Are you tired of dealing with the harsh chemicals and questionable ingredients in box hair dyes? Well, good news—Mother Nature has provided us with a bounty of natural alternatives to color and enhance our hair. Whether you’re looking to cover grays, experiment with a new color, or nourish your hair, these 15 household items can achieve a beautiful array of hair shades and tones.
Coffee
Did you know that a strong pot of coffee can give you a glossy brown tint when applied to your hair? Pour the cooled coffee over clean hair and leave it in for 20-30 minutes before rinsing. This is most suitable for brunettes looking to deepen their natural color or blend in grays.
Beets
Beets’ deep, vivid pigment makes them a fantastic natural hair dye option. Grate fresh beets and combine the pulp with oil or hair conditioner before applying to damp hair. Allow the beet mixture to sit for an hour or more, then rinse. This will impart a lovely reddish-pink or burgundy tone, especially striking on lighter hair colors.
Turmeric
This golden spice adds flavor to curries and other dishes and gives your hair a lovely, sunny glow when used as a natural dye. So first, mix your favorite carrier oil with some turmeric powder and rub that into your hair. Rinse the combination after 30 minutes, and you should have an astonishingly beautiful result.
Carrot Juice
Carrot juice can enhance natural red tones or create subtle auburn highlights when applied directly to hair. Massage fresh carrot juice into clean, dry hair, cover it, and let it sit for an hour or more before rinsing thoroughly. This method works exceptionally well for light to medium brown hair.
Chamomile Tea
Aside from its immense health benefits, chamomile tea is a gentle, honey-colored dye that brightens blonde or light brown hair. Its anti-inflammatory properties also soothe the scalp. After washing your hair with shampoo, spray this tea through your strands and rinse after 5-10 minutes. For gradual lightening, use this treatment weekly.
Sage
If you enjoy sage tea, you’ll be pleased to learn that the natural pigments in this beverage can darken gray hair and enhance brown hair shades. Rub the sage mixture into clean, damp hair, sit for 15-20 minutes, and rinse thoroughly. This is an effective way to cover stubborn grays with a natural yet deep color.
Avocado
Mashing up a ripe, creamy avocado and applying it to the hair can create a lovely, natural-looking brown color while hydrating dry or damaged strands. The healthy fats in avocado nourish the hair cuticle for a soft, shiny finish. Leave the avocado mask on for 30 minutes to an hour before rinsing to reveal a beautiful, glossy color.
Walnut Shells
Crushing walnut shells into a fine powder and melding them with water creates a natural, temporary brown or auburn dye that washes out over time. This is an excellent alternative for folks who want to experiment briefly with a new shade. Just apply the walnut mixture to clean, wet hair, wait for an hour, then wash it off.
Indigo Powder
This blue-black plant powder can be used alone or combined with henna to achieve a deep, jet-black color on hair. Combine the indigo powder with water to make a paste, then apply it to the hair. Leave on for 2-4 hours before rinsing. Indigo creates an intense, long-lasting color for those seeking a dramatic, natural-looking raven shade.
Cinnamon
Blending ground cinnamon with a carrier oil like coconut or olive oil can create subtle, warm highlights in brown or blonde hair. The cinnamon pigments bind to the hair cuticle, gradually lightening and adding dimension. Massage the cinnamon oil mixture into clean, dry hair, cover it, and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour before rinsing. Repeat this treatment weekly for a gradual, natural-looking color change.
Amla Powder
This ancient Ayurvedic herb, also known as Indian gooseberry, lends a gorgeous reddish tone to hair when mixed with water or aloe vera gel. Amla powder is rich in antioxidants that can strengthen and revitalize the hair. Apply the amla mixture to clean, damp hair, leave for 1-2 hours, then rinse.
Pomegranate Juice
The deep, jewel-toned red pigments in pomegranate juice can stain hair a lovely, natural-looking reddish-brown shade. Massage freshly squeezed pomegranate juice through clean, dry hair, cover, and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour before rinsing. Combine the juice with some henna powder for a more intense color.
Black Tea
Steeping several black tea bags in hot water and allowing the liquid to cool makes for a quick and easy brown hair rinse. The tannins in black tea can help darken and enrich existing hair color and cover grays. So, after washing and conditioning, pour the cooled tea through your hair. Let that sit for 5-10 minutes before rinsing it in running water.
Henna
For centuries, Asian and Middle Eastern cultures have used henna to dye their hair. It can give your hair a shiny, long-lasting red or brown tone while strengthening your strands. To make henna dye, integrate lemon juice or coffee with henna powder. Apply this to clean, dry hair. Leave for 2-4 hours, then rinse.
Hibiscus Flowers
The bright red pigments in hibiscus flowers make them a unique natural hair dye option, especially for creating vibrant cherry or burgundy shades. Crush several fresh hibiscus blooms into a pulp, then mix with water or aloe vera gel to form a paste. Apply this mixture to clean and dry hair, leave on for 1-2 hours, then rinse out thoroughly.
