My natural hair color is black with considerable amount of gray. I used to use commercial hair dye to cover the gray. Last summer my sister introduced henna to me. From then on, I henna my hair once a month.

My natural hair color is black with considerable amount of gray. I used to use commercial hair dye to cover the gray. Last summer my sister introduced henna to me. From then on, I henna my hair once a month.

My mix is very simple: with my short but thick hair, I use about 50g henna. I put henna power in a large bowl and make a paste with a mildly acidic liquid. I cover the bowl and let the paste sit for about 12 hrs (if the weather is cold, I leave it a bit longer, up to a day.)

I apply henna paste to my dry hair with a tint brush, (It's less messy, I think, I do have gloves on and plastic cover on my shoulder) section by section, until all hair is covered. Then I put on a shower cap and wrap in a big towel. I wait for about an hour and rinse the henna out. Then apply shampoo and conditioner. Conditioner (lots of them) really helps to get the last bits of henna out.My mix is very simple: with my short but thick hair, I use about 50g henna. I put henna power in a large bowl and make a paste with a mildly acidic liquid. I cover the bowl and let the paste sit for about 12 hrs (if the weather is cold, I leave it a bit longer, up to a day.)

I apply henna paste to my dry hair with a tint brush, (It's less messy, I think, I do have gloves on and plastic cover on my shoulder) section by section, until all hair is covered. Then I put on a shower cap and wrap in a big towel. I wait for about an hour and rinse the henna out. Then apply shampoo and conditioner. Conditioner (lots of them) really helps to get the last bits of henna out.

Notes and References
Henna: https://www.mehandi.com/Mehandi-com-Ancient-Sunrise-Henna-for-Hair-s/121.htm
Don’t have fruit juice on hand? Keep some fruit acid powders in your cupboard: https://www.mehandi.com/Fruit-Acid-for-henna-dye-release-s/299.htm
Mildly acidic liquid: http://mehandi.com/v/vspfiles/downloadables/mildl...
More info on mildly acidic mixes: https://www.tapdancinglizard.com/henna-and-acidic-mixes/
Ancient Sunrise henna for hair kits with everything included: https://www.mehandi.com/Mehandi-com-Ancient-Sunrise-Henna-for-Hair-Kits-s/124.htm
Amla: https://www.mehandi.com/Ancient-Sunrise-Amla-Powder-p/aml_01.htm
Henna time and temperature: https://www.tapdancinglizard.com/mixing-and-testing-your-henna-mix pp. 10-13
Henna color oxidizing ("rusting"): https://www.tapdancinglizard.com/mixing-and-testing-your-henna-mix/ pp.25-29
Chemical hair dye allergy: https://www.tapdancinglizard.com/henna-for-hair-2/ pp. 18-26

Video How-To
Going red with henna: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/739464950
How to mix Ancient Sunrise Henna: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/770522457a>
Henna Root Touch Up: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/767016457