Indigo Powder for Hair

What colour will I get?

Indigo adds cool, dark tones and doesn't make hair lighter. With henna, your starting colour and the ratio shape the result. A strand test is the best preview.

• White or grey: light, medium or dark brown by ratio in one step; black to very dark brown/black with the two-step method
• Blonde or light: brown, and vivid because the base is pale; very dark brown to black in two steps
• Light brown: a clear brown shift; very dark brown to black in two steps
• Medium to dark brown: deeper, cooler brown; deep dark brown to black in two steps
• Black: usually subtle; may look cooler or deeper

Brown, in one step

Combine freshly mixed indigo with rested henna paste: 70:30 henna to indigo for light brown, 50:50 for medium, 30:70 for dark. More henna is warmer; more indigo is deeper and cooler. These are starting points, not shade formulas.

Black, in two steps

Henna first for the warm base, then a fresh mix of 80% indigo to 20% saved henna, in the same session.

Why indigo goes with henna

Grey, white, blonde and bleached hair have little pigment of their own, so cool blue on its own can look blue, green or uneven. Henna supplies the warmth that makes indigo read as brown or black.

After colouring

The colour keeps settling once you've rinsed, so judge it when your hair is dry rather than wet. Indigo fades sooner than henna, so most people refresh their roots around every four to six weeks.

Mix indigo fresh, only when you're ready to apply, and put it straight on. Never rest it, soak it overnight or keep leftover paste.

Before you colour

Patch test 24–48 hours before first use with the actual mixture you plan to use. Strand test when the result is uncertain, especially on grey, white, blonde, bleached, chemically treated or previously coloured hair. Start with clean, product-free hair, and don't oil it beforehand.

Mixing

1. Put the indigo in a non-metallic bowl.
2. Add comfortably warm water gradually to a smooth yoghurt-like paste that spreads without running.
3. Add a pinch of salt.
4. Don't let it stand. Apply immediately.

Use enough paste to saturate the hair, especially resistant grey roots. Long or thick hair needs more.

One-step brown: Henna + Indigo

1. Prepare Spierb Henna Powder with comfortably warm water and rest it 3–4 hours, ideally 8.
2. Only when you're ready to colour, mix the Indigo fresh with warm water and a pinch of salt.
3. Combine it with the rested Henna at 70:30, 50:50 or 30:70 Henna to Indigo.
4. Apply straight away, saturating roots and greys.
5. Cover with a shower cap or damp towel to keep the paste moist.
6. Leave on for at least 1 hour and no more than 2, then rinse thoroughly with water.

Two-step black: Henna, then Indigo

• Step 1: apply rested Henna thoroughly and leave it on for 2 hours or longer, keeping it moist. Rinse with water. Don't shampoo or oil between the steps, and let the hair dry to damp, not soaking wet. Save a portion of the rested Henna for Step 2.
• Step 2: mix Indigo fresh with warm water and a pinch of salt, combine it with the saved Henna at 80% Indigo to 20% Henna, and apply immediately.
• Then: cover, leave on for 1–2 hours and rinse thoroughly with water. Do both steps in the same session.

Beard

Henna for 60–90 minutes, rinse, then the 80:20 Indigo to Henna mix for 45–90 minutes. No face or beard cleanser and no beard oil for 24 hours.

Application and aftercare

Smooth a thin layer of petroleum jelly along the hairline, ears and neck, keeping it off the hair. Work in sections and press the paste around the roots. Rinse until the water runs clear, then no shampoo and no oil for 24 hours; a light conditioner is fine for detangling. Colour again as regrowth shows, keeping full-length applications occasional.

Step-by-step help in how to use indigo powder, mixing henna and indigo for brown and the two-step method for black.

Indigofera Tinctoria Leaf Powder (100%).

No PPD, ammonia, peroxide, metallic salts or synthetic dyes.

Warning

For external use only. Avoid contact with eyes. Not for eyelashes or eyebrows. Perform a patch test before first use. Keep out of reach of children. Discontinue use if irritation occurs.

Before you colour

Patch test 24–48 hours before first use with the actual intended mixture, on intact skin. Don't use the product if the test brings burning, persistent itching, significant redness, swelling or blistering. Strand test before a full application, especially on grey, white, blonde, bleached or previously coloured hair.

Using it safely

For external hair-colouring use only. Do not ingest. Not for use on eyebrows or eyelashes; keep it away from the eyes and rinse immediately with clean water if any gets in. Don't apply to broken, weeping or significantly irritated skin or scalp. Stop use and rinse promptly for strong burning, rapidly worsening itching, swelling, blistering or a spreading rash; facial or eye swelling and any difficulty breathing need urgent medical attention. Pour gently rather than raising dust, and don't breathe in the powder.

Storage

Keep out of reach of children. Store sealed, cool and dry, away from humidity, heat and direct light, and use a clean dry spoon. Use within 2 years of the packaging date; the pack carries both the packaging and best-before dates. Mix only what you need: fresh paste isn't kept for later.