How To Colour Hair Naturally At Home

Published on 26 July 2024 at 19:11

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Do you want to add a pop of colour to your hair without harsh chemicals? Look no further. In this article I will explain how to colour hair naturally for a vibrant and healthy look. Gone are the days when you've had to rely on harmful dyes to cover your grey hair. Here you will discover simple yet effective ways to colour your hair naturally. From henna powder to coffee, these natural colouring ingredients are gentle on your hair and scalp. 

There is no need to wait. Keep reading to find out how to colour your hair naturally for beautiful healthy hair. 

 On this page you will find:

 

Did you know that the Ancient Greeks used walnut juice to dye their hair brown? 

 

Don't worry, I will not be showing you how to  do that, though walnuts contain beneficial vitamins for hair. So you should just eat them. 

 

First, let's find out why you should dye your hair with natural hair dye.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that we may receive a commission should you make a purchase using these links. 

You should dye hair naturally using natural hair dye like hennna

Why you should colour your hair naturally at home

You should dye your hair naturally at home because synthetic hair dyes contain many harmful chemicals. The list of these harmful chemicals in hair dye include:

  • Steareth 20 - an environmental toxin
  • Steareth 2 - a skin irritant, known toxicity to humans and highly toxic to aquatic life
  • 2,4 Diaminophenoxyethanol Hcl - restricted use due to high toxicity to humans 
  • M Aminophenol - a synthetic dye made from coal tar. Restricted use. Known human toxicant
  • Toluenediamine Sulfate, P - commonly used to produce black and warm browns, and shades of blonde and grey hair dyes. Highly toxic to humans and an environmental hazard

And there is more.

 

We all want beautiful thick hair. The chemicals in dye can only contribute to hair breakage. Chemicals in hair dye could contribute to hair fall too.

 

If that does not put you off using synthetic hair dye, then I don't know what will.

"You should dye your hair naturally at home because synthetic hair dye has many harmful chemicals."

 

Dying your hair naturally at home avoids any of the above side effects.

You can easily make a natural hair dye at home.

What you should expect when you colour hair naturally

I want to manage your expectations.  You cannot use natural hair dyes to bleach your hair. If you have black hair or really dark hair, you could use natural hair dye to lighten it. If you have light to dark blonde hair, you could use natural hair dye to lighten or darken hair. You cannot go from black to blonde using natural hair dye. I am sorry to disappoint you. Colouring hair naturally will mean you will have stronger, thicker, shinier hair. That can only be a good thing. 

Ingredients to make natural hair dye

To make natural hair dye you can use many plant-based ingredients. Natural hair dye plants list includes:

  • chamomile
  • onion peel
  • henna
  • rhubarb
  • and extract of sandalwood.

You can use these plant based ingredients even if you have sensitive skin. 

To lighten hair naturally you could use lemon juice mixed with chamomile

How to lighten hair naturally

If you have blonde or mousy brown hair you can lighten it with chamomile.

 

 Add 100 grams of camomile to half a litre of boiled water. Brew for 30-40 minutes. Put through a sieve and add lemon juice from half a lemon. 

Rinse your hair with this infusion after washing with organic shampoo. You can use this infusion daily until you achieve the desired colour. 

 

"Using lemon juice to lighten hair is safe when mixed with other natural ingredients, like chamomile."

 

To make a natural hair dye with rhubarb finely chop the rhubarb root and boil it on a low heat with half a litre of water and 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Boil this mixture until half the water has evaporated. Let cool. Soak your hair in this infusion after washing with organic shampoo until you achieve the colour you want.

How to make natural hair dye with henna and basma (or indigo)

If your hair is dark brown or black you should use a mixture of henna and basma to make a natural hair dye.

Equal parts of henna and basma will achieve a chestnut hair colour. One part henna and two parts basma will give you black hair colour. 

Two parts henna and one part basma will give you a bronze hair colour. 

 

Firstly, decide on the colour – chestnut, black or bronze.

Then mix henna and basma together in a glass bowl. Put the glass bowl into hot (not boiling) water. Do not pour the powder mixture in the water. Keep mixing the basma and henna powder together until they form a smooth paste. 

Apply this mixture onto clean hair. Make sure you cover your shoulders with an old towel because this mixture will stain your clothes. 

Focus on applying this mixture on the areas where you have grey hair. You can do this 2 - 3 times. Use the mixture leftovers and mix it with hot water. Cover your hair strands. Leave in for 20 - 30 minutes for lighter bronze hair colour. Leave in 1 - 1.5 hours for chestnut hair colour and black hair colour. 

 

Rinse your hair with 1 tablespoon of vinegar mixed with 1 litre of water. This will help get soft hair. 

How to use coffee for hair colour

If for whatever reason you do not wish to use basma, you can replace it with freshly ground coffee for hair. You can use coffee not just for hair growth, but to make a natural hair dye too.  

To make a coffee hair dye follow the steps below:

 

Step 1. Boil a kettle and pour the boiling water into a mug.

Step 2. Add one teaspoon of freshly ground coffee and brew for about 5 minutes. 

Step 3. To the slightly cooled coffee add henna to make a smooth paste. It should have the consistency of soured cream. 

Step 4. Apply this mixture to your hair with fingertips or a small applicator brush.

Step 5. Cover your hair with parchment and then an old towel.

Step 6. Leave in for 45 - 60 minutes.

Step 7. After colouring, rinse your hair with the vinegar mixture mentioned above. 

 

Your hair should now be a gorgeous dark chestnut colour. 

Unlock Thick Hair Naturally with Henna Powder. Read more

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Unlock Thick Hair Naturally with Henna Powder

In this post you will find a step-by-step guide to help you achieve thick hair with natural ingredients.  The secret - colourless organic henna powder for hair. This natural hair mask can be part of your  healthy haircare routine. You can also include this in your overall natural and sustainable beauty.

How to colour hair at home using hydrogen peroxide 3%

Bleaching hair to achieve that blonde look has been well known since the Roman times. Back then, only water and sunlight were used.

 

Probably takes a while...

 

We have moved on since the Roman times. 

 

A more modern way of bleaching hair at home is to use hydrogen peroxide. 

When hydrogen peroxide breaks down it releases active oxygen. This active oxygen has the effect of bleaching hair. 

Adding ammonia speeds up the release of oxygen, speeding up the bleaching process.  

 

Obviously this is not a natural way to colour your hair. I have included this because you can limit the number of chemicals used and colour hair at home. I recommend to work with your natural hair colour to lighten or darken it using the methods describe above. 

 

If you really want to try beaching hair at home you can find the guide below:

 

Step 1. Take 50 - 60 grams of hydrogen peroxide. This equals to hydrogen peroxide 3%

Step 2. Add 6 - 8 drops of ammonia

Step 3. Add organic shampoo to make a paste. The consistency should be that of shampoo. Alternatively, add 5 - 6 drops of glycerine. This is to avoid the mixture dripping onto neck and clothes.
Step 4. Make sure you apply to dry hair,. This is to retain the natural oils in your hair. You should wear gloves when bleaching hair with hydrogen peroxide.


If you have short hair, you can use a cotton bud soaked in the mixture and start applying to hair roots. Make sure you apply the mixture to hair strands too.
If you have long hair, start at the ends of your hair and work your way up. You should apply this mixture to the roots in sections, starting with the back of your head. This is because your hair is usually darkest there.

It is important to rinse your hair with an alkaline solution to soften it and to prevent hair breakage. Add one tablespoon of vinegar to one litre of water. Mix and rinse your hair after colouring.

You can repeat this application in 3 - 5 weeks on the grown-out roots only.

 

Please be aware that bleaching can damage hair over time. So I recommend to bleach hair occasionally or not at all. If you already have light hair, you can lighten hair more using the plant based ingredients for hair.


By the way, any of the above natural hair dye recipes are suitable for women and men.

 

Conclusion

When colouring your hair naturally at home, it is all about experimentation. Majority of the ingredients mentioned above are plant based so they will not harm your hair. Your hair will always grow out if you didn't quite get the result you were looking for.

 

Have a go and tell us how you got on in the comments!

 

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Best organic hair colouring brands and products

Certified Organic Henna Powder For Hair

Why we like this organic henna powder:

  • sulphate free shampoo
  • cruelty free
  • vegan shampoo bar
  • organic coconut oil
  • recycled and biodegradable packaging
  • handmade in England

Certified Organic Indigo Powder

Why we like this henna powder:

  • organic henna powder
  • natural non toxic hair dye

Its Pure Herbal Hair Colour Chestnut

Why we like this natural hair dye:

  • natural hair dye 
  • sulphate free
  • ready made and easy to apply
  • organic henna powder
  • suitable for sensitive skin

It's Pure Herbal Hair Colour Golden Blonde

It's Pure Organics Herbal Hair Colour Indigo Black

Its Pure Herbal Hair Colour Natural Brown. Shop now

Its Pure Herbal Hair Colour Natural Brown

Logona Hair Colourant Applicator Brush

A necessary accessory if you want to colour your hair naturally at home. 

It's Pure Organics Clarifying Pre Colour Treatment. Shop now

It's Pure Organics Clarifying Pre Colour Treatment

Why we like this pre colour treatment:

  • Recyclable glass bottle
  • organic hair mask
  • silicone and sulphate free

It's Pure Organics Herbal Hair Colour Henna Red

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