My natural hair color is a strawberry blonde, but have been experimenting with different colors for several years trying to find a color that was me. I was disappointed in over-the-counter hair dyes because they just didn’t last and I was also becoming concerned about the effects all those chemicals they contain may have. So during a search I found this site, read other’s mixes and results and thought I’d give it a try. The picture is the result from my recipe:

100g Ancient Surise henna mixed with a mildly acidic liquid.

I mixed everything together in a plastic container, adding enough mildly acidic liquiduntil it had the consistency of yogurt, covered it with a lid and let it set overnight. I used a cooking basting brush to put the mix in my hair, wrapped my head in plastic wrap, then a towel. I kept the mix on for 2 1/2 hours. It does take some patience to get the henna out, but the results are well worth it! This picture was taken on the 3rd day after I had my henna experience and as you can see the color is a bright copper/orange with golden highlights. It was a little of a shock when I first saw it because I was used to bland blonde and this is va-va-va-voom red! I absolutely love it and my boyfriend does too!

Notes and references

Products
Ancient Sunrise henna for hair kits with everything included – https://www.mehandi.com/page/kits
Henna indigo and cassia: https://www.mehandi.com/Henna – Indigo-Cassia-Powder-s/287.htm

Publications
Ancient Sunrise “Henna for Hair” Book – https://www.mehandi.com/page/asbook_chapt1
Chemical hair dye allergy – https://www.mehandi.com/v/vspfiles/downloadables/chapt1b_epidemic.pdf
Don’t have fruit juice on hand? – https://www.mehandi.com/v/vspfiles/downloadables/chapt6f_around-house.pdf
Mildly acidic liquid – https://www.mehandi.com/Fruit-Acid-for-henna-dye-release-s/299.htm
More info on mildly acidic mixes – https://www.mehandi.com/page/asbook_chapt6
Link to time/temperature dye release chart – https://www.mehandi.com/v/vspfiles/downloadables/chapt7_mixing-testing.pdf (pp. 10-12)

Video How-To
Mixing Ancient Sunrise Henna – https://youtu.be/bnuIHSffukQ
How to apply henna – https://youtu.be/7jVmq6MIoVk
Using henna for root touchups – https://youtu.be/bjZd1gzd7cw