I have used henna on my hair but now want to change the colour. Is it safe to use a chemical colourant?

Question

I've used natural henna for many years with great results - mixing my own brew. I now want to go lighter. Any way I can do this? I've heard that chemical colourant must not be used if there is henna on the hair and I don't want to cut all my hair off!

Answer 1

Henna is one of the hardest colours to remove from your hair.
The ideal situation is to grow the henna out.

The best thing to do is go to a good salon, explain what you have used and they can do strand tests to see exactly how coated your hair is with henna.
It really depnds on the colour of henna that you have been using and how many times you have coated the same hair.

They may suggest colouring your hair an all over colour (brown usually) this will tone the henna colour down. It would mean leaving this colour for a while to settle then to highlight.

It all depends on what colour henna you have used and what colour you want to acheive.
There are possibilities but i really wouldn't recomend that you try it yourself

Answer 2

Henna won't lighten. The red glow and shine you get might give the impression of the tone being lighter, but it won't be. And it will be red, so don't henna unless you want red. Other plants added to henna can make brown, but you still can't lighten with natural dyes, only add or change tones of color. Natural dyes could make your dark brown hair a shinier and brighter brown, but not a truly lighter brown. As for curls, lots of henna relaxes them a little in many cases. One henna application might not do anything. So don't plan on getting from curls to waves unless you're planning on using henna several times.

Answer 3

Hi, I am a hairstylist and have been for over 10 years. I would not try to colour over your henna at home. It will take some pretty industrially strong stuff to strip it, and thats even if it will come out, which is unlikely if you have been using it for years. It will damage your hair alot and could result in you having to chop it off anyway. This probably isn't what you want to hear and if curiosity gets the better of you PLEASE do a strand test first. Just snip a pinch of hair off, tape it together at the top and put some colour on it and see what happens. It is likely to be quite grim. I agree with the othet hairstylist who has answered you, I would not risk it on my clients, unless i didn't like them much! (just kidding!!).
Jill

Answer 4

You need to strip the henna with something like Wella stripper first, or just let the henna grow out. Most hair colors cannot be used over henna.

Answer 5

You cannot get henna out of hair...period. No exceptions. If anyone tells you different, ask them what shape their hair is in. It has to grow out or be cut out. I have seen stylists trying to beat the odds. The hair NEVER turns a uniform colour and is ALWAYS damaged to the max. I would never risk my reputation with any of my clients.

Answer 6

Chemical colorant can be used on natural henna,

Answer 7

On all hairdyes I have ever used, they alway say, do not use on previously henna-dyed hair. I think it couldmake your hair go a realllllly odd colour. (like green or something).
Probably a good idea to go to a proessional hairdresser & get then to do it the first time.

Answer 8

You have to let it grow out - if you put chemical on top of Henna it will go bright Orange and look awful xxx

Answer 9

hair colourant is bad for your hair but hair that is damaged grows out.
go ahead and colour your hair. if it doesn't work, stick to henna.

Answer 10

NO NO NO henna with clor will ruin hair