Best Way to Make Organic Hair Color

Although the results from these home hair-coloring treatments will never be as dramatic as chemical colorants – and will not cover gray – they will make a noticeable difference.

Sage and black tea rinse (for gray hair)

• 4 tbs dried sage leaves
• 1/2 cup (100 ml) water
• 1 tea bag

Boil the water and make some tea as for drinking, using the sage and the tea bag. Let it stand for 30 minutes. Apply to the hair, leave on for 30 minutes, then rinse. Shampoo and condition the hair as normal.

Permanent red rinse

Warning: Henna is a permanent red dye, so be absolutely sure you want to change your cofor before you try this. Always try a strand test first to establish that the color is as you’d like it to be. Use surgical gloves (from a pharmacy) while carrying out the treatment, since henna stains the skin as well as sinks and bowls. To avoid staining, put an oil-based barrier cream all the way around your hairline before using henna.

• 1 tea bag or 1 tsp ground coffee
• 1/2 cup (100 g) henna powder
• 1 tbs olive oil
• 1 cup (200 ml) water

Make a cup of tea or coffee with the water, let it steep, then strain. Add it to a bowl in which you’ve placed the henna powder. Mix in the olive oil and add more water (if necessary) to make a smooth paste. Immediately apply the preparation to the hair, then cover the hair with plastic wrap. If preferred, you can put another plastic bag over the top and wrap a warm towel around it. Leave on for 2-3 hours, then rinse, shampoo, and condition the hair.

• Cranberry juice can be used as a natural brightener for red hair; it boosts the shine and enhances the red color to make it more vibrant. To use, saturate the hair with cranberry juice before shampooing. Leave the juice on for 2 minutes, then cleanse the hair with a gentle shampoo. Condition the hair as usual.

Rinse for dark hair

• 4 tbs dried sage
• 2 tbs dried rosemary
• 2 cups (400 ml) water
• 1 tbs cider vinegar

Simmer all the ingredients in a glass saucepan for 30 minutes. Strain and cool, and use as a final rinse for hair. Alternative rinses for dark hair:

• An elderberry rinse will add a subtle mahogany color to dark hair. Put a large handful of elderberries in a pan and cover completely with water. Simmer for 20 minutes, strain, and let it cool. Use as a final rinse after shampooing.
• Adding apple cider vinegar to the final rinse for dark hair improves shine, giving the illusion of more depth to your natural color.