How to Use Lush Henna

What happens when you mix the finest Persian henna with fair trade organic cocoa butter? Vibrant color and loads of shine, naturally!

Our henna dyes work like a varnish over your natural hair color to coat every strand with a protective layer, boosting condition and giving a healthy gloss. Using an herbal hair dye like henna means that every result is completely unique and emerging roots look much more subtle compared to synthetic dye alternatives. Each block is expertly blended with henna and you can choose from five vibrant options: Rouge, Noir, Marron, Brun, and Venitien.

How to use henna

You’ll need:

• Rubber gloves
• Bain-marie or a heatproof bowl in a saucepan
• Stirring spoon
• Newspapers on the floor
• Clips to section your hair
• Dark-colored towels and clothing
• Cling film/shower cap (optional)
• Protective balm, like Ultrabland (also optional)
• Coloring brush to apply henna (or just use your gloved hands)

First, do a strand test

To make sure you’re completely happy with the results, always complete a strand test (this is particularly important if you have chemically treated your hair in any way). The color will continue to develop for a couple of days after application.

Add just boiled water to a small amount of henna in a heatproof bowl and use rubber gloves to apply to a section of hair about an inch wide. Leave on for two hours, shampoo and rinse out. If you are satisfied with the color after a couple of days, apply the henna to the rest of the hair.

Note: If more than 40% of your hair is gray, remember to include some in your strand test. After using henna, gray hairs sparkle brighter than dark ones, so expect vibrant tone-on-tone results.

Step by step

1.  Smooth a protective balm like Ultrabland around the hairline to ensure your skin isn’t accidentally tinted.
2.  Break your henna block into chunks and place into a bain-marie or heatproof bowl over a pot of hot water. Cover the henna with just boiled water and stir until the mixture resembles cake batter.
3.  When the henna is completely melted and cool enough to touch, apply it evenly to clean, dry hair. For best results, work from the roots to the tips. During the application, ensure the henna stays comfortably hot in your bain-marie or saucepan. You may need to add some more water from the kettle as the mixture continues to thicken.
4.  Once hair is fully saturated, leave on for about two hours. Marron, Brun and Noir all contain indigo, which develops when exposed to oxygen. For deeper tones, leave open to the air, and part the hair a few times to allow air to circulate. For a warmer color, cover the head with a shower cap.
5.  Wash out with shampoo and condition as normal. The color will continue to oxidize and develop for a couple of days.

Any questions about our henna hair dyes? Contact our amazing Customer Care team or book a virtual consultation. One of our shop experts will be more than happy to answer your questions and help you choose the perfect shade for your hair.