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Natural Hair Dye

Natural hair dye - thenopoomethod.com

This is not an extensive list of natural hair dyes, but these are the most common ones. I’ve also heard of people using beet juice, carrot juice, tea, and hibiscus petals. If it’s a food or plant from nature and you can steep it in hot water to get color out, there’s a good chance it will color your hair! Most of the rinses made this way are very temporary and don’t last long. So go ahead, experiment! Be sure not to use anything too acidic or too basic (read about pH levels here).

Henna

I use henna 3-5 times a year. Henna is a powder that is ground from the leaves of a plant. It is a reddish-orange dye. Other plant based dyes (cassia and indigo) are added to the henna to create other colors. The colors range from red to brown to black.

  • Henna does not and cannot lighten your hair.
  • Henna does cover gray hair, however the amount of coverage varies from person to person. I have heard adding a little salt (about 1 teaspoon per 100 gram of henna) helps with covering grays.
  • Henna is not a permanent hair dye. It will last 2-12 weeks (as with everything, it depends on your hair, your hair care routine, etc.).

I use this brand. It comes in 12 colors including red, auburn, and light brown. I follow the simple directions on the box. My hair is naturally dark brown. Since henna does not lighten hair, if I use one of the browns, it does not change the color of my hair much. If I use one of the reds, it does give my hair a red undertone (how red depends on the shade I use). I use henna mostly for the deep conditioning properties as opposed to the hair color.

Here is an excellent free e-book on Henna by Catherine Cartwright-Jones. This book is very useful if you want to make your own custom blends of henna, cassia, and indigo or if you want to know more about the science & history behind henna.

Coffee

You can use coffee as a natural hair dye and the caffeine stimulates hair growth.. This works best on brunette hair.

  • Brew coffee. Let it cool.
  • You can use just the coffee or just the grounds or both.
    • You can apply a couple different ways:
      • Pour the coffee directly on your hair. Massage the grounds into your scalp.
      • Mix about 2 tablespoons coffee and/or grounds to about 1/2 cup conditioner (you can use a deep conditioner from this list like coconut milk, aloe, kefir, etc) or use a natural store bought conditioner).
  • Leave the coffee rinse on for about 20 minutes.
  • Rinse out.
  • You can follow with an acid rinse like apple cider vinegar to lock in the color and neutralize the coffee smell (optional).

Coffee rinses do cover grays, but may take several applications to get the desired coverage.

Coffee rinses are very temporary and don’t last long. You will need to do this 1-3 times a week for consistent coverage.

Lemons

What teenage girl hasn’t used lemons or lemon products to add highlights to her hair? I know I did it religiously every summer for years.

Mix:

  • 1 cup lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup water

in a spray bottle (non-plastic is best). Spray on your hair, either all over your hair or just in sections for highlights.

Lemon juice is photosensitive and sunshine will intensify the lightening effect.

You can also use conditioner instead of water to make a cream or gel for fuller coverage ((you can use a deep conditioner from this list like coconut milk, aloe, kefir, etc) or use a natural store bought conditioner). Massage into your hair, leave for 20 minutes, rinse.

Walnuts

The easiest way to make walnut hair dye is to buy black walnut hull powder. You can also use hulls from black walnuts and make your own powder or soak the hulls in hot water for several hours. 

  • 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.

The color lasts 1-2 months. Check out before and after pictures here from Health Extremist (find her DIY makeup book here).

Sandalwood Essential Oil

Sandalwood essential oil can retard greying. You can add a couple drops to your hair products with each application, or put 2-4 drops on your palm and massage into your scalp and hair.

For More Info

For more info, be sure to check out my ebook, The No Poo Method.

The No Poo Method ebook

Be sure to check out the FAQ page!

FAQ - TheNoPooMethod.com

 
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Comments

  1. Beth says

    January 26, 2015 at 6:31 am

    Hi, thanks for the tips. I am brewing up some walnut tincture. Would you massage it into freshly washed or unwashed hair? I am ten days in since last aleppo soap and bs with vinegar wash. Have been no-poo for about three years, only recently started to go ten days, before it was bs+vinegar once a week. Thanks.

  2. The No Poo Method says

    February 15, 2015 at 12:43 pm

    I would think the color would hold better on freshly washed hair.

  3. Jamey says

    April 21, 2015 at 8:44 pm

    My hair is severely over processed and the blond my hairstylist gave me looks gray around the frame of my face. Will this product hurt my hair in any way or just improve it? Thank you.

  4. The No Poo Method says

    April 24, 2015 at 10:01 am

    There are quite a few products listed on this page. So not sure what you are referring to. All of the products listed on this site are nontoxic.

  5. Kristi says

    July 19, 2015 at 3:56 pm

    I’m switching to henna to color my hair and am wondering if you do a vinegar rinse after you henna? Or is just rinsing very well with plain water enough, also, how many days after do you do a rye wash? I’m in my 3rd week of no poo and LOVE it! I’m pleasantly surprised at how much easier it is than I though it would be, even my hubby is starting it. So thankful I found you!

  6. The No Poo Method says

    August 11, 2015 at 1:04 pm

    Wow! That’s awesome that you got your hubby on board! 😉 I do not do a vinegar rinse after I use henna. Henna alone is conditioning enough for my hair. But some people do use vinegar afterwards for extra conditioning. After I use henna, I usually wash again relatively quickly, 3-5 days later. I usually go about 10-14 days between washes. But I like to do a wash earlier after henna.

  7. Tabea says

    April 7, 2016 at 8:12 am

    I’m just about to start with no poo and thought I’d like to start dying my hair a natural colour again (was a washed out dark red, then orange) and then found the henna dye, I bought dark brown from the brand you suggested and the result is amazing, the only thing I can’t get over is the smell… Is there anything I can add to the henna to make my hair not smell like cow poop? It’s been a few hours and I just feel sick from the constant smell of off spinach to be honest haha would coconut maybe help or can I add essential oils? Thank you ?

  8. The No Poo Method says

    April 11, 2016 at 3:19 pm

    Oh no! I’d try essential oils

  9. Laura Palfrey says

    May 17, 2016 at 5:13 pm

    Hi
    I’m looking at going no poo but at the moment I get my hair highlighted.
    It says henna doesn’t lighten hair but from experience what would using the light brown on dark brown roots do?
    Would love to go natural but don’t want to embrace the grey 🙁
    Thanks
    Laura

  10. The No Poo Method says

    May 18, 2016 at 11:03 am

    Hi Laura – the light brown henna on dark brown hair will cover the gray but won’t change the color of the dark brown hair.

Trackbacks

  1. 200+ DIY Beauty Products and Recipes: The Ultimate List - The Nourished Life says:
    January 25, 2016 at 7:09 pm

    […] 105. Natural Hair Dyes […]

  2. 200+ DIY Beauty Products and Recipes: The Ultimate List - The Nourished Life says:
    January 25, 2016 at 7:09 pm

    […] 105. Natural Hair Dyes […]

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