Whether you want a new look or want to cover up some greys, hair dye can help. However, store-bought kits and costly salon visits aren’t your only options. You can also transform your hair with items you already have at home. Learn how to dye your hair naturally using simple kitchen ingredients.
Why Should You Use Natural Dye?
Perhaps you want to switch to a more natural hair care routine or simply save money. The cost of having your hair coloured at a salon on a regular basis can quickly add up. You can save money by dying your hair at home. Natural hair dye methods are a great alternative to box kits because they allow you to gradually transition into a new colour using simple ingredients you already have on hand.
Natural vs. Traditional Hair Dyeing
The process of dying your hair differs slightly from that of using a boxed kit or going to the salon. Natural methods are less invasive and, for the most part, will not permanently change your hair colour, so you will most likely have to repeat the process to maintain the desired look. At the same time, the natural approach lets you try out a new look quickly without making a more permanent change.
Whether you go to a salon or do it yourself, how you care for your hair afterward will affect how long your colour lasts. Using a mild or natural shampoo, washing your hair less often, and not washing your hair with hot water may help your natural hair dye last longer. To help preserve the colour, rinse with apple cider vinegar instead of water after treating with natural dyes.
Natural Hair Dyeing Methods
The natural hair dye method you use will be determined by your hair colour and the look you want to achieve. Some natural ingredients lighten hair, others darken it, and still others enhance red tones. Depending on the colour you want, try one of the methods listed below.
Lemons
Lemons are the best DIY natural hair dye method for lightening your tresses and minimizing dark streaks and roots. Lemons, unlike most other natural forms, will permanently remove the pigment from your hair. However, it is still a minor change, so you may need to repeat the process several times to achieve the desired colour.
What you’ll need is as follows:
- Lemons
- A bottle of spray
- A comb
- Fill the spray bottle halfway with lemon juice. For an even colour, spray the liquid into your hair and comb it through. Leave it in your hair for at least an hour in the sun—the longer the better. Then, using a gentle shampoo, wash it out.
Tea with Chamomile
Chamomile flowers are another natural ingredient that may aid in the lightening of your hair. This method, however, is not permanent. To keep the look, repeat the process once a week.
You’ll need two things for this method:
- Chamomile flowers, either fresh or dried
- Water
Bring two cups of water to a boil before lowering the heat to a simmer. Cook for 30 minutes after adding half a cup of chamomile flowers. Allow the water to cool to room temperature before removing the flowers. Apply the tea to your freshly washed hair. You can also mix the tea with conditioner and apply it to your hair. Leave it on for at least an hour in that case. Wrap it in a cap or go outside in the sun to help the colour stand out. After that, rinse it thoroughly.
Coffee
Pour yourself a cup of coffee if you want a quick fix for darkening your hair that won’t last long!
Take the following items:
- Conditioner that is left on the skin
- 12 cup dark roast coffee, brewed
- 2 tablespoons coffee grounds
- Bowl
- In a mixing bowl, combine a small amount of leave-in conditioner with the brewed coffee and coffee grounds. Work the mixture into your hair and cover it with a cap. Allow it to sit for at least an hour before rinsing.
Sage
Sage can be used to darken hair or cover up gray.
Gather the following ingredients for this method:
- 1 cup sage, dried
- Water that has been boiled
For about 30 minutes, steep the dried sage in boiling water. You can steep it for even longer to get a darker tint. Allow the water to cool to room temperature after removing the sage. Apply the sage water to freshly washed hair. Wrap it in a cap and leave it on for at least an hour before rinsing it out.
Juice from carrots and beets
If your hair could benefit from a reddish boost, carrot, and beetroot juice can help. Depending on your natural hair colour, you can use carrot juice to achieve a more reddish-orange tone, beetroot juice to achieve a deeper red or combine the two.
You’ll need the following ingredients to get started:
- Juice from carrots and/or beets
- Olive or coconut oil
- vinegar made from apple cider
Work a cup of juice and two tablespoons of oil into your hair. Wrap your hair or cover it with a cap and leave it for an hour. After that, rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar. Be aware that these juices may stain your skin, so use caution. If you accidentally tint your skin, wash it with a gentle soap after you’ve applied the dye.
Natural DIY hair dyes provide a more subtle change and are very inexpensive to make, making it easier and less expensive to maintain your colour at home without salon visits or box kits.
Why It’s Beneficial
Organic rootspk Giving your hair a new look doesn’t have to break the bank or your natural hair care routine. To boost your colour, you can use simple, low-cost ingredients you already have at home.