Apply Henna & Indigo More Effectively with these Tips

I normally carry out henna treatments every 8 – 12 weeks depending on if I’m wearing my hair out or in a protective style.

Towards the end of 2015, I decided I was overdue for a henna and indigo treatment but I did a few things differently, which made the experience easier and less cumbersome than usual.

I use Nupur henna and Sudina indigo or Henna Guys indigo for my treatments and assign one day of the weekend for it because this takes allllllll day long and then some. You can read other henna related articles HERE.

Apply Henna & Indigo More Effectively with these Tips

1. Slighty Heat the Henna Mix

I warmed the henna over a bowl of hot water prior to application. Once it was warm, I whisked for about 5 minutes before I applied to every strand of hair.

I found warming it up helped the henna spread more easily. It also gave me a relaxing feeling as I applied and helped me enjoy a great nap while I left it in for 8 hours.

The first pic is the initial mix 36 hours before application, pic 2 is after the dye was released and pic 3 is the final mixture when I was ready to use it. 

2. Wash Hair 48 Hours Before Application

I washed my hair with diluted Giovanni SAS Moisture Shampoo. I wanted clean hair without stripping it and this was perfect. Another option is CON Argan Oil Moisture Shampoo.

On henna day, I sectioned my hair into 2 parts for the application. I wrapped it up in cling film afterward. 

3. Add CMC Powder to Indigo Mix

When the time came to apply the indigo, I mixed in a packet of cmc powder. This helped make the mix creamier and easier to spread.

Indigo is grainy and very annoying to get through the hair. The creamer made all the difference and helped control how much I applied without wasting it.

4. Deep Condition After 48 Hours

I waited a few days after the henna and indigo application for the color to settle in then did an overnight deep conditioning treatment with Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner.

Any favourite deep conditioner would work. Before I rinsed out the next morning, I co-washed my hair. Not sure why the second pic is blurry. 

The results of doing all of the above was a very deep blue-black hair colour, big bouncy curls and hair that felt very strong when stretched.

I braided while it was damp with a mix of KKNT, castor oil, almond oil and vitamin E oil, and commenced my 2016 protective style challenge the next day.

I had good results previously from using henna and indigo but the results from applying the 4 tips above led to a significant improvement in the look and feel of my hair.