If you have sensitive skin, herbal colorants may be the best choice for you, since chemical hair dyes can cause contact dermatitis. [4] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Natural colorants such as cassia obovata, henna and indigo are mixed into a paste that needs to sit out overnight. They also take longer to develop (from an hour to six hours) once applied to your hair. Keep in mind that the results you get with natural dyes can vary. If you have a specific desired look in mind, they might not be a good option for you.
Natural colorants, particularly tinting rinses, may not give you complete coverage of gray hair. How well it works for you depends on the method you use, how long you let it sit, and your hair type. You may need to repeat the process of coloring after 48 hours if your gray hair has not been covered successfully.
After applying the colorant, wait the entire process time. Then, rinse the lock completely and allow it to dry in direct sunlight, if you can. Check the final results under bright natural lighting. If necessary, adjust the ingredient or processing time for your own hair – more or less, depending on the shade you desire. Keep in mind that your strand test may not provide an accurate result for all of your hair. Some parts of your hair, such as the top portion, may take the dye differently. This is because typical styling, touching, and environmental exposure can affect your hair.
If the weather is nice, you may want to bring one to two large mirrors and dye your hair outside. If you’re dyeing your hair in the bathroom, you may want to do so inside of a bathtub or shower. When you dye your hair, wear old clothes or a hairdresser’s cape. Then, cover all surfaces with plastic sheeting or old towels. You can also get a friend to help you, which can minimize the mess.
Cassia obovata, henna, lemon and tea can be drying to your hair, so especially consider doing a natural conditioning treatment afterwards. Mix a whole egg and apply it to clean, damp hair once a month. Leave the mixture in for twenty minutes, then rinse it out with cool water. [8] X Research source Massage 1/2 cup of honey and one to two tablespoons of olive oil into damp, clean hair. Allow the mixture to sit in your hair for twenty minutes, then rinse it out with warm water. [9] X Research source Coconut oil is in a solid state at room temperature, so warm it in your hands or a microwave (if the latter, make sure it is warm and not too hot before applying). Work a couple of teaspoons of it into damp hair and wrap your hair in an old towel (coconut oil can stain fabric). Let it sit for one to two hours, then fully rinse it out and shampoo your hair. [10] X Research source
Use cassia obovata for blonde or gray hair. If you have gray hairs but the rest of your hair is darker than blonde, cassia obovata alone will only brighten and condition your darker hair, not lighten it to blonde. Use one box (100 grams) of cassia powder for short hair. Use two to three boxes (200-300 grams) of cassia powder for shoulder-length hair. Use four to five boxes (400-500 grams) of cassia powder for long hair.
Amla (Indian gooseberry) is nondrying and adds coolness to the red so that it is not quite so bright. You can omit the amla if you want a very vibrant orange-red. Amla volumizes hair as well as enhances texture and curls. Use 100 grams of henna powder for hair up to medium length, or 200 grams of henna for long hair. Henna can be drying, so you may want to add a conditioner to the paste the next morning, such as two to three tablespoons of olive oil and 1/5 cup moisturizing conditioner.
If you have short hair, use one box (100 grams) of indigo. If you have shoulder-length hair, use two to three boxes (200-300 grams) of indigo. If you have long hair, use four to five boxes (400 to 500 grams) of indigo.
Henna paste is thick, so don’t try to rake it through your hair. Apply the paste to the roots of your hair first, since that is typically where the most hue and processing time is needed. [12] X Research source
For red hair, leave the paste on for about four hours. For brown or black hair, leave the paste in your hair for one to six hours. You can check the color by scraping off a little bit of the henna to see the result. When you’ve reached your desired color, you can rinse off the henna.
For red hair, you can dry and style as usual. For black hair, you’ll follow this with indigo dye.
For short hair, use one box (100 grams) of indigo. For shoulder-length hair, use two to three boxes (200-300 grams) of indigo. For long hair, use four to five boxes (400 to 500 grams) of indigo. Once your hair is saturated with the paste, use a clip or hair pin to put your hair up. Wrap plastic wrap or a shower cap over your head. Let the paste sit in your hair for one to two hours. After one to two hours of processing time, rinse the paste completely out. You can use conditioner if desired. Dry and style your hair as usual.
Optionally, you can add two parts coconut oil to one part lemon juice, to condition as you lighten. [15] X Research source
Clip up your hair and wrap it in a plastic bag for 30 minutes. Rinse it out under water and then dry your hair as normal.
Strain out the potatoes. Use the water as a final rinse. You may want to pour it into an empty shampoo bottle to make application easier. Towel dry your hair and leave the rinse in.
