DIY Henna Hair Packs — Amla, Coffee, Yogurt and Coconut Milk

There are more ways to make a hair pack with henna than you might think. Add amla, coffee, yogurt or coconut milk, and — while it colours — henna becomes a pack that fills the hair with protein and moisture. Here are four classic recipes, and how to make each easily with a single Water Henna set.

Water Henna customers, in fact, know henna so well that even after buying ours they ask, "Can I add coffee?", "Do you make an amla version?", "Can I freeze it?" Chasing answers to those questions led me to plenty of hair-pack recipes. A note first: 100% natural henna only colours grey hair, and the benefits below are widely-repeated lore rather than any guarantee of what the product does.

Henna + Amla Pack

Mix one cup of amla juice with three spoons of henna powder and one egg yolk. (The original recipe also calls for a spoon of vinegar, but as an acid it can sting the scalp, so I leave it out.) With egg and amla in it there is a bit of a smell, but it fills the hair with protein and leaves the scalp fresh. Amla, the fruit of the Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica), is mildly acidic at pH 3.5–4.5 and rich in vitamin C, and is well regarded for scalp and hair care — which is why it is often paired with henna. With Water Henna, add a spoon of amla powder and one egg yolk to a set.

Henna + Coffee Pack

Mix one cup of water with five spoons of henna powder and one spoon of instant black coffee. Coffee is added to tone down henna's orange a little. To me it does not darken as reliably as indigo, but it is a simple way to lower the tone when you want to skip the indigo step. Some studies suggest coffee's caffeine acts favourably on the scalp and follicles, which — overlapping with henna's own qualities — is likely why people enjoy adding it. With Water Henna, mix a set, add a sachet of instant black coffee, and stir a little more.

Henna + Yogurt Pack

Mix two spoons of henna powder with one small plain yogurt. Think of it as a yogurt pack with a hint of colour. The hair turns glossy and soft, and because yogurt cleanses and moisturises the scalp, it leaves it lovely and fresh. It fills protein less than the egg recipe, but is perfect when you want a light finish. With Water Henna, simply mix a set with a plain yogurt of a texture you like.

Henna + Coconut Milk Pack

Mix ten spoons of henna powder with four spoons of olive oil and one cup of coconut milk. Coconut milk is easy to find these days, so it is simple to make. The olive oil and coconut milk wrap the hair with moisture and shine, finishing wonderfully soft and supple — a combination that, honestly, recalls the early character of Water Henna itself.

Water Henna Is Close to a Hair Pack on Its Own

This may sound like boasting, but with regular use Water Henna gives much the same feel as making these packs. Its oil and essence are already designed to wrap the hair, so it colours moist without adding anything. Use natural materials regularly and the overall condition of the hair seems to settle over time. The basic method is in how to use Water Henna.

See how to use Water Henna →