LIGHT MOUNTAINHenna Hair Color & Conditioner - Bright Red, 1 Pound, Organic Henna Leaf Powder, Chemical-Free, Semi-Permanent Dye for Men and Women

Okay so I'll explain step by step for a newbie how to use this for a good stain (I've only been doing it 6 to 8 years I'm not an expert but I've gotten a good routine that will help you)Disclaimer!!!!! This stuff stains!!! Don't wear your fav jeans or sit on your white sofa while doing this!!! This should be common sense but to be fair you may assume natural stain shouldn't be treated as chemical dye. Wrong!! The only difference is this stuff isn't poison but still handle it like a regular dye1. You'll need this or any shade of "henna" (quotations because henna is a pure plant, this is a blend of natural herbs and roots as most are to achieve a natural looking color)2. You'll need plastic wrap or a swim cap (I bought a swim cap here on amazon, cheap for long hair) this will trap warmth for a better color and keep the mess to a minimum.3. A bowl, a spatula and rubber or latex gloves ( they say not to use metal as it may alter results, I've used metal, it was fine but err on the safe side and use glass or plastic)4. You'll need an acid to achieve a strong color, I always push Apple cider vinegar but lemon juice, orange juice, lime etc can be used, I've used coffee but the dye was not as lasting.5. Mix henna starting in a 3:1 ratio henna to liquid. You want this to look like thin mashed potatoes. Smooth and thick. Let stand somewhere safe for 10 mins6. Put on old sweats or just go in your birthday suit, get into the tub with the henna if you have access to a mirror in there, if not lay your shower curtain on your bathroom floor to use the mirror over the sink.7. There are two methods for application, the rub it in like it's shampoo (I don't like the results of this for root coloring but if you must do it. Stay in the tub where you can clean up easily) or the salon method of parting the hair and painting it on. To do this take a comb or your fingers and part your hair, paint the henna with gloved fingers in a two inch line over on side of the part. Repeat then fold the hair over and paint again. Do this until all your roots covered, now you can used the rest of the henna to smooth the length of your hair and wrap around your head smoothing it. You should look like your hair is in a doobie wrap (Google this is a girls hair wrapping style) now that you hair is muddy take your plastic wrap or swim cap and put it on, you can even wear a towel over this to retain more heat for better dye release but its not necessary.8. Wait. Wait for at least 2 hours I'd opt for 5. Think of it as a color scale, how dark or light so you want your color? Lighter less darker longer. Easy.9. Do not shampoo this out. Ever. If you must rinse it with anything but water which is best, use apple cider vinegar mixed with water (a 50/50 mix) this will loosen up the henna and make it easier to brush. I'd suggest double rinsing your hair in the bath tub to shake loose every strand.10. Put it up in a towel and let dry. After dry gently brush hair, if it feels damp or sticky rinse and repeatSuggestions:Do not wash your hair right before using henna, I actually recommend this method (search votewithyourcents shampoo free ) as it has turned out so well for me that I no longer need any hair products or styling tools and it's dirt cheap!!For your first stain I'd suggest getting your whole head but every time after just do your roots, this keeps all hair colored or stained for over 2 years (if you try the shampoo free method, it will last 3-6 months, the color won't fade and will cost you .58 cents per treatment)Do not try to chemical treat after this, it won't take the henna conditions the hair much too well.

Wife reports: she tried this henna for the first time in dark brown. She has hair almost to her knees. She noticed sun-fade on the top of her head and opted to include henna into her hair treatments. She mixed with castor oil, fermented rice water, Amla powder, apple cider vinegar and freshly ground coffee brewed hot. She allowed the mixture to rest for two hours in a glass bowl so that it achieved a smooth paste consistency. Once she was ready to apply, she warmed the glass bowl up using a double boiler; glass bowl with henna mixture over pan of boiling water. Once she raised the temp stirring continuously she applied from the back of the nap to the front hairline. With gloves she massaged small sections with the henna applied working it into each section of hair in one direction. After the section was massaged she rolled it up to the top of her head until all the hair made a bun. She then wrapped her head in cling wrap. Wiped off excess henna from around face, ears and neck. She also wrap the entire hairline with cotton coil. From there she put a shower cap on. Over the next 6 hours she would heat her head up by wrapping in a warm towel. She notes the henna never dried out which made it easy to rinse. She rinsed hair in temped filtered water; filtration removes chlorine, heavy metals etc. once water ran clean she used a neem oil conditioner treatment she makes to further breakup any remaining henna concentrating on the scalp. That scalp treatment sat for thirty minutes under a silk/satin pillow case she turned into a head wrap. Afterwards she rinsed her head again starting with temped filtered water then closed the cuticles by finishing with cold filtered water. Without rubbing or twisting she removed excess water and set her hair into this thing she uses to make heat-less curls then air-dried.The color took immediately and deepened over the next two days. It allowed natural high and low lights to achieve even subtle tones. She does not wash her hair with conventional shampoo/conditioner products so the color has not faded in the slightest.Overall this is a quality product. As a guy I enjoyed not having to smell curried-wife at night like I have smelt from other henna products she used. Her hair looks great and she is happy. She also stated there is a pound of product that will last several treatments. She however mentioned that the plastic gloves were junky opting to use nitril gloves she has and due to the length of her hair the plastic sheet for a head wrap was insufficient.

Most consistent brand out there for dye release. I mix with 1 to 2 table spoons of Reetha Powder from another manufacturer which darkens the red that deposits on the gray hairs, otherwise the grays turn bright orange and it takes 2-3 days for the natural oxidation to darken the orange-y gray hairs. Photo is immediately after rinsing/drying post color. I mix with almost boiling distilled water, allow to sit 30 minutes and test dye release on skin then apply to roots and wrap in Saran Wrap. I keep on from 3 to 4 hours depending on what my schedule allows. I am always pleased when I use this specific brand of henna.