How to Apply Henna to Hair

Co-authored by Moushami Iyer

Last Updated: August 4, 2024 Approved

Henna is a non-damaging plant-based dye that you can use to stain your hair a reddish-brown color. Applying henna dye to your hair can be quite messy, and you have to take some precautions to make sure you don’t stain your forehead or surroundings. Once henna is on your hair, you have to wrap it in plastic and let it soak in for a few hours before you can rinse it out. The key to dyeing your hair with henna is the preparation, because the powder must be mixed and left to sit for several hours before it can be applied, so make sure you mix the powder in advance.

Things You Should Know

Create your henna mixture by combining 1/2 cup (50 g) of henna with 1/4 cup (59 mL) of warm water.
Wash and dry your hair before you dye it, and rub a protective layer of petroleum jelly across your hairline to prevent dye stains.
Use a brush to apply the henna paste to your hair in 2-inch (5-cm) sections. Twist the dyed sections into a bun along the top of your head as you go.
Cover your dyed hair with plastic wrap and let the dye sit for 2-4 hours.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Preparing for Application

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1
Mix the henna powder. Henna comes in a powdered form, and you must mix this with water before you can apply it to your hair. Mix ½ cup (50 g) of henna with ¼ cup (59 ml) of warm water. Stir to combine. Stir in more water by the tablespoon (15 ml) as necessary, until the henna paste becomes the consistency of mashed potatoes.
- Once you’ve mixed the powder and water, cover the bowl with plastic and let it develop at room temperature for about 12 hours.
- When you're ready to apply the dye, mix in a bit more water until you have a thick but spreadable consistency.
2
Shampoo, then dry your hair. Before applying henna, you'll want to start with clean hair. In the shower or bath, wash your hair with your regular shampoo to remove dirt, oil, and styling products.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Moushami Iyer
Henna Artist

Expert Interview. 12 July 2021.} Rinse out all of the shampoo. Once out of the shower, towel dry, blow dry, or air dry your hair.
- Do not condition your hair, as the oils in the conditioner can prevent the henna from penetrating your roots properly.^{[2]
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3
Protect your hairline with oil. If you have long hair, gather it up and tie it back so it’s out of your face and off your shoulders and neck. For short hair, put on a headband to keep your hair out of your face. With your fingers, apply some coconut oil, body butter, or petroleum jelly to your hairline, including your forehead, neck, and ears.^{[3]
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- The oil will create a barrier between the henna and your skin, so this will prevent stains around your hairline.
4
Comb and part your hair. Let your hair down and comb it with a wide-toothed comb. This will remove tangles and knots without making your hair frizzy. Part your hair in the center, and let your hair fall evenly to either side of your head.^{[4]
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- You don’t have to section off your hair, because you'll be dyeing it in layers.
5
Protect your skin. Henna tends to get everywhere, so it’s a good idea to wear old clothes and to protect yourself with a rag or old towel. Drape the towel over your shoulders. Arrange the towel to cover your neck and shoulders, and use a pin or hair clip to keep it together. Because henna can stain the skin, put on a pair of rubber or nitrile gloves to protect your hands and nails.
- You can also use a plastic sheet, poncho, or a cutting cape.
- Keep a damp rag nearby to wipe drips off your skin immediately.

Part 2

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Applying the Henna Paste

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Apply the paste liberally to a small section of hair. Starting with the topmost layer of hair, grab a thin 2-inch-wide (5-cm-wide) section of hair from the middle back of your head. Comb this section away from the rest of your hair. With a large tint brush or your fingers, apply 1 to 2 teaspoons (2 to 4 g) of henna to the roots of your hair. Spread the henna toward the tips, adding more paste if necessary.
- Henna paste doesn’t spread as easily as conventional dye, so it’s important to ensure that your hair is fully saturated from root to tip.
2
Twist the hair on top of your head. When you’ve fully covered the first section of hair, twist it a few times and then wrap it into a bun on top of your head. The henna paste is quite sticky, so the coil of hair will just sit there.^{[5]
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Research source} You can pin it in place if you like.
- For short hair, twist the section and pin it on top of your head to keep it out of the way.
Working with the same topmost layer of hair, take a fresh 2-inch (5-cm) section of hair from beside the original section. Apply henna paste to the roots with your fingers or a tint brush. Work the paste toward the tip, adding more paste if necessary, until the entire section is saturated with henna paste.
4
Twist and wrap the section over the original bun. Twist the dyed section of hair a few times. Wrap it around the original bun that you created with the first section of hair. Because the henna is so sticky, the coil will stay, but you can pin it in place.
- For short hair, twist the section, place it on top of the original section, and pin it in place.
5
Continue applying paste to the rest of your hair. Work in small sections, like before. Work toward the front of your head, applying henna to the hair on both sides of the part. Continue working in thin 2-inch (5-cm) sections to ensure proper coverage. When you’ve dyed the topmost layer of hair, repeat the same process with the layer below until all your hair has been dyed.
- Keep twisting and wrapping each section of hair around the original bun.^{[6]
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When every section of hair has been covered and twisted into the bun, go around your hairline and add more paste to areas where the henna looks sparse or more coverage is needed. Pay particular attention to the hairline line and roots.^{[7]
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Part 3

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Setting and Rinsing

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1
Wrap plastic wrap around your hair. When your hair is fully covered, take a long sheet of plastic wrap and wrap your hair. Wrap the plastic all the way around your hairline and completely cover your hair and the top of your head. Don’t cover your ears.
- Wrapping your hair in plastic will help keep the henna warm and moist, and this will allow it to set.^{[8]
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- If you have to go out while your hair is like this, you can wrap a scarf around the plastic wrap to cover it.
2
Keep the henna warm and let it set. Henna generally takes between two and four hours to set. The longer you leave it on, the deeper and more vibrant the color will be. You can encourage color development by keeping the henna warm. Stay inside if it’s cold out, or wear a hat if you must go out.
- You can leave the henna on for as long as six hours if you want to achieve maximum vibrancy.^{[9]
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  Henna Artist
  
  Expert Interview. 12 July 2021.}
- A few hours should be enough if you're just nourishing your hair with henna.^{[11]
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  Moushami Iyer
  Henna Artist
  
  Expert Interview. 12 July 2021.}
3
Rinse with conditioner. When the henna has had enough time to set, put your gloves back on and remove the plastic wrap. Hop in the shower and thoroughly rinse the henna paste from your hair. Rub conditioner into your hair to help loosen the paste.
- Continue conditioning and rinsing until the water runs clear and there's no paste left in your hair.
Henna takes about 48 hours to develop properly. When your hair first dries, it will look very bright and orange. Over the next couple of days, the color will deepen and become less orange.^{[12]
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Touch up roots as they grow out. Henna is a permanent dye, so you don’t have to worry about the color washing out or fading over time. You can reapply to achieve a deeper and more vibrant color, or just apply more paste to your roots as they grow out.^{[13]
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- When touching up roots, leave the henna on for the same amount of time as the original application to achieve a similar color.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How long should I leave henna in my hair for color?

Moushami Iyer
Henna Artist
Moushami Iyer is a Henna Artist and the Owner of Pastel Zenna, an art store in Chicago featuring Moushami's specialty in blending Zentangles and Henna. With over five years of experience, Moushami specializes in Henna tattoos, Henna-inspired art, woodwork, and offers Henna parties.

Moushami Iyer

Henna Artist

Expert Answer

If you want henna to have a color effect on your hair, leave it on for several hours.

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Question

Should we apply oil to hair before applying henna?

Moushami Iyer
Henna Artist
Moushami Iyer is a Henna Artist and the Owner of Pastel Zenna, an art store in Chicago featuring Moushami's specialty in blending Zentangles and Henna. With over five years of experience, Moushami specializes in Henna tattoos, Henna-inspired art, woodwork, and offers Henna parties.

Moushami Iyer

Henna Artist

Expert Answer

No, there's no need for that! Henna on hair works best if the strands are not too grimy or oily.

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Question

Can I let henna sit for 6 hours?

Community Answer

Henna takes between 2-6 hours to be absorbed properly into the hair and roots, so you can surely leave it on for 6 hours. In fact, the longer it is left on, the darker and more prominent the color becomes.

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Tips

Henna always creates a reddish color. If you start with dark hair, you'll end up with a reddish-brown. If you start with blonde hair, you'll end up with an orangey-red.

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Protect floors and countertops with drop cloths to prevent staining.

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Sometimes henna can drip after being applied. Try adding a quarter teaspoon of xanthan gum to the henna to gel the mixture.

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Put cold cream on your face before applying henna to your hair so if the henna gets on your face, you can quickly remove it.
For dreadlocked hair, double the dying time.

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Warnings

If you’ve never used henna to dye your hair, perform a strand test a couple days beforehand to ensure you'll like the results. Apply the dye to a small and inconspicuous strand of hair. Let it sit for two to four hours, then wash it out. Wait for 48 hours and then have a look at the color.

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It is not recommended that you use henna on your hair within six months of perming or relaxing your hair. Avoid using these products for six months after putting henna in your hair as well.

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