What colour should I choose?
Choosing a colour is such a personal thing. We usually suggest you colour match your natural hair colour and if you have grey hair coming through you can even choose a shade or two lighter to give you a two tone effect and turn the greys into highlights. The main thing to think of is, if you are undecided between two colours try the lighter one first then go darker if you wish. The reason for this is our plant dyes are strong and do not completely fade from the hair so if you start with a dark tone it will be tricky to go lighter straight away but easier to do the opposite.
If you are unasure please see our Guide to choosing a hair colour page here : Choosing a colour guide for grey hair
How long will the colour last?
Our colours are semi-permanent and the rich colour will last 4 to 6 weeks before fading. Our lighter shades of colour such as Sun Shadow may fade more than our darker shades such as Chocolate Shadow.
Once you have used Desert Shadow consistently for a while (4 - 6 times) you will find that the colour builds up to a beautiful, deep, permanent shade.
Repeated use will see your colour become richer and in some cases darker. Once you achieve the colour shade you like, simply apply to the roots only and do a full application every 4th or 5th time to boost the colour at the ends.
After longer term use, the colour may not completely fade from the hair especially if your natural color/regrowth is a lot lighter than the organic color chosen. For this reason we do not recommend our colours for people who like to change from dark to light or anyone who is considering bleaching or lightening thier hair to blonde in the near future. Our plant dyes are amazingly strong and like to stay in your hair which is great for long lasting colour.
Do these hair colours cover grey hair?
Our colours offer effective grey coverage when the instructions are followed. Here are a few tips that will help you achieve the best from your organic color:
1. Ensure your hair is clean and free natural oils and any styling products before colouring.
2. Mix the colour as per the grey coverage instructions (see instructions inside pack)
3. Leave the colour on for the reccommended time for grey coverage 3-4 hours
4. Stubborn grey hair may need the prewash bar to assist with colour uptake.
5. Chocolate & Deep Chestnut may need a red base to achieve a full colour result read more here
6. Indigo will always need a red base read more here
How much product will I need for my hair?
Short hair & root touch ups - 1/2 pack
Medium hair - 1 pack
Long hair - 1 to 1.5 packs
Super long hair - 2 to 3 packs
Thick hair - will need to add an extra 1/4 pack for short hair and 1/2 (short to medium) to 3/4 to 1 pack (for long hair)
*Please note - repeated use will see your colour become richer and in some cases darker. Once you achieve the colour shade you like on the lengths, simply apply to the roots only and do a full application every 4th or 5th time to boost the colour at the ends. This will save time and product and ensure you have an even colour all over.
Can I mix colours together to make my own shade?
We have taken the guess work out and covered most of the colours. If you would really like to mix the colours to create your own shade you can. You will need to follow the mixing directions for each colour ( mixing them separately) and then mix them together just before application. We suggest you take notes so you can remember your mix for next time. Here is a blog we have written about mixing the colours : COMBINING COLOURS
Can I use this product over previously coloured hair?
You can use this product over previously coloured hair. Our colours contain no metallic salts or added chemicals. You can view our suggestions about how to approach this in the link below.
CLICK HERE FOR CHEMICALLY COLOURED HAIR
If you have have salon treated hair or have used chemical dyes in the past and have never used this product before, it is important that you do a strand test before fully applying this Organic Hair Color, to ensure you will achieve the desired shade and conditioning effect you are wanting. Collect some hair from your hairbrush & use this for testing or apply to a section of your hair behind your ear or towards the back. Ensure you follow all instructions and steps including wrapping the tested hair to create a warm and moist environment. See strand test instructions (link above) for full detailed steps.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE STRAND TEST
Can I use a chemical hair colour product after using this colour?
If you intend to lighten, bleach or colour your hair blonde in the future, we do not recommend you use this or any product containing natural Indigofera tinctoria (indigo) or lawsonia inermis leaf (henna).
If you wish to use another hair colour product which has a similar shade or darker this will be fine. It is important that you do a strand test before fully applying any other brand of hair colour, to ensure you will achieve the desired result. Collect some hair from your hair brush and use this for testing or apply to a section of your hair behind your ear or towards the back. Ensure you follow all instructions and steps given by the hair color brand you are using and follow thier suggestions for strand testing thier products. You can view our strand test instructions for full detailed steps on how we do strand testing with our products.
I have used the colour and the smell is still in my hair. Will it fade?
This product is made from plants so it smells different to your usual hair color. You could describe the smell to be a little like cut grass and even quite earthy. The mixed spice sachet will help to tone that smell down. A faint smell may also linger after you initially wash the color paste from your hair. This is usually due to some residue being left behind and not being washed out completely. Don't worry, the smell will fade after a few good washes. If you want this smell to fade quicker you can wash your hair well, you can also prepare a rinse of diluted rose water and that will take the smell right out. We also have some tips here on how to make your hair color smell divine : please read more here