Black walnuts

[fawn]

Hi there, well I am pretty new here, I posted previously about using BAQ cassia and how it darkened and blended my blonde ends to my virgin roots really well.

But I was hoping it would impart at least a golden hue on all the silvers that have popped up on top of my head. I did another cassia, roots only, and while they are glossy and slick there is no gold on the white:)

So this got me to thinking, a few months ago my cat (who is a white and black) was hit in the eye with a fallen walnut from our black walnut tree (extremely plentiful). It left a dark walnut stain from the husk on the white fur near his eye even though it only touched for a moment, and when he continually washed the eye with his paw, it also became very stained. Months later, the stains are STILL there! and, they are a nice gold color!

I decided to do some research about walnuts for dying. So I picked up some nice beefy, dark-hulled walnuts from my yard and did a boil and simmer in water, vinegar and salt. And it reduced down in about 20 mins to a lovely red brown! (you can take it to black, even soaking the hulls overnight, but I just want to belnd the greys).

After it cooled, I took a cotton ball and applied softly and carefully on dry hair to the greys....it is in now, I am going to let it dry...but it is a perfect color so I hope it takes! It is a very potent stain, so I would not apply it by saturation or you may end up with a dyed face/neck/ears etc.

I finally took some pics so I will post up later:poot:

[ladycatpurrs]

You didn't notice any drying effects on your hair from the walnut? It sounds like an interesting way to color your gray, I look forward to seeing your pictures.

[Aero]

I'll have to tell my mother! I hope your cat is feeling better and doesn't resent walnut trees too much now.

[aprilmay]

I am curious about how this will turn out and I am looking forward to pictures. :)

[fawn]

I'll post them up tonight, it worked out really well! With the research I did, people have been dying hair with walnuts for over 450 years! No drying, though you could add a drip of your fave oil to the water as I have seen in various versions. As I said, I only allowed mine to steep to a nice gold brown to match with my hair, but you can also do very dary with black walnuts. It is also used to make ink, dye fabrics etc. Obviously not for those with nut allergies...

[Luckysock]

I've got walnut dye in the fridge right now! the recipe I found is supposed to sit for an entire week! I'm excited - I hope it works for you and for me!!!

[Shermie Girl]

Mmmm... Black walnuts... Black walnut ice cream... Black walnut cake...

Wha... Where am I?

Oh yeah... A thread about tinting greys with black walnuts.

Mmmm... Black walnuts...

[linda g]

Poor kitty!

We have some black walnut trees in our yard, so I'll be paying attention here....

[ktani]

The nuts are not toxic but the dye is toxic. http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=5378

[fawn]

Ok so here are some pics. First is a pic when I first started growing out my virgin roots. This is after my big chop due to a bad 'japanese straightening'.

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/fawnandsteve/IMG00570.jpg

And the new color I got with BAQ cassia, which I really like and blends my roots well enough for me. This is right before my walnut staining. (I have alot of underlying red in my hair due to my Scots side, so my hair always wants to pull red...which workswith my green eyes, but olive-ish skin from my Hungarian.)
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/fawnandsteve/DSC02739.jpg
oops forgot to mask that one, hah


You can see the simmering black wanuts, in hull (I did about 6).
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/fawnandsteve/DSC02737.jpg

The mixture was simmered and steeped until it resembled coffee and left an adequate color stain on tissue.
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/fawnandsteve/DSC02756.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/fawnandsteve/DSC02757.jpg

I also did a test swatch on white human hair I had.
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/fawnandsteve/DSC02777.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/fawnandsteve/DSC02780.jpg

After cooling, I sectioned my hair and applied with cotton ball. somewhat squeezed to help thwart drips into my scalp...
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/fawnandsteve/DSC02754.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/fawnandsteve/DSC02752.jpg

As the hair dried, I redid the greys I could find (strangely I only get them at my crown), about 4 times while the hairs dried in between. I let it dry, and rinsed and dried again, and no grey! I have a large quantity done, and it should keep, covered and sealed, for a long time thanks to the vinegar.
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/fawnandsteve/DSC02783.jpg

You can see the root shot too, no greys left!
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn102/fawnandsteve/DSC02749.jpg
I don't wash for a week, so we will see how nice it is again after my wash, and maybe touch up if I need to.

(side note, I am sure I would have better staining quicker if I had not put it over week old cassia). I love the cassia, it is fab! I plan on doing it monthly.

[fawn]

The nuts are not toxic but the dye is toxic. http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=5378


Interesting info, but I am not putting this on my skin or injesting it. My vet was not concerned about my cat, aside from stating the walnut hull juices really sting...I read dozens of articles on safe use of walnut dye, just saying...thanks for the info!

[ktani]

Interesting info, but I am not putting this on my skin or injesting it. My vet was not concerned about my cat, aside from stating the walnut hull juices really sting...I read dozens of articles on safe use of walnut dye, just saying...thanks for the info!

You are most welcome.

The toxicity of juglone is not disputed.

I have only read about walnut hull preparations being recommended for use in large amounts topically, in outdated material.

I do not understand how you can dye your hair with the dye and not get it on your scalp. The toxicty is not limited to ingestion. One brief exposure for your cat does not constitute a problem. Large amounts of the dye used to dye hair frequently is a health risk from all of the material I have read and posted and that is supported by other research posted by someone else in the thread I linked as well.

[fawn]

You are most welcome.

The toxicity of juglone is not disputed.

I have only read about walnut hull preparations being recommended for use in large amounts topically, in outdated material.

I do not understand how you can dye your hair with the dye and not get it on your scalp. The toxicty is not limited to ingestion. One brief exposure for your cat does not constitute a problem. Large amounts of the dye used to dye hair frequently is a health risk from all of the material I have read and posted and that is supported by other research posted by someone else in the thread I linked as well.

Thanks, I read your links, and afterwards - also others too that had varying results and findings. I'll definitely have to consider all that info!

[Tomato]

I also heard that drying wall nut hull before using it as a dye reduces the risk of complications (obvioulsy some acids which degrade when drying).
Good luck!

[melikai]

Very cool! Great results too. We have walnuts fresh from trees that haven't been washed - they definitely stain easily!

[Luckysock]

I used my walnut dye this weekend. I liked the results, but reading about the toxicity kinda freaked me out ... I'm not sure i'll keep doing it over the long term :S

too bad. I loved the smell of the cloves and the rich colour - oh well onto the next thing :)

[aprilmay]

Could you use a mixture of cinnamon, cloves, cocoa powder and super finely ground dark roasted coffee? I figure if you can ingest all these things they would be safe to use on your hair and scalp.

[opticalpopsicle]

I have a black walnut tree in my backyard. :cheese:

[Nocturnal]

I can only see the first pic. :(

Also not to be a party pooper, but please be careful: walnuts are known to be used for hair removal!