Natural Hair Dye

Make your own natural hair dyes for healthy, chemical-free, all natural hair color. There's growing evidence that chemical hair dyes are cancer-causing. Making your own natural hair dye is a healthy alternative - not only for you, but also for your hairdresser and your planet!

Natural hair dyes won't give you the instant fix you get with a bottle of Clairol, but they will subtly enhance the natural color and highlights of your hair with repeated use over time. The best idea is to simply enrich the natural color of your hair, and avoid trying to make drastic changes (such as turning blond tresses to a very deep shade or dyeing gray hair darker than it was originally). You should also keep in mind that herbal dyes aren’t permanent and will fade unless renewed occasionally.

If you’ve recently used commercial dyes, color rinses or straighteners on your hair, you’d be wise to test any herbaceous dyestuff before applying it to your head, since chemical residues left in your locks may make it impossible to predict the action of the natural treatment.

To perform the evaluation, you'll need to save some snips of hair from your next trim or collect some hair from your hair brush and prepare a small amount of whatever dye recipe you want to try. Following the instructions for that mixture, apply it to a sample of hair, then rinse the lock thoroughly and let it dry (in direct sunlight, if possible). Observe the result under strong, natural light, and if you want more or less color, simply adjust the number of rinses and/or the timing accordingly. After a couple of trial runs, you should be able to produce exactly the shade you want.

Herbal Ingredient List:

Natural Hair Dyes for Gray Hair

Rosemary-Sage Natural Color Restorer

2 cups hot water, distilled is best
1/4 to 1/2 cup dried sage leaves (tonic and a conditioner, darkens the hair)
1/2 cup dried rosemary leaves (tonic and conditioner, one of the best herbs to use for hair, gives luster and body, also slightly darkens the hair)

Combine all ingredients in a pot. Simmer for 30 minutes, then steep for several hours. Strain, then use the resulting liquid for the colorant.

Pour the liquid onto your hair and leave on until dried. Rinse and dry. Repeat weekly until you obtain the desired shade, then monthly to maintain color.

This method of covering gray works cumulatively over time - it's not an instant fix. Also, some sources recommend initially using the dye daily, then weekly or monthly. You'll need to experiment and see what works for you.

To Make a Shampoo from the Dye

Add the above strained mixture to 12 oz or more of unscented castile soap (if you are unable to find castile soap, baby shampoo is the closest thing). Put into bottles.

The first time you use this shampoo you will not get any suds (which is a chemical that is added to comercial shampoo products), rinse and shampoo a second time. Also, the shampoo will be very thin so you will have to pour it directly onto your hair instead of into your hand. After you shampoo you will notice that your hair is real shiney and more managable. You will also notice after several times of use that your hair is darker and thicker.

Use daily in this manner for two weeks, for best results, and then as necessary for touching up - once or twice a month to maintain color.

 

Natural Hair Dyes for Blonde Hair

Herbal Hair Rinse for Blonde Hair

This herbal hair rinse not only lightens, brightens and highlights blonde and light brown hair, but it also removes product buildup, balances the scalp's pH and improves shine and manageability. Herbal rinses are the best!

Here's how you make it:
Combine 2 cups (500ml) distilled water with 3 tablespoons each dried Calendula petals, Chamomile flowers and chopped Lemon Peel in a pot and bring to a boil on the stove.

Remove from the heat and let steep for 1 to 3 hours.

Strain out the herbs and pour into a large dark glass or PET plastic bottle.

Add 2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar.

To use your herbal hair rinse, simply pour it over your hair after conditioning, massage it gently into your scalp and then rinse. (Don't get it in your eyes - it stings!)

Natural Sun Streaking

Here's a happy alternative to sitting with your hair cooking under a smelly cap of chemicals...

Mix the juice of 1 lemon with 2 tablespoons strong chamomile tea.

Using an inexpensive straw hat with lots of holes in it, pull strands of hair through the holes. (A crochet hook or pencil is good for this.)

Apply the lemon/chamomile mixture to the exposed hair. Sit in the sun for 2 hours - you'll end up with natural-looking streaking. Don't forget sunscreen! (Good book, glass of wine...)

Saffron Natural Hair Dye for Golden Color

This recipe gives hair a rich golden tint - it's a good one for grey roots in blonde hair.

Put a large pinch of saffron threads into a large jug. Boil 2 cups (500ml) distilled water, then pour over the saffron. Let soak for 10 to 15 minutes.

Strain out the saffron and add 1 tablespoon lemon juice.

To use, pour the liquid through your hair 15 or 20 times, re-rinsing with the same liquid. On the final rinse, wring out your hair and leave for 15 minutes before rinsing with clear water.

 

Natural Hair Dyes for Red Hair

Marigold Natural Hair Color

This natural hair dye recipe adds nice red-gold highlights to red, light brown and brown hair.

Simmer 1/3 cup fresh crushed marigold flowers OR 3 tablespoons dried calendula petals in 2 1/2 cups of distilled water in a non-aluminum pot for 20 minutes.

Remove from heat. After the mixture has cooled, strain out the marigold, saving the liquid. Add 1/4 cup red wine to the liquid.

To use, apply the liquid as a final rinse after shampooing and conditioning, pouring it over your hair and catching it in a basin to reapply several times. Allow your hair to dry naturally in the sun if possible.

Repeat the rinsing process every time you wash your hair until you're happy with the color.

Herbal Hair Rinse for Red Hair

Follow the herbal rinse recipe above, but use 3 tablespoons dried hibiscus flowers and 3 tablespoons dried calendula petals. Buy hibiscus flowers or dried calendula petals.

 

Natural Hair Dyes for Dark Hair

Hair Dye From Black Walnut Shells

This natural hair color recipe brings out rich brown tones in dark hair.

Simmer 1/3 cup black walnut shells, black tea, cherry tree bark or whole cloves in 2 1/2 cups distilled water in a non-aluminum pot for 20 minutes.

Remove from heat. After the mixture has cooled, strain out the herbs, saving the liquid.

To use, apply the liquid as a final rinse after shampooing and conditioning, pouring it over your hair and catching it in a basin to reapply a few times. Allow your hair to dry naturally if you can.

Do this every time you wash your hair until you reach the desired shade.

Hair Dye From Black Walnut Shells #2

You can make your own hair dye easily and inexpensively with only a few dried herbs, black walnut shells with hulls, and high-quality oil. It works well on all hair types, except extremely dry or chemically treated hair. The resulting color will be light to very dark brown, depending on the original hair color. This hair dye is especially good for covering gray hair. This recipe yields approximately 16 treatments, which can be used daily to enhance the depth of color, and will leave hair shiny and soft.

8 cups distilled water
1 oz. dried sage
2 oz. of black walnut shells
1 oz. dried rosemary
1 oz. dried nettle.
2 regular tea bags
2 tbsp. jojoba oil

Boil distilled water in a sauce pan, and then remove from heat. Add the herbs and black walnut shells.

Cut open the tea bags and add the contents to the water with the other herbs. Cover the pan tightly, and allow the mixture to steep for at least three hours but no longer than four hours.

Strain the liquid into a medium-size mixing bowl. Add jojoba oil, and mix well. Transfer the mixture to a quart-size bottle or jar, label with the jar and store in the refrigerator. This hair dye will keep for up to three weeks, after which time it should be discarded.

To use the hair dye, shampoo the hair normally and rinse. Put on gloves, as the dye will stain the skin. Shake the bottle thoroughly, and apply about 1/2 cup directly into the hair. Massage into the scalp for about one minute, and then squeeze out any excess and towel dry the hair.

To Make a Shampoo from Dye #2

Combine 1/4 cup of the walnut hair dye with 1/4 cup castile or baby (closest to castile) shampoo, and wash the hair daily to maintain color, and/or cover gray. No gloves are needed when applying this way. Use daily in this manner for two weeks, for best results, and then as necessary for touching up - once or twice a month to maintain color.

 

Henna - The Natural Hair Dye for All Colors

You can also buy Henna. It... Coats the hair. Seals in oils. Tightens hair cuticles. Gives your hair a rich, healthy shine. It comes lots of colors: various shades of black, brown, red, blonde and even neutral. Henna (for Orange/Red color, and adds brilliant shine to hair), Henna with Indigo (to achieve brunette to black colors), and Cassia; a plant that can be used to add shine or add a bit of golden color to very pale blond or white hair.

One critical note of caution: You MUST grow out all your chemically dyed color first or you'll end up with hideous color issues. Henna and chemical junk don't mix! Note: Henna binds with your hair, so it is much different than a dye. You can also use chemical lighteners or dyes over it, or apply it over chemically dyed/lightened hair, and as long as you are using PURE henna, you will get nice results. The horror stories you may have heard only relate to people using 'compound' hennas, again, like you would buy in the store, mixed with other ingredients.