natural hair colourants

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NATURAL HAIR COLOURANTS

Copyright ? Nerys Purchon (AKA Ravenna Morgan). Permission is granted to

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Colouring hair with natural ingredients requires perseverance and care but

the results are not only improved colour but healthier, shinier and fuller

hair. Many books suggest using the herbs as a rinse but it has been my

experience that the infusion/decoction needs to be left on the hair for

some

time to make an appreciable difference.

Henna (Lawsonia inermis) is a plant which yields a semi-permanent red dye

from its dried leaves. It has been used in India and the Middle East for

centuries to dye hair (and various parts of the body such as the palms of

the hands and the soles of the feet).

Natural Hair Colourants

To colour hair red or to give red highlights to brown hair

Red hibiscus petals, Henna,

To lighten blond hair and give honey highlights to mousy or faded blonde

hair

Purple loosestrife (dried leaves), Calendula (petals), Turmeric (ground

spice), Chamomile (flowers, grind to a powder, add equal amount of kaolin

and follow general directions below), Lemon juice (dilute juice with equal

amount of water, follow general directions below)

To add sheen and depth to faded black hair

Henna reng, Rosemary leaves

To cover grey hair or add blue tones

Sage, Elder berries, Walnut (green outer husks), Black tea (acts as a

fixative), Espresso coffee (use as a decoction in general directions below)

To brighten and/or darken brown hair

Sage, Alkanet, Walnut (green outer husks), Black tea (acts as a fixative),

Espresso coffee (see above)

Henna may be mixed, in small quantities, to enrich the dyes obtained from

other herbs and to make their colour last longer (herbal extracts used

alone

are rarely permanent). I can't tell you how much to use. Henna, like all

natural products, varies in strength depending on the area in which it was

grown and other variants, such as type of hair and length of time the

mixture is on the hair, will be factors in the finished effect.

Test the mixture on a small sample of hair before using it on the whole

head. Remember that the effect will be strengthened by each successive

application.

Natural Hair Colourant: General Directions

The infusion in this recipe can be made in any quantity and frozen. It's

very time-consuming to make a fresh batch each time.

It will take a few treatments before an appreciable difference is noticed

but persevere and you will be rewarded!

1. Make a triple strength decoction, adding a teaspoon of cider vinegar to

the herbs and boiling water. Simmer until a very strong colour has been

obtained--stand overnight if necessary. Strain.

2. Add a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of glycerine. Mix well.

3. Mix to a cream with fuller's earth or kaolin (henna if you have decided

to use it).

4. Shampoo the hair and towel dry.

5. Massage the dye cream thoroughly into the hair. Hold the head over a

washbasin containing very hot water and steam for about 10 minutes. Cover

the head with a plastic shower-cap and leave for half to one hour or even

longer if possible.

6. Work up with a little warm water (don't shampoo) and rinse thoroughly

with luke warm water.

 

Bright Blessings

--- morrigana28

[Guest guest]

Can one use cornsarch as the thickener.

Also is there a club on herbal hair coloring i would

like to join it.

Peg

 

 

 

 

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