Create Your Own Natural Hair Dye For Covering Gray Hair
Whether you have noticed your first stray silver or you have been coloring your hair for years, there is one thing you need to have in mind: Gray hair comes with its own set of issues, as a subtly veiled nightmare which reminds us of how fast time is passing by. But, if you detect what exactly is causing your gray hair, you can learn how to deal with it.
Basically, gray hair is a result of the dying pigment cells which are generated by hair follicles. The older you get, the less pigment (melanin) your hair follicles produce, which leads to gray or white hair. Melanin is also responsible for our skin color and whether our skin will get burned or not in the sun.
Gray hair is a natural process that goes hand in hand with aging, especially after the 30s or 40s. But, contrary to popular belief, gray hair isn’t always an indicator of the twilight phase of your age. People can experience pigmentation loss prematurely in their teens and range into our late 50s or even older due to an imbalance in hormones, melatonin reduction, or even psychological conditions like stress and grief.
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What causes gray hair?
When it comes to gray hair, blame it to the melanocyte stem cells (MSC) failure. But, what does lead to the less production of melanin? Certainly, MSC failure is not always an indication of our biological age. Other causes of gray hair are also: Heredity (genes), ethnicity, lifestyle, stress, smoking, medical conditions, and chemical hair products. Read more about it here: From Ethnicity To Vitamin Deficiencies, These Are 8 Causes Of Gray Hair.
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Natural hair dyes for covering gray hair
With age, your production of sebum (healthy, naturally-occurring oils) slows down too. That’s why gray hair gets drier and needs proper care. “When hair follicles stop producing melanin, this also affects the oil glands. That’s the main reason gray hair appears to be coarse,” Aneesa Dial, senior colorist at Butterfly Studio Salon in New York City.
Hair coloring is something that most women and men will regularly do at some stage in their lives. To cover gray hair, many go for permanent or semi-permanent hair dye, which contains a combination of the chemicals ammonia and hydrogen peroxide. These chemical ingredients can be quite harsh for your hair, as they are often toxic and can irritate your skin, cause hair breakage and loss.
Therefore, finding a safer, natural hair coloring option really does make sense! If you want a faster effect in covering your gray hair, you can create your own hair dye. Even though it might not give a quick effect as chemical dyes, it is more natural and won’t damage your hair.
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1. For red hair
Herbs hair dye
Ingredients:
Rosehips
Calendula
Hibiscus
Marigold
How to apply:
Simmer rosehips, hibiscus, marigold, and calendula in water for about half an hour. Strain, cool, then pour the mixture on your hair and allow to dry in the sun if possible.
Carrot juice hair dye
Ingredients:
Carrot juice
Coconut or olive oil
How to apply:
Mix carrot juice with coconut or olive oil. Apply the mixture to your hair and wrap it with a plastic bag. Let it sit for at least an hour. Rinse with apple cider vinegar. Repeat until the desired result.
Beet juice hair dye
Ingredients:
Beet juice
Coconut or olive oil
How to apply:
Mix beet juice with any of the carrier oils and apply it on your hair. Wrap your hair and leave it like that for about an hours before rinsing with water.
2. For blonde hair
Lemon hair dye
Ingredients:
Lemon juice
How to apply:
Spray fresh-squeezed lemon juice into your hair. Leave on for several hours and rinse. Repeat the application several times for a better result.
Chamomile tea hair dye
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of chamomile flowers
2 cups of water
How to apply:
Put 1/2 cup of chamomile flowers in boiling water and then let it cool for 30 minutes. Remove the flowers and apply the tea it to your hair damp hair. Let it sit for 15 minutes and rinse with water. Repeat once a week.
3. For brown and black hair
Herbs hair dye
Ingredients:
Rosemary
Nettle
Sage
How to apply:
Simmer all three herbs in the water for 30 minutes. Cool, strain and spray or brush through your hair. Let it is about an hour and rinse. Repeat daily after shower for a better result.
Coffee hair dye
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of coffee
2 tbsp. coffee grounds
1 cup of leave-in hair conditioner
How to apply:
Mix three of the ingredients together. Apply the mixture on clean hair and let it sit for about an hour. For better results, rinse with cider vinegar.
Walnut shell hair dye
Ingredients:
5-10 Black walnut shells
2 cups of water
How to apply:
Crush and boil the walnut shells. Let them simmer until half of the water is evaporated, then let it cool overnight. Strain the dye and apply to your hair. Wrap your hair with a shower cap and let it sit for as long as you reach the desired shade. Rinse out and enjoy the new color!
Curry leaves hair dye
Ingredients:
15-20 curry leaves
1/2 cup of coconut oil
How to apply:
Boil them until the curry leaves turn black in color. Let the hair dye cool down. Put it in a clean bottle spray and apply it on your scalp and hair. Cover your hair with a hair cap and leave it overnight. Wash it out with a gentle shampoo and a hair conditioner. Repeat two times a week and you will see the results in 1-2 months.
Disclaimer: The contents of this article: text, graphics, images, and other materials contained are strictly for informational purposes only. The Content is NOT intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice, or treatment. Please ALWAYS seek the advice of a qualified health provider with all the questions that you have related to, or about, a medical condition.
You might also want to read: Effective Ways To Treat Your Gray Hair Naturally