Prepare Your Hair
Step 1: Clarify Your Hair & Scalp
Morrocco Method’s Clarifying Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo - Our best selling shampoo is also the best place to start prepping your hair for your new color! Remember that the perfect wash means washing your hair twice. The first wash is for your hair, the second is for your scalp. Apple cider vinegar nourishes the hair and scalp and increases the activity of the sebaceous glands to flush out debris, excess oil build-up, and unhealthy bacteria.
- For bonus points, use an apple cider rinse in your hair afterwards.
Step 2: Strengthen, Condition, and Prep with Neutral Henna*
Neutral henna has so many benefits for your hair! Neutral henna, also known as Cassia, is an excellent hair conditioner that strengthens your hair and makes it feel thick and look glossy while promoting scalp health. You can safely use neutral henna on previously chemically dyed hair to help strengthen and repair damage caused by bleach, relaxers, and other chemical treatments. Neutral henna will help red henna and indigo stick to hair that would otherwise be too porous to take up the color. It's also great practice for if you decide you want to use a henna hair color. Knowing how long it takes to apply the paste to your hair is invaluable if you're using indigo as part of your henna hair color.
How to use it:
As a no-color conditioning treatment:
Mix Morrocco Method Neutral Henna with distilled water to get the consistency of thick yogurt. You want the mix to be spreadable, but not drippy. Do not let this sit. Apply immediately to your hair after mixing.
Section your hair, put a towel around your shoulders, and using gloved hands apply henna to clean, dry (or towel-dried) hair.
Wrap hair with plastic wrap or put on a shower cap. Optionally, put on a fabric cap over the plastic to trap body heat. The key is to keep the paste moist and warm.
Leave in your hair for only 1 hour. Do not leave it in overnight.
Unwrap your hair and rinse with water only. Use a drain catcher to prevent possible clogging. Use Pearl Essence Crème Rinse or a few drops of Euro Oil to aid in the henna rinsing process. The Morrocco Method Scalp Massager helps in removing the henna.
For optimal results, repeat monthly.
As a base coat for Light Blonde Henna:
Mix your Morrocco Method Neutral Henna with filtered water and a few tablespoons of lemon juice or other fruit juice/acid (enough that your water is tart).
Cover the mix and let rest 8-12 hours. Cassia still goes through the process of dye release the way henna does, but the transparent pale yellow dye molecule isn’t visible on medium-to-darker shades of hair. Cassia can not be used to lighten hair. On white/gray/lightest blonde hair, cassia will leave a golden wheat stain that will wash out over time.
Apply neutral henna to your hair and wrap with plastic and cover to keep your paste warm and moist.
Rinse after 1-4 hours, the longer you leave it on the better, especially when trying to cover grays. There are no restrictions on washing your hair afterwards, but you’ll likely only want a conditioner.
Do a full head application every time. Neutral henna/cassia doesn’t last as long as henna, and it will not darken your hair the more you use it.
*optional step, neutral henna is not absolutely necessary to use before applying red, brown, or black shades of henna; however, we always recommend using it before light blonde henna.
Related Blogs: Neutral Henna - Get Strong & Glossy Without the Color, How to Apply Henna