Copper Red and Strawberry Blond Hair with Henna and Cassia
Cassia is a plant powder that looks very like henna but adds very little colour on its own. Mixing it with henna softens henna's strong red, so you can choose anything from a soft strawberry blond to a bright copper red. This is the method from our Cassia and Henna Hair Dye kit.
Colour chart
| Colour | Henna | Cassia |
|---|---|---|
| Strawberry blond | 20% | 80% |
| Copper red | 50% | 50% |
Our kit comes with the henna and cassia already weighed for your chosen colour. Keep this chart so you can mix any spare in the same ratio to touch up your roots between full applications.
What you need
- Henna powder and cassia powder (both green, and labelled so you do not mix them up)
- Warm water
- Gloves (not included in the kit)
- Cling film and a non-metallic bowl
- A friend to help, for the best coverage
Keep both powders out of direct sunlight, ideally somewhere cool and dark or in the fridge.
Important: wear gloves throughout and cover your shoulders and the floor. Henna stains hands, ears, neck and shoulders.
Step 1: Mix the henna and cassia
Mix the cassia and henna with warm water in a non-metallic bowl until it is like yoghurt.
Step 2: Leave for 12 hours
Cover the bowl and leave it for 12 hours so the henna can release its dye.
Step 3: Apply and wrap
Apply the paste thickly to your hair, all the way down to the roots. Wrap your hair in cling film.
Step 4: Leave for 4 hours, then rinse
Leave the paste on for 4 hours, then rinse it out and towel dry.
Red highlights on darker hair
Try this mix on dark brown or black hair too. It will not lighten your hair, but it gives a red shine when the light catches it.
Tips
- Apply thickly. Light, quick applications give poor results.
- Freeze any leftover paste straight away. Thaw it later to touch up your roots.
- It works on beards and moustaches too.
Want an even lighter shade? See our guide to super blond hair with cassia and rhubarb. Download the henna and cassia instructions (PDF).
Products in this article
More from the blog
Super Blond Hair with Cassia and Rhubarb
Cassia and rhubarb make a natural super blond colour for blond, white and grey hair. Here is the simple 50/50 method from our Super Blond Natural Hair Dye kit.
How to Dye Your Hair Black with Henna and Indigo
For natural black hair, henna and indigo are applied in two separate steps. Here is the full method from our Black Natural Hair Dye kit, including why your hair looks…
Cool Brown Hair with Henna, Indigo and Amla
Adding amla to henna softens its red tones, so a henna and indigo mix gives a cooler, more natural brunette. Here is how to mix and apply our cool brown kit.