Posted on 18th September 202522nd September 2025 by Renaissance

How to Use Henna and Indigo to Cover Grey Hair Naturally

Woman with dark hair in a forest, holding up two leaves to her face, representative of how to cover grey hair naturally with henna and indigo

Are you looking for a natural way to cover grey hair naturally with henna and indigo without harsh chemicals? Henna and Indigo are plant-based powders that have been used for centuries to colour hair safely, beautifully, and naturally. Not only do they provide stunning shades, but they also condition and strengthen your hair. In this guide, we’ll show you step by step how to use Henna and Indigo to achieve rich, long-lasting colour on grey hair.

Grey hair on white skin before natural henna and indigo hair colour treatment — Before using Renaissance Henna and Indigo – grey hair transformation

Customer 1 showing side view of natural grey hair before using Renaissance Henna and Indigo — Customer 1 – Side view before applying Renaissance Henna and Indigo

Customer 1 showing front view of hair after applying Renaissance Henna, before Indigo, with natural orange-red colour — Customer 1 – Hair after applying Renaissance Henna (before Indigo)

Customer 1 showing side view of hair after applying Renaissance Henna, before Indigo, with natural orange-red colour — Customer 1 – Side view after applying Renaissance Henna ( before Indigo)

Customer 1 showing final hair colour after applying Renaissance Henna followed by Indigo, with rich dark brown to black hair — Customer 1 – Final hair colour after Henna and Indigo application

What Is Henna?

Henna, or Lawsonia inermis, is a shrub that produces small green leaves containing a red-orange dye molecule called Lawsonia. Pure henna hair dye is 100% plant-based and contains no metallic salts. The leaves are dried, crushed, and sieved into a fine powder. When mixed with water, the resulting paste coats the hair, slightly deepening dark hair and adding auburn tones, or turning grey hair fiery orange-red.

Close-up of pure henna powder in a small stainless steel dish — Pure henna powder ready for mixing

Small glass bowls showing henna powder and freshly mixed henna paste with yellow dandelion background — Henna powder and paste ready for natural hair colouring

Maryam applying Henna paste to the top of her head — Henna being applied to the top of Maryam’s hair

Side view of Maryam applying Henna to the roots of her hair — Applying Henna to the roots for full grey coverage

Side view of Maryam applying Henna, showing the side and top sections — Henna application covering side and top sections of Maryam’s hair

You can find our pure henna powder here.

What Is Indigo?

Indigo, or Indigofera tinctoria, is a plant originally from India that produces a dark blue dye. When applied after henna, it can turn grey hair brown to black, depending on the application time. Indigo leaves are alkaline and react with the acidic henna, producing rich shades with undertones of red, burgundy, brown, and blue-black. Our indigo powder contains only pure Indigofera tinctoria leaves, finely sieved for maximum potency.

Close-up of pure indigo powder in a small bowl — Pure indigo powder ready for mixing

Indigo paste for hair application — Indigo paste ready for hair application

Maryam applying Indigo paste to front of hair, front view — Front view of Maryam with Indigo paste applied

Close up of Indigo paste - Maryam - applied to full side of head — Full side hair application with Indigo paste

Maryam applying Indigo paste to front section of hair, side view — Applying Indigo to front hair section, side view

You can find our pure indigo powder here.

Why Mix Henna and Indigo to Cover Grey Hair Naturally ?

Henna alone turns grey hair orange-red. Applying indigo afterwards neutralises the red and produces natural-looking brown to black shades. The two step combination creates vibrant, glossy hair with rich depth and subtle undertones.

David’s Grey Hair Transformation

David’s transformation shows how to cover grey hair naturally with henna and indigo, going from silver-grey roots to a deep, glossy brown.

David had a high concentration of grey hair that he wanted to cover naturally. Starting with his thick grey hair, he first applied henna for rich orange-red tones, followed by indigo to achieve a deep, natural dark brown-black finish. His hair now looks glossy, healthy, and evenly coloured. The result is a natural-looking, healthy, and long lasting colour transformation.

David's grey hair, front side view showing full head of thick grey hair — David’s grey hair before henna and indigo application

David's side view showing orange hennaed hair after applying henna to grey hair — After henna application- orange-red tint covering David’s grey hair

David's back view showing dark brown-black hair after henna and indigo — David’s hair after henna and indigo- rich, dark brown-black tones

David's side view indoors showing glossy dark brown-black hair after henna and indigo — Final result indoors – natural dark brown-black hair after henna and indigo

David's side view outdoors showing glossy dark brown-black hair after henna and indigo — Final result in sunlight-natural dark brown-black hair after henna and indigo

Gary’s Wife – Asian Glossy Black Hair

Gary’s wife had a mix of grey and black hair. Using a henna-indigo combination, her hair was transformed into a uniform, glossy black, while maintaining a natural shine and healthy texture.

Partial face profile showing glossy black hair after henna and indigo application (before photo not available)

Gary's wife dark glossy hair side view — Side view of Gary’s wife’s hair showing glossy black colour (before photo not available; natural grey covered)

Maryam – Stepwise Grey Coverage

Maryam’s black hair had visible grey strands. Her transformation showcases the full henna-indigo process: grey coverage with henna, then neutralising the red tones with indigo for rich, dark, glossy hair that looks naturally youthful.

Grey roots visible at the crown along Maryam’s side parting

Maryam grey roots mixed with previous colour, side view — Side view of Maryam’s hair showing grey roots blended with previous colour

Maryam grey hair over face — Grey strands visible in Maryam’s long black hair covering her face

Maryam hennaed hair, forehead view — Front view showing grey hair on Maryam’s forehead now covered with henna

Maryam hennaed hair tied back — Upper section of Maryam’s hair tied back, showing full coverage of grey strands along the hair lengths with henna

Maryam indigoed hair, upper forehead front view — Front view showing upper forehead hair after indigo application over henna

Maryam indigoed hair front view, face covered, demonstrating how to cover grey hair naturally using henna and indigo — Front-facing view of black hair, showing full transformation from grey to deep black

By following these steps, you can cover grey hair naturally with henna and indigo, leaving your hair glossy, healthy, and beautifully coloured without harsh chemicals.

Sanya – Curly Afro Textured Hair

Sanya’s naturally curly, afro-textured hair was previously grey. Using henna followed by indigo, her curls now have deep black shine with subtle red undertones, showing how the process works beautifully on tightly coiled hair.

Sanya's afro-curly hair after henna and indigo, front parting view — Front view of Sanya’s tight curls beautifully coloured after henna and indigo

Sany's afro-curly hair after henna and indigo, top view — Top view showing the shine and rich colour of Sanya’s curls after henna and indigo

Sanya's afro-curly hair after henna-indigo, side/top view — Side/top view of sanya’s tightly curled hair showing the uniform dark colour after henna and indigo

Priya – Afro Textured Hair, Henna Only

Priya has naturally curly,afro-textured grey hair. She applied henna alone, creating vibrant reddish-copper highlights on her curls, giving depth and warmth without the indigo step.

Priya's afro hair after henna, curly grey hair transformed to deep auburn — Priya’s curly afro hair beautifully coloured deep auburn after henna

Outdoor shot showing Priya’s afro hair after henna application. The curls at the front frame her face, while the crown and back show a neat bonnet-like afro shape. The deep auburn highlights shine in the sunlight, illustrating a smooth transition from her previous grey hair. She loved the deep auburn so much, and got so many compliments, she decided not to use indigo !

Celine (France) – Post-Chemical Grey Coverage

Celine had chemically treated hair with greys showing. Her transformation demonstrates the power of henna-indigo for restoring a uniform, natural colour, with the henna first and indigo applied afterward to neutralise any reddish tones.

Celine's grey hair before henna, showing regrowth and chemical dye fading in four close-up views. — Celine’s hair before her first henna application, with grey regrowth visible at the roots.

This collage of four images shows Celine’s natural grey hair growth about five and a half weeks after her last chemical dye. Different angles highlight her forehead,crown, and partings where the grey is most noticeable. These photos document her starting point before switching to henna and indigo for grey coverage.

Celine's hair transformation from grey to glossy brown using henna and indigo, shown step by step in four back-view photos. — Celine’s hair journey: from grey roots to smooth, glossy brown with henna and indigo.

This collage of four back-view photos tracks Celine’s hair transformation. She decided to cover grey hair naturally with henna and indigo. The first image shows her grey regrowth before henna. The second, taken after her henna application, shows bright orange tones at the crown with darker lengths beneath. The third image, after indigo, reveals thicker-looking, darker hair with improved shine. The final shot, ten weeks and four applications later, dispalys beautifully blended colour – a healthy, glossy, medium brown with natural depth and thickness.

Zara – Wavy Dark hair

Zara had uneven dark hair with some greying. The henna-indigo application gave her hair a rich, consistent dark brown-black tone, enhancing shine and depth in her natural waves.

Zara with glossy brown waves after henna and indigo, front-facing in car — Zara’s grey hair beautifully transformed into glossy brown waves with henna and indigo

Dee – Dry, Greying Dark Brown Hair to Glossy Dark Brown

Dee’s hair transformation showcases a beautifully even and glossy dark brown result. The Henna and Indigo combination has blended her greying strands seamlessly, giving her hair a uniform, healthy shine while maintaining natural depth and vibrancy.

Dee's glossy dark brown hair at the crown and parting after henna and indigo — Top view showing Dee’s crown and middle parting with deep, glossy dark brown hair

Dee's side view after henna and indigo, showing blended natural highligths — Side view showing how grey hair has blended into Dee’s dark brown hair

Dee's hair top view with middle parting after henna and indigo — Top/angled view showing Dee’s crown and uniform glossy colour

Dee's back view after henna and indigo, smooth and glossy dark brown hair — Back view of Dee’s smooth,glossy, and evenly coloured hair

Customer in USA

She transformed her greying hair to vibrant , soft, glossy, black once more. The Henna and Indigo application has restored her hair’s natural richness, leaving it smooth, shiny, and strikingly contrasted against her fair skin, while covering all greys.

Side view of white woman with smooth, glossy balck hair tied back, showing dark hair after henna and indigo application — After henna and indigo: dark, smooth, and glossy hair.

How to Cover Grey Hair Naturally with Henna and Indigo : Step-by-Step Guide

Following this guide will help you cover grey hair naturally with henna and indigo, achieving rich, vibrant colour.

If you’re ready to transform your greys, follow this simple two-step process using henna and indigo. First, apply henna to cover grey hair with a rich base, then follow with indigo to achieve your desired brown or black shade. Here’s exactly how to cover grey hair naturally with henna and indigo, step by step.

Step 1: Prepare Your Hair

Wash hair 24 hours before application (no conditioner). Detangle hair to remove knots.

Step 2: Mix Henna

Mix henna powder with hot water until a smooth, yogurt-like paste forms. Let it cool until comfortable to touch.

Step 3: Apply Henna

Wear gloves to avoid staining hands. Apply evenly to grey hair. Cover hair with a plastic cap for 1–2 hours (we do not recommend overnight although it is optional).

Step 4: Rinse Henna

Rinse out the henna paste with warm water. Do not use conditioner. Your hair will look bright orange-red at this stage.

Step 5: Mix Indigo

Mix indigo powder with warm water to create a smooth paste. Optional: add some salt or a small amount of vinegar to enhance color adherence. Work in a well-ventilated area as indigo has a strong scent.

Step 6: Apply Indigo

Apply indigo immediately onto the orange-red hair. Cover with a plastic cap. Leave for 15–30 minutes for brown shades, or 50–60 minutes for dark brown to black. Rinse thoroughly with water.

Step 7: Optional Additives

You can mix Amla powder with henna to add conditioning and slightly golden tones, especially on lighter or grey hair. Cassia Obovata is excellent for hair conditioning and natural blonde highlights. Regular use of Amla on grey hair may naturally deepen the colour over time.

Conclusion

Using henna and indigo together is a safe, natural, and effective way to cover grey hair while improving hair strength and shine. With a little practice, you can achieve rich brown to black shades tailored to your hair type.

Ready to Try Henna & Indigo to Colour Your Hair ?

Ready to try it yourself? Check out our Pure Henna Powder and Pure Indigo Powder. Explore our other natural powders like Amla and Cassia Obovata for hair conditioning and styling.

For detailed guidance , try our Henna Hair Colour Starter Kit, which includes step-by-step instructions on how to cover grey hair naturally with henna and indigo , gloves, and everything you need for your first application.