Adding red highlights or bright colors is a great way to lighten dark brown hair. Instead of going to the salon to dye your hair, try using natural products at home. These methods won't turn your hair a cherry red color - you'll need to bleach your hair first and use a store-bought dye to achieve this effect - but they will create a pretty reddish brown or ruby hue.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Jamaican Sorrel /Roses
Step 1. Prepare the ingredients
If you live in a tropical country, you may be able to find fresh roselle flowers. Roselle is a bright red flower that can be used to add a ruby red color to your hair that will sparkle in the sun. If you can't find fresh roselle, buy dried roselle instead. You will need two cups of roselle flowers. In addition, prepare the following materials:
- 2 cups of water
- 1/4 cup honey
Step 2. Make a roselle flower mixture
Pour two cups of water into a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then add the roselle flowers, cover the pot, and turn off the heat. Let stand for a few hours so that the color of the flowers fades into the water, then strain the water into a bowl and mix it with honey.
Step 3. Prepare your hair
Shampoo your hair as usual, but don't use conditioner. Conditioner residue clings to your hair and can also prevent the dye from dyeing your hair. Dry your hair with a towel and use a wide-toothed comb to remove tangles.
Step 4. Dab the roselle flower mixture
Put on latex or plastic gloves and use your fingers to spread the mixture along your hair from roots to tips. Make sure you spread it well so that no strands of hair are missed.
If you want to make red highlights in your hair, select only a few strands of hair, separate them from the rest of your hair using a sheet of foil, and use a paint brush or an old cake brush to apply the dye
Step 5. Cover your hair and let the dye soak in
Use a plastic shower cap or plastic wrap to cover your hair so it doesn't dry out while the dye soaks into your hair. Leave it for 4 hours or overnight. The longer the dye is left on your hair, the redder your hair will be.
Step 6. Rinse the dye on your hair
Remove the shower cap or plastic wrap and rinse your hair with warm water. Wash with shampoo and conditioner as usual, then dry your hair and style your hair.
Method 2 of 3: Beetroot Juice
Step 1. Take the juice of two beets
The bright red sari will create a reddish-brown tone when applied to dark brown hair. You don't need the flesh of the beet, just the juice. If you don't have a juicer, puree the beets in a blender and use a sieve to strain the juice.
Step 2. Mix beetroot juice with honey
Pour the beet juice into a bowl and add 1/4 cup of honey. Stir until well blended. This simple concoction is ready to be applied to your hair.
Step 3. Wash your hair
Wash as usual, but don't use conditioner. Beetroot juice will work better on hair that is free of any moisture residue left by the conditioner. Dry your hair with a towel and use a wide-toothed comb to detangle hair.
Step 4. Add the beet juice mixture
Put on latex or plastic gloves and use your fingers to work the beet juice through your hair, making sure each strand is evenly covered with the juice. If you want to make reddish-brown highlights in your hair, apply the mixture to the strands that have been separated from the rest of your hair using a sheet of foil.
Step 5. Cover your hair and let the mixture soak in
Put on a shower cap or some plastic wrap and wait for the beet juice to turn your hair a reddish brown. Allow the mixture to soak into your hair for 4 hours or overnight.
Step 6. Rinse the beetroot juice from your hair
Wash your hair under warm water to rinse off the juice and honey, then shampoo and conditioner as usual. When your hair is dry, you will see a dark reddish tinge shine through your hair.
Method 3 of 3: Henna
Step 1. Buy henna powder
Henna powder comes from henna flowers. The powder is made into a paste that is applied to the skin or hair to turn it into a reddish copper color. Henna powder is usually sold in boxes of 100 grams, which is a sufficient amount to dye hair that is not too long.
Pepper powder and clove powder can also be used to dye your hair into various shades of red. If you can't get your hands on henna powder, try one of these spices
Step 2. Make a henna paste
According to the directions on the henna powder package, mix the henna powder with a few tablespoons of water until you have a thick paste. If you want to lighten your hair color and turn it red, use lemon juice instead of water. Cover the pasta and let it sit for one night. Add a few spoonfuls of water the next day, mix well and the henna paste is ready to use.
Step 3. Apply henna paste
Wet your hair (no need to wash it with shampoo), dry it with a towel, and comb your hair to remove any tangles. Wear latex or plastic gloves to protect your skin from the dye. Use your fingers to work the henna paste into your hair, making sure you cover each strand with the paste.
- If some henna paste gets on your skin, wash it off immediately. Henna paste will color your skin as easily as dyeing your hair.
- To create highlights with henna, separate the strands of hair you want to highlight from the rest of your hair using a sheet of aluminum foil. Apply the henna paste to the strands using an old cake brush.
Step 4. Cover your hair and let the dye soak in
Put on a shower cap or use several sheets of plastic wrap to cover your hair while the dye sinks into the layers of your hair. Leave it for at least 4 hours. The longer you let it soak in, the redder your hair will get.
Step 5. Rinse the henna from your hair
Use cold water to rinse off the dye. Keep running the water through your hair until the flow of water from the hair is clear, not red. Wait a day before you wash it off with shampoo. At first your hair will have a rich shade of red, and over the course of a few days your hair color will be lighter.
Tips
- All of these natural dyes can stain clothes, bed sheets, tile sides, and so on. Wear old clothes and lay out protective mats so you don't stain your bathroom floor.
- Jamaican Sorrel is also known for the hibiscus flower.
