Non-Henna Alternatives for Coloring Gray (Pics)

**mellie** · March 14th, 2008, 11:41 AM

Sorry you had a problem! When I made mine, I actually didn't boil it at all, I just poured some boiling water over the hibiscus flowers (it was flowers not leaves) and let it steep till cool. I am bad about measuring, but I'd say I used about a cup of water and a tablespoon or so of the hibiscus flowers. I didn't have to rinse it out, it wasn't crunchy.

Hope that helps! :-)

**k_hepburn** · March 14th, 2008, 04:58 PM

What a brilliant idea for a thread, mellie!

I can't quite get my head around getting into the henna/indigo routine (worried about strange outcomes since my hair is currently dyed with chemical hair colours, thinking it will just be too time consuming in the long run) but something to help stretch out the times between dyes would indeed be phantastic. If I was able to do spot checks on the greys around my face / along the infamous "skunk stripe", that would definitely be of help.

I'll be checking for red raspberry leaf next time I'm in town. By the way, would that be the red leaves of the raspberry plant, or the (normal, green coloured) leaves of the red raspberry plant? Do you find them in the herbal tea section, or whould I be looking somewhere else (specialist cosmetic ingredients suppliers etc.).

Greetings

katharine

**wintersun99** · March 14th, 2008, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by mellie

Sorry you had a problem! When I made mine, I actually didn't boil it at all, I just poured some boiling water over the hibiscus flowers (it was flowers not leaves) and let it steep till cool. I am bad about measuring, but I'd say I used about a cup of water and a tablespoon or so of the hibiscus flowers. I didn't have to rinse it out, it wasn't crunchy. Hope that helps! :-)

oops, I mistyped. I didn't use leaves, I used the dried hibiscus flowers, sorry. I will try diluting slightly and only misting once instead of many times...maybe I got over excited

**JennQ** · March 14th, 2008, 06:32 PM

Do any of you have any suggestions for coloring grays to blend in with blond? My Mom has ash-blond hair, with grays coming in around her face. She doesn't want to color her hair, although she is thinking about using honey to lighten it a bit. Anything that will actually change the color is right out!
Thanks in advance for your expertise!

**tiny_teesha** · March 15th, 2008, 05:32 AM

i think cassia dies white hair a pale yellow? Mix of henna (very small amount) with loads of cassia will make it a darker gold.

**mellie** · March 15th, 2008, 07:26 AM

K_Hepburn: You want to get the dried green leaves of the red raspberry plant. You should be able to find it in your local herb store, if you have one, or perhaps in bulk teas. I used it like you are wanting to, to spot check between dyes. (Not to sabotage my own thread again, but it is OK to henna over chemically dyed hair, I've done it myself and had no weird outcomes

. Also, don't worry, it really isn't any more time consuming than going to the salon for a dye; it takes me just about 1 1/2 hrs, once a month, to keep those grays away!)

JennQ: Try the red raspberry leaf too, it should blend in nicely with blond. Ktani uses catnip for her blond hair, you could try that too! I haven't tried cassia or catnip yet. I'm not sure, but cassia may be permanent like henna?

Wintersun99: Keep me posted! I hope the hibiscus works as nicely for you as it did for me!

**coppercurls** · March 18th, 2008, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by JennQ

Do any of you have any suggestions for coloring grays to blend in with blond? My Mom has ash-blond hair, with grays coming in around her face. She doesn't want to color her hair, although she is thinking about using honey to lighten it a bit. Anything that will actually change the color is right out!
Thanks in advance for your expertise!

Chamomile flowers made into a nice strong tea will create nice "blonde" colors. Maybe even some calendula for more of a warm blonde?

**ktani** · March 19th, 2008, 06:52 AM

I use catnip to cover my grey/white a light blonde - it works and conditions my hair as well. I have been usig it over 2 years now - with no plans to stop.

My routine and details are here.