How To Colour Block Your Hair With Henna

How to Colour Block Your Hair with Henna

Colour blocking is one of the current hottest social media trends for hair.  

As synonymous with early noughties fashion as apple-bottom jeans, colour blocking is finding favour with a new generation, keen to make a statement with their locks.

If you’re a fan of ‘natural’ effects, this probably isn’t the one for you, although it can be done in a more subtle way: As a rule colour blocking involves colouring the hair with big chunks of high-contrast colours to make a statement.

Seen on celebs from Billie Eilish to Hilary Duff and Megan Thee Stallion, this look is young, fresh, fun and PERFECT to achieve with Henna and Indigo!

What is the technique used to colour block hair?

The colour blocking technique involves colouring large blocks of hair, often the bottom layers, with a darker or brighter colour.

It’s simple to achieve, involving a similar technique to modern highlights, just with less subtlety.  Think of it a bit like painting with hair colour!

How to Colour Block your Hair with Henna

1.       Depending on how bright you want your hair, mix up your Henna with your choice of water, tea, or yoghurt (making sure to do a strand test first to ensure you know how long to leave your colour on (try this guide if you want super bright red).

2.       If you want a black base colour, prepare your indigo with water when you’re ready to use it.  If you want a darker brown, at this stage make a second bowl of henna, ready to add indigo to when you’re ready.

3.       Pop your colour in the fridge to soak overnight.

4.       When you’re ready to dye your hair, start as usual by applying a barrier balm to the forehead and ears to avoid colour transfer.

5.       For colour one, coat the whole hair with henna then leave to sit for as long as you need to, to get the result you want.

6.       Once the hair is coloured and dry, then do the second coat.  

7.       Section the hair into at least four segments, down the centre and top and bottom.

8.       Using a brush, grab the indigo mix and paint a thick coat on the area you want to be darkest.  Again, follow the results of your strand test for duration.

9.       Rinse off and dry, then let settle for at least 72 hours while the colour oxidises.  Repeat if necessary.

10.   Finish with an amla treatment for additional shine.

FOR A MORE SUBTLE EFFECT, TRY OUR PRE-MIXED ORGANIC HENNA SHADES

Pro tips to get the best result with colour blocking:

Make sure you wash your hair with a gentle shampoo before dying to remove all traces of oil and residue that may weaken colour uptake.

Make sure you plan enough time – henna and indigo are not fast dyes, so don’t rush it.

Henna is not suitable for use on bleached hair, and cannot lighten hair.