Advice on Herbal Grey Hair Dye Formula

Thank you for your question regarding your herbal hair dye formula using henna (ใบเทียน) to cover grey hair. Based on your results, where grey hair did not take color well and previously bleached ends turned greenish, here's some additional advice:

Understanding the Results

• Green Tint: The green color on bleached ends likely resulted from the basicblue dye reacting with the underlying yellow/orange tones from the henna on lightened hair (Blue + Yellow = Green).
• Poor Grey Coverage: Henna primarily provides red/orange tones. White or grey hair lacks underlying pigment, making it difficult for henna alone to achieve a dark color or cover the grey completely in one application.

Key Ingredient for Darker Shades

To achieve black or dark brown shades when using henna-based herbal hair dye, the essential ingredient to add is Indigo powder (ผงคราม). Traditional Indigo powder, derived from the Indigofera plant, provides blue-black tones that combine with the red/orange from henna to create brown and black.

Recommended Approach: Using Henna and Indigo

The most effective way to cover grey hair and achieve dark brown or black using herbal dyes is often a two-step process:

1. Step 1: Henna Application: Apply a paste of henna powder mixed with water (or your cream base) to the hair, focusing on the grey areas. This step lays down a red/orange base color on the grey hair, which is necessary for the indigo to bind to and create darker shades. Leave on for the recommended time, then rinse and dry.
2. Step 2: Indigo Application: Immediately after the henna step, apply a paste of Indigo powder mixed with water (or your cream base). The indigo will react with the henna color on your hair to create brown or black. The final color depends on the ratio of henna to indigo and the processing time. Rinse thoroughly.

For a one-step process to achieve brown (not black), you can mix henna and indigo powders together in the desired ratio before applying.

Adjusting Your Formula

• Remove basicblue: To avoid the green tint, it is strongly recommended to remove the basicblue from your formula.
• Add Indigo Powder (ผงคราม): This is crucial for achieving brown or black.
• Consider Cuttlefish Ink Black Powder: While traditional Indigo is standard for use with henna, Cuttlefish Ink Black Powder (which was found in our search) is another natural colorant that provides black pigment and could potentially be explored as an alternative or addition for black color, though its interaction with henna might differ from indigo.
• Review Wood black and ColorFix: Evaluate if these ingredients are necessary when using the traditional henna-indigo method. The combination of henna and indigo is usually sufficient for color development.

Important Note

Always perform a strand test on a small, hidden section of hair before applying the mixture to your entire head to check the color result and processing time.

By incorporating Indigo powder and adjusting your method, you should be able to achieve better grey coverage and the desired dark brown or black color.