If you’re looking for a new way to spice up your hair, henna hair dye is the answer.
This natural dye has been used for centuries and provides vibrant colors without damaging chemicals that can be found in most store bought dyes.
The best part? This natural dye doesn’t just give your hair an amazing color, but also strengthens and conditions it!
But which is the best henna hair dye, which color is right for you? Here’s everything you need to know and more!
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Table of Contents
- What is Henna Hair Dye?
- The Wonders of Henna for Your Hair
- Can I dye my hair with henna at home?
- Best henna hair dyes for natural looking color
- #1 100% Pure Henna Powder For Hair Dye – The Henna Guys
- #2 Just Jaivik 100% Organic USDA Certified Henna Powder (Lawsonia Inermis)
- #3 Reshma Beauty 30 Minute Henna Hair Color Natural Black
- #4 H&C 100% Natural Organically Cultivated Henna Powder Specially For Hair Coloring
- #5 SURYA Brasil Henna Dark Brown Cream
- #6 Auburn Henna Hair & Beard Color – The Henna Guys
- Best henna hair dyes at a glance.
- Watch and learn: How to dye your hair with henna.
- What color does henna come in?
- How do henna hair dyes work?
- Is henna dye good for your hair?
- Is henna better for your hair than dye?
- How long will henna hair dye last?
- Are henna hair dyes safe?
- Will henna stain my skin?
- TOP TIPS
- How often can I use henna hair dye?
- Can I use normal hair dye after using henna?
- How do I care for my henna hair?
- Parting words.
- Our Research & Review Process
What is Henna Hair Dye?
Henna is a natural colorant often used for dyeing hair. It comes from the plant Lawsonia inermis, which grows naturally in tropical climates all over the world.
It’s believed that henna was first discovered by accident when people noticed how it stained their palms red!
Henna comes from the henna plant, which is commonly found in parts of Africa, India, Pakistan, Yemen, and most of the Middle East.
Today, the most common reason for using henna is to change your natural color or go from dark brown/black to naturally red looking hair. Without bleaching out your natural pigment or using chemicals like ammonia or peroxide or other nasties like PPD and metallic salts.
It typically comes as a henna powder made up of Ayurvedic herbs that you can mix with water into a paste to apply to your hair.
It’s also the same stuff that’s used to create those beautiful tattoos on your hands and face.
What’s great about it is that it’s a natural hair dye that leaves your locks looking shiny and healthy and conditions your hair long term too.
Check out the latest looks for ideas and inspiration.
Expert Insights
“If you’re done exposing your mane to harsh chemicals and looking for a natural solution to color, condition, and cover your grays – Henna is your answer.”
The Henna Guys
The Wonders of Henna for Your Hair
From boosting hair strength to adding a natural shine, henna is not just about changing your hair color; it’s a complete hair care solution. Dr Satira Sanke on eMediHealth tells us that are many benefits for using henna on your hair:
- Conditions Hair: It conditions your hair, making it softer, smoother, and more manageable.
- Strengthens Hair: Henna helps to strengthen hair strands, reducing breakage and improving overall hair health.
- Scalp Health: It has natural antifungal and antimicrobial properties, promoting a healthy scalp.
- Reduces Frizz: Henna’s moisturizing properties help to reduce frizziness and enhance hair texture.
- Shine and Volume: It adds shine and volume to hair, making it look healthier.
- Sun Protection: Henna naturally protects hair from sun damage due to its coating effect.
- Long-Lasting Color: The color from henna lasts for several weeks, fading gradually and naturally.
- Safe for Most: Generally safe for use, with a lower risk of allergic reactions compared to synthetic dyes.
Can I dye my hair with henna at home?
Yes, if you have the right products and a lot of patience! It is very easy to do at home.
There are many different options for dying your hair at home with henna. Some people like to go the traditional route and mix it themselves, while others prefer using ready-mixed products in a bottled solution.
The color will vary depending on what method you choose; some colors can be very intense! And your hair type and base color will of course come into play.
There are many organic natural henna hair dye products available to use at home. Here are our top picks.
Best henna hair dyes for natural looking color
#1 100% Pure Henna Powder For Hair Dye – The Henna Guys
Features & ingredients:
- This 100% Pure Henna Powder is perfect for creating natural-looking color.
- It’s free of chemicals or additives, so you can be sure that your hair will look healthy and revitalized after using it.
- Long-lasting color results with a beautiful reddish hue, without any peroxide or bleach.
- Not the best for dark hair.
Reviewers say:
“Love this henna powder. It works really well and leaves my hair feeling soft and manageable. The color is more intense than I expected, but it’s still very natural looking.”
“This henna powder is amazing! My hair looks healthier with a beautiful reddish hue after using it.”
Our experience:
If you want a natural-looking red hue, then this is the henna powder for you. It’s free of chemicals and it will give your hair long-lasting results with a beautiful reddish hue. The color is more intense than expected but still very natural looking. It works best on light brown hair and lighter for a subtle red wash.
Best for: Natural-looking red hues on light hair.
#2 Just Jaivik 100% Organic USDA Certified Henna Powder (Lawsonia Inermis)
Features & ingredients:
Just Jaivik 100% Organic Henna Powder is perfect for natural hair color.
Chemical-free and certified USDA organic, so you can be sure that your hair will look healthy after using it.
Easy to use and gives a beautiful black or dark brown hue without any peroxide or ammonia.
Reviewers say:
“I used it to dye my medium brown hair with the help of some lemon juice and I was really pleased with the results – I had a deep, rich blackish-brown color.”
“It’s great for covering up my gray hairs. The color lasted a few months before needing a touch up.”
Our experience:
This organic henna powder is perfect for creating dark and rich hues. We mixed it with coffee and lemon juice for an extra-dark result, but it can be used on its own for a more subtle tone. The color has great longevity and will last for a few months before needing a touchup.
Best for: Dark and rich hues on medium to dark hair.
#3 Reshma Beauty 30 Minute Henna Hair Color Natural Black
Features & ingredients:
- Reshma Beauty 30 Minute Henna is the perfect solution for quick color.
- It’s 100% organic and infused with goodness of herbs to keep your hair beautiful and healthy.
- Gives a natural black hue in just 30 minutes.
Reviewers say:
“I had been looking for an easy way to cover my gray hairs, and this henna powder was exactly what I needed. The color came out amazing, it was black but still very natural looking.”
“It was really easy to use, the instructions were clear and simple. It only took me 30 minutes to dye my hair!”
Our experience:
If you’re looking for a quick fix, then this is the henna powder for you. It’s infused with goodness of herbs, so your hair will not only look amazing but also stay healthy. The color was natural-looking black in just a matter of 30 minutes – no mixing or waiting around required!
Best for: Quick and easy natural-looking black hues on all hair types.
#4 H&C 100% Natural Organically Cultivated Henna Powder Specially For Hair Coloring
Features & ingredients:
This henna powder is made with organically cultivated henna leaves for the best quality and results.
It’s free of any impurities or chemicals, so you can be sure that your hair will stay healthy after using it.
Gives a beautiful reddish-brown hue without any peroxide or bleach. Perfect for covering gray hairs without making them reddish.
Reviewers say:
“I was tired of my gray roots growing back in after every couple of weeks, but this henna powder helps to keep them away. The color is exactly what I wanted – not too red, not too brown.”
“My hair looks amazing after using this!”
Our experience:
This one has loads of great reviews on Amazon and we can see why. It’s perfect for creating red-brown auburn or chestnut hues.
We tried it on medium-brown hair and the color was a beautiful reddish-brown shade. Best of all was that evenly covered gray hairs without making them too red.
Best for: Auburn hues on medium-dark hair, especially good for covering gray hairs.
#5 SURYA Brasil Henna Dark Brown Cream
Features & ingredients:
- This all-natural vegan hair color cream is the perfect way to achieve a beautiful, dark brown hue.
- Enriched with henna extract, this unique formula provides intense conditioning and hydration while adding rich color to your hair.
- Free of ammonia, PPDs, Hydrogen peroxide.
- Conditions and strengthens your hair.
Reviewers say:
“Love this product! It’s so easy to use and gave me the perfect shade of dark chocolate brown that I wanted.”
“My hair looks amazing after using it. It’s really moisturizing too.”
“It was super easy to apply and rinse out. Didn’t give the best root coverage but I love the brown shiny color and condition of my hair.”
Our experience:
SURYA Brasil Henna Dark Brown Cream is a great henna hair dye for beginners. There’s no faffing about with powders – this cream comes ready made.
And it’s easy to apply with the instructions included in the kit. The color? A gorgeous chocolate brown that will leave your hair looking glossy and hydrated.
Best for: Ready to use, dark chocolate brown hues.
#6 Auburn Henna Hair & Beard Color – The Henna Guys
Features & ingredients:
- This 100% vegan natural henna hair dye
- Free of chemicals, ammonia, and peroxide
- No Paraben, No Alcohol, No Fragrance, No Additives.
- The powder is easy to mix into a paste for simple application and the color will last up to 3-6 weeks.
- Includes Pair of gloves, shower cap & application instructions
Reviewers say:
“This henna dye gave me the most beautiful shade of auburn! My hair looks healthy and shiny.”
“I love this product! I had been looking for an all-natural dye that would give great results and this one definitely delivers!”
“My friends have all noticed the new color and they love it. I’m very happy with the results.”
Our experience:
This is another one from the Henna Guys that gives you beautiful auburn with hints of copper and red. Be warned – it’s proper messy! Although gloves are included in the kit. We got the red dye everywhere. But the results were well worth it!
We tried it on dark blonde hair and wouldn’t go much darker than that as the stain won’t show through. We love it because it can be used on beards too!
Best for: Bright auburn shades on light hair.
Best henna hair dyes at a glance.
| Hair dye | Looks like | Best for | Buy it now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100% Pure Henna Powder For Hair Dye | Natural-looking red hues on light hair. | ||
| Just Jaivik 100% Organic USDA Certified Henna Powder (Lawsonia Inermis) | Dark and rich hues on medium to dark hair. | ||
| Reshma Beauty 30 Minute Henna Hair Color Natural Black | Black hues on all hair types. | ||
| H&C 100% Natural Organically Cultivated Henna Powder Specially For Hair Coloring | Gray coverage. | ||
| SURYA Brasil Henna Dark Brown Cream | Ready to use, dark chocolate brown hues. | ||
| It’s Pure Organics Herbal Hair Colour Dark Brown | Bright auburn shades on light hair. |
Watch and learn: How to dye your hair with henna.
Here’s a great tutorial that shows you how to dye your hair black with henna and indigo powder, step-by-step. You can also read our guide on how to dye your hair at home with henna.
What color does henna come in?
- Red
- Light Brown
- Medium Brown
- Dark Brown
How do henna hair dyes work?
Henna color works like a color stain that stains and coats the outside of your hair shaft with color. Think of it like a paint or a varnish.
The color binds to the proteins of your hair. It does not chemically alter it like regular hair dyes do. It coats and smoothes your hair cuticle to leave you with fabulous shiny hair.
It also blocks UV rays and keeps your hair soft, shiny, thick and manageable. It helps to repair dry and damaged hair replenishing split ends and smooth flyaways while helping your hair grow longer.
Is henna dye good for your hair?
The reason it’s often used as an alternative for chemical dyes is because it is less harsh than other options and provides beautiful results.
It doesn’t damage the hair follicle like other dyes do. It reduces frizziness due to its moisturizing properties. And preserves your color better than any other dye out there.
It stains your strands with natural color in an earthy shade while leaving them looking healthy and shiny.
Whereas regular box dyes use harsh chemicals which can strip away oils from follicles over time. Leading to damage or even loss of pigment altogether.
The best part about this product is that it’s all natural. So you can feel good about what you’re putting on your head.
Is henna better for your hair than dye?
Yes, it is better for your hair than dye!
It’s often debated whether or not it’s actually better for your hair than traditional dye. One thing that many people don’t know, however, is the difference in ingredients between these two products.
You might have noticed that some supermarket brands claim they are 100% ‘natural’ or ‘herbal’, when in fact they’re made up of just as many chemicals as other boxed dyes and don’t actually contain any plant extracts.
Henna contains a natural plant extract, made from 100% natural ingredients and doesn’t contain any petrochemicals, parabens or other nasties.
There are other factors you should consider when considering how modern dyes can damage your hair. A great way to start thinking about your hair color goes beyond choosing from simply “red” or “pink”.
With henna, there’s no need to bleach or process the color out of your strands.
It offers a more natural tone and doesn’t contain harsh chemicals that can permanently damage the structure of your locks.
And it coats each strand with its rich color rather than altering your natural pigments which chemical treatments do.
This helps seal off moisture within your hair strands to keep them strong. This makes it less likely breakage will occur as well.
Hair stylists recommend using organic products like these since they are healthier for both skin and hair health too!
How long will henna hair dye last?
Henna lasts around 4-6 weeks, depending on your hair thickness and how many coats (or rounds) you manage to apply.
This is because it contains antioxidants that protect against damage from UV rays as well sunlight exposure.
It will fade eventually though – especially if you swim in a pool or the sea regularly as chlorine and salt water speeds up the fading process!
The dye lasts longest on clean, deep-conditioned locks and will begin fading after two weeks if you’re shampooing more than twice per week.
Are henna hair dyes safe?
There are loads of benefits to using these natural products over regular ones. Safety is just one of them.
There have been some cases where people have experienced allergic reactions to these products- but most will tell you that the risk is no more than any other kind of temporary color.
It could happen if you’re not careful enough while mixing up what goes onto your head.
However, if you closely follow our guide to apply it properly, you’ll be good to go!
It’s definitely safer than regular dyes because it’s a natural, plant-based product, rather than a synthetic product.
For example, it’s less harsh than chemical dyes because it doesn’t use ammonia or peroxide.
If you’re an allergy sufferer or allergic to normal dyes, this could be right for you.
It also has anti-fungal properties which helps with dandruff issues.
So the answer is yes, this is a great choice for those who want the natural look without any chemicals.
Just make sure to read package instructions and perform patch tests on an inconspicuous area before applying dye near your scalp!
Will henna stain my skin?
The downside is it can be hard (and sometimes impossible!) to get off your skin so you need to be careful when applying it to your hair and scalp.
It will stain your skin too. Just make sure you blot any excess liquid from your head and neck with a paper towel or cloth before getting in contact with these areas for the first time.
If you’re a henna virgin, we recommend trying it out in a small patch at first if you have sensitive skin.
Even if your skin is fine, always patch test before going crazy with your whole head!
TOP TIPS
- Make sure you protect the skin around your face by putting a barrier cream (such as Vaseline) around your hairline, ears and neck.
- Get yourself a box of disposable gloves that are more durable to protect your hands.
- Cover all surfaces to make sure there are no splashes.
- Use micellar water or hair dye remover pads to remove stains from your skin safely.
How often can I use henna hair dye?
You should aim for around 3 applications per year (or every 3 months), although people with lighter hair may only need two.
If you have dark brown or black hair then consider yourself lucky – henna tends to work much faster on this color than most others.
People with reds and lighter colors generally need to wait a bit longer between each dye, as the color takes a few weeks to build up enough pigment to cover greys and blend with your natural color.
As it’s a completely natural product, there’s no limit to how often you can use it to dye your locks.
You might need regular root touch ups every three weeks or so, depending on how fast your hair grows.
After a few weeks, you’ll notice a difference in the quality of your hair. It’s a product that gets better the more you use it.
It will fill up any gaps in your hair cortex and make your hair shafts stronger. It’s similar to permanent dye where you’ll get new root growth coming out in time.
It does have some cons however, when applied too heavily or continuously over time, as with all dyes, your hair may become dry.
Can I use normal hair dye after using henna?
Yes, unlike some other plant dyes such as indigo which needs time to ‘cure’ in your hair before it will deposit any color – you can use a conventional hair dye straight after a henna treatment.
You might find that some of your hair gets a tint from the color mixing with the box dye, but this is nothing to worry about.
How do I care for my henna hair?
This color needs more love than almost any other color and will fade fast if you don’t look after it.
If you dye your hair, it’s especially important to ramp up the TLC and look after your colored hair to keep it from drying out, fading or frizzing like mad.
- Stay away from sulphates that will strip your color.
- Wash your hair less often.
- Use deep conditioning hair masks.
- Cut down on heat styling.
- Get regular trims.
Parting words.
We hope this article has given you some helpful information about the benefits of henna.
If you’re still unsure, try to do a strand test – using it on a small section of your hair first to see how well it works for you.
With glossy, natural, flowing locks, you’ll never look back.
Found your perfect shade? We’d love to see it! Tag us on Instagram @colouredhaircare or Facebook and share your hair dye success stories. Looking for more hair care tips? Check out How to Look After Colored Hair: 11 Expert Secrets For Long-Lasting Color.
Our Research & Review Process
To ensure our recommendations are as comprehensive and reliable as possible, we’ve undertaken an extensive research effort.
We cite scientific evidence and journals, collect real user reviews and gather impartial perspectives from hair stylists, users, and experts in the field.
Additionally, we conduct hands-on testing by using products and applying hair dyes not only on our own locks but also on real human hair extensions and hair pieces of different hair type, textures and lengths.
This rigorous approach allows us to provide you with insights into which products genuinely live up to their promises.
As always – please consult with a professional hair colorist or stylist for advice on how to color your own hair at home. It’s different for everyone!
