If you are looking for a natural alternative for chemical hair dyes, then indigo powder is a great choice. Indigo powder has amazing hair benefits and is got by powdering the leaves of indigo plant whose botanical name is Indigofera Tinctoria. The leaves produce dark blue dye and when applied as a hair dye after using henna, gives dark black colour.
Indigo Common Names:
What Is Indigo Powder?
Indigo powder is the powder got from indigo plant. Indigo is a small shrub that grows about 1 to 2 meters high and produces beautiful pink flowers. Indigo plant has wonderful medicinal uses and all parts of the plant is used medicinally. You can identify indigo plant with it’s leaves and the flowers.
Though indigo is known mainly as a natural dye, it has other amazing hair benefits too. Indigo is mainly used in the form of hair oil for stimulating hair growth and in the form of hair pack for dyeing the hair.
For dyeing, it is applied after henna. Henna makes the hair reddish orange and indigo dyes the hair dark blue color and together they create a natural black color.
Indigo Hair Benefits:
1. Indigo Powder For Premature Greying Of The Hair:
2. Indigo Powder For Hair Growth:
3. Indigo Powder For Dandruff:
4. Indigo Powder Hair Dye:
5. Indigo Powder For Dry Hair:
How Is Indigo Powder Hair Dye Made?
How Is Indigo Powder Hair Dye Made?The blue coloring matter is naturally present in indigo leaves in the form of glycoside (glucose and Indoxyl). Once the leaves are soaked in water and fermented, the sugar (glucose) is consumed by the bacteria releasing the Indoxyl. Indoxyl is the precursor to indigo dye and is called white indigo. When indoxyl oxidises, we get blue dye.
Indigo Leaf Hair Oil:
For making indigo oil, indigo leaves, amla and bhringraj are boiled together in a pan till the water evaporates and the sizzling sound stops.
These 3 herbs also forms the base for the famous Neelibhrigraj Oil which is very popular for treating premature greying of the hair. Neelibhringraj oil also contains additional ingredients like buffalo milk, cow’s milk and coconut milk.
But in my personal experience hair oil made with just the three herbs also is equally effective for stimulating hair growth and preventing premature greying of the hair.
Side Effects Of Indigo Powder:
There are no side effects to using indigo powder for hair. But like with any ingredient some might experience indigo powder allergy but this is very rare.
Some of the symptoms of indigo powder allergy are itchiness, headache and dizziness. If you experience any of these symptoms stop using indigo powder.
The other side effect is it might be messy and time consuming to use indigo as a hair dye but it will get easier once you start using it regularly.
Also we get lot of fake indigo powder in the markets. If we use fake indigo powder, we will experience lot of side effects including severe itching and headache.
Where To Buy Indigo Powder For Hair?
We get natural organic indigo powder in most herbal shops in India. If you are living in Tamil Nadu, you get avuri leaf powder in nattu marundhu kadai. You can also buy good quality indigo powder online.
Whenver you buy indigo powder, make sure to check it is original. To make sure it is original, take tiny bit of indigo powder in a bowl and mix it in water to get a paste. Wait for 15 minutes, the dark blue dye should bleed out else it is fake.
Also while buying look out for the color, it should be green in color and should not smell of chemicals.
Try not to buy cheap indigo powders and also be cautious of buying products like black henna which includes henna, indigo and harmful chemicals to get instant black color.
Common Questions Asked Regarding Dyeing Hair With Indigo Powder:
Common Questions Asked Regarding Dyeing Hair With Indigo Powder: How Long Should I Leave Indigo In My Hair?
Can I leave Indigo In My Hair Overnight?
How To Rinse Indigo Out Of Hair?
Is Indigo Bad For Your Hair?
How Long Does Indigo Hair Dye Lasts?
How to Make Indigo Stick To Hair?
Oiling Hair After Indigo:
How To Make Indigo Last Longer:
2 Ways To Use Indigo For Hair Growth & As a Hair Dye:
a. How To Make Indigo Hair Oil For Hair Growth:
1. To make indigo hair oil, take a 1/4 cup of indigo leaves. Try to use fresh indigo leaves for best results.
2. Wash and take 1/4 cup of bhringraj leaves too. Bhringraj is an amazing herb that promotes hair growth and arrests hair fall immediately. You can read about bhringraj in detail here.
3. Take the indigo leaves, bhringraj leaves and amla in a mixer. Grind to a coarse paste without adding any water and keep it separately. Grinding coarsely helps the herbs release their essence into the oil faster.
4. Take three fresh amla also called Indian gooseberries in a mortar and pestle and pound to break them and remove the inner seed from them.
5. Take the pounded amla and grind to a coarse paste without adding any water in a mixer.
4. Now heat 1 cup of unrefined coconut oil and add the ground paste. Continue heating the oil till the sizzling sound stops which indicates that the water content has been fully evaporated.
Once the water content has been evaporated, switch off and strain. If you switch off before the sizzling sound stops completely, the oil will turn rancid soon. You hair growth oil is ready to be used!
Henna Indigo Hair Dye Recipe For Grey Hair – 2 Step Process
1. Applying Henna:
Take 1/4 cup of henna powder in a bowl. Usually 40 to 50 grams of henna powder will be enough for close cropped hair, 70 to 80 grams will be enough for shoulder length hair and around 150 grams will be necessary for long thick hair.
Make black tea without adding any sugar by boiling water with black tea, strain and let cool. Now add the prepared black tea to henna powder and mix to form a smooth paste without any lumps.
Once you are comfortable using henna, you can also experiment with adding ingredients like lemon juice, apple cider vinegar or coffee decoction. Each ingredient will give a different shade. Also if you feel henna paste is drying out your hair, you can add a tsp of coconut oil to the mixture.
Let henna mixture sit overnight covered with a plastic wrap. The next day, henna paste would have changed color, mix well. Apply little bit of coconut oil to your hair line to prevent skin from staining. Also make to sure to wear gloves if you don’t want any stains on your hands. Wear an old dress while applying henna to prevent stains and drape yourself with an old towel.
Now partition your hair into small sections using a comb and secure them with a clip. Now working with one section at a time, apply the henna mixture liberally from the roots to the end either with a brush or with your gloved hands. After applying pin it back in place, work all the sections the same away.
If the paste is too thick it will be hard to apply and if it is too thin, it will be dripping all over you so make sure to mix it right. Once you have applied the henna paste, take the left over henna and apply it all over your head, this will ensure that every part of the head is covered with henna.
Cover your head with shower cap and let it sit for 4 to 5 hours. Some people might get a headache if they leave henna on their hair for long, for them I would suggest adding few drops of eucalyptus essential oil to the mixture.
After 5 hours, wash your hair with plain water. Don’t use shampoo, it might take some time to remove all of the henna paste from your hair but rinse it off completely and dry your hair. If you are using indigo, you can apply it on damp hair itself.
2. How To Apply Indigo Powder For Hair:
a. Take required amount of indigo powder in a non metallic cup as it is best not to use metallic containers while mixing dyes, I usually use glass containers.
Usually 40 to 50 grams of henna powder will be enough for close cropped hair, 80 grams will be enough for shoulder length hair and around 150 grams will be necessary for long hair.
b. Add in enough warm water to form a thick spreadable paste. You can use the indigo hair just after 15 to 30 minutes after mixing. After 15 to 30 minutes of soaking, indigo will start to release it’s dye, you can see it in the corners of the prepared paste. Apply on clean hair after using henna. Follow all the steps I have given for applying henna paste.
Wait for 2 to 3 hours before washing it off in plain water. You can also add in a pinch of salt while mixing, salt helps indigo powder release the dye faster.
After 3 hours, wash the indigo paste with just plain water. Don’t use shampoo, you can shampoo after 48 hours. Dry your hair and your hair will be dyed dark.
NOTES:
- Use fresh indigo leaves for making the oil. The oil stores well more than 4 to 5 months.
- When using indigo powder as a hair dye, try to mix it with warm water not hot water. The resting time can be in between 15 to 30 minutes.
- When buying indigo powder for the first time, make sure to check whether it is original and then use it as a hair dye.
- You can apply both henna and indigo on the same day. After applying henna and rinsing it off, apply indigo and then rinse it off after a few hours.
- Usually if you use both, it will take almost a day so I would suggest doing it on two days but please remember your hair will be red on the day you apply henna. So plan accordingly, choose a day when you won’t go out to apply henna.
- Don’t be scared seeing your red hair after henna application, it will turn dark when you apply indigo.
- Always make sure your hair is not greasy while applying these natural dyes and the soaking time on you hair is also important.
- Though you can add in ingredients like egg and coconut milk to henna mixture to condition the hair, all these ingredients inhibit dyeing process. I would suggest adding only 1/2 tsp of unrefined oil of your choice to the mixture.
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nice post
Is it possible to add indigo powder (say a tablespoon) to pre mixed 'ready to use' organic henna hair dye to increase depth of colour? Thank you.
Sorry for the late reply. You can mix henna powder in tea or water the previous day. Let it sit overnight for it to release it's dye and then mix it with indigo powder before applying. It will greatly help increase the depth of color but let the henna powder soak for a few hours before mixing indigo powder…
That's not what I asked. I was referring to PRE/MIXED READY TO USE BLACK HENNA HAIR DYE; I.E. Indigo powder is ALREADY INCLUDED. My question; CAN I ADD *EXTRA* INDIGO TO INTENSIFY SHADE?
I am sorry and yes you can add to premixed blend of henna and Indigo. Higher proportion of indigo in the mixture deepens the color…
Thank you very much.
Hi Ramya,How are you missing your WhatsApp post .Please post recipe for castle soap , floor cleaner .Any alternative for castle soap when preparing laundry detergent like can we use reetha liquid to mix baking soda and washing soda. Where we can find lye in departmental stores in India. Please reply as trying your recipes . RegardsApurva
Hi Apurva, I will very soon. You can use reetha liquid instead of Castile soap but Castile soap lathers and cleans well. You can't find lye in any departmental stores in India. Some chemical shops sell sodium hydroxide and you can mix it in water to get lye but please be very careful as lye is just like acid…..
Hi Ramya,I want to grow the indigo plant in my home. Please advice where I can find one.Its not available in Chennai,those that are found are hybrid which I do not want. Thanks
Hi Archana, the best place to find Indigo plant is in government run herb nurseries which are found near forests. You can also collect avuri plant if you visit any local village near Chennai…..
I have asthma and Sinus problem.my age is now 17,my hair is 50% white.is it good to apply henna and indigo to my hair.if yes how can I apply? If I apply indigo to my hair then my50%black hair will turns into white??????? Plz plzz give rply to my email id Allhaqu1967@Gmail.com plz plz
I have asthma and Sinus problem.my age is now 17,my hair is 50% white.is it good to apply henna and indigo to my hair.if yes how can I apply? If I apply indigo to my hair then my50%black hair will turns into white??????? Plz plzz give rply to my email id Allhaqu1967@Gmail.com plz plz
Hi, It is good to apply indigo and henna combo than applying store bought chemical based hair dyes. It will turn you hair dark. I would suggest you apply henna first and then apply indigo the next day. I would suggest using 1: 1 ratio and follow the process given above. You can change the ratio as per your liking. Don't expect perfect results the first time you apply, with subsequent use you will get the perfect blend that you like….
How to check the indigo powder is pure natural not chemical is added
If you mix a little bit of indigo powder in water and leave it aside, the dark blue dye should bleed out within 30 minutes…
Hello mam m using for the first time this can you please tell me dat.is this safe for the hairs n it don't change the black to brown colour n how I use it with heena n in wat quantity I can use it mam please reply
Using henna and indigo is very safe for hair as far as you use pure ingredients. I would suggest starting with 1:1 ratio of indigo and henna powder and you can increase the amount of indigo powder to get even darker color…
Shall I use indica and henna together in one process ? Will it give black shade to my hair ? Please reply
Yes, you can. Soak henna powder the previous night with either tea decoction or apple cider vinegar and leave it overnight. Mix indigo powder in water 15 minutes before applying. Once it bleeds blue, mix them both together and apply. Wait for 2 to 3 hours before washing it off…
Hi RamyaHats off to you for all ur posts. Just wanted to ask does blood impurity change the color of the hair.
Hi Srividhya, Hereditary, stress and nutritional deficiencies are the major reasons for premature greying of the hair….
Hello madam, we have grown indigo plant in our garden and after harvesting we have dried the leaves and ground them into powder. After mixing with water, the dye didn't bleek out after so many hours also. Is there any process before grinding the leaves to make it into a hair dye?
The indigo leaves are usually soaked overnight and fermented to release the dye that is why if we just sundry the indigo leaves and powder, it never releases the dye…
Hello mam…my hair becomez very dry after using indigo powder…how can i avoid that
There is two ways to treat dryness after using indigo dye, one is to use a mild conditioner and the second is to add a little bit of coconut milk while mixing…
HiiWould the remaining hair become white..
I am not able to understand your question, you mean after using the dye? Can you be more clear?
I used indigo powder I get very good result
I recently started using Khadi Black Henna (mixture of Henna and Indigo) , but after every time applying I have headache for two three days, Is there any solution to this problem ?
You can add two to 3 drops of eucalyptus essential oil to the mixture before mixing, it will greatly help….
Should hair be covered with shower cap after applying indigo paste (only indigo powder) onto hair?
It is best to wear a shower cap to prevent any drippings both for henna and for indigo…
Hi, Thx for the info. I awnt to know which brand of indigo powder shd i buy as there are so many in market. Please advice.
Ramya thank you so much for sharing your wisdom!where do buy indigo and other herbal products in Coimbatore?i I bought in a nattu marundhu shop in town hall Andover applied it after henna and didn’t turn black then I tested as you have mentioned here it was fake I bought so much it was waste money . Please mention the name of the shop and address were you buy
Author
We usually buy indigo powder online Sudharshini, brands like “The Henna Guys” are good but it is very expensive.You can also try this indigo powder, my friend said she liked it a lot:Indus Valley Indigo Powder
Hi…. You have truly answered already to all my questions…. Thanks….
The problem I’ve faced is that, after every indigo application I’ve noticed that my face colour has changed .. Does indigo kind of seeps into the skin of the face? It solves the problem of my greys but what to do about the change of my face colour? Please advice.
M in Delhi. Pls let me know the brand name to buy the original product from online.
Hi ., Good post… but I need to know more about the product(indigo powder )
As u mentioned earlier tge plant produces pink flowers. .but most of the product (Organic )labeling the flower colour blue. .. so after that I got to know that is wild indigo … could you please clarify this for me…
Hope to hear from you soon
Thank you
Chethana
Author
Hi Chethana, True indigo produces pink or violet flowers but in our place, we mostly find the pink indigo flower variety and both produce indigo dye. The wild indigo you are referring to is an ornamental plant and is called Baptisia or wild or false indigo. It does not produce indigo hair dye….
Hello Madam, Thank you for reply. ,Recently I bought Merlion Natural’s organic Indigo powder. ,as per your reference it might be violet flowers on packaging. ,I’m 33yrs now., I’m facing premature hair since tge age of 14. , now I’ve got almost 70% greys. , I used to apply henna., and sometimes even colored my hair., but due to fast hair growth n sinus issues I can’t manage to follow the same routine. ,so I decided to go for indigo powder. So., kindly suggest me is it safe to use the above I mentioned brand.,It cost me around 350/200gms. , n how can use in right way., I want a decent natural black or brown colour. , could you please help me with this issue. ,
Thank you in advance. ,
Regards
Chethana vinuth
Can you please suggest me from where to buy a good quality indigo powder? My hairs are very dry and frizzy is indigo powder suits me or something else you suggest.
Thank you
I using Black Henna (mixture of Henna and Indigo) , but after every time applying I have headache for two three days, Is there any solution to this problem ?
HI Ramya…what an informative post. I would request you to suggest where in Bangalore can I find genuine Indigo powder and henna Powder.Also if you could share more online stores for this product it would help. Thanks you are doing a brilliant job
i am suffering from hyperpigmentation on face, if i use indigo power and henna on hair will there be any side effects
आपका आर्टिकल बहुत उत्तम है, परन्तु मेरे बाल अत्यधिक सफेद है और मैं ईडिको का उपयोग कर रही हूं जिसे मुझे सिरदर्द होता है तो क्या मुझे इसका उपयोग बंद कर देना चाहिए। परन्तु मैं अपने बालों को कलर करने के लिए केमिकल कलर उपयोग नहीं करना चाहती।
Hi ramya ,after washing indigo dye still it will be stuck to my scalp and I usually shampoo my hair after 2 days,even though indigo colour washes away from roots then again I can see grey roots within 3 days 🥺🥺 pls help .
For your information I follow two steps
Firstly I apply henna which soaked overnight
Secondly I apply indigo
Hi, thank you for your great posts! I have used henna with my hair and it’s brassy red. My natural hair color is brown. I was thinking of using indigo but don’t want my hair to be black, just brown. Do you have any suggestions for me?
Thank you!
Have to add eucalyptus essential oil to the mixture before mixing or u meant to say before ‘applying the mask to the hairs’?
I don’t want my hair to turn black after doing 2 step process. I want my hair to stay dark brown. How long I should be applying to indigo power in my hair for that colour please
Jennifer, did you get any response on what to do if you don’t want your hair colour to go black just dark brown after the 2 step treatment please
it’s cold effect for you. Better stop using ingigo & heena especially in winter.
Hi Ramya… I m suffering fm severe itchiness in face & neck every time I apply indigo powder after henna. I hv lot of grey hair so I apply monthly once now my face hs turned very black. It lightens once I don’t use indigo powder… Am I so allergic to indigo? My relatives recommended to buy fm Vaseegrah veda… Even that didn’t suit me… Pl help
Pl make a video on foot corn I will be very greatful to you
Informational and nice post