Dark hair can become dull if not looked after carefully. Use home remedies to bring out natural highlights and have healthy looking hair without harsh chemicals. All the following shampoo, hair dye and rinse recipes are suitable for vegans and can also be used safely during pregnancy.
Henna Dye for Red Hair Highlights
Henna makes an excellent conditioner as it coats the hair making it stronger and more resistant to breakage. The fresher the henna, the better the final results will be. Good quality henna can be found from reputable importers and body henna tattooists.
- 1 cup henna powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2/3 cup lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 chamomile tea bags
- hot water
- Mix together all ingredients apart from water, tea bags and olive oil.
- Leave for five hours in a warm place but not microwave (ideal temperature is around 70 degrees).
- Ensure that henna is not touched by metal utensils.
- Brew the teabags and boil for five minutes.
- Remove the tea bags and slowly add hot tea to the henna powder– ensure the paste has a yoghurt-type consistency.
- Mix in the olive oil.
- Apply the paste to hair and leave for at least three hours for noticeable results.
- Cover hair with an old hat or cling film for a redder shade.
Herbal Shampoo for Dark Hair
Cloves, rosemary and lavender bring out the highlights in hair, and have a long history of promoting healthy growth as well as preventing dandruff.
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried lavender
- 5 whole cloves
- 2 tablespoon unscented natural shampoo
- Boil two cups of water with the herbs in a small covered pot.
- Remove from the heat and let it steep for an hour.
- Strain and pour mixture into a clean glass bottle.
- Add the shampoo and shake well.
Dark Highlight Hair Rinse
Clove tea makes an effective post-shampoo rinse for dark hair with chestnut highlights. Bringing warm tones to browns and enhancing any red already present in the hair. Wash hair as usual, rinse with clove tea and finish with a rinse of water. An alternative hair rinse can be made by boiling a two cups of water with a teaspoon each of dried sage, rosemary and lavender. Strain before use.
Herbs for Dark Hair
Certain herbs are used to bring out the natural highlights in dark hair, the less well known ones include elderberries, sage, nettles, raspberry leaves, bay leaves, black walnut hulls, burdock root and cinnamon. Using natural herbal remedies such as henna to enhance dark hair improves condition and doesn’t cause damage like conventional chemical treatments.
Making natural dyes, shampoo and conditioning treatments is cheap, easy and often the best choice for vegans and pregnant users. Read Natural Hair Highlights for Blonde Hair to naturally lighten blonde hair tones.
The following hair articles can help keep hair in top condition and help solve any hair problems:
How to Make Flaxseed Gel to Style Curly Hair
Hair Loss Solutions: Diet for Healthy Locks
Herbal Treatments for Hormonal Hair Loss
Natural Dandruff Remedies: Hair care at Home
Sources:
VegFamily.com. Vegan Pregnancy (accessed May 18, 2010).
Vukovic, Laurel, 1001 Natural Remedies, Dorling Kindersley, 2003
Chevallier, Andrew, Herbal Remedies Handbook, Dorling Kindersley, 2001
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