About this app
The term “natural” in reference to hair color is far from one-size-fits-all. It can actually mean a lot of different things, such as that the formulation swaps out harsher chemicals (like ammonia) for less-irritating ones, that it’s eco-friendly, or that it contains plant-derived ingredients. Whatever the case, you’ll never find a 100% natural hair dye that doesn’t contain any chemicals at all—because in order for hair color towork, a chemical reaction has to take place on your strands (it’s worth noting that there is one exception here—pure henna—although that’s another story, as it can create problems of its own).
Generally speaking, though, there are two well-known chemical irritants that you’ll want to steer clear of if you’re seeking out a more natural (and gentler) hair color option: Ammonia and paraphenylenediamine, or PPD, which is known to cause severe allergic reactions. This might seem slightly overwhelming and confusing—which is why we did the homework for you. There are plenty of hair dye formulations, if you know where to look, that are higher on the natural side of the spectrum and are therefore better for your scalp, the planet, and less likely to provoke irritation or an allergic reaction. Below, find seven of the best natural hair dyes for salon-level results in the comfort of your own home.
To make a basic dye, simply brew herbal material into a strong tea and rinse it through your hair. But if you want the dye to last longer, follow these steps. And for anyone who has dark hair with gray coming through, you know how important that is!
Here’s the basic method:
Chop or mash your herbal material. (See rest of article for suggestions on what to use for your hair color.) You can use fresh or dried for most applications, though specifics are noted with certain herbs. The smaller the material is, the more surface area can be exposed to hair, and therefore, creates a stronger and darker dye.
Make a paste by mixing the herbs with some hot water. Add a small amount of water at a time until you get a thick paste the consistency of toothpaste. Hot water will open the pores of the herbs and allow more color to be released.
For colors that require making a tea, use a large amount of herbs – ½ cup of herbs to 2 cups water. Use hot water and steep as long as it takes to cool off. Strain herbs out and transfer tea to a squirt bottle to make application easier.
If using a tea, squirt onto scalp and hair, repeating until tea is gone. Twist hair, secure on top of head, and cover with a damp towel or shower cap. If using a paste, apply the paste to the roots and cover with a damp towel or shower cap.
For both types of preparation, leave on for a half hour or so and rinse out. I suggest doing it in the shower or over a bathtub because it can make quite a mess.
If possible, dry your hair in the sun. It will give it more natural highlights.
Most of these dyes are semi-permanent. They will last a few weeks. Hair usually grows out faster than color fades. To keep the color, reapply a few times per month or more.
Blonde
Blonde hair will usually take up more color that most others. Lemon juice works well for light blonde and some darker blondes. A tea made from chamomile and calendula will work for darker blonde types. (Find dried chamomile flowers here and dried calendula flowers here.)
Rhubarb root makes golden honey tones. Simmer the root in water and cool. Use as you would with other tea methods.
It’s also possible that other berberine-containing roots such as mahonia (Oregon Grape Root), yellowroot, bayberry or yellow dock could work, but I have found no reports of individuals using them.
Brown
For brown hair, use a strong black tea or coffee solution.
You can also make a tea from nettle, rosemary and sage. Sage has long been used to cover gray hair. Use it weekly to get better coverage on gray that keeps coming back. (Find dried nettle leaf, dried rosemary, and dried sage leaf here.)
