Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Because of the interest in this topic, I have put an updated review with pictures on our blog Evolving Dish: [...] - I hope it helps! The first time I used just the Nupur powder and loved the shine and softness, but I had wanted my hair a little darker brown, not as coppery. (My hair is normally medium brown - the copper was lovely, I just wanted it darker and richer looking and not so red.) So I added indigo powder and a few other things and WOW! My hair is so shiny, soft, pretty, rich looking and feeling now. I am 42 and have done everything to my hair (can't do the chemicals anymore as even the "natural" hair dyes make my scalp blister :-() and I have NEVER been happier with the color or texture of my hair than I am after using this product. The way it sparkles in the sun is amazing, and my boyfriend compliments me almost every day on my hair now. In fact, this is the first Amazon review I've ever written; that's how impressed I am with this product, and I highly recommend it--with a little tweaking. This is the formula and process that worked very well for me after different experiments and attempts - if you have brown hair and want it softer, shinier, richer, deeper, with coppery shine in the sun. What you will need to begin: - Nupur henna mix (green bag) - Indigo powder (silver bag) Natural Indigo Powder 100 Grams Bag (wasma in Arabic and Urdu) Indigofera Tinctoria Last crop - conditioning hair oil and/or pre-shampoo hair treatment - I have used Dabur Vatika Coconut Hair Oil 150ml (Pack of 2) AND Burt's Bees Avacado Butter Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatment with Nettle and Rosemary, 4.34-Ounce Bottle (Pack of 2) - these conditioners make your hair softer and (almost as important) cut the strong horse poop smell of the henna/indigo mixture. I have also used It's A 10 hair masque, which is nice. - plastic or glass mixing bowl/spoon (NO metal) - rubber or latex gloves - shower cap (or plastic grocery bag in a pinch) Here's the process - I start the night before I have nothing to do the next morning - so like a Friday night where I am just going to hang around and clean the house, watch TV etc. for 4-6 hours on Saturday: 1. The night before - in a glass or plastic bowl, using a plastic or wooden spoon, mix up all of the Nupur (green bag) with enough boiling hot water to make a pudding-like paste. Around 2 cups, but slowly add until pudding consistency, a little more watery is better than too dry. I also add a healthy squirt each of the coconut oil and the Burt's Bees pre-shampoo treatment and mix it all up. Leave it to sit overnight on the counter, covered by plastic wrap. 2. The next morning - freeze in a ziplock bag the portion you are not planning you use (I have thick medium-long hair, past my shoulders and I freeze half of it) Henna does well in the freezer, and it will be all ready to thaw and use the next time, which is nice. (Indigo does NOT do well in the freezer, so just freeze the unused portion of henna/conditioner mix before adding the indigo.) 3. Add to the henna/conditioner bowl about 1/2 of the indigo powder mix and enough boiling water to make it pudding-like again. (Some people do the henna, then the indigo after the henna is washed out - that seems even more time consuming but I haven't tried that process, I just mix it all together.) 4. After about 10 minutes, when the indigo has set with the Nupur/conditioner mixture (or however long the indigo powder package says) - make sure you have an old t-shirt on - put on the gloves and carefully apply all over your hair, rubbing it in to make sure it is reaching all the hair. This can get messy, especially the first time . . . 5. Pile your hair on top of your head and put on a shower cap or tie a plastic grocery bag over your hair. Clean off any henna mixture that has dripped on your neck, ears, sink, floor, etc. - damp paper towels work well. It will stain cloth and skin if left on too long. 6. Hang out with that mixture on your head for 4-6 hours. 7. When the time's up, rinse it out until the water runs clear - this can take a WHILE. Rinse with conditioner. 8. The next day, shampoo and deep condition. Don't be discouraged if your hair feels dry, coarse, and straw-like for a few days. It will soon be soft and shiny! 9. Bonus - recommended by my hair dresser - I started rubbing a little of this in my hair, combing it through (especially the ends) before styling, which has also helped with the insane softness and shininess of my new hair :-) ALTERNA BAMBOO Smooth Pure Kendi Oil Pure Treatment Oil, 1.7 fl oz I know it seems like a lot but once you get the hang of it, I think it's worth it in terms of saving $$ and having less harsh chemicals on your head. Not to mention, having gorgeous hair! PS - it is hard to dye OVER henna as henna coats the hair shaft so if you plan to return to conventional dye, it can take a few months for the henna to wash out enough to do so. UPDATE: DO NOT use the indigo if you want to highlight your hair!!! I waited a few months after doing the henna/indigo and wanted to put some highlights in. They turned pale green. Bleach will lift the henna and your hair color but NOT indigo, it stays with you permanently. I am trying to color correct with more henna . . . Good luck!