Lush Henna FAQ

When it comes to henna, you’ve got questions and we’ve got answers!

Our henna blocks are fabulous natural alternatives to chemical hair dye.

They give locks luscious color, mirror-like shine and enviable volume, plus they’re 100 percent vegan and never tested on animals. Sound too good to be true? Well there’s one catch – henna takes a little extra work to apply. So, if you’ve read our detailed how to use henna instructions and still have questions, look no further: we’ve compiled all the most frequently asked questions about our hennas right here.

Will henna cover gray hair?

Yes, but it is a bit of a process. The short version is: for best results on gray hair, we recommend using Rouge henna first then applying a darker shade like Brun or Marron.

And now the long version: gray hair is colorless, which means that the henna may not stick easily to the strand since it doesn’t have existing color to hold onto. (This is why gray hair is sometimes called stubborn.) We recommend starting with our lightest henna shade, Rouge, which creates a color base for the darker henna shades to hold onto.

We also recommend doing a strand test on some gray hairs to see how the henna will look on your hair. This will help avoid any surprises!

Is henna safe for my permed or chemically straightened hair?

Because there are tons of different chemical treatments and formulas out there, there’s no single answer to this question. Our best advice is to consult with your haircare professional before using henna.

Can I use henna after chemically dying my hair?

Absolutely! When covering synthetic dye with henna, you don’t need to worry about a chemical interaction between the henna and the synthetic dye since the henna acts as a varnish rather than penetrating the hair shaft.

Can I use chemical dye on my hair after using henna?

We recommend waiting until your henna is noticeably faded, which normally happens after about four weeks. When henna has been freshly applied, it acts as a varnish on the hair’s cuticle. This can block the chemical dye (or perm treatment) from entering the cortex and may have unexpected results. Waiting until the henna has faded will allow the chemical dye to do its job. We strongly recommend doing a strand test to ensure you’ll be happy with the results before going full-on!

Does your henna contain mineral salts?

No, there are no mineral salts in our hennas. We list all the ingredients that go into our products, so you can always find out exactly what’s inside each one by checking its label or looking it up on our website.

How long should I leave the henna on my hair?

We suggest that you keep the henna in your hair from two to four hours.

If I leave it on longer, what will happen?

Keeping the henna on for longer than four hours won’t necessarily intensify the color. However, after the henna is washed out, the color will continue to develop within the next 24-36 hours.

Covered or not covered?

If you leave your head uncovered while the henna’s in your hair, it will oxidize and develop into a darker, cooler tone. If you cover your head with something like cling wrap, the result will be a warmer, redder tone.

How much water do I add?

There’s no hard answer for this since everyone will use a different amount of the henna block. You're aiming for the consistency of a thick brownie batter: liquid enough to saturate the hair but not so liquid that it will drip. Start slowly with a small amount of water and add more until you achieve the consistency that you need.

What’s a double boiler?

It’s just a fancy name for a heatproof bowl or pot placed over a few inches of lightly boiling water. The indirect heat allows the henna to gently melt without burning or sticking to the pan.

Can I add coffee, star anise, etc. to change the color?

Since our henna shades are expertly formulated to dye the hair in the most optimal way, we don’t recommend adding any extras to our hennas.

Do you have clear henna?

No, we don’t carry clear henna. However, if you choose a shade of henna that’s close to your natural hair color, it’ll add texture and shine without changing the color too much.

Do I really have to do a strand test?

YES! We’re totally guilty of ignoring this step while using other dyes, but we can’t stress enough how important a strand test is for henna.

Results will vary from person to person depending on your hair’s unique properties. And since we don’t recommend using chemical dye over henna immediately, consider this a long-term relationship!

Here’s a very low-risk way to tell if you’ll love the results: simply take a few strands of your hair from your hairbrush and apply the henna to them. After washing it out, wait at least 24 hours for the color to develop to get an accurate idea of the end result.