Covering Grey Hair with Henna

There are many different factors that play a part in turning hair grey, but one thing for sure is that many of us aren't ready for them to be so obvious. Grey hair is a sign of aging, but it also represents changes in our bodies.

It’s natural for our oil glands to slow their production of sebum as we get older, which is our hair’s natural moisturizer. So, if we can’t stop our hair from becoming grey and brittle, do we really want to dry it out even more with chemical dyes? Read on to find out the tips and tricks of covering grey hair with Morrocco Method's all natural Henna Hair Dye.

Knowing the Basics of Henna

Henna is a naturally light, red-orange colored dye. To achieve different shades of brown with Henna, we combine it with Indigo, which is another plant-based dye possessing a natural, dark-blue tone. Our method of using Indigo with Henna allows for a wider range of color options. It’s also important to know that Henna can’t lighten hair, it can only darken or maintain your current color.

 

Choosing a Shade of Henna for Grey Coverage

• Usually Red Henna alone will give more of an orange tinge than most people want to cover their grey hairs.  We suggest using one of our brown shades of henna or our blonde henna.
• First time users should choose one shade lighter than their desired color (i.e. medium brown for dark brown hair). This way, if the color turns out differently than you pictured it, you’ll still have the option to go darker.
• For more stubborn greys, silver, or salt & pepper - plan to use multiple applications of henna.  You can start with a base coat of red or neutral henna, then do a second application of brown henna after waiting several days.  When covering grey hair with Henna in particular, it’s especially important to wait 72 hours between applications to allow the Henna sufficient time to oxidize.
• For those with white or very light-colored greys, MM’s Light Blonde Henna can give hair a sun-streaked look with a natural golden hue. 
  
  

The Process of Covering Greys with Henna

Covering grey hair will henna will often take more than one application, and we recommend starting with a two-step application (three-step for black) which involves dyeing your hair first with red or neutral henna, and then dyeing a second time with the color kit of your choice.  Henna color works in layers, with each application making your color slightly darker. You can apply it as many times as like to achieve your desired shade. Think of Henna like paint; just as an artist might use several layers of color to get the perfect tone, Henna might need multiple coats before it reflects the color you’re looking to achieve.

1. Use Red Henna to apply an initial color base (or neutral henna if you're planning to use light blonde henna)
2. Wait 72 hours for henna base color to oxidize 
3. Apply the red, brown, black, or blonde of your choice, as per the instructions

Why this works:

• All shades of brown/black are made up of a mix of henna and indigo in specific ratios
• Henna (red and neutral) like to stick to hair, even color resistant greys/whites
• Indigo likes to stick to henna – not hair
• Putting a layer of henna on your hair prior to using a color kit involving indigo will increase the likelihood of the indigo being able to stick to your hair and give you the best result
  
  

Covering Grey Roots

Though we encourage using Henna as an-all over color for the most even results, you can use Henna for grey root coverage alone. Keep in mind that only dyeing roots may create some uneven tones as hair grows out. If you’ve dyed your hair brown with Henna before and now only want to touch up the roots, make sure you’re using the same ratio of Henna and Indigo as your previous application - we simply suggest using a smaller amount of the dye.