Natural indigo henna 100% 3*20 grams - BIO VITAL

Conventional permanent dyes use an alkaline agent and hydrogen peroxide to open the cuticle, remove natural pigment, and deposit synthetic colour molecules inside the hair shaft. This product works differently: the indigo and henna pigments bind to the outer cuticle layer, creating a translucent tint that blends with your existing colour. Because no oxidation occurs, the powder cannot lift or lighten hair — it only deepens, cools, or enriches the tone you already have. There is no separate developer bottle; you activate the colour by mixing the powder with warm water into a paste. The result builds gradually with repeated applications rather than shifting dramatically in one session. This also means regrowth lines are less harsh, since the colour fades by wearing off the surface rather than growing out from a permanently altered core.

The powder contains indigo as the primary colouring agent, which on its own gives a blue-black tone. In traditional two-step or blended herbal dyeing, henna (lawsone) provides an orange-red base that indigo then shifts toward brown, dark brown, or black depending on the ratio and your starting shade. On pigmented hair, the effect is a cool, deep enrichment. On grey or white hair — which lacks the underlying melanin to blend with — the indigo can appear more vivid, sometimes showing a bluish or greenish cast initially that usually settles after 24–48 hours as the pigment oxidises in air. Because every head of hair has a different percentage of grey, porosity, and previous colour history, the exact shade cannot be predicted from a chart. The source material explicitly recommends a strand test on a hidden section before full application, especially if your hair is very light, heavily processed, or recently chemically coloured.

Use a non-metallic bowl and spoon. Add warm (not boiling) water gradually while stirring until the paste reaches the thickness of yogurt or thick cream — thin enough to spread easily, thick enough not to drip. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes after mixing; this allows the indigo to begin releasing pigment. Apply to clean, towel-damp hair (no conditioner or oil beforehand, as they can create a barrier). Section the hair and work methodically from roots to ends, saturating each strand. Wear gloves and protect clothing and surfaces; indigo stains permanently. Cover with a shower cap or plastic wrap and a towel to retain warmth, which helps pigment uptake. Processing time controls depth: 30–60 minutes for a subtle cool tone, 90–120 minutes for maximum darkness. Rinse thoroughly with water only; avoid shampoo for 24–48 hours while the colour fully oxidises and sets.

Chemical dyes and bleach alter the hair's porosity and cuticle structure, often making it more absorbent in some areas and resistant in others. When herbal pigments coat this uneven surface, they may grab too intensely on over-porous sections (turning nearly black or greenish) and barely deposit on resistant zones, leading to a patchy result. Bleached hair is especially prone to pulling unwanted blue-green tones from indigo because the warm undertones that normally balance it have been removed. The source material advises extra caution and a strand test if hair is "very light, heavily processed, or recently coloured with chemical dye." A practical approach: wait at least 10–14 days after your last chemical service, wash the hair a few times to remove residual oxidative agents, then do a strand test on a discreet section. If the test looks even and the shade is acceptable, proceed with full application. If not, consider a professional colour correction before using herbal dyes.