Why Should I Use a Natural Hair Dye?

Health Benefits: 

• Conventional hair dyes often contain harmful chemicals like ammonia, peroxide, and parabens, which can damage your hair and scalp over time. 
• Natural alternatives minimize exposure to these toxins, promoting healthier hair.

Environmental Impact: 

• Synthetic hair dyes contribute to water pollution and can have long-lasting effects on ecosystems. 
• Natural hair color options are typically more eco-friendly and biodegradable.

Gentle on Hair: 

• Natural dyes tend to be less harsh, reducing the risk of hair damage, breakage, and scalp irritation. 
• They often condition and nourish the hair while adding color.

Natural Hair Dye FAQ

Can I still dye and color my hair if I do a natural hair care routine or the no poo method?

• Yes. But note that most commercial dyes are full of chemicals. If you want to embrace natural hair care or no poo completely, use a natural DIY dye or a safe option from the list in this post.
• In general, baking soda does not work well with chemical hair dye (see no poo methods here). 

How long does natural hair dye last?

• It depends on the dye method, your hair care routine including how often you wash your hair and what you use to wash your hair, and your water type.
• Your hair porosity will affect the ability of your hair to absorb the dye. Learn about hair porosity here.
• Use sulfate free shampoo if using shampoo to prolong the effects of your natural hair dye. 
• Exposure to sun may fade natural hair dye. 

Will these natural hair dyes cover my gray hair?

• It depends on the dye method and your hair type.

How do I wash the dye out if I'm using a natural hair care routine?

• How you wash the dye out of your hair will depend on your hair, dye, & water type. 
• Some people use a commercial shampoo to wash the dye out & then return to their natural or no poo routine. 
• It's best to use sulfate free shampoo if you're using shampoo.
• You can also use a vinegar rinse. But be mindful of the pH levels of your hair dye. If your dye is acidic, you don't want to use an acidic rinse. See more about pH levels here.

Other notes:

• It's recommended to spot test on a strand of hair to check color and rule out allergies or reactions.
• Wear gloves and a smock or old clothes. These dyes can stain your skin and clothes.
• If your skin gets stained, you can try to remove it with soap & water or an acid like vinegar or lemon juice.
• Don't apply the dyes directly to your scalp to avoid staining your scalp.
• Apply a cream or skin balm along your hairline, ears, and neck to prevent staining.
• Apply dyes to clean hair.
• Don't use metal bowls and utensils when mixing your hair dyes. 
• YES! You can mix and match the DIY dye ingredients! Have fun experimenting!

DIY Natural Hair Dyes

• Table of Contents
  • Lighten Hair
    • Lemon Juice
    • Chamomile Tea
  • Vibrant Hair
    • Turmeric for Golden Hair
    • Beet and Carrot Juice for Red Hair
  • Darken Hair
    • Coffee
    • Walnut Shells
  • Herbal Rinses
  • Henna
  • Safe Store-Bought Hair Dyes

Lemon Juice to Lighten Hair

• Benefits: 
  • Natural astringent properties may help cleanse the scalp
• Works for all hair colors to lighten hair
• You can lighten all your hair by applying on all of your hair or create highlights by spraying on random sections of your hair
• Hair lightening effects will last until the hair grows out
• Note: lemon juice is acidic and can be drying on your hair. Be sure to use a basic conditioner or rinse to balance the pH levels. See more about pH balanced hair care here.

Directions:

• In a spray bottle mix:
  • 1 part fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 part water
  • You can also use conditioner instead of water to make a cream or gel for fuller coverage. Honey, coconut milk, aloe, or kefir (learn how to make kefir here) are also good choices.
• Spray on your hair, either all over or just in sections for highlights
• Leave for 20 minutes then rinse
• Lemon juice is photosensitive, so sunshine will intensify the lightening effect
• Avoid application directly to your scalp or skin. Since the lemon juice is photosensitive, you might get a sunburn. 

Chamomile Tea to Subtly Lighten Hair

• Benefits: 
  • Chamomile has anti-inflammatory and soothing properties, which may help calm irritated or itchy scalps.
  • Chamomile tea may add a natural shine and luster to your hair
• Works best on naturally lighter hair
• Chamomile tea lightening is a gradual process. For more noticeable results, repeat this treatment 1-2 times a week until you achieve your desired shade.
• For a more pronounced lightening effect, combine chamomile tea treatments with regular sun exposure.

Directions:

• Brew a strong pot of chamomile tea with 5-10 tea bags (the more tea bags, the stronger the lightening effects)
• Cool
• Put in a spray bottle
• Spray on clean, damp hair 1-2 times per week until you achieve your desired shade
• You can leave the tea for a couple hours and rinse out, just leave in your hair and style as usual
• Sun exposure will enhance the lightening effects

Turmeric for Golden Hair

• Benefits: 
  • Turmeric contains antioxidants that can benefit the scalp and hair health.
• Works best on blonde hair. Dark hair may not see any tinting effects.
• Turmeric dye is temporary and typically lasts 1-2 weeks
• Turmeric will stain your skin and clothes so take extra care when using

Directions:

• Mix 2-3 tablespoons turmeric with enough water or conditioner to coat your hair
• Apply the mask to your hair and leave for 30-60 minutes
• Avoid direct application to your scalp so your scalp doesn't stain
• Rinse

Beet and Carrot Juice for Red Hair

• Benefits: 
  • Full of vitamins and minerals that nourish the scalp.
• Will be more intense on light hair. Will provide a subtle red hue on brunette hair.
• Beet and carrot juice is temporary and will last 1-2 weeks 

Directions:

• Apply carrot or beet juice (or a combo of both) on your hair
• For a more intense color, use pure juice. Dilute with water for a more subtle color.
• Cover your hair with a shower cap
• Leave the juice on for 1-2 hours
• Rinse out

Coffee to Subtly Darken Hair

• Benefits: 
  • Adds depth and shine to hair, with the added benefit of a pleasant aroma
  •  The caffeine may also stimulate hair growth
• Works for all hair colors to darken hair with the best results for natural brunettes who want to enhance their natural shade
• Coffee will not make your hair black -- it will darken your hair slightly by a shade or 2
• Coffee may cover gray hair but may take several applications
• Coffee rinses are temporary and last about 1-3 weeks

Directions:

• Brew a strong pot of coffee and let it cool
• Using just the coffee or just the grounds or both you can apply two different ways:
  1. Pour the coffee directly on your hair & massage the grounds into your scalp
  2. Mix about two tbsp coffee and/or grounds with half of a cup conditioner
     • Common conditioners are coconut milk, aloe, or kefir (learn how to make kefir here)
• Leave the coffee rinse on for 20-60 minutes
• Rinse out
• You can follow with an acid rinse like apple cider vinegar (more on apple cider vinegar here) to lock in the color and neutralize the coffee smell (optional)

Walnut Powder to Darken Hair

• Benefits: 
  • Walnut powder contains vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids that may nourish and condition your hair.
• Works for all hair colors to darken hair and may result in dark brown to black hair on brunettes
• Walnut powder dye provides gray coverage
• Walnut powder dye is longer lasting than a lot of diy hair dyes and typically lasts 1-3 months

Directions:

• Add 3-5 tablespoons black walnut hull powder to 2-3 cups boiling water
• Steep for several hours
• Massage into hair
• Let sit for 15-20 minutes
• Rinse

Herbal Rinses to Subtly Tint Hair

• Benefits: 
  • Herbal rinses contain vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals that nourish the hair and scalp
• Herbal rinses enhance natural hair color or add subtle highlight
• Herbal rinses can be customized by adjusting the concentration and combination of herbs to achieve desired colors and effects
• The effects of herbal rinses are temporary and can be added into your regular hair care routine 
• You can mix and match these. Here's a best use guide by hair color:
  • For naturally blonde hair:
    • calendula / marigold
    • saffron
    • sunflower petals
  • For naturally red hair:
    • calendula / marigold
    • rosehips
    • hibiscus
  • For naturally brunette hair:
    • rosemary
    • nettle
    • sage

Directions:

• Boil 2 cups of water
• Add 1/4 cup to 1 cup of desired herbs to steep 
• Cool and strain
• Two methods:
  1. Put in a spray bottle and spray onto clean hair after every wash
  2. Apply to your hair and let soak for 30-60 minutes. Rinse.

Henna Hair Dye

• Benefits: 
  • Henna binds to the keratin in hair, creating a protective layer that strengthens the hair shaft. This helps reduce breakage and split ends, leading to healthier, more resilient hair.
• Henna can darken your hair or add a red tint. Henna cannot lighten your hair.
• Henna provides gray coverage
• Henna lasts 2-12 weeks depending on the potency of your henna, your hair type & porosity, and hair care routine.

Recommended Henna Brands:

• The Morrocco Method
  • Shop their site and use code ASHLM10
  • Shop The Morrocco Method on Amazon
• The Henna Guys
  • Shop their site and use code ASHLM10
  • Shop The Henna Guys on Amazon
• Light Mountain Henna on Amazon

Directions:

• Follow the directions on your henna package
• Here are general directions:
  • In a non-metal bowl and using non-metal utensils, mix 100g henna with 1 cup of water to dilute
    • Optional: add up to 3 tablespoons of acidic liquid like apple cider vinegar or lemon juice to help release the dye (may be drying on some hair types)
  • Apply a cream or skin balm along your hairline, ears, and neck to prevent staining.
  • Be sure you are wearing gloves, a smock, and old clothes because henna will stain your skin and clothes.
  • Apply the henna to your hair, avoiding direct application to your scalp.
  • Cover your hair with plastic wrap or a shower cap to keep the henna moist and warm.
  • Leave the henna on your hair for 2-6 hours, depending on the desired intensity of the color. The longer you leave it on, the deeper the color will be.
  • Rinse out the henna. Rinse your hair thoroughly with lukewarm water until the water runs clear.
  • Avoid using shampoo for the first 24-48 hours to allow the color to fully develop.
  • You can use conditioner to help remove the henna paste and soften your hair.

Safe Commercial Hair Dyes

Madison Reed: Use code TCMMADISONREED

• Free of ammonia, parabens, resorcinol, PPD, phthalates, gluten, SLS, and titanium dioxide
• Take the quiz to get your perfect color match
• Shop here on the Madison Reed site
  • Use promo Code: TCMMADISONREED for 10% off your first order on site as well as at any Hair Color Bar location
• Shop here on Amazon

ONC Natural Colors

• ONC uses heat instead of harsh chemicals to open cuticles of hair and deposit color and it does not stain the skin
• All ONC products are SLS Free,Paraben Free, Low pH
• Shop here on the ONC Natural Colors Site
• Shop here on Amazon

Herbatint

• Permanent hair color gel
• No alcohol, parabens, or ammonia
• Shop here on Amazon

More Natural Hair Care Articles:

• Everything you need to know about the no poo method
• The No Poo Method eBook
• The Top 7 No Poo Mistakes
• I Went 3 Years Without Shampoo -- Here's What Happened
• Hair Porosity with Printable Guide
• How to Get Rid of Wax Buildup -- The Surprising Way to Clarify Your Hair
• How to Scritch & Preen Your Hair
• DIY Dry Shampoo
• DIY Hairspray 3 Ways
• How to Get Coconut Oil Out of Your Hair

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