HappyLifestyleJournal
Hair dyes are full of toxins which create split ends and make the hair dry. Lately, girls have been avoiding dyeing their hair with store bought hair colors, and started using a more natural and herbal way of getting the hair color they wanted. If you want to make your hair healthy and shiny, save some money and get the shade you want, check out these tips.
Herbs for Light Hair
- Pure, strong chamomile tea (brewed with ½ cup of herbs per 2 cups of water) sprayed or poured on hair and left on for a couple of hours will enhance the lightening effect.
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice, sprayed and brushed through the hair and left on for a couple of hours (in the sun) will also produce natural highlights.
- A chamomile tea rinse at the end of each shower (leave in hair) will produce smooth, silky hair and naturally lighten the hair over time.
For a stronger and faster effect, try the following recipe. It will leave the hair very blonde, easy to work with and not yellowy/brassy at all.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup of fresh lemon juice
- 2 cups of strong chamomile tea
- ½ cup of strong calendula tea (this is optional and will produce more golden tones)
Instructions:
Mix all of the ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake well before each use. Spray or pour onto hair and brush through to get even. This works best when applied to hair directly before sun exposure and left in for an hour or two, before being rinsed out. You can use it several times a week, since it does not damage your hair.
Herbs for Red Hair
These will create a red/dark strawberry blonde tint in lighter hair and an auburn tint in darker hair. Extended use over time will create a more vibrant red. The easiest thing is to make it a part of your hair care routine if you want continual red hair.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of water
- 1/2 cup of calendula flowers or fresh marigold petals from your garden
- 2 tablespoons (or more for more red hues) of hibiscus petals
Instructions:
Boil the water and simmer with the calendula/marigold and hibiscus for at least half an hour. Strain off the flowers and store in the fridge. Use as a final hair rinse at the end of each shower. Repeat daily until the desired shade is achieved and then every few days to maintain.
Herbs for Brown Hair
It is easiest to darken hair that is already light brown or darker, though these colors will even darken blonder tones of hair. Used as a rinse, these can also darken grey hair over time. The more frequent they are used, the darker the results.
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup of nettle leaf
- ¼ cup of rosemary leaf
- ¼ cup of sage leaf
- 2 and a half cups of water
Instructions:
Simmer the herbs with water for at least 30 minutes or until the water turns dark. Remove from heat and when cool, strain herbs out, making sure all the small pieces are removed. Store the mix in the fridge. Spray or brush into hair about an hour before showering each day, then shampoo as normal. This can also be used as a rinse and leave on at the end of each shower. Repeat until the desired color is reached. It has a cumulative effect and you probably won’t notice much difference the first few days. The herbs in this mix are also great for getting rid of dandruff and for increasing hair growth.
Herbs for Dark Brown Hair or Black Hair
If you have very light hair, it will be difficult to get really dark hues with just herbs, though with enough patience, it can be done.
For very dark hair, put a ¼ cup of black walnut powder in a tea bag or cheesecloth bag and pour in 3 cups of water in a quart mason jar for at least 6 hours or overnight. Use as a rinse in the shower for hair and dry in the sun if possible. This will create very dark hair, especially if you have dry or color treated hair. It will also provide the darkest coverage for grey hair. Repeat daily or as needed to darken and maintain a dark shade.
Use strong brewed black tea as a final rinse to darken hair of any natural color. This is also nourishing for the hair and will provide a temporary darkening effect on most hair types. Repeat as necessary to get the desired shade and sun-dry if possible.
