Color the Gray Dark brown Hair color and conditioner (best before 2028/1/30)

This product is a natural, two-step hair coloring system designed to cover gray hair. It uses organic botanicals and avoids harsh chemicals.

Important First Steps:

1. Read Everything: Before you start, read all instructions and safety information on the package.
2. Sensitivity Test (48 hours before): This is a MUST! Even if you've used henna before, allergies can develop.

• Mix a small amount of Step 1 with boiled distilled water (1/2 tsp powder with 3/4 tsp water). Repeat for Step 2 in a separate container.
• Apply each mixture to a small, clean area on your inner elbow or behind your ear.
• Let it dry, leave uncovered for 4 hours, then rinse.
• Check that area after 20 hours for any redness, burning, itching, or swelling. If you experience any of these, DO NOT use the product.

1. Strand Test (72 hours before): This shows you how long to leave the product on for the color you want.

• Collect a small sample of your hair (from your brush or a hidden section).
• Follow steps 1-9 from "Strand Test" section below, using the strand sample and recording the processing times for each step.
• If you don't like the color, don't use the product.

1. Prepare Your Hair: Shampoo your hair with a clarifying shampoo (no conditioner!). Towel dry.
2. Protect Yourself: Remove jewelry. Wear old clothes you don't mind staining, and the gloves provided. Apply a cream or oil along your hairline, ears, and neck to prevent skin staining.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• No Metal! Do not use metal bowls, spoons, clips, or combs. Use glass, ceramic, wood, or plastic.
• Distilled Water: Use distilled water for best results.
• Timing is Key: This product is natural, so timing varies. The strand test is crucial to determine the right timing for your hair.
• Coloring: This product adds color, it cannot lighten your hair.
• Greenish Tint: Some colors might leave a greenish tint after rinsing, which will disappear in 6-24 hours as the color oxidizes.

Supplies

• Light Mountain Color the Gray kit
• Non-metal bowl and spoon
• Distilled Water
• Clarifying shampoo
• Towel
• Gloves (provided)
• Plastic cap (provided)
• Hair dryer (optional)
• Cream or oil for hairline protection (optional)
• Old clothes
• Timer

How to Color Your Hair:

Step 1: The Henna Base

1. Mix: Pour the contents of the Step 1 packet into your non-metal bowl.
2. Add Water: Slowly add 7 oz (207 mL) of boiled distilled water, mixing with your non-metal spoon until it's like yogurt. Add more water if needed.
3. Cure: Let the mixture sit for the amount of time you determined in your strand test. Add more hot water if it gets too thick.
4. Apply: Using your gloved hands, apply the mixture to your clean, towel-dried hair. Start at the roots and work your way out, making sure all hair is covered.
5. Cover: Put on the plastic cap.
6. Process: Leave Step 1 on for the time determined by your strand test, applying gentle heat with a hairdryer on low heat setting or warmed towel.
7. Rinse: Rinse Step 1 out with water only. Towel dry your hair. Rinse out the cap for Step 2.

Step 2: Adding the Color

1. Mix: In a separate non-metal bowl, mix the Step 2 powder with 12-16 oz of boiled distilled water, just like you did for Step 1.
2. Apply: Using your gloves, apply the Step 2 mixture to your hair, following the same method as Step 1 (roots to ends, cover all hair).
3. Cover: Put the plastic cap back on.
4. Process: Leave Step 2 on for the time determined by your strand test. Apply gentle heat intermittently.
5. Rinse: Rinse with warm water until the water runs clear. Apply conditioner to help remove any remaining mixture, then rinse again.

Important Safety Advice:

• For External Use Only. Keep out of reach of children.
• Avoid Eyes: DO NOT use this product near your eyes. If it gets in your eyes, rinse immediately with cool water. If irritation continues, get medical help.
• No Cuts or Abrasions: Do NOT use on a cut or broken scalp.
• No Eyebrows/Eyelashes/Facial Hair: Never use this product on eyelashes, eyebrows, beards, or mustaches.
• If you experience any irritation, stop use immediately.

Other Considerations:

• Perms/Chemical Treatments: Wait 2 weeks between perming/chemically treating your hair and using this product. Always do a strand test before each application of either the Light Mountain Color or the perming solution.
• Removing the Color: Removal is best achieved within 24 hours after coloring. For a more gradual removal you can try a high detergent shampoo followed by a restoring conditioner.

Strand Test

Even if you have used this product before, please do a strand test. Changing factors may affect how hair and the botanicals react with each other. Never use metal during preparation or application.

1. Use a small hidden section of your hair or remove 20-30 strands from your comb or brush. If hair has been bleached or highlighted, make sure that hair is represented in your sample. Curing and processing times will vary per individual. Record curing and processing times determined by test.
2. Remove all jewelry: rings, earrings, necklaces.
3. Wear supplied gloves while handling mixtures and hair sample to avoid staining skin.
4. Shampoo and towel dry sample.
5. Mix 1 Tbsp (15 g) of Step 1 with enough boiled, distilled water to form a yogurt-like paste. Let mixture sit covered for 30-45 minutes and then apply to damp hair sample. Wrap sample in plastic cap or plastic rap to keep moist.
6. Check hair after 30 minutes. The gray hair should show a red or orange tint. If hair is not, apply intermittent heat with hair dryer until it does. This can take 15-30 additional minutes.
7. Rinse with water, towel dry.
8. Mix 1 Tbsp (15 g) of Step 2 with enough boiled distilled water to form a yogurt-like paste.
9. Cover mixture and choose from the following curing times, depending on your product color. The longer cure times listed will achieve more red tones for A and darker tones for B:
    A. RED, AUBURN, or MAHOGANY: 1-3 hours
    B. LIGHT BROWN, MEDIUM BROWN, DARK BROWN, CHESTNUT, or BLACK: 15-25 minutes
10. Apply to damp hair sample used with Step 1. Wrap sample in plastic cap or plastic wrap to keep moist. Apply intermittent heat for 5-10 minutes per hour by using a hairdryer on low heat setting or a warmed towel placed over the plastic cap to retain warmth and moisture. This will help the color set better to the hair. Be careful not to melt plastic. If using RED, AUBURN, MAHOGANY, or LIGHT BROWN, this use of heat may enhance red tones.
11. Check hair sample in 15-minute intervals until desired color is achieved. There are several factors that can affect the amount of processing time needed to achieve the desired color. Coarse or gray hair will need more time than fine or damaged hair. Take these factors into consideration to help determine your processing time during the strand test and full application. Step 2 can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 3 hours. Average timing for RED, AUBURN, or MAHOGANY is 45 to 60 minutes. Average timing for LIGHT BROWN or MEDIUM BROWN is 90 minutes. Average timing for DARK BROWN, CHESTNUT, or BLACK is 2-3 hours. DO NOT leave on any longer than 3 hours. DO NOT leave on overnight.
12. Rinse and dry hair sample. Check results in direct sunlight.

Enjoy your natural hair color!