Table of Contents
 1| How my journey began
This book is the culmination of years of research and testing. Learn how traditional hair care destroyed my hair, and how I found my way back to healthy colored hair following natural methods.
2| Before You Henna—Are You a Good Candidate?
Henna is forever, as the saying goes, so how do you know that it’s a good choice for you?
3| All About Henna: Pros, Cons, & Other Effects
Henna has some unique properties about it and differs from chemical dyes in some substantial ways. Make sure you understand each of these and how they could impact your hair before making the leap.
4| Identifying Quality Henna & Herbal Hair Colors
There are some scary henna compounds out there. Learn how to identify and source quality ingredients so you can buy and blend with confidence.
5| Building Your Herbal Hair Color: Other Herbs
Indigo, sedr, senna, and many others herbs can be used to color your hair, too! Learn about these other herbs and how they both stand on their on and interact with henna.
6| Building Your Herbal Hair Color: Liquids, Essential Oils, & More
The possibilities are endless when it comes to personalizing your herbal hair color! Teas, tisanes, honey, yogurt, essential oils and more. Learn what’s good and what should be avoided.
7| Other Supplies
Up to your eyebrows in mud is not the time to realize you’ve forgotten something important. This chapter will make sure you can plan accordingly and have everything else you need on hand.
8| The Best Time to Henna
If you’ve never used an herbal hair color before the process can seem complicated. This section breaks down the entire process with time estimates so you can plan accordingly.
9| Strand Testing
Many herbal dyes are very, very permanent so strand testing is a must. Learn how to conduct quick and effective strand tests that will allow you to find your perfect color before committing color to the hair on your head.
10| Mixing Herbal Hair Colors Step-by-Step
Steeping liquids, mixing the mud, and gauging dye release- it’s all here!
11| Using Indigo
Indigo, used for deep red, brown and black blends, has some additional nuance to it. This herb is broken down in detail in this chapter.
13| Glosses
Want just a smidge of color? Glosses are an effective way to use just a little herbal dye in conditioner or yogurt.
14| Rinsing, Drying, & Post-Henna Hair
Getting mud of your head has never been so easy. From there, enjoy the new color while reading about some of the final steps of settling down your hair will go through.
15| Leftovers & Storage
Different herbs have different needs, both in powder and mud form. This chapter breaks down the best ways to store each of the most common herbs for future use.
16| Lightening Hair Naturally (and Not So Naturally)
This chapter explains how lightening works, what it does to your hair, and then provides several natural (and some not-so-natural) ways to achieve lighter hair with less damage than traditional salon treatments.
17| Removing Herbal Hair Colors
While often an uphill battle, this chapter breaks down the most tried-and true removal method for each main type of herbal dye, as well as detailing how to transition back to chemicals if you so desire.
18| Troubleshooting
Working with herbal mud is messy and imperfect by nature, but there’s a few common places people run into trouble. This section is here to help!
19| Natural Hair Color Recipes
The recipes are divided into color categories starting with gold tones, then reds, then browns and finally blacks. Have fun experimenting and modifying thee recipes to suit your needs, but always strand test!
Silver, White, & Colorless
Golden & Blonde
Copper & Red
Browns & Brunettes
Black
20| Natural Health Treatments with Henna
Henna does much more than just make your hair red! Learn how to use it to treat lice, dandruff, protect from UV, and how to use it to strengthen damaged hair.
Conclusion, About the Author, References & Sources
Comprehensive & Flexible
This guide does not exist to market my own products; they are mentioned at times because they are things I developed on my journey to healthy, herbal-colored hair. I will never claim they are the only way or the best way for every individual. The best hair care routine and products are the ones that work for you. To that end, I’ve included recipes and treatments which will enable you to mix and blend your own herbal colors with confidence.
Through the entire process my hair was evolving, not only into something longer, but something healthier. One day though you’ll realize that your hair is starting to feel nice. And another day you’ll see it’s starting to shine again. Sometime from then you’ll notice that the detangling comes easier and that you may be able to push that trim back a week. Treat each of these realizations as the victory that it is.
There is a rewarding aspect of personalization and ownership that comes with blending and using your own herbal concoction. It’s a great feeling knowing what you are doing is much better for your health than applying bottles of acrid chemicals.
As you go down this path of herbal hair coloring, expect a lot of questions from curious friends and family members. You’ll quickly find yourself educating others as a by-product of excited sharing, and the circle of herbal hair coloring will expand a little bit wider.
Legal Tiny Print
Copyright ©2016 Melissa Lynn Herold. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form whatsoever, by photography or xerography or by any other means, by broadcast or transmission, by translation into any kind of language, nor by recording electronically or otherwise, without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in critical articles or reviews. ISBN 13: 978-1-63489-927-7. Library of Congress Catalog Number: 2016953835
Wise Ink Creative Publishing 837 Glenwood Ave Minneapolis, MN 55405 www.wiseinkpub.com
Coloring Hair Naturally with Henna & Other Herbs: A Guide © Melissa Lynn Herold. All Rights Reserved, except where otherwise noted.
Additional Resources
Want a preview? This article gives you the highlights of the book, more than enough to know if this is for you.
See one of my most in-depth henna articles: how to identify pure henna vs henna compounds, complete with microscopic pictures!
TatsuOni (verified owner) –
Excellent book with lots of information and it’s easy to read! It doesn’t matter if you’ve used henna and natural dyes or read about it for years. You’ll stil learn new things about both dyes and natural hair care. I highly recommend it!
Aimee (verified owner) –
Full of helpful information! Definitely well worth the read for anyone considering natural dyes (or just curious about them).
morrison16350 (verified owner) –
This book is so worth the read (and the very reasonable price)! I’m a natural auburn and looking for a natural way to cover my middle-aged gray and to brighten my fading color. I’ve been considering henna but wanted to be informed before taking the (permanent) leap. I’m so glad I stumbled on the NightBlooming site and found Melissa’s very informative content.
This book is well-written with a good amount of relevant photos, but not so many that they’re filler. There’s no fluff and she included enough personal details to make the content relatable without me thinking “enough with the nonsense, let’s get to the point”. Semi-permanent box dye and salon highlights have left me with damage and after enjoying the henna book so much, I knew it would be worth it to purchase the book on healing my damaged hair. Can’t wait to get through it and restore the beautiful locks I had a few years ago, maybe even better!
Linda (verified owner) –
I did not think I had anything left to learn about henna but was really impressed with all the extra knowledge I was able to gain through this book. Well thought out, well written and beautifully presented.
Anonymous (verified owner) –
Made a fabulous gift. 😄