Only God knows what my real hair colour looks like! I mastered a natural way to dye my hair with pure henna a while ago… I started with the basic method using henna Sahara Tazarine. But I wanted to make it easier for you too, so here’s a step-by-step tutorial.
I’ve been introduced to the world of henna and Tazarine by Angela, an Italian friend who’s an expert in herbs and massages. Then Radwa, my Uni colleague and Egyptian friend, shared a little herbal secret to make the most of henna!
This is how this tutorial was born: how to dye your hair with henna Tazarine and get its luscious red shine. That’s the easy way.
Henna is a natural colourant made from the leaves – dried, crushed and grounded into a fine powder – of the plant called Lawsonia inermis. For this tutorial, you’ll need pure henna powder. I used with success – and I highly recommend – the ‘yellow variety/box’ of Tazarine, which I’ve been told to be the most powerful of the kind and of this Moroccan brand. The ‘beauty archaeologist’ is back in action: I dug this beauty trick out the sand of the past. Do you know that Egyptians knew the tinctorial powder of henna?
To dye your hair with henna Tazarine you’ll need:
- a box of henna Tazarine (a box is enough for middle-length hair)
- a plastic bowl
- a wooden spoon
- disposable gloves
- cling film
- hot water (500-750 ml)
- 6 karkadé (hibiscus tea) filtres or – if not available – rooibos tea
- measuring bowl (for your tea)
- an old hair towel
- a couple of hair clips
- a body butter or EVO oil
- hair dye brush (optional)
In this list, you see the essentials you should already have if you’re used to dying your hair at home. With henna, however, you still need some specific tools and extra care because henna powder and henna paste stain really bad. Henna has a natural and lasting staining powder. It stains everything with no mercy, which is good for your hair, less for skin, pieces of furniture, and fabrics. The mixing bowl should be made of plastic or terracotta, while the spatula of wood. These items should be used solely to prepare your colouring paste and just for that. A body butter of your choice would avoid staining your skin, particularly your hairline, neck, nape and ears.
Here’s how to dye your hair with henna (Tazarine) at home and get a warm kick of red with another pinnable photo tutorial.
A couple of notes: unlike chemical hair dyes - which penetrate into your hair fibres - henna will wrap your hair instead. Hence, you're safe to spread your paste onto clean hair. Start the colouring session with fresh hair, free of any styling product.
- Infuse 6 karkadé (hibiscus tea) tea bags in 500/750 ml of hot water and let them release the colour for 5 minutes. You can use some red tea like rooibos, for a pure matter of availability, instead. Double-check your alternative tea: it should be pure tea without fruit extracts.
- Empty the content of a box of henna Sahara Tazarine into a plastic bowl. It’s very volatile, so be careful! It looks like matcha tea.
- Pour the tea slowly and mix well with your wooden spoon. Keep mixing until you get a lump-free paste. Its colour will be dark khaki.
- Prepare yourself: a) cover your shoulder and neck with an old hair towel and keep it in place with a hair clip; b) apply a thick layer of body butter or olive oil along your hairline, ears, lobes and neck. c) Wear your gloves; make sure you’re comfy and have everything you’ll need (more hair clips, a mirror and maybe a hair dye brush) close to you.
- Part your hair in sections and spread the paste: a) start spreading the paste from the temple and nape moving toward the centre. Make sure you coat your hair evenly through the whole lengths. b) Massage the paste to distribute it, then collect your hair on the top of your head. The paste will harden and will stick the hair in place. c) Wrap your hair in cling film and wear an old beanie to keep your hair warm.
Wait…
After step #5, you have to wait and relax. That sounds nice! Henna will do its magic by developing its characteristic red hue within 2 hours circa. The paste must stay warm to work correctly, this is why cling film, a loose beanie and staying in a warm room are essential to me. Since henna coats the hair, it has multiple effects: it’s a nourishing and fortifying mask, as well as a glossing treatment.
I usually keep my henna for up to 8 hours to work as a 100% natural conditioning hair remedy.
Once the resting time is over, rinse your hair with water or wash it with a mild shampoo for coloured hair or with henna extracts if you don’t mind its tea-like smell. Keep rinsing to remove all the bits. Skip the conditioner and dry your hair as usual. At nighttime, put a dry towel on your pillow... this magic herb keeps staining, while it develops its colour after the removal!
Every time I dye my hair with henna, I appreciate my renewed colour the next morning, but it’s just two days after that I know my definitive hair colour! Every time is a mess but a delightful and eco-friendly discovery.
Valentina Chirico aka Valens
