How do I find low dye content?
If a henna doesn't say what its independent lab-certified dye content is, it's hard to predict what amount of dye you'll get from it. If this is a henna from Mehandi you're talking about we can try to help with that.
http://www.mehandi.com/shop/hairhenna.html
I bought a packet of low lawsone henna from Mehandi and it has arrived so I'm all set to go! I just still can't seem to get a clear answer to the mix question. I have looked all over the internet and some places swear that lemon juice is the only way to go and others say it will make no difference. All I can find for sure is that boiling water should not be used, but sources differ as to whether lemon, tea or warm water should be used and the effect those mixes have.
So, my question to anyone who knows is:
What effect does lemon juice, water, tea have on the dye release time?
What effect does lemon juice, water, tea have on the final color?
What effect does lemon juice, water, tea have on the permanance of the final color (does it fade, lighten or darken over time)?
Thanks!
The more acidic a mix, the longer it takes to dye release and the longer the dye is active once it has been released. The longer its active, the better it can bind.
A more acidic mix will start out less orange and will often take on slightly more rusty/brownish hues once oxidizes, stronger acidic mixes also sometimes seem to keep darkening little bits over time. Regardless of what you mix it with, however, it will always oxidize down to the same color in the end... it will just have different undertones.
Water is typically the least permanent, especially if its hot or boiling, but even so it wont fade out entirely. Henna binds to the keratin in your hair, which is why its so permanent.
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