Everyone
loves a redhead! Even if you have naturally red locks now,
there is a great chance you go to the salon to give your
tresses a boost with a toxic commercial hair dye. Consider
trying a more natural solution and give your naturally red
mane some help from old fashioned herbal treatments.
Adding these herbal teas and natural mixtures to your hair
will add subtle color, and will add the most color with
daily repeated applications. The great thing about natural
dyes is that they are a temporary to semi-permanent
solution for increasing your color, and your hair gets to
benefit from a variety of helpful vitamins and minerals.
Henna Hair Dye
Henna
is probably the most popular herbal hair dye to help
redden the hair. It is very effective for hair that is
naturally red, but people with blonde and light brown hair
can also expect semi-permanent results. To make the dye,
combine 2 tablespoons crushed henna leaves with one cup
just boiled water. Let the herbs soak in the water
overnight, and strain in the morning. Apply to the hair
and allow it to set for at least 30 minutes, but the
longer the better. Shampoo and condition your hair as
usual.
Coffee Rinse
Black
coffee has been used by natural redheads to darken their
locks and make them more vibrant. Put a strong black
coffee in a spray bottle and apply to hair thoroughly. Let
the hair soak in the coffee in a shower cap for 30 to 45
minutes. Rinse your hair, shampoo and condition as usual.
Rosehip Hair Enhancer
Rosehips can be made into a strong tea and soaked into
hair for added red to faded natural red hair. Boil ½ cup
to 1 cup of rosehips with 2 cups of water until it is
reduced by half. Let the tea cool. Apply to hair, put on a
shower cap and let hair soak in the solution for one hour.
Shampoo and condition your hair as usual.
Red
Vegetable Hair Enhancer
This
treatment to brighten red hair is best done when you have
a chance to get in the sun. Mix ½ cup beet juice with ½
cup carrot juice and a ½ cup radish juice. Make the juice
by blending each vegetable and stringing the pulp while
reserving the juice. Pour the vegetable juice over damp
hair and sit in the sun or under a sun lamp for an hour.
Shampoo & condition as usual. Repeat the treatment each
day for a week for best results.
Hibiscus Tea Hair Treatment
A
strong hibiscus tea can be used to give your locks an
extra warm red hue. Boil 5 to 10 tablespoons of the herb
in 2 cups of water. Reduce to one cup of water, and allow
cooling. Put the tea in a plastic bottle and add the
mixture to hair. Rinse it through several times, and allow
it to sit on the hair for one hour.
