Hair Dye or Hair Die?! – Image Courtesy: Timothy Tolle
A growing number of Americans (and indeed people in most parts of the world) are increasingly using permanent hair dyes to get that perfect look for their hair. If you are also one of these increasing numbers, have you noticed the damage done to your hair by these chemicals-filled hair dyes? And what about the damage to your health due to the use of dyes?
Most conventional hair dyes are full of toxic ingredients like bleach and ammonia. Such ingredient lists are on the cancer radar and are also said to cause brain tumors, and other conditions.
Mother Nature the Beautician
Nature supplies us with various colorful foods and herbs that can easily replace the usual store-bought, chemical-laden colorants for natural hair dyes. There’s an economic benefit as well. Creating your own food and herb-based hair colors and rinses are not only healthier alternatives, but they’ll also save you some cash.
With a few simple ingredients from your kitchen, plus a little dedication and schedule adjustment, your hair will begin to glisten with a naturally enhanced glow. Use the following natural recipes to add highlights to blonde or red hair, or enrich or darken grey, brunette, or black hair. (Repeat each process once a week to reach and maintain your color choice.)
3 Ways to Color Your Hair Naturally
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How to darken grey or enrich brown or black hair:
Simmer 1/2 cup dried sage & ½ cup dried rosemary in 2 cups water for 30 minutes, then steep for 2-3 hours. Double or triple the recipe as needed for your volume or texture of hair, or for the amount of grey you need to cover. Put this solution on your hair and leave it on until it’s dry. Style as usual (do not rinse).
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How to brighten blond hair
Use Lemon Juice
Put 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice in 1 gallon of warm water. Pour over your hair 10 or more times in one rinsing. Keeping the solution in, style as usual. Repeat weekly or as needed to restore or maintain your color choice.
Or Use Chamomile Tea
Make a very strong chamomile tea – dilute in 1 gallon of warm water. Follow the above directions, same as for the lemon juice recipe.
Also, spraying your hair with a solution of 1 part lemon juice in 3 parts water, then sitting out in the sun will also brighten blond hair and add highlights.
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How to add reddish highlights to, or deepen red/auburn or chestnut brown hair
Make a mixture of fresh carrot and beet juice (about 2 cups of carrot juice, and 1 cup of beet juice). Put mixture on hair, being sure to avoid or protect the skin around the hair line and back of neck. Cover hair and either sit under the dryer on medium heat for about 30 minutes, or out in the sun for an hour.
It may take more time using these time-tested natural rinses, but you’ll enjoy the many benefits of naturally (and safely) treating yourself to a more beautiful you!
Cassendre Xavier (aka Amethyste Rah & Amrita Waterfalls) is an award-winning multimedia artist, musician and author, working in Philadelphia. She writes on various subjects including Raw Vegan/Live Foods, Alternative Health and Recovery from Addiction and Abuse.
Dalwani says
For more tips on making your own red hair dye check out How to Make Natural Hair Dye
kathy osborne says
I have been using a combination of red and blonde henna powder for more than 15 years.
I get the loose powder from the local healthfood store and mix it with hot water. I apply it to my hair with a turkey baster and let it stay on for 15 minutes.Then I rinse it out and shampoo/condition as usual.Right now the recipe is 2 parts blonde to 1 part red.I never fail to get compliments from people on the rich, natural color!
It is good for my hair, helps keep my scalp free of dandruff,it’s cheap and there are no chemicals!!
As I get older I will gradually move to more blonde and less red.
Sorry, I don’t know thw name of the company that produces the henna. I guess I could find out.
KO
Sharon says
I always wish to use natural products compared to readymade products avalibale in market. Now I have taken note of all the ingredients and will try to make this at home.
Heather says
Or…. we could all just leave our hair be and embrace how we look no matter what colour our hair is!
We are ALL beautiful!
june k. says
hi heather, i think what what you said about leaving our the natural way is incredibly brave. most people arent like that, and i really respect that you think that.
NATURAL ROCKS!!
herlyn says
Hi All, Its nice to hear that beet & carrot juice helps in colouring … This would even enhance the quality of the hair since the nutrient cotent is high in these vegitables.
So instead of cooking … lets start applying … wat say??
robin says
As a man I do not want to get the colours wrong. My natural colour was mousy brown. Henna scares me because I have seen so many women with overly red hair.
My hair has gone mostly grey. Would simmer 1/2 cup dried sage & ½ cup dried rosemary in 2 cups water for 30 minutes, then steep for 2-3 hours bring back a natural light brown?
Is there a way of testing that it will not produce an unnatural colouring?
Gina says
Hi Robin,
You will never get an unnatural color from using natural dyes unless u already have chemical colorants in your hair. How your hair reacts to color (as well as how your body reacts to food) all depends on your unique make-up. so, this may not produce exact results for people. Its really hard to get rid of grey. If you are worried about what color it will turn out, I would recommend doing test strands that are not so apparent. of course, this depends on your hair length as well. The good thing about natural dyes is that they do fade and wash out over time. Chances are that if you do not like he color, you can wash it out rather quickly.
they tend to brighten and enrich your natural color.
Yesenia says
Hi, my hair is dark brown but I would like to get it to be a rich chestnut/auburn tone how can I do that? Will the carrot-beet juice, chamomile tea, or lemon juice method do this? And how soon will I see these results?
unavailable says
My hair is dark brown, and it kinda looks like black. To get a reddish hair color, would cherries work?
Cute Easy Hairstyles says
I have Asian black hair. Will any of those method work on turning my hair to lighter brown??
Teresa says
Where do you buy dried sage and dried rosemary? Thanks!
Teresa
diana says
what kind of solution exactally?