www.associatedcontent.com/article/2790330/green_herbal_rinses_for_blonde_and.html When those first gray hairs pop up, many dark-haired women beat a hasty path to the drugstore for a quick solution. But after chemically coloring their hair for any length of time, they may experience some damage and buildup, particularly at the ends.
If this sounds like you, why not give your hair a rest? Women have been using herbal recipes to color their hair for centuries. One of these might be just the vacation your hair needs.
HENNA HERBAL HAIR RINSE (RED, BLACK or NATURAL)
Henna will give your hair great shine and body, but it can be drying, so you might want to pre-treat first with a protein conditioner. Never use red or black henna if your hair is blond, bleached, gray or has been treated with metallic dyes.
Henna (red, black or natural, from the health food store)
Yolk of one egg
Water, tea, coffee or wine (see below)
To keep the natural henna color: use plain water
To darken red henna: use brewed tea
To darken black henna: use brewed coffee
To increase the auburn effect: use red wine
Add the egg yolk to the henna and blend, then add enough of your chosen liquid to make a stiff paste. When you’re ready, cover your hairline with petroleum jelly. Part your hair in sections, and apply the henna with a small nail brush from the roots out to the ends.
After your hair is completely covered, wrap your head in a sheet of plastic, put on a shower cap, and go watch TV for at least an hour, preferably two. Now rinse your hair in warm water with a bit of lemon or lime juice. When dry, your hair will have a brilliant shine.
PAPRIKA HERBAL HAIR RINSE (imparts a reddish tint)
You’ve seen the shot of color it gives your deviled eggs. Now see what it can do for your hair.
One cup rose hip tea
Paprika
Mix the paprika with the rose hip tea until you have a paste. Apply to hair and wrap your head in plastic. Leave for fifteen minutes, then rinse in warm water.
SAGE HERBAL HAIR RINSE (darkens hair and adds luster)
Widely used in cooking meats to add that peppery zing, sage can spice up your hair color as well.
1 cup chopped sage leaves
1 cup water
Boil the cup of water and pour it over the chopped sage leaves. Steep for ten minutes, then strain. Shampoo and rinse your hair, then massage the sage infusion into your hair and scalp, and let it dry in place. If repeated daily, this sage rinse will gradually darken gray hair.
WALNUT HERBAL HAIR RINSE (darkens and enriches brown hair)
Walnuts have been used as a dye since early Roman times, and the Vikings were on to it as well. Now you can try it on your hair.
1 pound of the green outer husks of the walnut (gathered from the ground before they ripen)
1 pint water
Separate the husks from the nuts, and boil them in one pint of water for fifteen minutes. Then strain and allow to cool. After shampooing, pour the liquid through your brown hair several times to darken and enrich it.
GIVE THEM A TRY
These herbal recipes are harmless to the environment, and may enable you to cover your gray and restore the shine of health to your hair, all at the same time.
Related Reading:
“Green” Hair Color for Black Hair
“Green” Hair Color for Blonde and Fair Hair
