Comments on: Making Herbal Hair Dyes

By: spacecoaststargirl

spacecoaststargirl — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:34:54 +0000

There are quite a few variations of Hollyhock and it’s quite possible that almost any would work, but the one I have experience with is Alcea rosea or Common Hollyhock. This is the one I have seen used and it worked well. I cannot recommend the others.

By: Magni

Magni — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:04:43 +0000

Hi, What is the name of the hollyhock in your recipe?

By: spacecoaststargirl

spacecoaststargirl — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:11:12 +0000

If rhubarb is used on already dark hair, it will lighten it somewhat. On lighter hair colors, it will darken it. Sorry for the mixup.

By: spacecoaststargirl

spacecoaststargirl — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:10:06 +0000

Some white and gray hairs are difficult to color even with commercial products. That’s why you will see color packets that say “covers gray hair”, because many of them don’t. If it’s been your experience that commercial products don’t do the job, then herbs won’t either. However, if white hair is your natural color and you have never tried to color it, then an experiment won’t hurt. Just choose a color range that will look good even if it turns out weak. That would be blond tones and gold tones and not the darker shades, which might turn out looking ashen and gray. Try a wash with chamomile or marigolds just to see if this makes it golden. But there is a risk that even these gentle herbs could turn it dingy yellow or brassy. In that case, this is not an easy challenge and is best taken up by color experts. Consider going to a salon and getting them to help you with this. I am just not sure.

By: ellora

ellora — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:16:42 +0000

Stargirl,

I was looking up rhubarb hair color on google, and most of the results say rhubarb LIGHTENS hair – http://www.google.com/search?client=opera&rls=en&q=rhubarb+hair+color&sourceid=opera&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

You say it produces a dark color?

Ellora.

By: whitehairer

whitehairer — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:05:37 +0000

spacecoaststargirl,

Will the use of sage and rosemary leaves darken WHITE hairs ?

Thanks for your help to reply.

By: spacecoaststargirl

spacecoaststargirl — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:11:32 +0000

I am afraid sage will turn it green. Yellow based hair is easier to color over than brassy colors, though. But if you don’t want ash, then don’t use sage or other plant materials. Use ground walnut shells if you want it darker brown. Use natural henna if you wish to add red tones. But, with the Henna, use a very thin wash and not too much or you will end up orange. If you wish to be more blond, then use a gold wash with marigolds, chamomile and mullein. This will make your hair bright. If you want to be a darker blond, then use marigold & chamomile with a pinch or two of rosemary. I think rosemary will damp it down. But be careful. After professional lightening, many dyes will turn it green.

By: spacecoaststargirl

spacecoaststargirl — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:05:28 +0000

Thanks for reading my blog. Yes, dried walnut shells are fine. I am not sure where anyone would get unripe walnuts. The kind you buy in the store, in a package, are just fine. Unless you have a walnut tree, this is where we would find them. However, if you do have a tree and pick them fresh, then you should dry them first! Moist shells are a NO NO. They should be very dry and ground down as fine as possible, to a powder. Then added to the hair coloring mix. They will darken anything. If you start with walnuts, you will get very dark brown hair.

By: Donna

Donna — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 03:53:36 +0000

Due to gray hairs, I decided, for the first time, to have my hair lightened and colored professionally at an Aveda salon. I thought it would look more natural using Aveda products since they are supposedly plant-based. However, it is an unnatural light golden yellow. What would the sage do to this color? Would it darken it a bit and neutralize the yellow without making it too ash toned or green?

By: ellora

ellora — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:01:13 +0000

Found one more website, which lists the Hindi name of sage as kamarkas – http://www.indiacurry.com/Miscel/glossary.htm.