The Yumibio Blog
Purple Henna: What is it and how to make it?
Henna is the powder obtained from the dried leaves of a plant, Lawsonia Inermis, a thorny shrub that grows abundantly in areas of the world with hot, dry climates such as Africa, the Middle East and India. Lawsonia Inermis contains a colouring pigment in its leaves, lawsone , which dyes it an intense orange-red. Henna has been used since ancient times to color hair, dye fabrics and adorn the body with tattoos. This natural dye not only colors but is also very rich in nutrients, protective and invigorating substances for the skin and hair. Henna powder colors the hair by binding to the keratin , filling the hair scales which are also made fuller! It is therefore perfect for those with very thin, fragile hair or with split ends. Pure henna colors thanks to its pigment content, namely lawsone molecules, and dyes only and exclusively red . By binding to keratin, the result obtained will be different based on the starting color. But then what is purple henna? Index What is purple henna? How to prepare it Covers gray hair The best natural purple henna What is purple henna? The term henna has expanded to include all those natural hair dyeing herbs. The products defined as blonde henna, brown henna, black henna are called this way for convenience of language but in addition to pure henna they contain a mixture of dyeing herbs. The purple one, available in its various shades, will contain a percentage of Lawsonia inermis to which other herbs will be added. We always recommend that you do some tests to see the result you can get on your hair. The lawsone molecule, contained only in pure henna and with an orange-red color, is the only one able to bind to the hair keratin and make the coloring permanent. Based on the percentage contained, the henna will be more or less long-lasting, even if by nature it tends to fade with the passing of time. Never use dye mixtures containing Indigo if you have bleached hair because you risk obtaining a color that tends towards green! How to prepare it You can obtain a purple herbal dye using herbs such as Madder , Logwood , Hibiscus , Indigo , Alkanet , Katam with Cold Red Henna to fix the color to the hair and improve its hold over time. In fact, red henna is the only dyeing herb that can bind to the hair's keratin , thus ensuring that the color remains fixed on the hair for a long time. If you prefer to avoid mixing the various herbs yourself to obtain purple tones, you can use one of the ready-made mixes available on the market, with herbs already mixed in the right proportions. To prepare purple henna, it is recommended not to use lemon, hibiscus, tea and various infusions but only water because they would bring out the warm and coppery tones. The perfect water temperature is between 50° and 60°, to keep the colouring power intact and avoid excessively highlighting the copper/orange tones. Does it cover grey hair? To cover gray hair and get a purple shade, there are various options. If you have a few gray hairs, you can apply purple henna directly to your natural base. Depending on the recipe you choose, the gray hair will remain lighter but will be able to blend well with the base; If you have a lot of white hair, if your natural base is very light or if you have bleached your hair, you need to do a two-step coloring: in the first step only cold red henna to pigment the hair and create a uniform base in the second step henna with your mix for purple tones In this case, you just need to prepare a first cold red henna, to be left on for at least 45-60 minutes, as always covered with a cap and towel to keep everything warm. Once this first application is finished, rinse with hot water, towel dry your hair well or dry it if you prefer and apply your purple henna. If you are more comfortable, you can also do the second step the next day! A double pass is not always necessary , there are hairs that are able to absorb the pigment better than others and have excellent results already with a single pass; later you can decide to do the double pass only on the regrowth touch-ups, so as to optimize and reduce the processing times! Important: if your natural base is blonde, natural, dyed or bleached, it is necessary to do a first pass with pure red henna, to avoid having strange greenish shades. The best natural purple henna If you also want to create your perfect purple henna, put our advice into practice and choose your natural and organic purple henna among our favorites! {"layoutMobile":2,"layoutDesktop":3,"buttonAlign":"Center","buttonText":"Go to product","productTitle":{"hue":213,"saturation":0,"brightness":0,"alpha":1},"priceColor":{"hue":0,"saturation":1,"brightness":0},"discountPrice":{"hue":356,"saturation":0.74,"brightness":1},"buttonCo lor":{"hue":26.67,"saturation":0.037,"brightness":0.9529,"alpha":1},"textBottomColor":{"hue":0,"satu ration":0,"brightness":0.018750000000000044,"alpha":1},"activeTitleButton":false,"moreProduct":"View all","moreProductUrl":"cesbgg-kq.myshopify.com","rowNumber":1,"dynamicProductId":[{"id":"gid://shopify/Product/14976942899586","title":"Robbia in Polvere","currencyCode":"EUR","price":"4.90","compareAtPrice":null,"imagesUrl":"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0906/5329/4978/files/robbia-in-polvere-phitofilos-yumibio-425.webp?v=1752504315&width=600","urlStore":"https://www.yumibio.com/products/robbia-in-polvere","altImage":"Robbia in Polvere - Phitofilos"},{"id":"gid://shopify/Product/14976942670210","title":"Ibisco in Polvere","currencyCode":"EUR","price":"7.50","compareAtPrice":null,"imagesUrl":"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0906/5329/4978/files/ibisco-in-polvere-phitofilos-yumibio-785.webp?v=1752544339&width=600","urlStore":"https://www.yumibio.com/products/ibisco-in-polvere","altImage":"Ibisco in Polvere - Phitofilos"},{"id":"gid://shopify/Product/14976880902530","title":"Alkanna","currencyCode":"EUR","price":"7.11","compareAtPrice":"7.90","imagesUrl":"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0906/5329/4978/files/alkanna-le-erbe-di-janas-yumibio-798.webp?v=1752502420&width=600","urlStore":"https://www.yumibio.com/products/alkanna","altImage":"Alkanna - Le Erbe di Janas"},{"id":"gid://shopify/Product/14976880116098","title":"Tinta Vegetale Rosè Mogano- Hennetica Shakti","currencyCode":"EUR","price":"8.91","compareAtPrice":"9.90","imagesUrl":"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0906/5329/4978/files/tinta-vegetale-rose-mogano-hennetica-shakti-la-saponaria-yumibio-719.webp?v=1752703856&width=600","urlStore":"https://www.yumibio.com/products/tinta-vegetale-rose-mogano-hennetica-shakti","altImage":"Tinta Vegetale Rosè Mogano- Hennetica Shakti - La Saponaria"},{"id":"gid://shopify/Product/14976980910466","title":"Tintura Vegetale in Polvere - Viola Mogano","currencyCode":"EUR","price":"9.40","compareAtPrice":null,"imagesUrl":"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0906/5329/4978/files/tintura-vegetale-in-polvere-viola-mogano-phitofilos-yumibio-809.webp?v=1752541208&width=600","urlStore":"https://www.yumibio.com/products/tintura-vegetale-in-polvere-viola-mogano","altImage":"Tintura Vegetale in Polvere - Viola Mogano - Phitofilos"}],"typeSearch":"product","device":"desktop","decimalsPrice":2,"aspectRatio":"3 / 4","isAutoPlay":false,"isNavigation":false,"isPriceDisplay":false,"rowDynamic":"mot","activeDecimals":false,"hidden":false,"locked":false,"positionPrice":false,"currencyCodeCustom":"$","activeDynamicProd":true,"blockName":"Product"} Robbia in Polvere EUR 4.90 Go to product Ibisco in Polvere EUR 7.50 Go to product Alkanna EUR 7.11 EUR 7.90 Go to product Tinta Vegetale Rosè Mogano- Hennetica Shakti EUR 8.91 EUR 9.90 Go to product Tintura Vegetale in Polvere - Viola Mogano EUR 9.40 Go to product Do you have questions about henna? Discover in this article all the most requested FAQs about henna ! Want to continue discovering the world of henna and natural dyes? Continue reading in our section dedicated to all the guides for henna and dyeing herbs .
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Black Henna: What It Is and How to Make It
Henna is the powder obtained from the dried leaves of a plant, Lawsonia Inermis , a thorny shrub that grows abundantly in areas of the world with hot, dry climates such as Africa, the Middle East and India. Lawsonia Inermis contains a colouring pigment in its leaves, lawsone, which dyes it an intense orange-red. Henna has been used since ancient times to color hair, dye fabrics and adorn the body with tattoos. This natural dye not only colors but is also very rich in nourishing, protective and invigorating substances for the skin and hair. Henna powder colors the hair by binding to the keratin , filling the hair scales which are also made fuller! It is therefore perfect for those with very thin, fragile hair or with split ends. Pure henna colors thanks to its pigment content , namely lawsone molecules, and dyes only and exclusively red. By binding to keratin, the result obtained will be different based on the starting color. But then what is black henna? Index What is black henna? How to prepare Covers gray hair The best natural black henna What is black henna? The term henna has expanded to include all those natural hair dyeing herbs . The products defined as blonde henna, brown henna, black henna are called this way for convenience of language but in addition to pure henna they contain a mixture of dyeing herbs. The black one will contain a percentage of Lawsonia inermis to which other herbs will be added. We always recommend that you do some tests to see the result you can get on your hair. The lawsone molecule, contained only in pure henna and with an orange-red color, is the only one able to bind to the keratin of the hair and make the coloring permanent. Based on the percentage contained, the henna will be more or less long-lasting, even if by nature it tends to fade with the passing of time. Never use dye mixtures containing Indigo if you have bleached hair because you risk obtaining a color that tends towards green! How to prepare You can make a black herbal dye using Indigofera Tinctoria , also known as Indigo. Indigo is a plant whose leaves contain a blue -toned dye molecule. Did you know that jeans are dyed with Indigo? It is always recommended to mix it with Red Henna to fix the color to the hair and improve its hold over time. In fact, red henna is the only dyeing herb that can bind to the hair's keratin, thus ensuring that the color stays on the hair for a long time . If you prefer to avoid mixing the various herbs yourself to obtain the black, you can use one of the ready-made mixes available on the market, with herbs already mixed in the right proportions. To prepare black henna, it is recommended not to use lemon, hibiscus, tea and various infusions but only water because they would bring out the warm and coppery tones. The perfect water temperature is between 50° and 60° , to keep the colouring power intact and avoid excessively highlighting the copper/orange tones. Does it cover grey hair? To cover gray hair and get a black color there are various options. If you have a few gray hairs, you can apply black henna directly to your natural base. Depending on the recipe you choose, the gray hair will remain lighter but will be able to blend well with the base; If you have a lot of white hair, if your natural base is very light or if you have bleached your hair, you need to do a two-step coloring: in the first step only red henna to pigment the hair and create a uniform base at the second step indigo In this case, you just need to prepare a first cold red henna, to be left on for at least 45-60 minutes, as always covered with a cap and towel to keep everything warm. Once this first application is finished, rinse with hot water, towel dry your hair well or dry it if you prefer and apply your black henna. If you are more comfortable, you can also do the second step the next day! The double pass is not always necessary, there are hairs that are able to absorb the pigment better than others and have excellent results already with a single pass; later you can decide to do the double pass only on the regrowth touch-ups, so as to optimize and reduce the processing times! Important: if your natural base is blonde, natural, dyed or bleached, it is necessary to do a first pass with pure red henna, to avoid having strange greenish shades. The best natural black hennas There are many ready-made black henna mixes on the market, to which you only need to add water to obtain the perfect consistency for application. Natural, pure, picramate-free dyeing powders that allow you to obtain a smooth, soft paste that is extremely comfortable to use. Here are some of our favorite black hennas! {"layoutMobile":2,"layoutDesktop":3,"buttonAlign":"Center","buttonText":"Go to product","productTitle":{"hue":213,"saturation":0,"brightness":0,"alpha":1},"priceColor":{"hue":0,"saturation":1,"brightness":0},"discountPrice":{"hue":356,"saturation":0.74,"brightness":1},"buttonCo lor":{"hue":26.67,"saturation":0.037,"brightness":0.9529,"alpha":1},"textBottomColor":{"hue":0,"satu ration":0,"brightness":0.018750000000000044,"alpha":1},"activeTitleButton":false,"moreProduct":"View all","moreProductUrl":"cesbgg-kq.myshopify.com","rowNumber":1,"dynamicProductId":[{"id":"gid://shopify/Product/14976960561538","title":"Henné Nero (Indigofera Tinctoria)","currencyCode":"EUR","price":"6.00","compareAtPrice":null,"imagesUrl":"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0906/5329/4978/files/henne-nero-indigofera-tinctoria-tea-natura-yumibio-637.webp?v=1752706368&width=600","urlStore":"https://www.yumibio.com/products/henne-nero-indigofera-tinctoria","altImage":"Henné Nero (Indigofera Tinctoria) - Tea Natura"},{"id":"gid://shopify/Product/14976940507522","title":"Hennè Nero in Polvere - Indigo Puro","currencyCode":"EUR","price":"7.10","compareAtPrice":null,"imagesUrl":"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0906/5329/4978/files/henne-nero-in-polvere-indigo-puro-phitofilos-yumibio-743.webp?v=1752537647&width=600","urlStore":"https://www.yumibio.com/products/henne-nero-in-polvere-indigo-puro","altImage":"Hennè Nero in Polvere - Indigo Puro - Phitofilos"},{"id":"gid://shopify/Product/14976943554946","title":"Henné Nero","currencyCode":"EUR","price":"8.50","compareAtPrice":null,"imagesUrl":"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0906/5329/4978/files/henne-nero-sitarama-yumibio-976.webp?v=1752705733&width=600","urlStore":"https://www.yumibio.com/products/henne-nero","altImage":"Henné Nero - Sitarama"},{"id":"gid://shopify/Product/14977130922370","title":"Indigo in polvere","currencyCode":"EUR","price":"9.90","compareAtPrice":null,"imagesUrl":"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0906/5329/4978/files/indigo-in-polvere-isha-yumibio-483.webp?v=1752687724&width=600","urlStore":"https://www.yumibio.com/products/indigo-in-polvere","altImage":"Indigo in polvere - Isha"},{"id":"gid://shopify/Product/14976976617858","title":"Tinta Vegetale Biologica - Nero","currencyCode":"EUR","price":"11.99","compareAtPrice":null,"imagesUrl":"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0906/5329/4978/files/tinta-vegetale-biologica-nero-cultivators-yumibio-490.webp?v=1752699788&width=600","urlStore":"https://www.yumibio.com/products/tinta-vegetale-biologica-nero","altImage":"Tinta Vegetale Biologica - Nero - Cultivator’s"}],"typeSearch":"product","device":"desktop","decimalsPrice":2,"aspectRatio":"3 / 4","isAutoPlay":false,"isNavigation":false,"isPriceDisplay":false,"rowDynamic":"mot","activeDecimals":false,"hidden":false,"locked":false,"positionPrice":false,"currencyCodeCustom":"$","activeDynamicProd":true,"blockName":"Product"} Henné Nero (Indigofera Tinctoria) EUR 6.00 Go to product Hennè Nero in Polvere - Indigo Puro EUR 7.10 Go to product Henné Nero EUR 8.50 Go to product Indigo in polvere EUR 9.90 Go to product Tinta Vegetale Biologica - Nero EUR 11.99 Go to product Do you have questions about henna? Discover in this article all the most requested FAQs about henna ! Want to continue discovering the world of henna and natural dyes? Continue reading in our section dedicated to all the guides for henna and dyeing herbs .
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Henna: Frequently Asked Questions
Using henna and herbal dyes is a safe way to cover gray hair without damaging your hair. People often approach this world with the fear of unsatisfactory results, so I've compiled all your frequently asked questions about henna and herbal dyes into a single post to address some of the recurring concerns. If you have any other questions, I'd be happy to answer them in the comments or messages so we can clarify your concerns and expand our guide together! Index What is henna? What color can I get with henna? Henna on bleached or dyed hair After doing henna, can I go back to chemical dyes or bleach my hair? Does it cover gray hair? Can I lighten my hair with henna? Does henna dry out your hair? What does it mean that henna layers? How is it prepared? Why are acidic substances added to henna? Exposure time Can I use oil in henna? Can you get henna with a perm? Can you get a perm with henna? Does henna ruin your hair? Does henna smooth curly hair? Can I use metal tools with henna? Is it done on dry or wet hair? Is it done on clean or dirty hair? Is henna cleansing? After henna, can I not wash my hair for three days? Can I use conditioner when I remove henna? Does acid rinsing alter the color? After how many washes does the color fade? Should herbal dyes always be made with henna? Want to find out more about henna? What is henna? Henna is a dye powder obtained from the leaves of Lawsonia inermis. Henna is naturally rich in substances that nourish, add body, and shine to hair, as well as being very beneficial for the scalp. What color can I get with henna? Pure henna dyes exclusively red; the result varies depending on the starting color and will be more evident on white and light hair, while on dark hair, it will mainly produce highlights. On the market you can often find products called blonde henna, brown henna, black henna, etc., but they are actually mixes of dyeing herbs. Henna on bleached or dyed hair Yes, you can use henna on dyed or bleached hair, as long as you use pure henna without the addition of picramate. Keep in mind that the color you get on the bleached area will be different from the color on your natural base ; to be sure you get a result you like, test it on a strand of hair from the brush before proceeding with coloring all of your hair. If you want to use pure indigo or mixes that contain it, you will have to do a double pass on the bleached hair: indigo, in fact, dyes the hair blue and you could end up with unsightly green highlights! After doing henna, can I go back to chemical dyes or bleach my hair? Yes, but you'll be so happy with the results that you won't want to go back! In any case, if you used pure henna, there's no risk in going back to chemical dye. As for bleaching, it depends on the herbs you used: if you used only pure henna, you can bleach without any problems, but the final result you will get will not be blonde but coppery. Absolutely no bleaching if you have used indigo , as you could end up with green hair! Does it cover gray hair? Pure henna (lawsonia inermis) permanently covers gray hair, as it binds with the hair's keratin. The final result, on gray hair, will be a very intense coppery red, which, however, may not be to everyone's taste. In these cases, simply mix pure henna with other dyeing herbs, such as Katam or Indigo, which will help tone down the red, giving your hair shades of brown, chocolate, or mahogany. If you have a lot of gray hair or if you want very intense dark tones , such as black/blue, raven or aubergine, it is necessary to proceed with a two-phase coloring: in a first phase we will cover the gray hairs using only pure lawsonia, to be left on for at least two hours. After rinsing, we can apply pure katam or indigo to achieve a more intense color. My advice is to use a percentage of Lawsonia for this second step as well, to help the color set better. Can I lighten my hair with henna? No, herbal dyes cannot lighten hair. There are several methods for achieving gradual, natural, tone-on-tone lightening. Does henna dry out your hair? Henna absorbs excess sebum and is excellent for oily scalps; on normal or dry hair, it can cause a drying effect, but this can be easily countered by adding a hydrating gel to the mixture or applying a light, oil-free conditioner after rinsing. What does it mean that henna layers? With repeated applications, henna tends to build up in layers within the hair and darken the color. This is perfect if you want dark, cool tones, but if you prefer warmer tones, you should avoid layering. To avoid layering, simply use pure henna on your roots to cover regrowth and treat your lengths only every two months. Another method is to use a different blend for your lengths, with a high percentage of cassia to tone down the henna's dyeing power, or to mix henna with a mask or conditioner to create a sherazade. How is it prepared? Henna is prepared by mixing the right amount of powder with hot, not boiling, water. The ideal temperature is between 50 and 70 degrees: this will allow the henna to release the dye pigments optimally. The right consistency for the mixture is that of yogurt, smooth and without lumps. A batter that is too thick could lead to uneven results, while one that is too liquid could drip everywhere, making application uncomfortable. Why are acidic substances added to henna? Some say that acidic substances help release more pigment and therefore make the henna more coloring. However, these are not necessary ingredients, since a good quality powder releases the color simply thanks to hot water. The addition of acidic substances could alter the tone of the henna, making it turn brick red. Personally, I don't use any acids in the mixture because I have a sensitive scalp and don't like having acids in contact with my skin for many hours. However, some people prefer the color obtained in an acidic environment, so you just have to experiment to find out which method works best for your hair. If you use indigo , the mixture does not need to be acidified, as these herbs work best in a basic environment: you can add a teaspoon of salt or bicarbonate of soda to the water you use to prepare the mixture, to obtain very intense dark tones. Exposure time There are several factors that determine the exposure time, first and foremost patience! A good quality henna dyes hair after just 2 hours of application, but it is possible to wait longer to obtain more intense colors. There are those who continue the application for several hours, doing night-time poses of up to 8 or 9 hours. If you're new to henna, I advise against leaving it on for such a long time, as you might end up with a color that's too intense or you might find that your skin is particularly sensitive to the preparation. Start with a short processing time: 90 minutes/2 hours will be more than enough to understand how your hair reacts to natural pigments and, if you feel the need, you can gradually increase the processing time. From personal experience, I recommend not leaving it on for more than 4 hours, choosing more frequent applications if you prefer to intensify the color. Can I use oil in henna? I don't recommend it because the oil forms a film on the hair and limits the effectiveness of the mask and dye. However, some women have noticed greater color release when adding oil to the paste. If you want to experiment, I recommend using a spoonful of jojoba oil and seeing how your henna behaves! Can you get henna with a perm? Yes, no problem! Can you get a perm with henna? Yes, no problem! Does henna ruin your hair? Exactly the opposite! Henna makes them more beautiful, strong, and full-bodied! Does henna smooth curly hair? Henna makes hair a little thicker, but it doesn't straighten curls! In fact, it tames and defines them! Can I use metal tools with henna? Yes, you can safely use your stainless steel kitchen utensils. Is it done on dry or wet hair? You can use henna on both dry and wet hair. It's easier to apply the mixture to damp hair, especially if you have a lot of hair or very curly hair. If you suffer from migraines, neck pain, or other problems, I recommend applying henna to dry hair. Is it done on clean or dirty hair? Better clean because, like oils, sebum could hinder the release of color. Is henna cleansing? No, because it doesn't contain saponins. If you wash your hair often and want to try a more gentle cleansing, you can consult our After henna, can I not wash my hair for three days? No, that's not true. You can wash your hair with shampoo. In reality, it's usually not necessary because if you washed your hair just before using henna, it's sufficient. Can I use conditioner when I remove henna? Yes, it will help you detangle your hair and remove any residual dust. Does acid rinsing alter the color? No, not at all! The acid rinse helps close the hair cuticles and make it softer and shinier. After how many washes does the color fade? Henna binds to keratin and is therefore permanent. You will have a faded and washed out color over time, but it will not go away. Should herbal dyes always be made with henna? Yes, if we want to make them long-lasting because the lawsonia contained only in henna is the only one capable of binding to the keratin of the hair. Want to find out more about henna? With henna you can cover gray hair and get the color you want! {"layoutMobile":2,"layoutDesktop":3,"buttonAlign":"Center","buttonText":"Buy now","productTitle":{"hue":213,"brightness":0.83,"saturation":1},"priceColor":{"hue":0,"saturation":1,"brightness":0},"discountPrice":{"hue":356,"saturation":0.74,"brightness":1},"buttonColor":{"hue":213,"brightness":0.83,"saturation":1},"textBottomColor":{"hue":0,"saturation":0,"brightness":1},"activeTitleButton":true,"moreProduct":"View all","moreProductUrl":"www.yumibio.com","rowNumber":1,"dynamicProductId":[],"typeSearch":"product","device":"desktop","decimalsPrice":2,"aspectRatio":"3 / 4","isAutoPlay":false,"isNavigation":false,"isPriceDisplay":false,"rowDynamic":"mot","activeDecimals":false,"positionPrice":false,"currencyCodeCustom":"$","cssContent":"","activeDynamicProd":true,"componentId":"undefined","hidden":false,"locked":false,"blockName":"Product"} Product title 25 Buy now Product title 25 Buy now Product title 25.00 Buy now View all Find out which herbs are best for your hair and create the color you've always dreamed of! Want to continue discovering the world of henna and natural dyes? Continue reading in our section dedicated to all our henna and herbal dye guides . Once you've fallen in love with henna, you'll never be able to do without these Ayurvedic herbs and their powers. Did you know you can also use them to wash your hair? Find out more in our guide to alternative hair washes .
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