Henna doesn't cover gray: It's written on the product box, and it's part of hair-coloring culture. But times have changed. And it's no longer a choice between going gray or using commercial hair dye.

Because henna is often left on the hair for an hour or more, it would be wise to set aside a large chunk of time. Between the preparation of the henna, the strand test, the application, and the leave-in time, you might want to x out an afternoon for the project

The best heads for henna are brunettes and dark blonds. Hair that is naturally very dark will look smashing with red henna highlights.

Henna dye usually produces the best results in dark blonde and brunette colours of hair but it can generally be used with most hair colourings. Beware though- while henna may be wonderful for hair, it doesn't mix well with other chemical treatments, so if you have recently dyed your hair using conventional dyes, have permed your hair or even if you are planning on perming your hair in the near future, you may want to re-think using the henna.

Selecting the right type of colour for your hair takes an effort. It is advisable you stick to colours that complement your skin tone. Moreover, if you wish to get hair coloured, you should get it done from professionals. They can do it well. Those who don't want chemicals to affect their hair, can use natural products like henna.

Now until this experiment, I have been dying my hair with henna for well over a year and a half. Prior to that, I was an avid permanent hair dye user, so I know how my hair reacts to permanent dye. Even with naturally dark brown hair and the occasional grays, my hair would take to dye very well- even with very light shades.

Colored hair requires special care. It should be washed with a bland colorless soap or liquid shampoo. This will safeguard your hair color. A shampoo that has color in it, such as a greenish tinge, might get into, and affect, the color of your hair.

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