What Rusalki Does
Rusalki is the lightest henna blend NightBlooming makes. Cassia and senna carry most of the color and a small amount of henna does the rest, and that small amount is what turns the gold toward pink and lands the blend on strawberry blonde and rose gold instead of copper.
Plant dye is translucent, so Rusalki lays its color over your own hair. On pale blonde, white and gray hair it reads as a clear strawberry blonde. On light brown hair it warms the whole head and brightens the highlights already there. On dark brown and black hair it leaves a rose shimmer that shows in direct sunlight, and conditions everywhere else.
Who Rusalki Is For
Natural redheads whose color has faded or gone brassy. Rusalki restores the strawberry at the strength faded gingers are usually after, without the jump to full copper.
Strawberry blondes who want more strawberry. A single application deepens what is already there and leaves the hair conditioned rather than stripped.
Light brown hair that wants warmth. Rusalki brings out the red already in light brown and makes summer highlights read brighter.
Graying redheads. Grays take plant dye more readily than pigmented hair, so they come out as pale rose highlights scattered through the rest.
Anyone coming back from bleach or box dye. Rusalki is a common first step back toward a natural shade, because it adds warmth without going dark or going fully red. How to transition from chemical dye to herbal color.
Along the NightBlooming line, Sarenrae has no henna in it and gives gold alone, Fire Genasi carries more henna for bright copper, and Kitsune is henna without the cassia and senna, for fox fire red. Customers also mix Rusalki into Fire Genasi to lighten it a shade.
What to Expect
The henna in it is permanent. Henna binds to the keratin in hair and stays. It will not lift out with conventional color removers, so strand test first and use the 10g sample to do it.
It deepens with every application. Repeat treatments build on each other and the strawberry gets richer over time. Six applications on one lock, so you can see how far it goes.
See it on hair like yours first. Rusalki, Fire Genasi, Kitsune and Enyo strand tested on medium blonde hair, and the quickstart guide if this is your first time coloring with plants.
Ingredients
Cassia (Senna italica)Sometimes called Cassia Obovata, this plant contains moderate levels of Chrysophanic acid, which both gives a golden dye and has anti-fungal and anti bacterial properties. Often, this golden color fades in 4-8 weeks. More, Senna (Senna alexandrea)This plant contains high amounts of Chrysophanic acid, which both gives a golden dye and has anti-fungal and anti bacterial properties. Often, this golden color fades in 4-8 weeks. More, Henna (Lawsonia Inermis)The powdered leaves of this desert plant creates a permanent red-orange dye that both colors and strengthens hair. Henna also deposits a natural, moisture-permeable plant wax that helps reduce moisture loss and smooths the cortex. More, Chamomile flowers (Matricaria recutita)A plant with a long-standing reverence as a beneficial herb for both hair and skin. Chamomile flowers sooth itching on the scalp and smooths the hair cuticle, giving shine, conditioning, and, to very pale hair, weak golden tones. More, Ginger Root (Zingiber officinale)The most widely used and available herbal remedy on the planet, ginger helps to promote circulation and detoxification and thus may aid in hair growth. This herb also adds a pleasant scent to the herbal blend. More, Horsetail (Shavegrass, Equisetum arvense)One of the most abundant sources of silica in the plant kingdom, it is an essential building block of hair, adding strength and encouraging growth. More, Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus)Soothing to the scalp, this herb has been used for centuries to heal inflamed, weeping, irritated skin conditions. More, Burdock Root (Arctium lappa)Contains mucilage and starches that soothes irritated skin and membranes and is one of the most effective herbs for promoting hair growth and reducing the amount of hair shed. More, Marshmallow Root (Althaea officinalis)Soothes both the skin and scalp, it provides excellent relief from skin and scalp irritation while leaving hair soft and shining. More, Aloe Leaf (Aloe Vera)Soothing and nurturing, aloe leaf provides many of the elements effective in fighting hair loss: Biotin, b-vitamins, zinc and inositil. It also contains anti-bacterial properties that keep the scalp healthy by controlling scalp infections that can prohibit hair growth. More, Hibiscus Flowers (Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis)An emollient (meaning it helps the cuticle of the hair lay down) and a demulcent (meaning it leaves a light soothing film behind) this herb has a cooling effect. It is also an excellent natural conditioner that may impart a warm reddish color to hair. More, and Stinging Nettle Leaf (Urtica dioica)Often called nature’s conditioner, Stinging Nettle is natural deep cleanser useful for oily skin and hair that promotes hair growth. More.
Amount
10g packets are ideal for strand testing and allergy testing. Use the chart above to find how much you’ll need. Round up 50g if your hair is very curly or thick.
Instructions
Your order will come with a full color instruction brochure, but you can also download it here!
Totally new to herbal hair coloring? Read the Quickstart Guide!
Caution
Herbal hair colors with henna and/or indigo are permanent and will not come out with conventional dye removal methods, if at all. Be smart and strand test.
Storage
Additional Resources
Finish the look by coloring your eyebrows too. Follow this guide for natural ginger brows and other facial hair.
Mixing in Selkie Herbal Detangler with any of my herbal hair colors makes rinsing easier and gives a hydrating boost!
Niviria –
This color is so amazing! It is close to my hair color but after I use it, it makes my hair and its color come to life again! I get so many compliments and I don’t feel like I am damaging it with a million chemicals!
Jessica G. (verified owner) –
Love it!
Itachi755 (verified owner) –
I have natural red hair but its kind of brassy, I have used other henna before but the colors I just wasnt really liking to much and with the whole process I was almost just gonna stop bothering with henna. I wanted to try this kind before giving up, and im glad I did because this kind just makes your hair so much brighter than other kinds ive tried. I will continue to purchase this over any other kind!
Carrie (verified owner) –
Have been using this for several years mixed with indigo. I will not use anything else to color my hair.
Melissa G. (verified owner) –
I have finally found my perfect match! I am a very happy camper! Will buy again and again and again!!!
Carissa Nihart (verified owner) –
I use this to add more strawberry to my strawberry blonde and I love it! This henna blend also really helps my hair feel nourished/conditioned after everything is fully rinsed out. I am so grateful I found this product and Nightblooming in general.
Tracy W. (verified owner) –
Definitely the smoothest henna I’ve ever used when applying and it gave me the most beautiful strawberry blonde color! There’s certainly magic potion in there!! 😉🧪👍
Zoe Gillespie (verified owner) –
Laura (verified owner) –
Monica K. (verified owner) –
This is the second time buying this. I have light brown hair which gets lighter in the summer and this enhances my highlights. Love it!
Anonymous (verified owner) –
Beautiful color! Moisturizing compared with other henna I’ve tried
Phoeby S. (verified owner) –
Exactly what I was looking for. Extremely pleased.
Charity (verified owner) –
This is my second time ordering from Nightblooming. My first time was on Etsy. I really love this specific color but it’s all very easy to use and the color was exactly as pictured which is exactly what I wanted!
Gwendolyn S. (verified owner) –
My very favorite!
Verified Buyer (verified owner) –
Gorgeous, natural color.
Verified Buyer (verified owner) –
This is the best thing I have ever used on my hair! The color is consistent and I have been using it for years! Love it!
Anonymous (verified owner) –
Spectacular blend and magnificent results. I used Rusalki on previously lightened hair; I’m going back to a routine of mainly natural hair care and Rusalki was my first step to getting a shade closer to my natural color without going too dark or too red.
I left the paste on for approximately four hours. The photo was taken indoors with natural lighting four days post-treatment so you can see how Rusalki oxidizes on light hair.
As with any treatment which includes henna, there is a 48-72 hour phase of brighter color which simmers down to a natural strawberry blonde between days 3 and 4.
I will be purchasing Rusalki again!
Yvonne (verified owner) –
Sarah (verified owner) –
I absolutely LOVE the color! And my hair feels stronger and healthier afterwards. Melissa was soo helpful and kind, and the instructions were very clear and easy to follow. Thank you Melissa!! ♡
Mia Lucero (verified owner) –
Beautiful henna. I bought several shades to try on my graying red hair. I tried them from darkest to lightest, and ended up mixing Kitsune with Rusalki for a nice fiery red.
Gwendolyn S. (verified owner) –
Best ever.
Shannon (verified owner) –
Background: I’ve been on and off the henna train for the last 20+ years. When I ordered this I was on the tail end of about a year of commercial dyes and heavy bleaching. Waist length hair was pretty trashed, and a mix of almost platinum and super pale blonde (when toned – when the toner faded out, more brassy gold tones from old henna crept back).
So, time to try a new experiment, of which this and the fire genasi were part of. Also oddly – the experiment was to eventually get to a neutral/cool toned light/medium brown that wouldn’t rinse out the way chemical dyes/toners kept doing (so it would better blend in with my root grow out which is a medium neutral brown w/ progressively more white hairs sneaking in).
Over a couple of months I slowly built back more warmth in my hair. I started with Rusalki – one short session about 45 minutes long. And then did a mix of that and genasi for about an hour. That brought me from the bleached photo to the strawberry copper.
The mix was easy to apply – very smooth blend, and left my hair in better conditioner than before (not hard, the bar was pretty low lol).
For the continuation of the color experiments, hop on over to my review of the ebook Night Blooming offers on hair recovery. That book helped me solidify the goal to get off the hair dye bandwagon. Which still required *some* hair coloring to do. Because reasons lol.
Chante paige (verified owner) –
I love this henna color this is the second time I have bought it. I was nervous at first but it turned out such a pretty strawberry blonde.
jen (verified owner) –
I am a natural red head who faded to a nice strawberry blonde over the years. Then the gray began, and I tried salon colors. None of those pricey chemical colors were ever quite right, so I took a chance on this product, as it is more natural and better for my hair. I am now a loyal customer. I have had so many compliments! People state that this looks more like my natural color, and that my hair appears much healthier. This color is just so pretty, and it is one tenth of what I paid in a salon. I will never use chemical colors again. There is also a plethora of information about henna and hair care on this site. Highly reccomended!