7 Homemade natural hair dyes for grey hair
Greying of hair is a natural aspect of the ageing process. Melanin is a pigment found in millions of hair follicles on your skin. These hair follicles lose their natural color as you get older, resulting in grey hair. The color of human hair is determined by the process of melanin synthesis and distribution from melanocytes to keratinocytes. When a follicle stops producing melanin, it will no longer produce cultured strands. Genetics is thought to be driving the process at numerous points. The dark-brown pigment eumelanin, which is usually found in black and brown hair, and the yellow or red pigment pheomelanin, which is mostly found in Auburn and blonde hair, are the two types of melanin found in human hair follicles. However, premature greying of hair is defined as hair greying that occurs before the age of 20 in whites, 25 in Asians and 30 in Africans.
Grey hair can be embarrassing for many people. You can cover your grey hairs if you want to. There are plenty of hair dyes available on the market now, which conceal your grey hairs within a few minutes. But these hair dyes can be harmful to your hair as well as overall health. So, it is always good to go for natural homemade remedies for grey hair.
Here is a list of 10 natural homemade hair dyes for your grey hair;
1) Henna
Applying henna to your hair is a simple and certainly the most common natural treatment for covering grey hairs. This technique effectively hides grey hairs while also giving your hair a natural bounce and luster. Its antifungal and antibacterial effects may be advantageous to the hair and scalp, especially in terms of preventing greying and dandruff.
- Take one cup of henna powder and mix well with half a cup of water.
- Keep this henna mix aside for 8 hours or keep it overnight.
- Boil 2 tablespoons of black tea leave in 1/4 cup of water and boil for a few minutes. Keep it aside to cool down. Strain out the water once it is cooled down.
- Pour the tea into the henna mix that has been left to soak overnight.
- Add one tablespoon of lemon juice and one tablespoon of Amla powder to this mixture.
- Mix well until all the ingredients blend and come in a smooth consistency.
- Put gloves on your hands and apply the mixture to your hair. You can use a brush if you want to.
- Focus more on your grey hair areas.
- Leave the pack on your hair for at least one hour or till the paste dries up.
- Wash it off with a mild shampoo.
2) Black tea
Black tea can be used to naturally color your grey hair. Tannic acid, found in black tea can darken your hair over time.
- Boil one cup of water and add 3 tablespoons of black tea leaves to it.
- Let it boil for a few minutes.
- Keep the tea aside to cool down.
- Pour the tea into a spray bottle and spray it all over your hair.
- Leave it for at least one hour.
- Wash it off with normal water and do not shampoo.
3) Coffee
- Boil one cup of water and add 3 tablespoons of coffee powder.
- Let it boil for a few minutes.
- Keep aside the coffee to cool down.
- Pour the coffee into a spray bottle and apply it all over your hair.
- Leave it for at least one hour.
- Wash it with normal water and do not shampoo.
4) Curry leaves
Curry leaves are high in Vitamin B, which helps to repair the pigment in the hair follicles and prevent future greying. Curry leaves are also high in Beta- keratin which helps to prevent hair loss.
- Take one handful of curry leaves and half a cup of coconut oil.
- Boil the oil and curry leaves until the leaves become black and see a black residue forming.
- Keep aside the oil for a cool down.
- Massage this oil to your hair and leave it for at least one hour.
- Wash it off with a mild shampoo and conditioner.
5) Walnut shells
Walnuts contain tannins which makes them extremely easy to color grey hairs. Walnuts have an extremely dark color due to their hard shell. So, if you want to color your hair a natural dark brown, you can do so with walnut shells.
- Take a handful of walnut shells and crush them.
- Boil one cup of water.
- Add the crushed walnut shells into the water and boil them for 30 minutes.
- Keep it aside to cool down.
- Strain the water and apply it all over your hair and roots.
- Leave it for at least an hour.
- Wash it off with normal water and a mild shampoo and conditioner.
6) Amla
Amla is said to help reduce hair loss and slow down the process of greying. It is so high in Vitamin C and anti-oxidant characteristics that it not only prevents premature greying but also makes hair healthier and more lustrous.
- Take half a cup of Amla powder and 3-4 tablespoons of coconut oil and heat it for a few minutes.
- Keep it aside to cool down.
- Massage the oil into your scalp and your hair strands.
- Leave it for at least an hour.
- Wash it off with normal water and a mild shampoo and conditioner.
7) Potato peel
Potatoes are high in vitamins and minerals that are necessary for your hair to be shinier and healthier. Collagen, which is necessary for hair strand growth, can be restored by drinking potato juice daily. Potato skins can add some much-needed gloss to your hair. The starch of potatoes can act as a natural coloring agent, and they have been utilized as a dye alternative for garments.
- Boil the potato peels in one cup of water until a thick, starchy solution forms.
- Keep the mixture aside to cool down.
- After shampooing and conditioning your hair, use this potato peel water as a final rinse.