Help!! Henna/ Indigo Doesn't "take" On My Grays/4c Hair

[kayte]

I have gone to the Henna Sooq website, spoke at length with several reps. After several tries (years) with the 2-step process, and not getting the jet black results or even warm brown that I see successfully accomplished with others on You-Tube, then desperate, and skeptical,
I tried 1- step and lastly even advised to use a 3 step process

1) Mix Red Raj ,
(2) Add Indigo after Henna release,
(3) Keep on hair-hours--overnight --also tried shorter
(4) Proceed with Indigo--

With oils, and without, with salt & without, ---with lemon-without,
used clarifying shampoo, used apple cider vinegar

It still turns my grays, a brassy clown-orange, or dull green, while the rest of my hair looks like a streaked calico cat! Instead of one uniform color -- or nothing happens at all

So far, resisted just turning to Bigen or alternative--I really want to keep Henna
I am ordering a new batch--but before I do --hoping to

to have your wisdom
I would love a deep brown auburn

 

[faithVA]

I have gone to the Henna Sooq website, spoke at length with several reps. After several tries (years) with the 2-step process, and not getting the jet black results or even warm brown that I see successfully accomplished with others on You-Tube, then desperate, and skeptical,
I tried 1- step and lastly even advised to use a 3 step process

1) Mix Red Raj ,
(2) Add Indigo after Henna release,
(3) Keep on hair-hours--overnight --also tried shorter
(4) Proceed with Indigo--

With oils, and without, with salt & without, ---with lemon-without,
used clarifying shampoo, used apple cider vinegar

It still turns my grays, a brassy clown-orange, or dull green, while the rest of my hair looks like a streaked calico cat! Instead of one uniform color -- or nothing happens at all

So far, resisted just turning to Bigen or alternative--I really want to keep Henna
I am ordering a new batch--but before I do --hoping to
View attachment 449401
to have your wisdom
I would love a deep brown auburn

Are you low porosity?

Have you noticed if the indigo comes off in your hands while touching your hair?

I got better results when I used amla and henna but I have not gotten indigo to work on my hair. My strands are too smooth and it doesn't attach to the henna.

 

[jamaica68]

@kayte I've tried adding indigo once but that was years ago, I need to try again soon because my gray hairs are out of control.

Have you tried a different brand of henna and indigo? I've been purchasing from https://www.mehandi.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=170 for years.

Here's some Indigo info from the site http://www.hennaforhair.com/indigo/index.html I hope it helps.

 

[NowIAmNappy]

I have gone to the Henna Sooq website, spoke at length with several reps. After several tries (years) with the 2-step process, and not getting the jet black results or even warm brown that I see successfully accomplished with others on You-Tube, then desperate, and skeptical,
I tried 1- step and lastly even advised to use a 3 step process

1) Mix Red Raj ,
(2) Add Indigo after Henna release,
(3) Keep on hair-hours--overnight --also tried shorter
(4) Proceed with Indigo--

With oils, and without, with salt & without, ---with lemon-without,
used clarifying shampoo, used apple cider vinegar

It still turns my grays, a brassy clown-orange, or dull green, while the rest of my hair looks like a streaked calico cat! Instead of one uniform color -- or nothing happens at all

So far, resisted just turning to Bigen or alternative--I really want to keep Henna
I am ordering a new batch--but before I do --hoping to
View attachment 449401
to have your wisdom
I would love a deep brown auburn

Did you shampoo your hair before applying the henna? Maybe a sulfate shampoo

 

[lavaflow99]

Oh man sorry to hear this.

I just did an henna indigo session and had the best results in a while. I posted with pics in the henna thread.

I have low porosity hair natural hair for reference.

Steps:
- mixed henna (Red raj) with warm water and allowed dye release for 4 hours.
- washed hair with clarifying shampoo
- applied henna, sat under dryer for 30 min then sat with henna for another 3.5 hours.
- mixed indigo with hot water and 2 tsp of salt then let it sit for release for 15-20 minutes
- applies indigo, sat under dryer for 30 minutes then sat with indigo for another 3.5 hours.
- washed out indigo with conditioner (VO5)
- moisturized with CD Hair Milk and Wave Nouveau.

Hopefully something in there is helpful.

For me, I feel like keeping it simple (only using water) and keep the indigo in longer may have made a difference (the major changes I did as well as use a different henna).

 

[Tefnut]

Thank you for sharing.

Do you wash the henna out of your hair before applying the indigo?

I'm new to hennaing.

Oh man sorry to hear this.

I just did an henna indigo session and had the best results in a while. I posted with pics in the henna thread.

I have low porosity hair natural hair for reference.

Steps:
- mixed henna (Red raj) with warm water and allowed dye release for 4 hours.
- washed hair with clarifying shampoo
- applied henna, sat under dryer for 30 min then sat with henna for another 3.5 hours.
- mixed indigo with hot water and 2 tsp of salt then let it sit for release for 15-20 minutes
- applies indigo, sat under dryer for 30 minutes then sat with indigo for another 3.5 hours.
- washed out indigo with conditioner (VO5)
- moisturized with CD Hair Milk and Wave Nouveau.

Hopefully something in there is helpful.

For me, I feel like keeping it simple (only using water) and keep the indigo in longer may have made a difference (the major changes I did as well as use a different henna).

 

[lavaflow99]

Thank you for sharing.

Do you wash the henna out of your hair before applying the indigo?

I'm new to hennaing.

Oops, yes I didn't write that step.

But yes, after having the henna in my hair for 4 hours, I wash it out (no shampoo or conditioner). Then apply the indigo.

 

[grownwomanaz]

Have you tried using heat...sitting under the dryer after the henna/indigo is applied?