Zenia 100% Pure & Natural Henna Powder (Lawsonia Inermis) | 100 grams (3.5 oz) | Orange-Red Hair Color | Triple Sifted | Fresh from Rajasthan | No Chemicals, No Additives

I've been using this henna for about 5 months. I have lots of gray and this henna covers it better than any professional or box dye I've ever used, it doesn't damage my hair and doesn't cause irritation. Chemical dyes kept my hair damaged and breaking but I was so insecure about my gray I would use them anyway. Since I've been using henna my hair is being restored to it's natural healthy state, however, it can be very drying so I do a reconstructive mask treatment afterwards followed by hydrating conditioner in combo with sitting under my steamer. I love the auburnish hue it gives my hair. This is officially my go to for color. I let it develop for 3 hours and then let it sit on my hair for 3 hours to process. Letting it develop too long (6 hours max), letting it sit too long on your hair (5 hours max), not using clarifying shampoo before applying and not using distilled water can actually hinder the results- when I made these mistakes it didn't cover my gray as well. Many people say not to wash afterwards but I do my whole wash day routine after rinsing and it doesn't affect my gray coverage or the richness of the color.

I've used henna to color my hair before, but it's been a long time. If you haven't used this before, it's very important for the henna to CURE and OXIDIZE when you make it. You MUST use something acidic to mix the henna or it will not activate. I used: the juice of 1 lime, extra lemon juice, and two black tea bags made into a cup of hot, very dark tea--this is the water I used. You can also use a cup of strong coffee. Basically anything acidic and dark will help you here. Mix this with the henna powder and let it SIT for at least 1-2 hours-- you will notice the top surface goes from a mossy green to a brownish green, the longer you let it sit the more it will oxidize as the henna activates. Put on gloves ;) , Apply to dry hair and let sit at least one hour-- 2-4 is better. The same oxidization happens on your hair, so don't panic when you first rinse it and it comes out Conan O'Brien red. It will darken and deepen over the next couple days. You can also mix it with a little indigo to mellow the red into a darker brown to black, which I will probably do next time. I love the smell of henna too, it's like warm grassy hay, tatami mats and clean earth. I'm sure my coworkers will rag on me tomorrow at work when I show up with red hair, but they'll get over it. ;)

This is the first time I've used henna every and the first time I have put ANY color on my hair for 20 years. I am 48 and my natural hair color is reddish light brown to strawberry blond after time in the sun. I have long straight virgin hair. I followed the instructions on the bag exactly. My plan was to make my natural red a little stronger and color a few grays that have come in. I processed the henna according to directions and left on my head for 3 hours, per the instructions. My hair came out a very dark red - and carrot top orange where it had been gray or blond. It kept getting darker every day for a week. It was shockingly dark orange. The bag came quickly and the powder was clean and fine. I think the product worked exactly as it is supposed to but it was just a little too much change for me. I broke with the instructions and washed my hair with baking soda and lemon juice the next morning after application, then shampood twice. I thought it looked a little less vivid, but after a day or two it was redder than ever and appeared darker. A few days later I tried again with the baking soda and lemon juice and got the same result - it seemed a little less red, but within a day or two it was darker, but maybe the red was a little less? I can say that my hair felt very soft and conditioned after application. Now I am just patiently trying to get my summer blond highlights to return - I've given up on reducing the red, but really just want a few blond streaks like I usually get. I did not study enough before hand and didn't realize henna hair does NOT bleach in sun, like every other dyed or natural hair - but instead it gets darker???? in the sun? I'm almost to the point of trying to put peroxide streaks in my hair. Good product. Too good. If I recover from this very dark mahogany orange copper red head look and every recover my natural color, I will use again sparingly, only on certain strands, and not leave on as long.