DIY: Color Your Hair Naturally

While following some of you on Twitter, we've noticed a lot of you asking questions regarding other means of coloring your hair aside from using Henna. I happened to stumble across this great DIY article on Naturally Obsessed on ways to naturally color your hair yourself.

Red

Henna

It’s just about safe to say that henna is the most popular method of naturally dyeing any type of hair. I researched and found that henna actually has the ability to only dye hair, or anything for that matter, red. So, do not be fooled. There are plenty of mixes out there that claim to be all natural henna and can dye hair blonde, brown, etc., BUT, they’re all lies. Pure, 100% henna can only dye hair red. Also, henna proves effective the more it is used; so, if you have dark hair, you probably won’t notice any drastic changes to your hair color until after a few uses. I was actually interested in henna, but I have black hair, so henna really wouldn’t be the best solution to my interest in changing my hair color. However, if you have hair of the lighter variety and are looking to spice up your color with some red, definitely try henna.

I mentioned in the original post on henna that using acidic liquids, such as lemon juice or apple cider vinegar would cause the henna to release quicker. It’s true. Mixing acidic liquids with henna will cause the dye to release quicker, however, it could also dry your hair out. BEWARE. If you have naturally dry hair and decide to use henna with an acid, be sure to deep condition regularly to combat the dryness AND keep your hair healthy. Also, I saw that some people said that henna has the ability to change the texture of your hair. However, it completely depends on the person and their curls.

Recipe to bring out Reddish Tint:

• Mix 1/2 cup organic Beet juice and 1/2 cup carrot juice. Massage into hair and let sit for one hour.
• Boil 1 cup Rosehips in 2 cups of water. Strain and massage into hair. Can be left in until next shampoo.
• Boil 3 Hibiscus tea bags down in 2 cups of water until you have 1 to 1/2 cup of liquid. Massage into hair. This can also be left in until your next shampoo.
• Boil down 1/3 cup crushed marigold flowers in 2 cups water. Strain and add 1 cup of red wine. Massage into hair and leave in for 30 minuets.

Rosehips & Cloves
Make a strong tea of rosehips and cloves, (or use strong black coffee), and then apply to hair.

Beet & Carrot Juice
1/2 cup of beet juice + 1/2 cup of carrot juice
Mix ingredients together and apply to damp hair. Sit in the sun for about an hour or so and then rinse.

Blondes

Lemons

Well, lemons help with dandruff. Just thought I’d start with that. However, lemons are known to dry hair SO, once again, deep condition regularly to combat the dryness. Here’s a few recipes that can be used to lighten your hair color. This will work for anyone with dark brown, light brown, blonde, or red hair. Followers with black hair, you can try, but it will ideally take longer.

• Mix 1 cup organic lemon juice and 3 cups Chamomile tea. Message into your hair and spend some time in the sun. Far faster results repeat a few times a week.
• Mix up mashed organic Rhubarb with 4oz organic pineapple juice. Let the mixture soak into your hair and spend some time in the sun.
• Mix 3/4 cup honey with 1 1/2 cups organic plain yogurt to damp hair. Massage hair and wrap head in saran wrap. Let sit for up to eight hours and rinse.
• Mix 4 tablespoons Cinnamon with 8oz yogurt. Message into hair and let it soak in for 30 minutes.

Or

First you will need a simple lemon mixture. Mix one part warm water and 2 parts lemon juice together.
Pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Spray the mixture generously to the areas you want to lighten.
Expose your hair to natural sunlight for around an hour or two. Wash hair our and let dry.

Tea, Yogurt and Oil

• 6 Chamomile tea bags
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• Lavender oil

Bring one cup of water to boil and steep tea bags for 15 minutes. Discard teabags. Combine yogurt and 7 drops of lavender oil with chamomile tea, mix thoroughly. Apply the mixture to dry hair, working through to ends. Cover head in plastic wrap and condition for thirty minutes. Rinse.

Brunette

Tea or Black Coffee

Place a large bowl in sink and rinse hair with cooled coffee/tea. Repeat several times, reusing the liquid. Leave final rinse in hair for at least 15 minutes. Rinse with clear water.

Black

Indigo

Indigo can be used to dye hair black or to dye already black hair a blue-black.
Well, if you aren’t a natural product junkie, you can always go to a trusted professional natural hair salon, or use a commercial dye. Just make sure to DEEP CONDITION to prevent dryness, and regularly get your ends trimmed to prevent breakage.

Do you color your hair? What do you use?