How I Dyed My Hair with Henna: A Natural And Safe Alternative For Those Who Want To Colour Their Hair

My hair really enjoys lightening up in the summer, and as much as I do enjoy the highlights, sometimes I just want my natural dark brown colour back. My eyebrows are basically black, so when my hair is a little lighter, the two don’t match. As much as this probably doesn’t matter in the long-run (I love myself as my body chooses to be), if I can dye my hair naturally, I’m all for it.

Back when I was in my teenage years (16-18), I loved to get my hair dyed and highlighted. However, I wasn’t really aware of the dangers in conventional hair dying. I figured that because I wasn’t eating it, it wasn’t entering my body (silly me, right?).

The Dangers of Hair Dyes

Chemicals in hair dyes can be absorbed in through the skin or inhaled from fumes in the air (1). These chemicals enter the skin via the scalp, where they can then enter the bloodstream. As the body tries to rid itself of these chemicals, it will shuttle them for excretion via the kidneys. Not surprisingly, researchers who have studied the link between hair dye use and cancer have found higher levels of blood cancer (leukemias and lymphomas (2)) and bladder cancer (3).

These chemicals can also irritate the sinus passages and lung, as well as produce severe allergies, disrupt the endocrine system and trigger neurological problems.

The Natural Way

Thankfully, we can still dye our hair via natural means, a method that has been around for centuries! That method involves the use of henna and indigo dyes! Thankfully, the awesome team at Morrocco Method stocks the stuff, and they were willing to ship some out so I could give it a try!

Of course, I was a little hesitant of the fact that henna can leave the hair with some red tones – I asked the team at Morrocco Method about this, and was told that amla powder can help eliminate this issue (and thankfully they stock it too!).

After I received my package from Morrocco Method, I was excited to give it a go. The basic hair dye kit comes with euro oil, apple cider vinegar, a black tea bag, gloves, a shower cap and a wooden mixing spoon. The euro oil, apple cider vinegar, and black tea bag are not used when combining the henna with amla powder, so if you are using amla, make sure you skip those steps!

When I first combined the amla and henna, and then added water, I added a little bit too much. You’re supposed to add just enough water until you get a yogurt-like consistency, so make sure you pour this in slow and stir as you go. I used a full 2 cups, but I would suggest 1.5 cups or less. I let this mixture sit overnight for a full 12 hours, and then dyed my hair the next morning!

In the morning, I mixed 1 cup of water with indigo powder and then mixed this into the amla/henna mixture (that was sitting overnight). I made sure I kept my body covered with a towel, and put on the gloves. I rubbed a little bit of euro oil around my hairline, and started rubbing the dye all throughout my hair, section by section. This part was a little messy, but it dried up pretty quick. Once I was finished, I put on a shower cap and let the mixture sit in my hair for four hours! It was a bit of a wait, but well worth it!

Once I finally got to rinse it out of my hair (this step took awhile, have patience, and when you think you’re done rinsing it out, rinse again, because I can guarantee that it is not fully rinsed out. You can also use a chemical-free conditioner for your hair to make the process easier, but do not shampoo out the henna, as this will disrupt the full effects of the dye), the results were stunning! It was a lot darker than I thought it would be in the beginning, but it made my hair extra soft and curly. After I washed it the next day, I was totally in love!

In the image above, the before hair had much more blonde highlights! The after #1 was before I shampooed my hair, and when it was extra curly, and a little bit more oily from all the conditioner I used to prevent the drying effects that henna can have on the hair. The image labelled after #2 was after I had shampooed my hair, and straightened it. I typically don’t use heat on my hair, but sometimes I like the look, and wanted to see what the dye looked like when the hair was straight and not wavy!

Why Morrocco Method For Henna?

I highly recommend Morrocco Method as your henna go-to, mainly because they sell a super high quality and clean product (just like everything else they make).

Many henna colours you see on the internet are created with metallic salts that include toxic chemicals like lead acetate, silver nitrate, copper, nickel, cobalt, bismuth, and iron salts.

With Morrocco Method, you can be rest assured that their henna is 100% natural, without any chemical additives, toxins or irritants. Their henna shades are created by using two natural plants: henna and indigo (with the exception of Blonde Henna, which uses chamomile and marigold flower to naturally bring out highlights and blend grey roots).

Other Products I Love From Morrocco Method

There are many other products from Morrocco Method that I love to use. Below is a list that I’ve accumulated over the years of trying them out:

1. Boar Bristle Brush: these brushes are pretty great – I brush my hair from behind so that the oil from the nape of my neck can nourish the tips of my hair. It is also a really awesome scalp massage, as it helps to stimulate circulation to the scalp so that the hair follicles are constantly stimulated (and thus, promote healthy hair growth).

2. Zen Detox Hair & Scalp Therapy: this gently clay hair mask works to lift heavy metals, plastics, carcinogens and other toxins from your hair and scalp (our hair holds onto a lot of things, especially if you live in a city!). It will leave your hair feeling amazing after!

3. Shampoos: Morrocco Method shampoos are one of a kind. They are raw, vegan, paleo, plant-based, and 100% free of anything you wouldn’t want touching your skin. Your hair does take awhile to adjust to using them, but after that period ends, you’ll be left with lush, shiny hair. My favourite smell is Pine and Earth, but if you want to smell and test out them all, you can get the travel pack to try all 5!

Disclaimer: All views and opinions are my own. This particular product review was not sponsored or paid for in any way by the manufacturer. However, the manufacturer did give me the product for testing and review purposes.