It’s Pure Organic Hair Dyes are easy to use (but do take a while to work). In many colours, these won’t lighten hair but can cover grey, and colour fades over time). Made with henna, cassia, amla and henna powders.
Read more info on natural hair dyes. Check with your GP before using hair dyes if pregnant or on medication (best to avoid).
Do a patch test 24 hours before. Avoid henna for G6PD deficiency.
Mix powder with warm water in a non-metallic bowl to yoghurt-consistency.
Apply to clean dry hair (recycle or bin gloves, the company is trialling compostable gloves). Leave for 30 minutes to 3 hours, following instructions.
Henna dyes may impart a ‘dark green’ hue’ but this usually washes out or fades after a couple of days. It doesn’t damage hair, so if it goes wrong, rinse and repeat!
Other Good Natural Hair Dyes
These are all abroad, so you’ll either have to find UK wholesalers, or order from abroad (most will send them, but you may have to pay hefty customs charges).
Desert Shadow (US) is a natural hair dye in various shades that takes 1 to 3 hours to work (sold alongside bamboo brushes).
Earth Dye (US) contains herbs to speed up hair growth (check medications before use). It also sells dyes for eyebrows and beards (also find natural beard dye at Grizzly Mountain).
Hairprint (US) was invented by an environmental chemist who turned his own grey hair back to original colour. Using a few plant-based botanicals, in 90 minutes you can restore melanin (it won’t work for red hair).
Also in a version for stubborn grey hair (use a clarifying shampoo a few days beforehand, to remove traces of silicone).
A Book on Understanding Natural Hair Dyes
Natural Hair Coloring is a beautiful book by an American beautician, who covers all the natural dyes, how to use them and how to transition from chemical to natural dyes. Includes before and after images.
Can You Lighten Your Hair Naturally?
Natural hair dyes can’t lighten hair. So visit a salon that uses organic hair dyes (salons can buy wheat straw mixing bowls and biodegradable capes.
Or naturally lighten hair a few shades using lemon or chamomile (won’t be dramatic, but it may lift a shade or two).
Understanding Natural Hair Dyes
Most hair dyes sold in supermarkets and chemists are full of toxic chemicals and sold in boxes with oodles of plastic packaging.
Hair salons now need to offer 24-hour patch tests, due to previous cases of being sued, from people using conventional brands.
If hair is damaged, it’s better to just chop your locks off, and start again. Or just embrace your natural hair colour, many are now happy at going grey.
Natural hair dyes are made with plant-based ingredients that biodegrade. Common ones are:
Henna
This is a vibrant red dye, made from the leaves of the henna plant. You have to be careful using this on blonde hair or grey hair (it can go a muddled orange).
It takes hours to work and is messy, so use in the bathroom and take a good book! It’s safe for most people, but should not be used if you have G6PD deficiency.
Indigo
This is a blue-black dye, and can be used along or in combination with henna.
Be careful in stores, as some ‘black henna’ is made with a chemical compound containing PPD (banned for cosmetic use in some countries abroad).
Amla
This is from the fruit of a tree, and is another dye used to darken hair.
Walnut Shells
These are sometimes used for brown shades, obviously not for nut allergies.
Cassia
This is from a tree bark, and used usually as ‘colourless’ henna in dyes, to improve hair condition.
Better Semi-Permanent Hair Dyes & Bleach
DROP IT is not ‘natural’ but it’s a lot better than most brands on the market, and readily sold in Superdrug and other stores (it’s also vegan and cruelty-free).
You basically put as many drops as you want in the enclosed silicone bowl and mix with conditioner, leave for 10 minutes, then rinse out.
The ready-made semi-permanent colours work the same, but there is no mixing involved, and last 6 to 10 washes, depending on how porous your hair is. They will make a slight difference on dark hair, but are best on light hair (do a strand test first). Some of the colours are bright!
This company also makes ‘better for your hair bleach‘, which sounds a bit of an oxymoron, but features built-in plex that helps protect your hair against breakage. Each kit includes enough product for two uses and is a salon-approved. The kit includes a silicone mixing bowl and reusable gloves (not disposable plastic ones, like most bleach kits).
