5 Ways to Dye Your Hair Naturally

Like many of you I have wanted to lighten my hair but I also wanted to avoid all the harsh stuff on the market that can permanently alter my hair pattern and strip my hair of moisture. For the longest there has been a rave about safely and naturally dying hair, whether relaxed or natural and I have been all over it.

These methods might take a bit longer or even sound a little weird but on the other hand bleaching and permanently dying your hair can cause major damage so these alternative methods are worth a look. Usually a healthier way is the best way to go, with that said here are some fun, quick ways to get a bit of color in your life that can be worn for several weeks.

1. Use a cream eye shadow in your hair

Yep! Makeup, it is considered trendy now to create highlights on various parts of the hair. Use Maybelline’s Color Tattoo eye shadow.You can purchase these at stores like Walgreens, CVS, or any drug store.

Simply open the container, and apply the eye shadow to a strip of your hair. Place the color wherever you see fit or section the hair off into four sections to apply the eye shadow strand by strand. It is quick and easy to remove the eye shadow just shampoo or co wash as normal, and there you have it, all gone!

2. Try out the old, legendary Kool-Aid dye trick.

The Kool-Aid mix is 20 cents a packet at your grocery store. *WARNING* You may want to experiment and research the amount and flavors (colors) needed to achieve the look you want.

Kool-Aid is in a variety of colors: red (cherry), purple (grape), pink (raspberry), etc. For a more vibrant look, use less water and/or more Kool-Aid.

Wear a shirt you don’t mind staining and if you are dying your entire head, use petroleum jelly* on your edges and skin to prevent your skin from getting stained. Pour 2 packets into a pot containing two cups of water. Let it boil, and stir frequently then let it cool for 2 minutes before transferring it to a cup.

Starting off with dry, clean hair, dip your hair into the solution for about 15-30 minutes. If your hair is light, this takes 15 minutes. If it is on the dark side, let it sit for longer, then pat your hair dry with a towel that you do not mind staining. Allow your hair to dry completely before rinsing. This can possibly last up to a month and to remove it, wash your hair frequently. To maintain the color, use all natural non-stripping shampoos.

3. Experiment with water based temporary hair dyes

The Splat brand is known for its outrageous, vibrant, permanent dyes.They also have a temporary washable dye and they come in a few colors like purple, blue, pink, and red.

The first ingredient of this dye is water which prevents the dye from drying out your hair and you can find them at Wal-Mart in the hair dye section for $7.00 or $8.00. Inside the box, there is a tube of dye and a brush applicator as well as instructions on how to apply.

It is recommended to apply this dye on clean, dry hair and after you apply it, allow it to fully dry. This can be a messy job, but removes much easier with a normal shampoo. If you are going to dye your entire head, 2-3 boxes are recommended.

4. Try hair chalk

Hair chalk is specifically made to add temporary color to your hair. It is quick and easy, you can find hair chalk on Ebay, Amazon and Ross Dress for Less.There is a popular “As Seen on TV” brand called Hot Huez as well, it’s hair chalk that is made to easily glide the color on to your strands of hair without a huge mess (when using regular hair chalk sticks, this can leave a heavy mess on your hands).

The only thing is, Hot Huez only comes in 3-4 colors versus the huge containers of hair chalk you find online that has various colors. Find Hot Huez online or for $3.99 at Ross Dress for Less in the hair section. Just shampoo or co wash as normal to get the chalk out.

 5. Gradually lighten your hair with cinnamon and ingredients from your kitchen!

In order to achieve any vibrant color, the best way is to bleach your hair but know that bleaching strips your natural hair color away. If you want a natural bleaching effect then mix up some cinnamon, honey*, olive oil*, and vinegar. Another way is mixing lemon juice and water and apply it to your hair every week. The key ingredient to the lightening your hair is sunlight so sitting out in the sun after applying these methods will do the job. You will start to see results within a month.

There are also hair lightening products out there that claim to lighten your hair without all of the harsh chemicals and bleach. We definitely recommend doing a ton of research including looking at YouTube videos so that you can actually see some tutorials and results on how to naturally lighten your hair before picking one that you like the best.

What about you? Have you found healthier ways to dye your hair? Let’s hear it!