Natural hair coloring

[Arwenlily]

Hi all!

I haven't posted in a while because I have been struggling with loving my hair at the moment. Recently, I have been considering dying the ends of my hair because I am feeling a bit bored and want to try something different without dying my whole length because I love my natural color. I am looking into healthier hair dying options because I do not want to damage my hair just because I am bored and want a change.

I would consider dying my hair, however, if I knew what product I was using would not destroy my hair. I was at Whole Foods today and saw a few "natural" and organic options but I wondered if any of them were really natural, or just good advertising. As per the advice of a saleswoman there, I purchased "Tints of Nature". Has anyone tried this hair dye? Would this be damaging to my hair?

I also saw "Surya Brasil Henna Cream", have any of you tried this before?

Thank you!

[meteor]

You might like this really interesting article by Nightshade: Hair Coloring with Herbs, Plants & Other Natural Ingredients (http://web.archive.org/web/20111221105559/http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=2).

If you are interested in temporary hair coloring, I would highly recommend staying away from henna/henndigo - they are very permanent. How about a non-damaging direct deposit-only temporary dye (like Manic Panic or Adore)? On darker hair, it may only show like subtle flares, rather than bright color, of course. But there are also some hair chalks out there that can be visible even on very dark hair, though they usually only last a wash or two and can be drying.


I checked out Tints of Nature website (https://www.tintsofnature.com/)and, from looking at the ingredients they use, I don't see how it's particularly different from many other brands out there that don't market themselves as "natural" (it's truly about marketing, IMHO). Did you get permanent or semi-permanent dye? Semis should be either non-damaging or, at least, a lot less damaging. If you got the lightener kit, it should be the most damaging of all options they sell (due to peroxide content).

This info about the peroxide/developer in their products might be interesting for you, since you are worried specifically about damage:

All Tints of Nature Permanent Colours use a 6% (20V) Liquid Peroxide Activator, with the exception of:

10XL which uses a 9% (30V) Liquid Peroxide Activator

Highlight Kit which uses a 9% (30V) Cream Peroxide Activator

Lightener Kit which uses a 12% (40V) Cream Peroxide Activator (The Lightener Kit comes with a bottle of Naturlite Oil, this is used to protect the scalp during the lightening process and neutralises the Peroxide to around 9%)

Please note:

Tints of Nature Semi-Permanent Colours DO NOT use peroxide.
Source: https://www.tintsofnature.com/faqs#answer37

[Ingrid]

Hello Arwenlily!

I've used Tints of Nature before, in dark ash blonde. It's not really "natural" as the product purports. The ash shade still shines orange and the smell is pretty toxic. At first my hair looked fine but the damage really started to show 2-3 months later.

[Arwenlily]

You might like this really interesting article by Nightshade: Hair Coloring with Herbs, Plants & Other Natural Ingredients (http://web.archive.org/web/20111221105559/http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=2).

If you are interested in temporary hair coloring, I would highly recommend staying away from henna/henndigo - they are very permanent. How about a non-damaging direct deposit-only temporary dye (like Manic Panic or Adore)? On darker hair, it may only show like subtle flares, rather than bright color, of course. But there are also some hair chalks out there that can be visible even on very dark hair, though they usually only last a wash or two and can be drying.


I checked out Tints of Nature website (https://www.tintsofnature.com/)and, from looking at the ingredients they use, I don't see how it's particularly different from many other brands out there that don't market themselves as "natural" (it's truly about marketing, IMHO). Did you get permanent or semi-permanent dye? Semis should be either non-damaging or, at least, a lot less damaging. If you got the lightener kit, it should be the most damaging of all options they sell (due to peroxide content).

This info about the peroxide/developer in their products might be interesting for you, since you are worried specifically about damage:

Source: https://www.tintsofnature.com/faqs#answer37

Thank you so much for the information. I actually wouldn't mind permanent color, it is just very important to me that I do not create extra damage. So obviously Tints of Nature is not for me! I definitely do not want to use peroxide. I would LOVE to use Henna but have no idea where to start and how to get the color I want, etc. I would love a dark purple color or a deep red!

[Ingrid]

Deep red can be achieved with multiple full-head applications of henna :)

[Arwenlily]

Hello Arwenlily!

I've used Tints of Nature before, in dark ash blonde. It's not really "natural" as the product purports. The ash shade still shines orange and the smell is pretty toxic. At first my hair looked fine but the damage really started to show 2-3 months later.

Ahh, I see. Good marketing is the culprit. I have been duped! At least I didn't open the box ...

Have you had any luck with actually natural hair coloring?

[Arwenlily]

Deep red can be achieved with multiple full-head applications of henna :)

Oh really?! I really need to learn more about this. Do you know anything about deep purple?

[Ingrid]

Oh really?! I really need to learn more about this. Do you know anything about deep purple?

I'm not an expert with henna mixes and achieving different colours, but I've used henna since I was 11. It's VERY permanent but has a really nice conditioning effect on the hair. Deep purple-ish burgundy is definitely achievable with henna alone depending on the number of layers of henna you apply and your starting colour. If you wanted to make it more purple-ish then you might have to add other herbs.

I the resources on this site (http://www.hennaforhair.com//) a lot when figuring out the henna mix that worked for me with my starting hair colour.

[Kat]

Oh really?! I really need to learn more about this. Do you know anything about deep purple?

Henna comes in reddish/orangish/brownish only. You're not going to get amethyst purple from it. It can shade to a deep burgundy, a cool red, it's true, but royal purple it will not be, if that's what you're imagining as deep purple. I'm not sure to what extent you could try to push this closer to purple with indigo; I think I've heard that people who use indigo + henna to dye their hair black will get a blueish-black, but I'm not sure how much you could lighten that to try to achieve purple.

Unfortunately, the darker your hair is, the more you're going to have to bleach it to see much in the way of color when you dye it-- and that's usually where the damage comes in. (When it comes to coloring hair, maybe natural blondes do have more fun?)

The page Ingrid linked is a good one. It used to have a section that showed different people, what their starting color was, and the color they got from henna, and the mix they used to achieve that, but I can't find it anymore. Maybe it's integrated into the ebook they're now offering? I didn't download it to check. You might find it helpful, though.

[Jadestorm]

I have tried the brand 'Naturtint (http://www.naturtintusa.com/naturtint-hair-color-shampoo-conditioner.php)' a few times. Not sure if it's the same as what you're talking about though. I really liked them, they give an even color and the color stayed in my hair very well too. It's like a natural permanent hair coloring. I tried a red shade and black several times. Now I have something even more natural from Henna Cure & Care, called 'watercolour' and it's a powder that you just mix with water. I have yet to try it though. This one is not supposed to stay in as long and should just fade away evenly. It's semi permanent. Also, it is just supposed to enhance your own hair color with the color you chose, but it still says it covers gray hairs 100%, so that confuses me, but I guess I'll find out what it looks like when I use it!

[meteor]

Thank you so much for the information. I actually wouldn't mind permanent color, it is just very important to me that I do not create extra damage. So obviously Tints of Nature is not for me! I definitely do not want to use peroxide. I would LOVE to use Henna but have no idea where to start and how to get the color I want, etc. I would love a dark purple color or a deep red!

Great! :thumbsup: Here is a really cool thread that specifically focuses on achieving much deeper henna hues with different mixes: Calling all CHERRY COLA or BURGUNDY henna heads!!! - http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=126878
Over time, it's really possible to build up to really deep, more burgundy-ish, even purple-ish reds with henna, especially if you use some helpful additives in your henna mixes, like the hibiscus powder, for example. ;)

[Arwenlily]

Thank you all for your input. I am going to read some more threads here on henna and look at the site Ingrid posted.

Many of you have helped me understand how to achieve a certain color. But do I have to bleach my hair to get color?

[Arwenlily]

Thanks meteor! I will definitely take a look. I tried a hibiscus and cranberry tea rinse last night. Although it did add any color, my hair felt so luxurious afterwards!

[gthlvrmx]

Thank you all for your input. I am going to read some more threads here on henna and look at the site Ingrid posted.

Many of you have helped me understand how to achieve a certain color. But do I have to bleach my hair to get color?

Yes you will have to bleach your hair to get a visible red color. If your hair is dark already, you might only see some red glare with henna in the sunlight from your hair but without the sunlight, your dark hair might look like how it normally looks.