Your guide to mixing Desert Shadow hair colours
This mixing guide is suitable for mixing
Indigo Shadow
Mixing your organic hair colour is similar to baking a cake or making pancakes.
You add liquid to a powder, mix and it is ready. You have a recipe in your instruction leaflet and we suggest you follow this until you get acquainted and build a bit of a relationship with the product. Once you have used it a few times you can start to adjust the recipe to make it your own or you can just leave it as it is...... your hair your choice.
Here we have some tips for your mixing pleasure.
The topics we cover in this blog post will be:
1. How much product to mix for your hair length.
2. Liquids to use for mixing.
3. Optional extras.
4. Colouring grey hair with Indigo Shadow.
5. Timing.
6. Clever tips.
7. Do’s & don’ts.
1. How much product should you mix?
Short hair & root touch ups - 1/2 pack
Medium hair - 1 pack
Long hair - 1 to 1.5 packs
Super long hair - 2 - 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 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, 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.
2. What liquid should I use to mix my organic hair colour?
We recommend you use warm water to mix your organic hair colour. 250ml should be enough but you may need an additional 20 to 40ml if the paste thickens as you apply. We suggest water because it is the most effective at giving the best colour result with Indigo Shadow.
TIP: Add a teaspoon of salt with your liquid before mixing. The salt helps with colour uptake.
3. Optional Extras
If you are interested in essential oils you can also add 1 to 2 drops to your colour mix. We suggest you check for any contraindications before using essential oils and use them sparingly as they are very potent. Do not use essential oils if you are pregnant or breastfeeding unless you see a healthcare professional first.
Some examples of essential oils that are beneficial for the hair:
Lavender Angustifolia
Rosemary
Peppermint - may assist if you find that Indigo makes you a little itchy
*Please note add the essential oils at the same time or after adding your water.
4. Colouring grey hair with Indigo Shadow
To colour grey and light coloured hair with Indigo Shadow you must first apply a red base colour. Red creates a good solid base for the indigo to lay on and prevents your hair from taking on too much of the Indigo blue tone. If you do not use the red base you will not get full colour or full coverage and may be left with a slight blue tone on your hair strands.
Please read our article on how to colour grey hair with Indigo Shadow here: https://www.desertshadow.com.au/complete-organic-hair-beauty-blog/how-to-colour-grey-hair-with-indigo-shadow/
5. Timing
Mixing: Mix your Indigo Shadow immediately before you intend to use the colour.
Activation: You can leave your paste to sit for 10 mins before applying. This product must not be left for longer than 1 hour once activated. Once the Indigo Shadow is activated with liquid it must be used within 1 hour. After this time the dye content will start to rapidly reduce and the colour result will not be as strong.
TIP: Use warm water to mix your paste. Boiling hot water can affect the colour result of the product
Colour processing:
NON GREY COVERAGE - leave the paste in your hair for 1 to 2 hours
GREY COVERAGE - leave the paste in your hair for 3 hours
TIP: after 5 to 6 hours the organic hair colour will have reached it's limit and there is no extra benefit of leaving it on for this long unless it is for convenience, like if you sleep with it on overnight. 4 hours would be the absolute maximum needed.
6. Clever Tips
- Mix your colour in a non porous bowl. You can use stainless steel, ceramic or plastic. The colour may stain light coloured plastic or porous ceramic.
- If your mix is lumpy even after giving it a good mix, get your electric beaters out and whizz it up for a minute or two. That should get most of them out.
- 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. This will save time and product.
- Add a teaspoon of salt with your liquid before mixing. The salt helps with colour uptake.
- Peppermint essential oil may assist if you find that Indigo makes your scalp a little itchy.
- For grey coverage - Please read our article on how to colour grey hair with Indigo Shadow here: https://www.desertshadow.com.au/complete-organic-hair-beauty-blog/how-to-colour-grey-hair-with-indigo-shadow/)
- If you are a messy chef, cover your bench or surfaces with an old towel before getting into your mixing.
- Use warm water to mix your paste. Boiling hot water can affect the colour result of the product
7. Do's & Dont's
The do's of mixing
- DO wear gloves when mixing.
- DO read your instructions in full for measurements & method.
- DO watch our you tube video if you are unsure.
- DO reach out if you have any questions.
The dont's of mixing
- DO NOT Microwave your paste.
- DO NOT apply direct heat to the paste.
- DO NOT use boiling liquids.
- DO NOT mix your product until you read your mixing instructions in full.