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 the 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.
Click on the links to jump straight to a specific topic or just scroll down to browse through them.
Gray Hair Dye Recipes
Recommended Suppliers
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, Chamomile 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 tabelspoon lemon juice.
Yo use, pour the liquid through your hair 15 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 crushed marigold flowers OR 3 tablespoons dried calendula petals in 2 1/2 cups of distilled water in a non-metal pot for 20 minutes.
Remove from heat. When the mixtures cools, 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, 3 tablespoons dried calendula.
Natural Hair Dyes for Dark Hair
This natural hair color recipe brings out rich brown tones in dark hair.
Simmer 1/3 cup walnut shells, black tea, cherry tree bark or whole cloves in 2 1/2 cups distilled water in a non-metal pot for 20 minutes.
Remove from heat. When the mixtures cools, 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.
Natural Hair Dyes for Gray Hair
Rosemary-Sage Natural Hair Dye
Ingredients
- 2 cups hot water
- 1/2 cup dried sage
- 1/2 cup dried rosemary
Directions
- 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 using the dye daily rather then weekly or monthly. You'll need to experiment and see what wotks for you.
Recommended Suppliers
Mountain Rose Herbs
I always recommend Mountain Rose Herbs first because I like and trust them.
Their quality is excellent, their prices are good, and many of their essential oils are organic.
You can find a good selection of basic ingredients such as
carrier oils and
dried herbs,
as well as any essential oils you might need.
Poke around on their website (or use their Search feature) for ingredients like glycerin, Vitamin E and grapefruit seed extract -
pretty much everything you need is in one section or another. (Oh yeah, they also have a nice selection of
glass bottles.)
Amazon.com
You can also find essential oils and other supplies
at Amazon. They have a number of different brands available at a variety of prices. (Just remember, you get what you pay for!) Happy hunting!
Advertising Policy
There's lots of good suppliers out there, but I keep balking at the price.
I can't in good conscience send you to a supplier whose quality is similar to Mountain Rose but who charges more.
I wouldn't do it myself, and I won't recommend it to you.
Which brings me to another point. A small commmission is sent to Easy-Aromatherapy-Recipes.com each time you buy
from these suppliers by clicking on one of my links to their website.
(The price to you is the same no matter where you order.)
This makes it possible for me to continue to publish free aromatherapy recipes and other fun stuff for you.
Click here to learn more about how advertising works.
Thank you for your support, and please
let me know if there are other things I can find for you.
Still Got Questions?
Click on this link to go to Hair Help
and ask! Everyone can participate, so you have a huge pool of knowledge and experience to tap into.
Got a great hair tip, trick or product you want to recommend? Hair Help is the place for that too!
Check it out and join in the fun!
What Next?
Round out your hair care routine by making these other easy, inexpensive hair products for natural hair health.
Shampoo for Natural Hair
Easy natural hair shampoo recipes, including herbal shampoos and essential oils for your hair type or condition.
Natural Hair Conditioner
Natural hair recipes to condition, rehydrate and beautify your hair... naturally!
Natural Hair Loss Products
Make your own natural products for hair loss using essential oils and other healing ingredients.
Natural Hair Remedies
Natural hair treatments you can make to cope with dry, damaged hair, gray hair and other problems.
Go to Natural Hair Products Main Page
Go to Aromatherapy Recipes Homepage from Natural Hair Dye
|