Henna, also known by its botanical name Lawsonia inermis, has been used for thousands of years to dye hair and for body adornment in many traditions including Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, and Christian.

There are various techniques for using henna on the hair. All of them can be broken down into simple steps. This is the way I dye my strawberry blonde hair with henna to make it a more rich red color.

People with different hair colors can still use the ingredients listed but might want to use a few more natural additives in their henna mix that I do not such as red wine, indigo, or vinegar. These don't necessarily make a huge difference (and don't always smell nice). It's more the color of your own hair and quality of henna that matters.

To learn what others are putting in their henna mixes, I recommend checking out the Real People's Henna Mixes page at the Henna for Hair website. There is a wealth of information to get more ideas to dye your own hair no matter what color it is now.

Not all things marketed as henna are created equal or safe for that matter. PPD or black henna is the chemical called para-phenylendiamine. It is a synthetic used mainly to produce black hair dye. It is not safe on the skin and may cause blistering. Please don't buy any product that claims to be natural henna but still has "black henna" in it.

Mehandi.com is my favorite quality supplier of henna for hair and body art, but there are many reputable sellers out there. Just be careful and use common sense.

The recipe and techniques given here work well for me. But henna application is as individual as the person doing it. For more information on how you can personalize the process and also learn how to create your own body art with henna, check out the links section below.

These are the basic ingredients you will need to dye your blonde hair red with henna. For some optional additions, see asterix points at end of list.

• 100 grams quality henna. This amount works with my shoulder length hair with some left over to freeze for later to touch up my roots, but I let some of my natural color through. If you want to completely cover your hair, use more.

• Lemon juice (you need something mildly acidic to bring out the dye in the plant).

• Latex gloves (or plastic, vinyl, whichever you prefer).

• Glass bowl (henna will stain plastic).

• Plastic food wrap.

• Shower cap that you don't mind getting stained.
  

• Petroleum jelly.

*Casia obovata or blonde henna as it is sometimes called can be added to the mix. I have started adding this to my mix, and the result is even more natural looking for me. It conditions the hair and doesn't usually produce noticeable color on most people's hair unless it is very light or whitish gray.

*Essential oils can also be used. In fact, I usually add a few drops of lavender and chamomile. Please be careful with essential oils. If you aren't aware of how to use them properly, please do some research as they are very potent.

1. Cut small section of hair off to test. Henna is usually very safe for the scalp and skin, but you might want to test a small patch first to see if you have an allergic reation. Just because it's natural doesn't mean a person can't have a bad reaction.
2. Tape the ends of your test section together and place in henna mix. When I first tried henna, I tested the section for 2 hours and it turned out the color I wanted it. You must keep in mind however that the color you first see will tone down in about a week.
3. I start off mixing equal parts lemon juice with warm water a cup at a time with the henna until the mixture is the consistency of yogurt. I add a few drops of essential oil either at this point or wait until after the dye has released.
4. Cover with plastic. Heat is needed to help release the dye so I also put a couple small kitchen towels of the plastic and around the bowl. Leave in a warm place for about 12 hours.
5. After dye is released, stir and use immediately or store in fridge for later in the day. I like to take it out of the fridge to warm to room temperature before using.

1. Apply a layer of petroleum jelly around the hairline and behind the ears to protect your skin. Henna won't hurt you (unless you are allergic), but will stain and stay for several days to weeks. Also be careful of clothing and anything else you don't want stained. I recommend wearing an old shirt you no longer care about when you dye your hair.
2. Put on your protective gloves and apply mix. Most instructions you find for henna application will tell you to apply it very thickly, especially if you want to completely cover your hair. I apply the mix very liberally, but do let some of my natural color through. It's up to you how you do this.
3. Pile your hair on top of your head (if it's long). Wrap your head in the plastic wrap and cover with the shower cap or a towel if you prefer. Keeping warm will help the stain penetrate your hair quicker. Rinse out with water, which can be a lengthy process.

I've found that leaving the mix on between 1-2 hours works for me, but refer back to your test patch to get the right timing for you. People with darker hair sometimes leave the mix on between 4 and 6 hours. All hair will react differently.  I also wait 24 hours to shampoo my hair.

From the before and after pics, you can see that my hair wasn't light blonde but darker with some strawberry blonde in it. Your results will depend on several factors including your own hair color and how long you leave the mix on. It's important to note that I have read different reports about using henna on chemically treated hair. Most state that there could be an adverse reaction. This is why testing some loose hair is so important before you go forward to do your entire head of hair.

The after picture was taken about a week after I first dyed my hair years ago. The first week after henna applications, my hair has a harsh copper color. Some people use some other natural acid besides lemon juice such as vinegar, and this may help counteract the harshness. The color always tones down and looks quite natural for me.

I didn't use casia obovata in that first mix, but I do now which makes it look even more natural against my skin tone. Part of the fun is in the experimentation.

Above all, enjoy your new look!