How To Dye Your Hair Naturally

Category: Skincare & Beauty

Gone are the days when artificial hair coloring was used primarily by the older generation to combat the inevitable graying of their hair.
Nowadays, hair dying is a trendy procedure popular among the old and young, women and men alike.
It is primarily a cosmetic procedure done to cover up gray hair, restore color after a hair dressing procedure like bleaching, or experiment with a different hair color for fashion purposes.
Hair coloring is not merely a service to be purchased at the salon anymore. People have become adept at doing it at home.
Home hair coloring saves an immense amount of time and money. However, there is a flip side to this happy story. Store-bought hair dyes are laced with chemicals that harm your health in major ways.
Out of 263 people who used hair dyes, 96 percent rendered hair unsafe for lactating and pregnant women, 63 reported headaches and 38 percent reported itching, according to a 2013 study published in the International Journal of Trichology.
Excessive use of chemical hair dyes also weakens hair, causing excessive breakage and hair loss.
Some hair dyes contain gluten and can trigger an adverse allergic reaction in a gluten intolerant person.
Moreover, regular use of chemical hair dyes is positively associated with an increasing risk of bladder cancer, according to a 2005 study published in Public Health Reports.
You can avoid many of these concerns by using natural products without the chemical additives.
Here are some ways you can dye your hair naturally.

Henna Hair Dye

Things you’ll need:

Organic henna powder – 150 to 200 grams
Lemon juice – 1 to 2 tablespoons
Coconut milk – 1 can
Measuring spoons
Mixing spoon (non-metallic)
Bowl
Plastic wrap
Gloves

Henna
Ancient Egypt, South Asia, Europe, Arabia and Africa – cultures the world over have been using henna as a natural hair-coloring agent for thousands of years. It is one of the most potent natural coloring agents in the world.
Depending upon the actual color of the hair and the quality of the henna being used, the resulting color after a henna application can be orange, red or a dark burgundy.
Besides its coloring properties, henna is also an incredible conditioner and makes the hair manageable. It also provides strength and vitality to the hair and prevents breakage.
Moreover, henna helps inhibit the over production of oil from the scalp that makes hair greasy and limp, and maintains its buoyancy.
Lemon juice
The powdered henna leaf contains the dye molecules which, when released, penetrate the scalp and hair and color them.
However, these powdered leaf particles are covered with cellulose, which needs to be broken down to release the dye molecules.
While other products can break down the cellulose, only an acidic product like lemon juice will enable it to stick to your scalp and hair firmly, and color your hair more effectively.
Coconut milk
Long-term henna dye users just cannot stop raving about the incredible benefits of adding coconut milk to the henna paste.
For starters, it counters the extremely drying effect that lemon juice can have on your scalp, especially for those who already suffer from dry scalp and hair. Moreover, it combats the drying effects of henna.
Apart from its incredibly moisturizing properties, it helps release the dye quicker, and nourishes and strengthens your hair for extra measure.

Steps pf Preparing the henna dye:

Pour 1 can of coconut milk in a bowl, then add 150 to 200 grams of henna powder and 1 to 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.
With a spoon, mix the ingredients well into a thick paste and cover the bowl with plastic wrap.
Allow the mixture to sit overnight at room temperature for best results, or at least let it sit for 4 to 5 hours for the dye to release.

Applying the henna:

1. Part your hair down the middle of your scalp into two sections, bringing each section to either side of your shoulders.
2. Put on a pair of gloves for applying the henna to protect your fingers and nails from staining.
3. Starting with the right side, lift a 2-inch section of your hair from the crown and begin coating your hair with the henna.
4. Once the section is completely coated, twist it with your fingers and coil it into a bun on the top of your head.
5. Start moving down from the crown, parting a 2-inch section each time, repeating the coating and twisting process, and each time coiling them around the same first bun.
6. Repeat the process with the left side of your hair. When done, you should have one big henna mound on the top of your head.
7. Wrap a plastic wrap on your head (or use a shower cap for shorter hair) and keep it on for at least 5 to 6 hours. For best results, sleep with it overnight.

Rinsing:

1. Rinse your hair with plain cool water.
2. Do not wash your hair with shampoo or conditioner for the next 32 hours.
3. Your hair will initially come out tinted with color and darker than it was, and the color will become deeper within 2 to 3 days. The color, along with the quality, will only grow richer when you start applying henna to your hair regularly.

Additional Tips

• Always use organic henna, preferably one that also contains herbs like bhringraj, amla, shikakai and brahmi.
• Thoroughly wash and brush your hair before application. Henna sticks better to detangled and clean hair.
• If you have an excessively oily scalp, forego the coconut milk, which can exacerbate the oiliness. Simply add water.
• If you have an excessively dry scalp, you may add ¼ cup of hemp seed oil or olive oil to the mixture for extra moisture.
• Apple cider vinegar is a suitable alternative to lemon juice.
• One can of plain whole milk is a suitable alternative to coconut milk.
• Add 1 to 3 teaspoons of clove, ginger or cinnamon powder to the mix to eliminate the smell of henna, if you so desire.
• Cover your pillow with a towel for the next 2 to 3 days as the henna might stain your covers.
• Avoid using chemical-based hair products in your day-to-day routine. They can hamper the efficacy of natural products, like henna.

Natural Bleach – Chamomile Tea, Lemon Juice & Sunlight

Note: This natural dye will make your hair color lighter. Do NOT over expose your hair to the sun. Only sit in the sun for the prescribed amount of time.
Things you’ll need:

• Sunlight – plenty!
• Boiling water – a little more than 2 cups
• Chamomile tea bags – 6 to 10
• Lemon juice – ½ cup
• Coconut oil (melted)  – ¼ cup

Sunlight
Yep, sunlight makes your hair lighter. If you are wondering why sunlight makes your hair light but your skin dark, the answer is this: Your skin is alive and your hair is not.
The sun’s rays normally have a lightening effect on the body. However, when the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays penetrate the skin, the melanin in the skin reacts to protect it from the rays’ harmful effects should the skin be exposed too long, which leads to darkening of the skin.
However, the hair cells are dead, and therefore not capable of triggering a similar reaction. This is why sunlight bleaches the hair and makes it lighter.
Chamomile tea
Chamomile is primarily popular for its terrific health benefits for numerous disorders. Although people are starting to catch onto its cosmetic value, its hair benefits remain largely unknown.
Chamomile tea is an excellent hair-lightening agent and all-natural bleach. It is especially effective in bringing out blonde tints and highlights, and this is why it works best with naturally blonde hair.
Moreover, this natural bleach is the perfect disaster-management kit for anyone reeling from a gorgeous-looking, albeit unhealthy, chemical blonde-highlight treatment.
If you want to keep your ombre tips or gold highlights longer, but not at the cost of another chemical treatment damaging your hair, a chamomile tea bleach is the perfect solution to maintain your look the natural way!
Lastly, chamomile is extremely nourishing and is used in a variety of hair care procedures, according to a 2010 study published in Molecular Medical Review.
Lemon juice
The citric acid in lemon juice becomes active when exposed to the sun’s heat and accelerates the sun’s lightening process.
Coconut oil
The coconut oil (melted) will combat the acidity of the lemon and keep it from over-drying your hair.

Steps for natural bleach – chamomile tea, lemon juice & sunlight

Preparing the chamomile bleach mixture:

1. Bring a little more than 2 cups of water to a boil.
2. Pour it into a large bowl and immerse 6 to 10 chamomile tea bags in it.
3. Let the tea steep for 10 minutes.
4. While the tea steeps, gently push the tea bags down with a spoon for quicker and better infusion.
5. Add ½ cup of lemon juice and ¼ cup of melted coconut oil to the chamomile tea and stir the mixture.
6. Empty the contents into a bottle and shake it vigorously.

Applying the chamomile bleach:

1. Place a towel around your shoulders to avoid the solution from spilling on your clothes, or just wear an old T-shirt that you don’t mind ruining.
2. Massage your hair thoroughly with the natural bleach solution.
3. Sit in the sun for 10 to 15 minutes, or until your hair is dry. Do not stay in the sun longer.

Do this every other day, or three times a week. You should begin to see the difference within a few weeks’ time.
Additional Tips

• You can wash your hair with a natural shampoo and conditioner later if the oil feels sticky, although you should keep the solution in overnight.
• Alternatively, you can pour this solution into a spray bottle and carry it with you for a day at the beach for a quick spritz.

Honey and Coconut Oil Hair Lightener

Things you’ll need:

• Raw honey – ½ cup
• Coconut oil – ½ cup

Raw honey
You’ve probably heard that hydrogen peroxide is a potent hair-lightening agent. However, high concentrations of pure chemical hydrogen peroxide all at once can damage your hair and scalp.
Honey is a natural source of hydrogen peroxide, and releases it slowly in very small amounts, protecting your hair as it lightens it, while using its other nourishing properties to strengthen your hair, too.
Coconut oil
The coconut oil (melted) will not only moisturize your hair, but also boost the honey’s hydrogen peroxide and speed up the lightening process.

Steps for honey and coconut oil hair lightener

Preparing and applying the lightener:

1. Mix ½ cup each of honey and coconut oil in a bowl.
2. Place a towel around your shoulders to avoid the solution from spilling on your clothes, or just wear an old T-shirt that you don’t mind ruining.
3. Divide your hair into sections and apply the mixture thoroughly onto your strands with your hands.
4. Let it sit on your hair for 30 minutes.

Rinsing:
Wash your hair with some warm water and a natural conditioner.
Do this three times a week. You should begin to see the difference within a few weeks’ time.
Additional Tips

• Coat your hair with cinnamon after applying this mix for added color-lift. Cinnamon has coloring properties of its own.

Coffee Hair Dye

Things you’ll need:

• Boiling water – 2 cups
• Organic coffee powder – 10 tablespoons
• Plastic wrap or shower cap

Coffee
Coffee contains tannins, which are molecules that provide caffeine its rich, black color. Regularly rinsing your hair with coffee enables the tannins to transfer some of that color to your locks, making them darker.

Steps for coffee hair dye

Preparing the coffee dye:

1. Pour 2 cups of water into a medium saucepan, put it on high heat and bring it to a boil.
2. Lower the heat to medium, add the coffee powder and let it sit on the heat for 5 minutes.
3. Turn off the heat and let the coffee steep for another 10 minutes.

Applying the dye

1. Place a towel around your shoulders to avoid the solution from spilling on your clothes, or just wear an old T-shirt that you don’t mind ruining.
2. Pour the coffee into a wide, steel container or tub and soak your hair, with your head upside down, in the tub.
3. After soaking, rinse your hair completely with the coffee water to coat it thoroughly and evenly.
4. Cover your hair with plastic wrap or a shower cap and let the coffee dye sit for 1½ hours.

Rinsing
Wash off the coffee dye with cool water and a natural conditioner. Do not use shampoo.
Do this three times a week. You should begin to see the difference within a few weeks’ time.
Additional Tips

• Cover your pillow with a towel for the next 2 to 3 days as the coffee might stain your covers.

Black Walnut Powder Hair Rinse

Things you’ll need:

Hot water – 2 cups
Black walnut hull powder – 6 to 10 tablespoons

Walnut
Black walnut powder contains tannins, juglone and plumbagin – all substances that accord black walnut its deep dark color. When used on hair as a rinse, these substances help give it a brownish color.

Steps for black walnut powder hair rinse

Preparing and applying the black walnut hair coloring recipe:

Pour 2 cups of water into a saucepan and bring it to a boil.
Add 6 to 10 tablespoons of the black walnut hull powder and let it steep at least for 1 hour.
Soak and rinse your hair with the water and let it air dry.

Rinsing
If you want to rinse your hair after this black walnut hair rinse, simply rinse your hair with cool water 15 to 20 minutes after using the solution.
Use this rinse every other day or three times a week. You should begin to see the difference within a few weeks’ time.
Additional Tips

• You can purchase black walnut hulls and grind them into a powder yourself.