It is always difficult to find the right balance between being explorative or creative with your hair and minimizing damage. There is always so much to look out for when it comes to the products you use on your hair! Sometimes you just want a change of colour because variety is the spice of life or you may just want to cover those gray hairs that are sneaking up on you. Now that you’ve chosen the right colour, how does one express themselves through colour without havng hair damage? Conventional hair dyes often contain so many toxic chemicals, including parabens (see here). Not only are these chemicals damaging to the hair, but majority of them increase the risk of getting cancer (potential health risks), they disrupt your hormones and irritate your skin and respiratory system. So it is not all doom and gloom, as we have been exploring ways around the damage caused by hair dyes and discovered that there are various natural ingredients that are readily available to us. It turns out that certain vegetables/ natural products can be used to make a coloured extract, which can then be used as a dye. It is important to know that different hair types and hair colours may yield different results. Here’s some nuggets of information that you may find helpful and how different hair types take up colour differently. These tips are all natural ways to dye hair thus yielding less damage to your locks and giving you a successful dye.
Different strokes for different hair types
How frustrating is it to discover that your hair did not take up colour or yield the result you expected after all the time you spent sitting with product in your hair, filled with anticipation and excitement? We have all experienced it! How does one manage how their hair will take up colour or whether the colouring will be even? For example, hair with low porosity has the most challenges with taking up colour. When you know your hair texture, porosity and elasticity, you will be able to find ways around the challenges, enabling you to still have a successful dye.
To test hair texture, place a strand of your hair next to a piece of thread. Thicker than the thread is thick, equivalent is medium and thinner is thin( please elaborate more on ths, it does not make sense). Thicker hair texture needs the longest processing time to absorb colour because of the larger circumference (please explain further, remember to use simple language and find easier ways of explaining things because our target audience speaks and understand in a different way). The (please don’t forget to focus on correct sentence structure grammar, do not write like you speak.) Processing time required decreases with less thickness, with a thin texture requiring requires the least amount of time to protect against avoid overprocessing as that can lead to damaged hair or it falling out. We don’t want your hair to fall out.
Porosity speaks to how your hair absorbs moisture and products in general. This is determined by your cuticle layer, which acts as a shield for the layers inside layers of your hair. It is Porosity is tested by taking clean, dry strands from your comb and dropping it in a glass of water. If it sinks immediately, it has high porosity. Floating in the middle is normal porosity, while floating on top and taking forever a long time to sink is low porosity. The ideal with porosity is to have a healthy average. High porosity hair takes up moisture and colour quickly, but loses it just as fast because of the damage it has been exposed to. The damage needs to be attended to here. Whereas, low porosity hair has difficulty with absorbing moisture and colour because the cuticle is tight and difficult to open up. This means that you may need more product and/ more processing time.
Lastly, we have elasticity. We love hair with high elasticity because it means well-balanced healthy hair with that has enough protein and moisture. This hair is easier to colour whereas low elasticity hair is prone to breakage and is more resistant to colour. You can test this by stretching out a wet strand of your hair. High elasticity hair will return to its original shape while low elasticity hair will may break and change shape. Elasticity is restored by the use of keratin (explain what keratin is).
Natural ways to dye your hair
Keep in mind that natural hair dyes are not the same as chemical dyes in that they do not last as long and it(they) may be slightly less intense(expalin what you mean, intense in what? Colour, longevity,). It may take a bit of experimentation to yield the perfect colour and intensity that suits you. The Majority of the time you may need to repeat the processes to see noticeable changes so be patient. Take the necessary steps needed to ensure that whatever hair dyeing technique you decide on will not damage the integrity of your hair. Especially where you may need to take repeat steps to get the desired colour.
Coffee works wonders when you want to cover gray hairs or even if you are just looking to darken your hair. All you need is enough leave-in conditioner to cover your hair, a cup of cooled strong coffee (ideally expresso since it is stronger) and two tablespoons of the actual coffee granules. Apply this mixture and leave in for at least an hour. It is a Great way to camouflage and ‘stain’ those gray hairs, but it is not permanent so repetition mayb be needed to get the results that you are happy with. until you are happy with the darkness.
*ProtipTip: With dark brown hair, simmering crushed walnut shells or powder works for gray hairs. This solution can just be sprayed on directly.
There are two options that are a naturally great way for lightening your hair. Freshly squeezed lemon is naturally acidic and when combined with some time in the sun, you get the perfect chemical reaction to produce highlights or lightern hair. The lemon juice can be applied using a spray bottle and brushed through the hair, depending on the look you are going for. Then you can run the errands that will have you up and about in the sun or just get a book and blanket to pass the time while getting sun-time. This is more of a gradual process is more gradual, so it requires repetition and obviously the more time spent in the sun, the more you will begin to notice the lightening. Girl, please don’t forget about that sunscreen because we are not trying to create a new problem. The other advantage of using lemon juice is that your hair gets plenty of vitamin C in the process. Just be weary of not getting too much of the juice on your scalp as this can cause irriation and don’t forget to condition your hair between the repetitions because lemon is still an acid. It can begin to dry your hair out after a few times. You could also lessen the harshness by adding an oil, such as coconut oil, olive oil or any other carrier oil to the spray bottle.
The second option is using honey. Yes, honey! I We know it sounds like a sticky situation but trust me us, there’s a whole lot of goodness that comes from it. If you mix honey with a bit of water or conditioner and apply it on you hair for two to three hours, you will get yourself hair that is a few shades lighter. Honey is even good for keeping your scalp dandruff free. Who doesn’t love a good two in one two deal? Just make sure that you are using raw honey and not the artificial/ flavoured kind. Repeat the steps until you get your desired shade. Both methods are effective, with the main difference being the waiting period before seeing results. Try mixing the two and even adding chamomile tea to enhance the lightening effect. Your kitchen is not only the heart of the home but also your very own home salon.
Please add the timings of the frequency these steps can be repeated to all these methods.
This is a fun one because there are so many different shades that you can achieve. Beetroot juice and carrot juice can be used separately or mixed. The ratios depend on whether you are looking for a deep red/ auburn look or more orangeish-red. A cup should be sufficient and oil can be added here as well to prevent drying your hair. Once applied, cover with a shower cap and leave on for at least an hour.
Protip:wear an old pair of clothes or have some sort of covering while doing this because it will get messy and these juices stain!
Afterwards, rinse the juice out and seal with vinegar solution Eg: two cups water, one cup vinegar etc, please add this in). This method can only be repeated the following day should you want to make the colour more intense.
The commonly used natural product for dyeing hair is henna powder. It has been around for years and is the closest you can get to a permanent dye. Henna powder is naturally orange-red or green, however there is a wide range of colours available in the market because the henna powder gets mixed with other ingredients. Make it into a paste by adding two cups of lemon juice to a cup of the powder, and a tablespoon of vinegar to intensify the colour. Once the mixture has thickened (this may need 4 to 6 hours), apply and cover with a plastic wrap for 2-3 hours before rinsing out. Be cautious while doing this because henna dyes skin and nails as well- no one likes to be two-toned, especially if it is self-inflicted (leave this out as it can seem insensitive to people with skin conditions). If you choose to go this route, just know that since it is permanent, it will affect how your hair responds to other chemicals/products and will only fade overtime when you treat you hair with oil.
*ProTip: Adding hibiscus, marigold, calendula or rosehips helps achieve a deeper red. Simmer the flowers in water(hot or cold?) to extract the colour.
Hacks for a successful (at home) dye
- Not everyone is brave enough to just dive in and experiment on their full head. If this is you, you can use trims of your hair or cut a few locks that you can use to try the colour first and see if you like the results.
- Since natural hair dyes are not as intense as chemical dyes nor do they last as long, it is important to have some reinforcements to delay that. Applying a vinegar-water solution after dyeing your hair helps the colour last longer. The ratio should be one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to one cup of water; this solution should then be sprayed on and left in.
- Wash your hair 24-48hours prior to dyeing. This will strip your hair of dirt or any heavy products that have deposited onto the cuticle to allow the colour to seep into the cuticle & ensure you have an even dye. Conditioning your hair afterwards also allows you to replace any moisture that may be lost during the dyeing process.
- Mixing in some fresh or dried sage/ using herbal conditioner may help your hair take up colour because it opens up hair follicles.
With Kumi, you can have your cake and eat it. If you feel that you are not a diy queen, talk to your preferred haircare provider and get them to do it for you. That way you are able to protect the intergity and health of your hair while having a bit of fun with it. You can always trust us to hook you up with ways to keep your hair fun & healthy. Now you can switch up your style by playing around with colour and styles all at the click of a button. We Love it for you! Let us know how your hairdyeing experience goes or if you discover new combos of achieving the desired results and tag us once you have picked your colour (so we can obsess with you) or if you happen to discover new combos by commenting or tagging us rocking your new hair do!