Pure Indigo for Jet-Black Hair -or my former secret for hiding those stubborn gray hairs!
This is a moment of BRAVERY. As I’m writing this, I’m thinking about later today when I’ll be following up my Lustrous Henna® Soft Black application with Pure Indigo Powder. Why? Because I have VERY STUBBORN GRAYS and I love jet-black hair! Lustrous Henna® Soft Black is a nice color that already contains some pure indigo powder (it's actually my natural hair color). However, with one application, my grays end up being a golden brown and I want jet-black hair. I could apply Lustrous Henna® Soft Black for a 2nd time, if I wanted my short hair to be my natural soft black. However, did I mention? I love jet-black hair.How I do it: When I'm mixing the Lustrous Henna®, I always add 1 teaspoon of organic apple cider vinegar, before application. I stay under the dryer for an hour. Before I rinse out the Lustrous Henna®, I mix a workable paste of Pure Indigo Powder and hot tap water (adding a sprinkle of sea salt to speed up natural dye activation). I usually add a drop of lavender, rosemary, basil and/or ylang ylang oil to mask the ‘hay’ smell, (optional). After rinsing my hair, I apply the pure indigo paste; cover with plastic wrap/cap; then again, sit under the bonnet hair dryer for an hour. Rinse out and I always love the results! Voila: jet-black hair! (The next day it’s even better after totally oxidizing.) As far as hair styling is concerned: it's quite obvious that I let my hair do what it wants.
How you can do it: Test a small patch of hair first to make sure you like the results. This is messy and indigo can stain, so having an assistant is best (along with protecting all surfaces). Of course, you can follow my own personal method or follow the package instructions. You can experiment with all-natural Lustrous Henna® in a different shade of red or brown. Just remember, pure henna can only color your hair to bring out your natural highlights and/or darken your hair. Being a totally natural plant dye, it cannot make your hair lighter than your natural color, but it may bring out highlights you never knew you had.
Using the Indigo Plant as a Natural Hair Dye
Indigo dye is made from processing the plant’s leaves by soaking them in water and allowing them to ferment. This converts the natural glycoside indicant into the dye, indigotin. It can then be pressed into cakes, dried and powdered; then used in natural hair dye. When used properly with pure henna, indigo dye will create shades ranging from brown to intensely black hair. It also makes hair soft and silky to the touch. Pure henna powder and the crushed leaves of the indigo plant have been used for centuries to make what I love: jet-black henna hair dye. Both are currently available for anyone desiring brown or black hair from a natural hair dye made in the traditional manner (time-consuming); or the timesaving method I described above.
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