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What Are the Best Tips for Making Homemade Hair Dye?

Christina Edwards
Christina Edwards

The ingredients for a homemade hair dye usually depend on what a person's desired color is, as well as her natural color. Blonde dye can usually be made from chamomile or lemon juice, while brunette hair dye can often be made from a strong coffee brew. Henna and some vegetable juices, on the other hand, can be used to make red hair dye. More usual hair dye colors can often be made using unsweetened powdered drink mix. As with any type of hair dye, a test patch should be done before using a homemade hair dye.

A homemade hair dye can not usually be used to drastically change the color of a person's hair. For example, it can not usually dye blond hair jet black. These types of hair dyes must also be applied to the hair rather frequently, such as every few days. Experimenting with hair dye recipes can help a person achieve the desired results.

Henna can be used to make a reddish hair dye.
Henna can be used to make a reddish hair dye.

Homemade blond hair dye can be used to lighten blond or light brown hair. Chamomile tea is a common ingredient in homemade blond hair dyes. Some people also add lemon juice. After this mixture is applied to the hair, it should be dried naturally in the sun.

People with brunette hair can often darken their hair or cover gray hair with coffee. A strongly brewed coffee can be poured onto the hair, and apple cider vinegar can be used as a setting agent. This will often help the color stay longer. Most people let the mixture stay on the hair for several minutes, or even overnight. Tucking the hair into a plastic shower or swimming cap can make this task less messy.

Red hair dye can be made with henna and vegetable juice.
Red hair dye can be made with henna and vegetable juice.

Henna is a type of shrub native to parts of Africa, Asia, and Australia. The leaves of this plant have been used for centuries as a dye. An acidic liquid, like lemon juice or red wine, is added to powdered henna until a paste forms to make a henna hair dye. The paste is then applied to the hair and allowed to set for several hours before being shampooed out.

Homemade hair dye can be used to achieve a variety of shades and colors.
Homemade hair dye can be used to achieve a variety of shades and colors.

Vibrant and unusual homemade hair dye colors can easily be made from packets of unsweetened powdered drink mix. Bright blue can be made from blue raspberry flavored drink mix, for instance, and purple hair dye can be made from grape drink mix. These types of homemade hair dyes will usually show up better in light hair, but they may create unusual highlights in dark hair.

To make a homemade hair dye of this sort, several packets of drink mix can be mixed with conditioner. This mixture can then be combed into the hair. The longer the mixture is left on the hair, the brighter the color will be.

Vinegar can be used as a setting agent for homemade hair dye.
Vinegar can be used as a setting agent for homemade hair dye.

Homemade hair dyes will typically react differently on different people. One should always test a homemade hair dye on an inconspicuous area before applying it to the whole head. This will help a person determine what color the hair will turn. Also, if any symptoms of an allergic reaction occur, the dye should not be used.

Discussion Comments

anon347201

I've been doing some research, and other websites also mention black tea rinses.

anon338799

@anon256911: Use coffee, spray hair well - set for about 30 minutes and rinse. Try using flavored coffee for a nice smell.

anon292994

@anon256911: I think this very article mentioned strongly brewed coffee.

anon256911

But I have blonde hair and I want to dye my hair brown but not with kool aid or henna. What else is there?

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    • Henna can be used to make a reddish hair dye.
      By: luisapuccini
      Henna can be used to make a reddish hair dye.
    • Red hair dye can be made with henna and vegetable juice.
      By: juniart
      Red hair dye can be made with henna and vegetable juice.
    • Homemade hair dye can be used to achieve a variety of shades and colors.
      By: hitdelight
      Homemade hair dye can be used to achieve a variety of shades and colors.
    • Vinegar can be used as a setting agent for homemade hair dye.
      By: hsagencia
      Vinegar can be used as a setting agent for homemade hair dye.
    • Homemade hair dye can be used to lighten blond hair.
      By: millaf
      Homemade hair dye can be used to lighten blond hair.
    • Chamomile tea can be applied to lighten hair.
      By: lily
      Chamomile tea can be applied to lighten hair.
    • Homemade hair dye is not likely to drastically change the appearance of someone's hair.
      By: Valua Vitaly
      Homemade hair dye is not likely to drastically change the appearance of someone's hair.