Coloring your hair with natural dyes will take more effort than using regular hair dyes. However, natural dyes will last longer on your hair than chemicals, so you can get the color you want. Chinese teak (cassia obovata), henna (henna), and indigo are herbs that can be used to cover gray hair. Henna hair dye in red, brown and copper hues, and a golden tinge. If you don't like bright colors like that, mix henna with other herbs like indigo to make the color darker. The addition of indigo will produce darker colors ranging from light brown to black. Covering gray hair with black takes the longest time as you have to apply the henna first and then apply the indigo paste. Coloring your hair with pure herbal ingredients is non-toxic and doesn't cause the damage that harsh chemical dyes do. You can use rinse dye, such as coffee, tea, lemon, or potato peels, to darken, cover or color gray hair.
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Method 1 of 3: Experimenting with Natural Dyes
Step 1. Decide if natural dyes are right for you
The process of dyeing hair naturally can be quite cumbersome and dirty and takes longer than chemical dyes. However, if your hair is damaged or easily damaged, natural dyes are safer for your hair than conventional dyes. Before deciding, consider whether the benefits outweigh the inconveniences.
- If you have sensitive skin, herbal dyes may be the best option because chemical dyes can cause contact dermatitis (skin inflammation).
- Natural dyes such as Chinese teak, henna and indigo are mixed to form a paste that must be left overnight. In addition, natural dyes take longer (from one to six hours) after they are applied to the hair.
- Keep in mind that the results you get from natural dyes may vary. If there's a particular look you want, this method might not work for you.
Step 2. Get ready for the colors to be generated
Even if you expect certain, natural dyes react differently to everyone's hair type and condition. The resulting color will be unique and may be lighter, darker, or more varied than you expect.
Natural dyes, especially those that use rinses, may not cover all gray hair perfectly. The results you get will depend on the method you use, how long you leave it in your hair before rinsing, and your hair type. You may have to repeat the staining process after 48 hours if the gray hair is not completely covered
Step 3. Perform a strand test
Your hair type and the different hair products you use will affect how your hair reacts to natural dyes. Save a few haircuts when you cut your hair later, or just clip a tuft of hair at the nape of the neck. Apply your chosen natural dye to the haircut following the instructions for your chosen method.
- After applying the color, rinse your hair thoroughly and allow it to dry in direct sunlight if possible.
- Check the final result with the help of sunlight. If necessary, adjust the amount of ingredients and processing time for your hair, whether it's longer or shorter, depending on the color you want.
- Note that this test may not give accurate results for your entire hair. Some parts of your hair, such as the crown of your head, may absorb the dye differently. The reason is, hairstyle, touch, and environmental exposure can affect your hair.
Step 4. Decide where you will dye your hair
Natural dyes are usually more troublesome and messy than conventional dyes, so you have to think about the best place to dye your hair first. Chinese teak will not stain unless you mix it with other ingredients, such as rhubarb. On the other hand, henna is more difficult to apply and leaves a very dark stain.
- If the weather permits, you might be able to bring a large mirror or two and color your hair outside.
- If you dye your hair in the shower, it's best to do it in a tub or shower cubicle.
- When coloring your hair, wear old clothes or a shaving coat. After that, cover the entire surface of the room with plastic or an old towel.
- In order not to be too messy, you can also ask a friend for help.
Step 5. Use natural treatments to moisturize your hair after dyeing gray hair
When hair turns white, it's not just the pigment that changes. Hair cuticles also thin out, making strands coarser and more prone to breakage. You can restore moisture to your hair with natural ingredients, such as eggs, honey and olive oil, or coconut oil.
- Chinese teak, henna, lemon and tea can make hair dry. So, consider moisturizing your hair naturally after the coloring process.
- Beat an egg and apply it to your hair once a month. Make sure your hair is clean and wet. Let the eggs soak for twenty minutes, then rinse with cold water.
- Mix cup of honey and one to two tablespoons of olive oil and apply to clean, damp hair while massaging. Let the mixture sit on your hair for twenty minutes, then rinse it off with warm water.
- Coconut oil is solid at room temperature. So, warm it using your palm or microwave. If you are using the microwave, make sure the coconut oil is warm enough and not too hot before applying. Let the oil sit on your hair for one to two hours, then rinse and wash your hair with shampoo.
Method 2 of 3: Using Henna
Step 1. Consider china teak for blonde or strawberry blonde hair
To get a blonde color, use china teak powder with water or lime juice. For a strawberry blonde color, add henna. Use pure china teak powder for a blonde color, or 80% china teak powder and 20% henna powder for a strawberry blonde color. Add water to make the powder into a paste, or if you want a lighter color, use orange or lemon juice. Gradually add the liquid to the coloring powder until you get a yogurt-like consistency. Store the mixture in the refrigerator and let it sit for twelve hours.
- Use Chinese teak for blonde or gray hair. If you happen to have gray hair, while the rest of your hair is a dark blonde, teak alone will only lighten and moisturize the darker hair, not make it lighter.
- Use one box (100 gr) of china teak powder for short hair.
- Use two to three boxes (200-300 grams) of china teak powder for shoulder length hair.
- Use four to five squares (400-500 grams) of china teak powder for long hair.
Step 2. Prepare a henna paste for dark hair (tends to be red, brown or black)
Mix three teaspoons of amla powder into the henna, one teaspoon of coffee grounds, and a little curd. Stir all ingredients until well blended. Slowly add one to two cups of hot water (not boiling water) to the henna paste in a bowl until the paste forms thick. Mix all ingredients. Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap tightly. Leave it for twelve to twenty-four hours. Do not put in the refrigerator.
- Amla (Indian gooseberry) does not dry out hair and produces a not too bright red. There's no need to add amla if you want a bright red-orange hair color. Amla can also give hair volume as it improves texture and curls.
- Use 100 grams of henna powder for medium-length hair, or 200 grams of henna for long hair.
- Henna can make hair dry. So, you may need to add conditioner to the paste the next morning, such as two to three tablespoons of olive oil and 1/5 cup of moisturizing conditioner.
Step 3. Add indigo powder to the paste for brown hair
After the henna paste has been allowed to sit for twelve to twenty-four hours, add the indigo powder and mix well. If the pasta hasn't reached the consistency of yogurt, add a little warm water until you get the right texture. Let the pasta sit for 15 minutes.
- If you have short hair, use a box of indigo powder (100 g).
- If your hair is shoulder length, use two to three squares of indigo powder (200-300 grams).
- If you have long hair, use four to five squares of indigo powder (400-500 grams).
Step 4. Apply the paste on the hair
Put on gloves. Part your hair and apply the paste to wet or dry hair with gloved hands, a food brush, or a brush from a beauty supply store. Make sure you apply the paste all over your hair from the tips to the roots. It will be easier if you pin back the section of hair that has been smeared with the paste.
- The henna paste is quite thick. So, you should not comb it into the hair.
- Apply the paste to the roots first as this will take the longest to stain.
Step 5. Cover your hair and let the paste soak in
For long hair, it's best to pull it up and pin it. Use plastic food wrap or a shower cap to protect the pasta.
- If your hair tends to be red, let the paste sit on your hair for about 4 hours.
- If your hair tends to brown, let the paste sit on your hair for one to six hours.
- To check the results, you can peel off a small layer of the henna paste and see the color. Once you get the color you want, you can rinse off the henna paste.
Step 6. Rinse the hair to remove the paste
Use gloves when rinsing off the paste so it doesn't leave stains on your hands. Use a mild shampoo to wash your hair. If you want, you can apply conditioner afterward to moisturize your hair.
If you choose a hair color that tends to be reddish, you can dry and style it as usual. To get black, you must continue the process of staining with indigo dye
Step 7. Continue the coloring process with indigo paste to get black hair
Add the warm water to the indigo powder little by little until you get a yogurt-like consistency. Mix one teaspoon of salt for every 100 grams of indigo powder. Let the paste sit for 15 minutes before using it. Apply the paste to wet or dry hair. Don't forget to wear gloves. Divide your hair into sections, and start applying the paste to the hair at the back of your head and moving forward. Cover the entire section of hair from the tips to the roots.
- If you have short hair, use a box (100 g) of indigo powder. If your hair is shoulder length, use two to three squares (200-300 grams) of indigo powder. If you have long hair, use four to five squares (400-500 grams) of indigo powder.
- Once the indigo paste has been applied evenly throughout your hair, use bobby pins to pin it up. Use plastic food wrap or a shower cap to cover your head. Allow the paste to soak into your hair for one to two hours.
- After one to two hours of dyeing, rinse your hair to remove the paste. You can use conditioner if you want. Dry and style your hair as usual.
Method 3 of 3: Coloring Hair
Step 1. Use lemon juice as a natural hair lightener
You'll need 30 minutes of sunlight for each coloring session, and you'll need four to five sessions. Squeeze one to two lemons (depending on hair length). Apply lemon juice to hair using a brush.
As a variation, you can add coconut oil to lemon juice in a 2:1 ratio to moisturize your hair during the coloring process
Step 2. Darken hair with a coffee rinse
Dip your hair in a bowl of strong black coffee. Gently twist your hair to squeeze out the liquid and then rinse your hair with coffee one cup at a time. For a more dramatic color, prepare a paste made of instant coffee and hot water until it forms a thick consistency, and apply to hair section by section.
Curl your hair up and cover it with plastic food wrap for 30 minutes. Rinse hair under running water and dry as usual
Step 3. Lighten hair color with tea
Brew chamomile tea by mixing cup chopped chamomile in a heatproof bowl. Add two cups of boiling water. Let it cool. Strain the tea to separate out the dregs and use the water as a final rinse after your hair is clean.
Step 4. Try rinsing the boiled water of potato skins
You can darken gray hair by rinsing one cup of boiled potato skins. Mix the potato skins with two cups of water. Bring the mixture to a boil in a covered saucepan. Once it boils, reduce the heat and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and allow the boiling water to cool.
Strain the potato skins. Use boiled water as a final rinse. To make it easier to work with, put the cooking water into an empty shampoo bottle. Dry your hair with a towel and don't need to rinse it again
Tips
- If you don't want to dye your hair yourself, look online for eco-friendly salons that use natural ingredients. Eco-friendly salons like this use beauty products made from ingredients that are minimally toxic, cleaner, and generally safer than standard beauty salons.
- Have some wet wipes that are easy to reach with smudged gloved hands. This will allow you to clean up any dye that has been splashed during the dyeing process.
- Henna works optimally in warm conditions. If the henna paste on your head begins to cool, use a blow dryer to warm your hair back up with the paste still on your hair.
- Natural dyes tend to get lighter after a few days and reveal their true colors. If you're concerned that your hair color is too light for work or school, for example, consider dyeing your hair on the weekends so the dye has a chance to bring out the true color.
- Use an oil-based protection such as Vaseline along your hairline to prevent the dye from hitting your skin and leaving stains.
- If the dye gets on your skin, use olive oil or baby oil to remove it.
- If you are using a ready-to-use henna rinse, follow the instructions and time required on the package.
- Wear an old button-down shirt so it doesn't matter if it gets stained during the dyeing process.
- If you are using real plant leaves instead of powdered leaves, grind the leaves to a paste and use as much as recommended.
- The henna won't fade so you only need to color the roots, no need to apply it all over your hair.
Warning
- Henna will not produce an even color. Instead, the henna will create different shades of color in the hair. It is more difficult to apply henna all over the hair than conventional dyes.
- If you use a food brush to apply dye, make sure you only use it for that purpose, or throw it away after each use. Do not use the same brush to process food.
- The color produced by henna is permanent. So you should be absolutely sure before deciding to use it.
- You may have a hard time finding a salon that is willing to treat hair that has been colored with henna if you later decide to go back to using chemical dyes.
- Henna can make hair curls shed.
- Do not leave the coloring paste where a child or pet can reach it unsupervised. You may need to clearly mark the container used to store the dye in the refrigerator so no one will mistake it for food.
- If you're rinsing natural dye from your hair in the sink, consider using a strainer so that any remaining dye clumps don't enter the drain pipe and cause clogging.
- Be careful not to get the dye in your eyes.
