HOW TO USE INDIGO WITH HENNA

INDIGO  LEAVES

Indigo Powder is also known as Neel and Wasma.  Indigo plant grows to one to two meters high with small green leaves and purple colour flowers.  Indigo is an ancient dye plant known for the clarity and fastness of the blue colour.  This is the dye traditionally used to natural hair colours. Indigofera tinctoria is a natural dye from Indigo Powder.    Indigo powder is used to naturally deepen the intensity of  herbal hair colours.    Indigo oxidizes when exposed to air and water so when the hair colour is mixed with hot water ready for use the indigo is activated.

Direction for uses on hair:

Soak Indigo Powder in water at 50 deg Celsius to make an applicable paste.  Apply the paste immediately on hair.  Put on surgical gloves to save your hands from stains. Divide your hair in four sections & apply paste on each from root to top evenly. Give 3 hours time.    Rinse off thoroughly and use hair dryer for 10-15 minutes to get better results. 

Please note that the colours applied on the hair takes 48 hours to darken.     So the final colour is obtained after 48 hours.

As a BROWN dye:

Prepare henna paste and allow to sit for 06-08 hours until the dye has released.

Mix indigo into the henna paste, you may adjust the consistency with warm water until it’s the consistency of thick yogurt. 
Allow to sit for 15 minutes

Apply the indigo/henna paste to dry or damp hair in sections, completely coating all the hair down to the roots. 
It’s easiest if you Start from the back and move forward. Wear gloves to protect your hands from being stained and drape an old towel over your shoulders to protect clothing.

Wrap your hair in a shower cap or plastic wrap and allow to soak in for 1-3 hours

Rinse or shampoo to remove any residue
Condition to soften hair (some people skip the shampoo)

Repeat: Monthly for healthy, thick and shiny, dark locks
*the higher proportion of indigo to henna the darker the color will be
*the longer you allow the paste to soak in the darker and richer the color will be
*Takes about 2 days for the color to oxidize and show it’s true shade

As a BLACK or Deep Brown dye:

Apply a henna paste to your hair to create a rich red base.

Apply indigo over the freshly hennaed and washed hair to create the deep black color

Mix  indigo with warm water until it’s the consistency of thick yogurt. 
Optional, add 1 teaspoon salt per 100 grams of indigo powder for darker color. Allow to sit for 15 minutes

Apply the indigo paste to dry or damp (previously hennaed) hair in sections, completely coating al the hair down to the roots. It’s easiest if you Start from the back and move forward. Wear gloves to protect your hands from being stained, drape an old towel over your shoulders to protect clothing.

Wrap your hair in a shower cap or plastic wrap and allow to soak in for 1-3 hours

Rinse or shampoo to remove any residue
Condition to soften hair (some people prefer to just use conditioner)

Repeat: Monthly for healthy, thick and shiny black locks
Takes about 2 days for the color to oxidize and show it’s true shade
For a scent you may add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to your paste mixture.