Are you wondering how to lighten henna?

If you've become passionate about henna and have been using it on your hair for some time now.
You may have gone from a warm color to a darker , cooler color - due to layering - that you may not like, or you simply made a mix hoping for a color and it didn't come out the color you wanted !

So what to do? You have to make the henna fade faster by depigmenting and destratifying it !

How it works

The shaft of our hair is protected by a thin layer of cells, the cuticle , which shields it from external aggressions and stress.

When you use a chemical hair dye , it works primarily thanks to two main ingredients, ammonia and hydrogen peroxide, which cause the hair to swell by opening its cuticles and stripping it of its original color, destroying the melanin within it and "replacing" it with new colored molecules that will effectively be the result of the chosen dye.

Hair coloring with henna, on the other hand, has a different process: lawsonia is deposited on the hair.

The color slowly migrates into the hair cortex, where it binds with the keratin naturally contained within it.

The henna continues to oxidize for about 3 days after the treatment and during this time the color will change slightly before settling completely.

As the treatments progress, your hair will become thicker, stronger and more voluminous, but with many applications you will experience a process of color layering , which will make your hair turn darker.

To maintain lighter, more vibrant tones, we recommend alternating henna dye with highlighting treatments like sherazade . Apply pure henna only to the roots to cover regrowth and treat the lengths only every two months. Another method is to use a different blend for the lengths, with a high percentage of cassia to tone down the henna's dyeing power.

If you want to remove henna by destratifying, then keep reading!

Methods for destratifying and discharging color

The darker and more layered the henna color, the longer it will take. With these natural methods, the hair will gradually and delicately remove the color, depigmenting the Lawsonia!

⚠️ Important warnings

Before trying to lighten henna with natural methods, it's a good idea to keep a few precautions in mind:

• Don't expect bleaching : natural treatments help fade or tone down highlights, but they don't completely eliminate the lawsonia pigment.
• Be careful with acidic ingredients (lemon, vinegar): use them sparingly because too low a pH can dry out your hair.
• Don't overuse oily or buttery packs : if not washed well, they can weigh down the hair and make styling difficult.
• Recommended frequency : maximum 1–2 times a week, alternating methods and observing how your hair reacts.
• Treated or highly porous hair : may react more quickly and discharge unevenly. Always test on a hidden strand.

1. Pack with vegetable oils and butters to lighten henna

Get some shea butter, coconut oil, or other plant-based oils or butters.
Apply generously to damp hair, cover with a cap or towel, and leave on for at least an hour!

Rinse and shampoo gently.

2. Methi hair mask to destratify henna

A slightly destratifying mask is prepared with:

• 125 ml coconut milk
• methi powder
  

Add the powder to the coconut milk, mixing until it has the consistency of yogurt.

Apply it to your scalp and hair and leave it on for at least 60 minutes.

Rinse and shampoo gently.

3. Acidified cassia compress to remove henna

You will need:

• 100 grams of cassia
• juice of half a lemon
  
• warm water

Combine the cassia , lemon and warm water until you have a yogurt-like batter.

Let it rest overnight, say between eight and twelve hours.

Now apply it to the hair you want to depigment, all over or just the lengths, for 45-60 minutes.

Rinse and shampoo.

Here's what you'll need, the doses indicated are for long hair

4. Henna depigmentation and lightening process with ButterBeer

• 1 33cl light beer
• 1 generous knob of shea butter
• juice of half a lemon

Boil the beer to evaporate the alcohol , which would damage your hair. Let it cool, then add the shea butter to the beer and the lemon. Stir well!

Now prepare a bowl and pour the ButterBeer over your hair, which will drip into the bowl.

Take the poured ButterBeer collected in the bowl and repeat a few times until the hair is completely soaked and the remaining liquid is red/cloudy.

Wrap in cling film and leave to rest for at least a couple of hours

Now shampoo!

Correct reflections

If you simply want to correct unwanted highlights in your hair, there are very simple solutions you can implement, without any preparation, perfect for use on natural hair, dyed with henna or dyed.

These are the anti-reflective mousses by Yuniwa Cosmetics , specifically designed to solve this very common need for those who use henna and dyeing herbs at home.

Thanks to their mousse formula , they apply easily and evenly and are able to deposit even more pigment on the hair, for a more intense neutralizing effect.

If you have brown or black hair and want to neutralize warm, copper and red highlights , use the Anti-Red Mousse ,

If you have white, grey or blonde hair and want to neutralise unwanted yellow and warm tones, obtaining a cool and luminous shade, use the Anti-Yellow Mousse .

If you have any doubts or questions about henna, don't miss all our answers to the henna FAQs .

Continue reading

Yumibio's blog Scalp Massage

Yumibio's blog Henna: Frequently Asked Questions

Yumibio's blog How to Make Sherazade, the Henna Hair Mask

If you want to continue experimenting in the world of natural hair dyes, don't miss all our guides to henna and plant-based dyes !