How-to

How to Dye a Beard Black with Indigo and Henna

Colour a beard black in two steps with shorter times: rested henna for 60–90 minutes, then fresh indigo mixed 80:20 with saved henna for 45–90 minutes. Patch test first, and keep the paste away from your eyes, lips and nostrils.

By Imran N. 3 min read

The short answer: colour a beard black with the same two steps as scalp hair, with shorter times. First apply rested henna to the beard for 60–90 minutes and rinse. Then mix indigo fresh with warm water and a pinch of salt, stir it into some saved henna at 80% indigo to 20% henna, and apply it for 45–90 minutes. Rinse, and skip face or beard cleanser and beard oil for 24 hours. Because the paste touches facial skin, patch test first and keep it away from your eyes, lips and nostrils.

What you need

  • Henna and indigo powder: a beard needs far less than a head of hair. Spierb Henna Powder and Spierb Indigo Powder are each a single leaf ingredient.
  • A non-metallic bowl, comfortably warm water and salt.
  • Gloves, petroleum jelly, a small brush or old toothbrush, and tissues for wiping edges.

Before you start: patch test and strand test

Patch test 24–48 hours before first use, with a little of each mix on a small patch of clean, unbroken skin. It matters more than usual here, because the paste touches the skin of your face. Don't go ahead if the skin burns, swells, blisters or turns red, or if it itches and the itch doesn't settle.

A strand test shows you the colour and how much the skin underneath stains. Use a few trimmed beard hairs or a small hidden section, with the same mixes and times you plan to use. Beard hair is often coarse and can take colour differently from the hair on your head.

Don't colour over shaving cuts, a rash or irritated skin; wait until it has healed.

How to dye your beard with henna and indigo

Step 1: henna

  1. Mix the henna with comfortably warm water to a smooth paste. Cover and rest it 3–4 hours, ideally 8. Keep a little aside for step 2.
  2. Wash the beard to remove beard oil, balm and product, and let it dry.
  3. Protect your skin: a thin layer of petroleum jelly on the skin around the beard, kept off the beard hair itself.
  4. Apply the henna with a small brush, working it through the hair, especially the grey. Keep it on the hair rather than the skin, and away from your eyes, lips and nostrils.
  5. Leave it 60–90 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with water only, with no cleanser or beard oil before step 2. Let the beard dry until it's just damp.

Step 2: indigo

  1. Mix the indigo only now, with comfortably warm water and a pinch of salt.
  2. Combine it with the saved henna at 80% indigo to 20% henna.
  3. Apply straight away, carefully, to the beard hair only, wiping the edges as you go.
  4. Leave it 45–90 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with water.
  5. For 24 hours, don't use a face or beard cleanser or beard oil on the beard.

If the paste burns at any point, rinse it off straight away with plenty of water and stop. If your face, lips or eyes swell, or you have trouble breathing, call 911.

What to expect

On a grey or white beard, the two steps usually give very dark brown to black. A dark beard usually looks deeper and slightly cooler. Straight after rinsing the colour can look bluish, so judge it the next day, once it has settled. The skin under and around the beard may carry a blue-green tint for a while; it fades with washing.

Beard colour lasts until it fades or grows out, and regrowth can show before the colour on the existing hair has faded. For touch-ups, repeat both steps on the new growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use indigo on my beard without henna?

On a beard that's already dark, indigo alone can deepen and cool it. On a grey or white beard it tends to look blue or green, so use henna first.

How long should I leave indigo on my beard?

45–90 minutes for the indigo step, after 60–90 minutes of henna. These are shorter than for scalp hair.

Will it stain my face?

It can, temporarily. Petroleum jelly on the surrounding skin, a small brush, and wiping the edges as you go help keep staining down.

How long does beard colour last?

It depends on how often you wash, how much grey you have and how fast your beard grows. Regrowth can show before the colour on the existing hair fades, so touch-ups follow the regrowth.

Can I use the same method on the hair on my head?

Yes, with the longer scalp-hair times: henna for at least 2 hours, then the indigo step for 1–2 hours. See indigo for jet black hair.

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