, Henne , & all the others, (apart from value for money & dynamite powder quality) , is that I sell the powders seperately for you to mix up as you desire. Not only does this allow you to adjust your colour tone as you like, but the crucial thing about this is that you will get perfect colour take using my methods ! Henna is naturally acidic - it gives the best dye release sitting in its own naturally acidic environment. Indigo on the other hand is naturally alkaline and gives the best dye release in its own naturally alkaline environment. The two pastes must be mixed seperately to work effectively ! Mixing henna and indigo together, as the bg companies sell it, will not give you perfect henna / indigo dye release and will not give you perfect colour take. Full instructions come with my Renaissance Henna Hair Color Kit. Try it and see the difference for yourself - you'll be amazed !!

Henna and Indigo - Natural Hair Colour

henna plant	henna powder	henna paste

Henna

Henna’s real botanical name is “lawsonia inermis”. You can dye hair with henna, and indigo. Together, henna and indigo make an awesome hair colour dye combination and you can achieve a whole range of colours you probably wouldn’t have thought possible to achieve with pure botanical herbal hair colour - from funky hair colour to the most natural hair colour ! The henna indigo hair colour spectrum gives you hair colour shades which range from deep reds and oranges, to brown hair colour and black hair colour – and even stretches to burgundy black hair colour and blue black hair colour. Perfect for colouring grey hair too - see the Hair Colour Gallery photos for henna on grey hair, followed by indigo on grey hair. This is a world of hair colour that is completely herbal, natural, botanical, and beautiful, and it’s even good for you ! The hair colour chart in this herbal hair colour world is unique to you, and natural.

The dye molecule in henna is called Lawsone. It’s a red orange pigment also known as hennotanic acid. Note that henna is acidic.(it might sound disturbing, but so is skin, see http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2001-08/uoc--tsa081501.php). The dye is contained in the leaves of the mature henna plants, which incidentally produce the most beautifully fragranced flowers in multiple colours - but unfortunately the powdered leaves which henna comes from don’t smell like flowers, they’re more musty, almost damp smelling. Henna may vary in its dye content, depending on climate, soil, and moisture; so two batches - even from the same region - may never be quite the same. The crushed henna leaves need something acidic like lemon juice, and time, to prompt the chemical reaction which causes release of the dye.

Go here to see pictures of the henna plant and its beautiful flowers - http://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/lawsonia_inermis.htm. Also see : http://www.plantcultures.org.uk/plants/henna_plant_profile.html .

GO TO HAIR COLOUR PRODUCTS & PRICES

Body Art Henna and “Hair Henna”

Some leading henna boffs state that hair should be dyed only with “body art quality henna” (pure henna ground and sieved several times so it practically resembles fine talcum powder) and claim that it has the highest percentage of lawsone (henna dye). I think that’s misleading. Lots of henna for hair starts off as body art henna for the first few months after the leaves have been ground and then, when it’s past a few months old, it’s sold as henna for hair. The only difference between henna which doesn’t start off as “body art henna” and the henna which starts out as body art henna is in the grinding and the sieving ( the hair henna may not be as finely ground). But the beautiful thing about henna is that, either way, it lasts forever. Henna doesn’t have to be hot out of the grinding machine and ground and sieved several times to give superb colour in your hair.

Body art quality henna - which happens to be a lot more expensive than just as pure henna which has not been sieved as many times - is more concentrated by means of finer grinding and extra sieving. Bodies require the finer concentrated henna to achieve a smoother paste free of globs which can pass smoothly through fine tipped tools which are used to paint henna art on skin. You may or may not achieve as deep a colour skin stain with pure henna for hair as you will get with body art henna, but the fact is that you don’t need the body art henna for your hair colour. Because hair absorbs colour differently to skin and is more receptive to dyes than skin, “fresh” henna for hair can last as long as ten years ! Henna doesn’t go off if stored correctly; but I generally advise to use it within five years of the date of grinding to ensure you definitely catch the colour and the goodness whilst the henna is still highly potent. Highly concentrated body art henna = concentrate on high cost. So don’t be mislead into thinking you have to pay more for body art henna for your hair - you don’t ! Henna for hair is pretty much the same as body art henna except it’s not been sieved/&or ground as much. But it’s essentially the same stuff and it’s a lot cheaper. And it remains a wonderfully healing and therapeutic treatment on both skin and hair.

Here’s what henna expert Kenzi - founder of henna tribe at www.hennatribe.com - says about the differences between body art henna and henna for hair :

“I can’t tell you exact numbers, but I have had good results from henna many years old, sitting open, exposed to air, heat and light. Hair takes up the color so well that you really don’t have to worry. i really don’t know about the therapeutic qualities of hair henna vs. body art henna; I tend to think that it doesn’t make any difference since it’s all still henna. I think that less refined henna might actually be worse because it’s diluted with twigs and sand, but also because it’s less finely ground, the stuff that gets into your hair and does its business is less available in the larger particles of henna. Just my opinion, based on conjecture. .......As for twigs, I mean little bits of henna or leaves or stems that don’t get ground up as finely as the powder. It is very possible that these get into the henna when it is harvested (these are plants being harvested by human being who are infallible). Most henna probably has some stuff in it that isn’t henna (dust from the air, bits of rock dust from the grinding stones etc.). I think that where the good quality and fine henna differs from the bad, coarse stuff is in the grinding and the sifting. A fine grind will give you fine henna, and then if it’s sifted you get even finer henna, and what is left behind by sifting are just the bigger particles of henna. Whether the particles are big or small, they will still stain the skin and hair; it’s just that for body art the fine stuff is better so that we can use fine-tipped tools without the henna clogging them.......I think the main difference between hair henna body art henna is freshness. Perhaps a better way to say it is that all henna is body art quality until it gets too old to use on skin at which point it becomes hair henna. Some hair henna can be very finely ground, just like some body art henna can be coarsely ground.”

What the Encyclopaedias say about Henna / Henne

This is what one famous Herb Encyclopaedia says about Henna:

“A single species of evergreen shrub makes up this genus, which occurs in northern Africa, south-western Asia, Australia, and is naturalised in America. Found on plains, low hills, and river banks, the species was traditionally planted as a windbreak for vineyards. Referred to as “camphire” in the Bible, Lawsonia inermis is now more familiar as “henna”, (*from the Arabic name “al hinna”; and incidentally, the Italian word for henna is “henne”).

“in spite of its medicinal applications, henna is mainly used as a dye plant. Lawsonia inermis has been imported as an orange red colourant for hair, skin, and nails in the Middle east since ancient times; introduced to Europe at the end of the 19th Century, it became an important constituent of hair tints and conditioners”

“an astringent herb with a tea like aroma, that controls bleedings and is anti-bacterial. It is regarded as an alternative and nerve tonic in Ayurvedic medicine”

“used externally for skin diseases (including leprosy), wounds, ulcers, and herpes. Used for dying hair, feet, and hands.”

See also : http://www.killerplants.com/herbal-folklore/20031006.asp.

Indigo

indigo field	indigo powder

mixing indigo with water	freshly mixed indigo paste	indigo paste ready to use

True indigo’s real name is indigofera tinctoria. In old times Greeks and Romans imported cakes of pigment called “indicum”, meaning “from India” and, interestingly, this lead to the term indigo.

Indigo is a plant that produces a dark blue dye - we all know it as the colour used to colour blue jeans. It has the potential to turn hair from brown through to black when it goes over henna, but note that it will only ever stain the skin blue, not black. Its’ botanical family is : Fabaceae (Leguminosae). Its’ species is: Indigofera. Indigo molecules in the leaves of the plant contain the dye which oxidises to dark blue. They are alkaline. They react with henna which is acidic to create incredible dark shades with interesting undertones of red, burgundy, orange, brown, and even stunning blue black. Note that alkalis and acids have different effects on the hair. Acids generally will harden and contract the hair, while alkalis generally will expand and soften the hair shaft. So henna and indigo go really well together and make a great team!

Go here to see pictures of the indigo plant and its leaves - http://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/indigofera_tinctoria.htm.

What the Books say about Indigo

In their book Herbs: An Indexed Bibliography, J.E. Simon, A.F. Chadwick and L.E. Craker describe indigo as follows :

“As a medicinal plant, indigo has been used as an emetic. The Chinese use Indigofera tinctoria to clean the liver, detoxify the blood, reduce inflammation, alleviate pain, and reduce fever. .............The powdered root of Indigofera is used in South Africa to alleviate toothache.”

Just google around or type in these key words on any search engine and study the results :

• hair dye cancer / hair dyes cancer
• hair dyes dangers / hair dye danger
• hair dye ingredients
• what is ppd
• ppd dangers
• ppd allergy
• ppd allergic reactions
• hair dye alternative / hair dye alternatives ( if you study the alternatives, you’ll see that just about all of them have   additives and some degree of synthetic chemical ingredients)

Here are some good reasons why you should try henna and indigo :

• chemical free hair colour + hair conditioning treatment in one !
• hair dye without PPD !
• natural hair colour / gives beautiful natural hair colour on all hair types and on all hair colours !
• hair colour which effectively colours white / grey hair !
• long lasting permanent hair colour !
• natural healing properties - good for health and hair !
• hair booster - especially cassia obovata which is natures best hair conditioner !
• dandruff treatment !

I’ve put together a range of products to get you started and I honestly think if you give it a go, like me, you’ll never look back. I must admit I found it a challenge in the beginning, but now it’s as easy as the quickest commercial hair dyes and hair conditioning treatments. My hair ’s looking better than it’s looked in years – it’s rich with natural looking colour right to the roots, soft, shiny, wavy, and so alive it’s growing faster than ever before ! GO TO TESTIMONIALS : RENAISSANCE HENNA v LOREAL HAIR COLOUR.

The beginning is the most important part of the work.
Plato, The Republic
Greek author & philosopher in Athens (427 BC - 347 BC)

Watch Out !

Lots of dye henna for hair is sold in plastic bags or in smart looking little hair colour picture boxes with beautiful faces adorned with beautiful hair on the front, and marketed as nice and easy hair colour. But beware. Always check the ingredients are listed. And if you see anything other than “lawsonia inermis” added to it, then it’s not pure henna. If the ingredients are not listed at all, don’t trust it. It’s probably PPD laden. And watch out for the brightly coloured green powders that have colour dye particles added to make them look fresh and enticing. Anything added to pure henna dye for hair - apart from other pure & non chemical ingredients - contaminates it and is definitely bad news

Also watch out for those cute little death trap bouquet garni type white cotton bags full of black PPD crystals. Popular in Turkey and surrounding countries, it’s quite common to see people of all ages proudly utilising these pouches to achieve darkest black in their hair and on their eyebrows. It’s sad that something so dangerous is marketed as something safe and natural. It couldn’t be further from the truth . Check out http://dermatology.cdlib.org/91/original/henna/wolf.html and GO TO MY STORY - WHY I DITCHED LOREAL HAIR COLOUR for valuable links on PPD. If you use henna and you don’t take the trouble to understand what PPD is, you’re asking for trouble - chances are that the natural henna you thought you were using is contaminated with PPD. It’ll weaken your hair and damage your health. Your scalp will sting a bit - or a lot - when you use it, making it itchy and sore (I used to think it was normal as well). You’ll be priding yourself on using a safe hair colour product but it’s the manufacturers who will be laughing because it’s so easy for them to get away with it. You owe it to yourself to wise up, wake up, and know good from bad. Get hold of the real stuff and then you’ll have every right to feel good about it.

Finally, please read about all of the dangers and warnings before trying henna and indigo -
GO TO HENNA DANGERS & WARNINGS

The Forgotten Benefits

Henna and Cassia Obovata were originally used for hair, health and healing. Their “wellbeing” properties are unfortunately largely overlooked in todays world which now focuses almost exclusively on henna for body art. Apart from beautiful hair, I consider it a bonus blessing that I now sleep better than ever before and I’m convinced that every time I apply henna to my scalp - and I like to apply it liberally to wherever else the paste will stretch to in hot weather, like all over my neck and upper back - I feel cool and refreshed. All the aches and tensions are soothed away to leave you feeling wonderfully relaxed, revitalised and totally at ease with the world. My occasional bouts of dandruff are gone too ! I don’t know if science has proven it yet, but I know my own science, and I believe in it. Henna is not only a hair colour idea. It’s a whole therapy in itself. Henna is a blessing not to be ignored or scoffed at. Try it for yourself. My products are safe - there are no added chemical or skin staining ingredients to watch out for. I’ve taken care to ensure that my Renaissance Henna Hair Colour Kit is a hair colour product that gives you maximum freshness and potency from pure ground henna leaves and indigo leaves and nothing else.

A word of warning : If you do decide to try spreading henna or cassia obovata all over the body, avoid eye areas and genitals; only because I’ve never heard of them being used there before so I just don’t know if there are any risks to watch out for ( but if you need to know, then visit www.hennatribe.com and enter the X rated forums area - you’ll have to get permission first from the site administrator). Secondly, remember that henna will stain your skin red or red orange - it varies depending on your skin tone and natural body temperature. If you’re looking just for a therapeutic treatment and you want to avoid skin stain, then try using just cassia obovata - it’s a beautiful skin and nail conditioning treatment and it’s nature’s best hair conditioner. Although it looks very similar to henna, it generally doesn’t stain all. Finally, if you’re contemplating using henna or cassia obovata for general healing , wellbeing, aches and pains etc., all over your body, I strongly recommend you only do so in warm weather. Henna and cassia obovata are very cooling, so if it’s already cold, and if you’re in a cold house, forget it ! You need a warm house, or a warm day to try this out - the hotter it is, the better.

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Cassia Obovata - Nature’s Best Hair Conditioner

Cassia Obovata : Sheer Hair Magic for Hair..... ..Hair Booster, Herbal Hair Conditioner, and Natural Effective Dandruff Treatment

Cassia obovata is nature’s own hair booster and best hair conditioner in one and it’s pure magic for limp hair, and troubled hair, scalp, and skin. It will condition and volumise your hair after one application, giving the appearance and feel of a thicker, fuller head of hair ! Cassia obovata is commonly confused with henna and mistakenly known as “colourless henna” though in fact it comes from an altogether different plant. When crushed, it looks similar to henna leaf powder but is lighter in colour. It promotes healthy, soft and shining hair, and is also reputed to help clear dandruff. It is not a hair colour. Simply mix with water into a henna mud-like paste, apply to the scalp (mainly), and hair, for as long as you like – maximum recommended time is 30 minutes ( unless you’re using it with henna in which case leave it in as long as you like); wash out and you’re left with beautiful, naturally conditioned & cleansed, hair and scalp. You may add your favourite oil to the paste for added moisture and pure nourishment - my favourite hair magic involves popping 5 or 6 cod liver oil capsules [snip the capsules to get the oil out] into the mix, a capsule or 2 of vitamin E oil, and a dash of jojoba oil. Smells a bit fishy but works a treat. If you fancy the oil in the paste, and if smell matters an awful lot to you, you could try mixing up your cassia obovata with a good quality pure rose water ( see link under “Rinses” for information on rose water) and add to it a dash of cold pressed jojoba, olive, wheatgerm, evening primrose (snip as many as required straight out of the capsules),or almond oil.

Really Getting to Know Cassia Obovata and its Relatives

Incidentally, Cassia Obovata is also commonly referred to as Senna Obovata. It is important not to confuse this species of cassia with the cassia which is known as pure cinnamon. Apparently, there are around 400 varieties of cassia !

Here’s the difference : the “cinnamon” cassia is categorised botanically as Cinnamomum Cassia (BLUME) - also known as senna I’m afraid. It’s family is the N.O. Lauraceae. It’s medicinal action and uses are : stomachic, carminative, mildly astringent. Chiefly used to assist and flavour other drugs, being helpful in diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and to relieve flatulence.

Cassia Obovata is a different plant and its crushed powdered leaves looks a lot like henna powder but function very differently to henna. It’s primary characteristics are : anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. Basically it is highly effective against microbes and fungi. Hence, excellent as a dandruff treatment, and an excellent skin and hair conditioner ! It has been known to soothe and restore the most damaged of hair and skin.

The great thing about cassias like cassia obovata and cassia alata [and some other cassias too] is that they contain particularly high levels of anthraquinones and chrysophanic acid. These scary sounding names are supremely effective in promoting healing, and healthy hair and skin. These are amazing plants that outwit chemical hair products by far ! Note that chrysophanic acid in its pure form is yellow, therefore although cassia obovata is “neutral” and generally considered non staining, if it has particularly high levels of chrysophanic acid it may stain yellowish - just like rhubarb root which also has high concentrations of chrysophanic acid. Don’t be scared of the yellow stain - it’s likely to be an indication of the presence of a potent, excellent tonic. Cassia obovata, cassia alata, and rhubarb root, are all excellent candidates for mixing with henna to achieve lighter tones which may suit blonde and ash colour type hair.
Compare cassia obovata with how commercial hair conditioners work :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_conditioner

Cassia Obovata Mud Wrap for Skin, and Repairing Nail Treatment

Cassia obovata makes a beautiful nail and skin conditioning treatment for dry skin and splitting fingernails or toenails. It has both antiseptic and antifungal properties and can also be applied to inflamed and irritated skin around the nails. Simply mix up the powder with water till the paste is of a smooth mud like consistency and apply the mud once or twice a week. Norma Pasekoff Weinberg in her book “Henna from Head to Toe” says some people prefer to use boiled spring or distilled water, cool to lukewarm, to mix up their paste, and recommends adding a teaspoonful of yoghurt and/or 2 - 3 drops of eucalyptus oil for a nail treatment. Before using any essential oil, however, check for sensitivity first : do not use essential oils on diabetics, children, and pregnant mothers, and anyone suffering from any medical condition. You can use your hands, or a wooden spatula or the length of a wooden toothpick to apply the paste to clean dry skin or nails and cuticles, then simply leave on for ten minutes or longer. If you have time, wrap hands/body in some plastic wrap and cover with a towel or old sheet/s and leave on as long as possible. Then rinse off gently in lukewarm water. For nails, finish by buffing with a chamois nail buffer, and for skin and nails, end with a soothing coat of any good quality cold pressed oil or paraben free moisture cream that is acceptable to your conscience Left over paste can be stored in the fridge in a sealed container for 2 -3 days.

Why Treat Parabens with Caution? THE BIG FOUR : methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben

Parabens are commonly used as preservatives in cosmetic and hair products. I personally try hard to avoid products containing any of the big four, and if that’s simply not possible then I go for products with the least number of parabens listed. Studies are being conducted into whether there is a link between parabens and cancer -see http://www.reading.ac.uk/about/newsandevents/releases/PR476.asp. I don’t think they are proven to be carcinogenic at this time, but I do think it is significant that they have been found to be present in so many samples of breast tissue and that studies need to be conducted which either officially condemn them or exculpate them altogether. In the meantime, my view is that they should be treated with caution - both by the cosmetic and hair industry and by the consumer. I think at the very least parabens are skin irritants and bad news for anyone with sensitive skin - see http://dermnetnz.org/dermatitis/parabens-allergy.html. Many big companies promote themselves as caring for the environment and promote expensive skincare which they say is plant derived and good for skin, but they fail to mention in their list of “main ingredients” on their websites that their products contain parabens [ amongst other stuff ]. And when you get the product you automatically discard the outer packaging and just keep a special place for the tube, bottle, or tub of wonder cream. But in fact the outer packaging which you’ve just discarded contains all the references to the hidden nasties. That’s clever marketing !

It’s a matter of personal choice, skin sensitivity, and possibly risk, whether you use products containing parabens. There’s no harm in being safe. In this case being safe could be either side of the fence - the fact is that further studies need to be done.

Where my Henna, Indigo, and Cassia Obovata Come from

All my products are from India and I’ve worked closely with my supplier in India to ensure that we cultivate and pack the freshest and purest henna, indigo, and cassia obovata. My main product, henna, is cultivated in Southern India in a region called Sojat Rajasthan. Henna has been cultivated in Rajasthan since about 1476. Here are some photos of the henna fields where our henna grows.

Absolute Purity, and Cruelty Free

It goes without saying that there are absolutely no additives, chemicals, PPD, or colour dyes in any of my hair colour products. My Renaissance Henna Hair Colour goal is to give you 100% lawsonia inermis, 100% indigofera tinctoria, and 100% cassia obovata. I offer you a chemical free hair dye which I guarantee is a PPD free hair dye. I offer you natural hair colour which has got to be the hair colour idea for this time. The time that we live in is dominated by Loreal hair colour. But Loreal hair colour is vanishing, in more ways than one. Henna and indigo give permanent hair colour and astounding hair colour. Everyone on the planet should try it, at least once in a lifetime. You have a right to a better way ! A way that won’t harm your hair, your body, and your dignity. You deserve better. By taking the trouble to read this far and to understand the dangers of hair dyes like Loreal hair colour, you’ve earned it ! Free yourself !

All my products are cruelty free and not tested on animals. They are tested on myself (and on my family). I consider myself an excellent human guinea pig as I’m overly sensitive to all chemicals and herbs, and if there’s a reaction lurking I definitely react. I’ve endured years of suffering reactions to and irritation from synthetic chemical (& natural chemical) and petroleum based products, and years of searching for the “right” hair product, the “right” hair colour, and the “right” skin and beauty products. I’m not saying what’s right for me will definitely be right for you, but I reckon I’ve come very close to the very best possible solutions for hair, skin, and health, and that if you’re as fed up and frustrated as I was with what’s currently on the widely available commercial market, then it’s worth a try for you as well.

Quantities and Mixing and How to Colour Hair

It isn’t easy to gauge the quantity of powder you need if you’re a first timer with henna and indigo. As you get used to using herbal hair colour you’ll instinctively know how much to use and you’ll build up your own idea of the sort of hair colour chart that you can work within. Having used them once, you’ll have a clearer idea next time how much to use and how to colour hair with them. On medium length normal hair the standard packs of henna and indigo in the Kit, and the 100gms cassia, should allow a good couple of applications, and may stretch to three applications; with cassia you’re mainly applying to the scalp , and then you try to smoosh it around as best you can over the rest of the hair once you’ve covered the scalp.

When you mix henna, indigo, and cassia, be careful to go easy on the amount of liquid you add. A little at a time is important, simply so you don’t flood the powder and end up with ink rather than paste. Press down into the powder to break up the globs as you mix. It’ll look dryish and crumbly, but as you add more liquid it’ll smooth out and absorb everything until it’s all smooth like mud /custard / thick gravy. Once you’’ve got a smooth thickish paste - not too thick as it has to be workable - then it’s ready to enter the dye release time zone; ie if it’s henna then cover it up and leave it alone, and if it’s indigo, don’t cover it up but do leave it alone; and if it’s cassia obovata, it’s fine to leave it up to 20 minutes, covered or not, before you use it or you can use it immediately. Once henna paste is ready to use, you’ll see that the colour of the paste has darkened from greenish to brownish, almost blackish on top - but underneath it’s dull green brown. Indigo paste will turn from greenish to bluish black. Cassia paste will be a sort of dull frog green. If any paste is too thick, just add a few more drops of water and work the paste a little to get it nice and smooth again. You may want the paste slightly wetter if you’re applying it to dry hair or slightly thicker if you’re applying it to wet hair; the choice is yours.

To apply, either section your hair starting at the base of your scalp and work upwards, or just “shampoo in” as best you can - there are no precise hair colour application rules for henna as with hair dyes. You may find it easier to roughly section the hair if it's wet, and just to shampoo in if it's dry, roughly parting it as you go to get it into the roots and along the hair line front, back and sides as best you can; once it's all in, cover and press down to get it to seep down to the roots. Don't worry about precision and don't approach it as you would a standard boxed hair dye ..... be relaxed ! It pretty much works itself into your hair once it's all in and you press it through.

Water, Water everywhere.........

Generally, the water throughout the British Isles sees to work beautifully for both henna and indigo herbal hair colour and allows for great dye release from both. But if you’re in the UK and not getting good hair colour from henna / indigo, or if you live outside the UK, then I suggest you buy distilled bottled water to mix up your henna hair colour and a high ph / mineral rich alkaline water to mix up your indigo, such as bottled mineral water - just make sure from the information on the label that it really is a mineral rich water and not just labelled “spring water” or “mineral water” as some waters are which don’t originate from anywhere remotely near a spring and don’t contain traces of any minerals. For cassia obovata, the water type shouldn’t make any difference at all.

To know more about water, check out the following links : http://www.drlam.com/A3R_brief_in_doc_format/2002-No5-Water.cfm and
http://www.chemistry-react.org/go/Faq/Faq_22616.html

Watch out for Water in Scandinavia ! ( an Indigo trouble spot)... and watch out for water generally !!

I’ve only had one person so far say that my indigo doesn’t work - that one unfortunate result is in Scandinavia. My personal theory is that it’s the water. I strongly advise you, if you’re in Scandinavia, to use distilled bottled water ( or tap water) to mix your henna, and to buy bottled mineral water (e.g. Evian) or my Azemka Aloe Vera Hair Juice to mix your indigo ( the Azemka Juice will also help prevent any irritation from indigo). I’m quite certain that will sort the problem out and give you decent results. Do persevere - if you’ve previously tried henna / indigo and it didn’t work, please try again and change the water.

Take a look at all this ( going off slightly at a tangent here I know, but I think this is essential reading for anyone concerned at all about health issues and to understand why water works for indigo in some countries and not in others) :

http://www.actionpa.org/fluoride/countries.pdf

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1504672,00.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/957372.stm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2007/oct/05/health.politics

http://www.i-sis.org.uk/NotoFluoridation.php

http://www.nofluoride.com/irish_independent.htm

http://www.fluoridealert.org/fluoridation.htm

The way I understand it is that the water in most Scandinavian countries and some European countries, for example, is not chemically treated in the same way as water in other parts of the world such as the UK and USA, with the result that countries like the UK and USA which have chemicals such as Fluorine and Chlorine added to water to kill bacteria, have alkaline rich water. The UK and USA say the addition of these chemicals is necessary because of pollutants in acid rain, and they advocate health benefits, but after reading the above links, I think the so called health benefits are highly questionable. In Scandinavian countries you generally have purer, more acid, water. It may be not as chemically / alkaline charged as our water, but that means, unfortunately, it doesn’t kick start indigo.

Take a look at this :

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:TUHhUtahh-EJ:www.waterobservatory.org/library.cfm

The way I understand it is that the water in Finland, for example, is not chemically treated as much as water in other parts of the world such as the UK / USA, with the result that countries like the UK and USA which have chemicals such as Fluorine and Chlorine added to water to kill bacteria ( this is necessary because of pollutants in acid rain ) have alkaline rich water. In Scandinavian countries you generally have purer, more acid, water. It may be not as chemically / alkaline charged as our water, but that means, unfortunately, it doesn’t kick start indigo.

Patch Test

Some people would say it’s ridiculous to even suggest a patch test for anything as natural as henna, indigo, and cassia obovata. Although it’s true that these products are exceptionally safe to use - let’s face it, they’re a life saver compared to the chemical alternatives - the fact remains that we also have to acknowledge that in this day and age of allergies, allergic reactions, and haywire immune systems, a patch test is generally regarded as sensible [for any product] to check for allergies. Remember that even though these colours come from plants, they can cause allergic reactions as well ! I’ve developed an allergy to vegetable derived glycerine on my face! Vegetable derived glycerine is a natural product, although I imagine it’s the stuff used in the extraction process that’s causing the problem. The point is, don’t assume that because something is “herbal”,“natural” or “organic” it means allergy free. Very few people, if any, will experience allergy symptoms from henna, indigo, and cassia obovata but it’s best to test and to be safe.

First time users are reminded to start out with the Renaissance Henna Hair Colour Kit which comes complete with full instructions. The other packs do not contain instructions and are therefore for people who are already experienced in using henna and indigo. The cassia obovata pack does carry basic instructions.

Hair Colour Advice : How to do a Patch Test

Pre-mix a small quantity of henna hair colour - about 5gms - according to the instructions in the Renaissance Henna Hair Colour Kit and apply the paste to the inside of your arm or elbow crease. You can tie an old piece of material (like cotton), or some plastic wrap like cling film, around the arm to keep the paste in place. Henna will stain the skin red / red orange. Wash off a couple of hours later and wait 48 hours. If you experience no irritation in that time then it’s reasonably safe to assume you can use it without any problem.

Next, do an indigo patch test. Mix up about 5gms of indigo hair colour into a paste according to the Instructions in the Kit and wash off after about an hour or longer. Indigo will skin stain a bluish colour. Wait at least 48 hours. If you experience no irritation in that time then it’s reasonably safe to assume you can use it without any problem.

Similarly, do a patch test for cassia obovata. Leave on for half an hour or longer and wash off. Cassia obovata should not stain at all, but if it does stain it should be an exceptionally light yellow to light orange colour and it should wash off or fade within about 24 hours.

The colour stains are nothing to worry about. Provided you’re not allergic to these plants, the application of henna, indigo, and cassia obovata is good for you. If you do not experience any irritation, it’s fine to go ahead and use all of these hair colour and hair conditioner products.

HAIR COLOUR ADVICE : What Hair Colour will I get with henna / indigo ?
Answer : Do a Strand Test to Determine your End Colour - especially on blonde and ash colour hair !

I can’t guarantee the end result hair colour, so a henna and indigo strand test is strongly recommended, especially if you have blonde hair colour or light ash colour hair. As a rule of thumb, henna / indigo will always darken and deepen your hair colour, not lighten it. If you’re a blonde hair colour and you’re looking for some funky hair colour streaks, have a look at the Carly friend photos in the Hair Colour Gallery photos where Carly has highlighted blonde hair with henna streaks that look just awesome - follow the Hair Colour Gallery link below.

To predict colour, follow the strand test instructions in the Renaissance Henna Hair Colour Kit. Cut a few strands of hair from the nape of your neck for testing or ask your hairdresser to save some hair for testing next time you have a trim. If you want, send me your hair and I’ll test it for free and I’ll put the results up in the Hair Colour Gallery for your hair colour. Be warned, however, that strand tests are generally disappointing compared to the real thing ! Whereas a strand test will give you a glimmer of hope, the full hair application will give you sheer passion and hair colour to die for! Nobody’s quite sure why this is; some say it’s the magic of henna. It’s probably got to do with body temperature, and the fact that henna is a “changing hair colour” - the colour oxidises during a period of approximately 48 hours and adjusts differently and uniquely on real hair on real heads fired up by the warmth of beating hearts. You don’t get all that in a strand test. The full head application is a unique experience. Something that everyone on the planet should try at least once in their lifetime. Because it’s the key to a better way; the gateway to freedom from chemical hair dyes that certainly do no good. And goodness is in high demand and deserves your attention and deserves to be acted upon as a priority over that which produces no benefit.

What I can tell you is that you will get translucent colour that binds to your own hair colour and that it won’t be a disaster. Natural pure henna and indigo are not disaster colours (provided you use indigo correctly - see “A Word about Indigo” in the Dangers & Warnings Section). Remember, they are nothing like the compound hennas mentioned above. No matter what killer chemicals you’ve been using you won’t get caught in a catastrophe with pure henna and indigo natural hair colour. They are supreme natural colours that work with you, for you, and entirely to your benefit. They give you natural hair colour that reflects in the light. They simply and magically enhance your own hair colour, or deepen it to something beautiful. It’s slightly mysterious. And it’s extremely beautiful. It takes 48 hours for the colours to adjust to their final hair colour shade, determined by your body chemistry alone.

If you have a look at the Hair Colour Gallery photos [GO TO BLONDE HAIR COLOUR GALLERY] you’ll see the results of henna and indigo strand tests which I’ve carried out on different hair colours: blonde hair colour and ash hair colour, and brown hair colour. Have a look and see if you can identify the closest match to your natural hair colour. You’ll also see before and after hair colour photos on all hair colours including grey hair. You’ll see that grey hair on a black hair colour is covered beautifully with henna and indigo hair colour. The Instructions in the Renaissance Henna Hair Colour Kit attempt to predict hair colour shades as best as possible, but a precise hair colour chart is not possible. For anyone with black hair colour or brown hair colour, the change is not drastic, but for anyone with blonde hair colour or ash hair colour, it is a drastic change and my hair colour advice is that it’s something you need to carefully consider, unless your heart’s made up that you want a really funky hair colour or a red hair colour ! But the funky hair colour comes with henna hair colour alone; once you apply indigo you’ll be able to tone it down to brown or black.

You may find it helpful to create a virtual makeover with a particular hair colour shade to see how you’ll look. Go to http://hairstyles.virtual-hairstyles.com/virtual_hairstyles.asp for help with finding an answer to the question “what colour should I dye my hair ?”. I’ve put together the Hair Colour Gallery photos because I didn’t want to bedazzle you with L’Oreal style jaw dropping hair colour chart colours. I felt it would be more realistic, and honest, to simply show the actual change in colour with first henna, then indigo, to the basic range of across the board hair colours.

I do get lots of people asking for hair colour advice and wanting to know what their end colour is likely to be and how to achieve a particular hair colour shade. But it’s the same answer - no one can guarantee your end result hair colour. Henna and indigo are first and foremost a beautiful philosophy in our time (liberation from chemical hair dyes), and then they are vibrant, superb, and lasting hair colours which are unique to you and I, and which I am sure you will love. It’s very much a learning experience and a learning to think differently experience. To achieve darker hair colour shades you need to learn to leave the indigo in for different periods of time to experiment - so I find myself suggesting to people to do 2 or 3 strand tests at a time, leaving the indigo in for 25 mins, 45 mins, and an hour and a quarter. You can leave it in longer - the longer it’s in for, the darker it goes. Full Instructions ( & further useful info.) are all in the Kit , so please try it ! I sincerely apologise for not being able to answer specific questions as they are just so many, and much as I’d love to be able to guide each person individually, it is simply not possible to put together detailed individual replies. I can only urge you, if you are new to henna and indigo, to try ! Study the photos and the hair colour advice on how to change your hair colour in the Hair Colour Gallery. Generous quantities of powders are included together with full Instructions and useful info. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain. Once you’re fired with the resolve to make a real change in your life, the Instructions in the Kit and the info. on this site are all you need to get started.

If you’re prepared to work with henna and indigo, then you have to be prepared to experiment to an extent and to understand and learn how you can vary the hair colour shades depending on the quantities of the powders you mix and how long you leave them in for. Once you get the hang of it, it’s dead easy to fiddle the colours ! The Instructions in the Kit will guide you through and help you get started, and frequent reference back to this site, in particular keeping an eye on the photos in the Hair Colour Gallery - click on the link just below - will help you to get the colours you’re after. A huge range of hair colour shades are possible, and, yes, every grey hair can be covered ! Henna and henna / indigo give gorgeous translucent hair colour. You’ve just got to be prepared to experiment a little. And I will post further info. on other plant dyes and natural additives as I source the best and safest available.

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Test your Hair’s Elasticity and Keep Warm

Test your hair’s elasticity before applying henna to determine if you may need to pre-condition it. You’ll probably already know if you have dry hair, but if you don’t, then follow Norma Pasekoff Weinberg ’s tip : pull off or cut a single strand of hair [or unravel one from your hairbrush], wrap it around your index fingers, and stretch. If the strand does not increase by a minimum of one third, the hair may need some pre conditioning. Remember that as you get older your hair loses its Omega-3 fatty acids. Oils such as evening primrose oil help put them back ( squeeze out of the capsule straight into your hair for pre & post shampoo hair conditioning ). I reckon a good squish of cod liver oil straight out of a capsule (or as many as required depending on the length and thickness of your hair), once in a while, helps too ! But if you want to avoid smelling like a fish all day, then just gently massage the cod liver oil into your scalp and hair an hour or two before you shampoo and then wash out the residue. One thing I’ve learnt from this is how little oil some vitamin capsule manufacturers actually put in their capsules - you’ll be lucky to get 2 or 3 little drops out of some capsules (sometimes it seems like I’m literally getting only 1 drop or 2), so try mixing it into a base oil ( eg wheatgerm oil / olive oil / jojoba oil / almond oil / grapeseed oil ) and then apply, as the vitamin oil on its own may not be enough if you have a lot of hair. Go easy on the amount of oil as it can be hard to shampoo out, and it can smell after a while as well, and make your hair feel itchy, heavy and lank. Warm up just a little oil in the palms of your hands and massage through to roots and ends, gently.

Henna and Dry Hair

Henna, generally, will condition your hair but very dry hair will benefit from fortnightly or monthly conditioning with cassia obovata, and from washing with rhassoul clay or with our reetha powder, shikakai powder or whole soapnuts ( see shop page ). Try also adding 2 to 3 tablespoons of good quality cold pressed oil to the henna paste before applying it. Also pre condition hair by oiling your hair with coconut oil or cold pressed wheatgerm or jojoba oil ( cold pressed virgin olive oil is excellent too). Apply oil liberally to your scalp and work it well all through your hair either the night before you shampoo, or at least an hour before each shampoo if you can’t stand oil in your hair for long; apply a cling film wrap and hot towel wrap on top for a heat treatment that will help the oil to work, then shampoo out thoroughly. Both cassia obovata and/or oiling your hair are excellent hair conditioning treatments for dry hair ( cassia obovata will in fact benefit all hair types, but especially dry and damaged hair) and this, along with our range of natural hair washes, should eliminate the need to use a commercial hair conditioner altogether. It doesn’t really matter whether you apply henna to wet or dry hair, oiled or grease free hair. My personal preference is to apply it to absolutely dry hair ( just before it needs a wash), especially in our cool climate. And if it’s winter time, don’t forget to wrap up and make sure the house is warm.

Hair Colour Advice : How Often Should I Colour My Hair ? / How long does henna / indigo last ?

How long does it take for your roots to show? How quickly does your henna hair colour seem to fade? That’s the only way to gauge the timing of repeat applications. When you use henna and indigo hair colour you’ll see that they pretty much work like a permanent hair colour. If you have grey hair or a light hair colour shade then you’ll notice the difference in colour as your roots start to show new hair growth. It does vary from person to person. I find that at certain times of year my roots show up quicker than at other times - for me, it generally varies from between 3 weeks to 6 (even 8) weeks; but sometimes it’s as fast as 2 weeks. It just depends how fast your hair grows. I generally choose to do a full head application each time my roots start to show, to get new gloss and colour build up in my hair - the more you use it, the more the colour builds up and it lasts and lasts. If you’re grey and you have very short hair you may need to henna / indigo more frequently if your hair grows fast; on longer hair, you’ll probably find you can get away with longer gaps as the previously coloured long hair will most likely frame your face and fall over your roots and completely hide them.

Henna hair colour tends to be permanent by itself the more you use it, but it does fade over time. How quickly it fades varies from individual to individual, and repeat applications are needed to maintain rich glossy hair colour. The only way to determine how often you need to use it is to start using it and see how long it lasts on you. Indigo has a tendency to wash out quickly in the beginning, especially if you’ve not applied it for long, but after a couple of applications you’ll find it does also build up permanent deep rich hair colour when used over henna. I find that using indigo hair colour regularly over henna hair colour has built up a rich deep dark colour which is permanent. I can sometimes notice redder “highlights” in my black brown hair as the indigo fades away, but no matter how much the indigo fades or washes out, the longer length grey hair maintains deep dark colour and although it fades to brownish, it does not revert to orange red ( orange red is the original henna only colour) or grey. Only the new roots show up as grey hair. I find that even faded henna / indigo hair colour on my greys is quite acceptable as it shows up brown, and brown hair in black hair or black brown hair still looks natural.

At the end of the day, the answer is you can henna indigo as often as you wish, or as often as you need to.

Hair Colour Advice : How much henna for hair / indigo do I need to use and how long do I leave it in for ?

It depends how long and how thick or fine your hair is. As a general rule of thumb, I suggest these quantities for “normal” hair, but I would say to reduce these quantities by about 10 - 20gms for really fine hair, and double the quantities here for really thick hair : If you’re in a country that doesn’t use grammes, sorry, just try to adjust according to the weight of the pack , eg 50gms = a quarter pack of the 200gms bag of henna, 100gms = half a pack & so on ) :

• short / chin length hair - 50 gms henna / 30 or 40 gms indigo
• shoulder length hair - 100 gms henna / 70 or 80 gms indigo
• mid back length hair - 200gms henna / 140 or 150 gms indigo
• hip length hair - 300 gms henna / 210 or 220 gms indigo

Roughly, I would advise to leave henna in your hair a minimum of 2 hours; the process can be speeded up by use of a hair drier, set to a moderate heat setting, if you’re in a real hurry. How long you leave the indigo in for depends how deep a colour you want. It varies from say 10 minutes to 2 hours, or even longer if you want ! Ten to fifteen minutes will be sufficient to change your rich reddish henna tones to a muted brown hair colour ; half an hour would give you a really deep brown black hair colour ; an hour would give you black hair; 2 hours an intense deep raven black hair colour. You get the idea anyway. To start with, if you’re aiming for brown hair colour, leave the indigo in for ten to fifteen minutes and no more. Then you can determine if you need to leave it in for a longer or shorter period the next time round. You’ll find it useful to study the hair colour gallery photos and note how long each person applied henna / indigo in their hair to get the hair colours shown in the hair colour pictures.

Hair Colour Advice : Indigo Blue Black Hair Colour

There seems to be a difference of opinion on how best to mix indigo to achieve blue black hair colour. I personally always recommend mixing indigo with (preferably) cool to luke warm water ( alkaline mineral water / UK tap water ) and salt plus cider vinegar, then leaving the hair totally exposed to air, or as much air as possible by lifting the plastic wrap from time to time to allow air to circulate underneath. But some people swear it works best by mixing it with half plain cider vinegar and half boiling hot water ( some even heat the vinegar up with the water ) and say apply for as many hours as you can bear ! Take heed - if you want to try this, make sure you’re in a well ventilated area. Indigo mixed with hot water stinks, and if you’re sensitive, you can end up with a nasty headache, a smelly house, and feel totally queasy. I’m sensitive to the hot water indigo mix, but some people claim to be fine with it. By the way, I wouldn't recommend essential oils of any kind in a henna or indigo mix for hair as it will probably result in an absolutely throbbing headache - beware ! Additives in henna / indigo hair mixes will enter the bloodstream though the scalp and can cause side effects... that includes coffee due to the caffeine !

Shampoos

If possible, whatever your hair type, be wary of sodium laureth sulphate and sodium lauryl sulphate based shampoos; I avoid them like the plague. If you don’t have a choice, at least try not to rub the shampoo into your scalp and just gently massage into the hair and rinse out asap. Ammonium laureth sulphate and ammonium lauryl sulphate based shampoos are less evil in my view, but by no means totally pure and harmless either. See http://www.natural-health-information-centre.com/sodium-lauryl-sulfate.html and http://sci-toys.com/ingredients/ammonium_lauryl_sulfate.html. My objection to them is based on the fact that they are known skin irritants (they irritate my skin, eyes, and scalp) and that sodium laureth (query lauryl as well) sulphate is more easily absorbed into the skin than ammonium lauryl and laureth sulphate. I don’t like them but I don’t reckon there is sufficient evidence to condemn them as carcinogenic - see http://www.snopes.com/toxins/shampoo.htm. And for an interesting analysis of dandruff shampoo ingredients see http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=152053.

Your ammonium laurels apparently are milder than your ammonium laureths, but for some reason it’s the other way round with your sodiums - lots of people seem to be saying sodium laureth is less irritating than sodium lauryl. The ammonium lauryls and laureths claim to be plant derived surfactants; I respect that, but I do have a problem with the materials used in the extraction and chemical formulation of these surfactants and that’s why I think it’s good to opt out altogether if you have very dry, damaged, or sensitive hair and scalp. And if you’re ok with them, that’s fine, but I think it’s a good idea to experiment and see how your hair feels with different ingredient bases ( & whether you experience sensitivity and itchiness anywhere else apart from your hair and head), and I also think it’s probably a real treat to your hair to opt for a complete alternative to the Lauryls and Hardies altogether. I don’t know a heck of a lot about them, and I must admit it’s a minefield; mind boggling at times, and also something of a danger area for layman research as so many people seem to have a vested interest in claiming them to be either totally safe or totally or potentially carcinogenic.

For a humorous dishwashing discussion which really gets to the bottom of what detergent is, see http://www2b.abc.net.au/science/k2/stn/archives/archive35/newposts/287/topic287766.shtm

Meaning of Carcinogenic

http://ptcl.chem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/glossary/carcinogen.html.

Hair Advice : What’s the best shampoo?

If you’re happy with what you’re using and it doesn’t irritate you then stick with it for now ! Out of the range of surfactant chemical based shampoos which are available, most of which are inevitably sodium laureth or sodium lauryl sulphate based, I prefer ammonium