Recipes for Enhancing Red Hair & Copper Tones
Henna– There is a lot of information on henna and its various mixes at Henna for Hair. Because of the extent of that resource we won’t be addressing anything but the most basic color here. Keep in mind, however, that the color in a picture may NOT be what you end up with, even with an identical mix. Time, temperature, the PH of the liquid used, and starting hair color all produce variables. Henna stains hair red to copper orange depending on the color it is applied to. Please see the chart at the end of this document for what color this may give on your natural hair color. It is strong and permanent, use with caution.
100 grams body art quality henna
Warm water (not boiling)
Mix together until a yogurt-like consistency and then let it sit until dye release (identifiable by the top of the henna paste turning brown. Place a small dot on the inside of your wrist for 30 seconds. If it leaves a pale orange spot, the dye is ready). Cover hair with the paste and cover with a plastic shower cap or saran wrap. Place a warm hat on to keep it warm. Leave on for a minimum of 2 hours for a lighter stain, or as long as overnight for a deeper color.
Fia’s Henna Gloss– For minimal color change and deep conditioning.
2-3 TB henna powder
Enough water to mix a smooth paste
Your favorite conditioner or plain, unsweetened yogurt
Mix the henna powder with water to a smooth paste and let this stand until you see dye release. Mix the henna paste with either your favorite conditioner or plain yogurt. Apply to dry or damp hair, wrap in plastic wrap, and leave on for as long as you wish. Rinse as you’d rinse out a regular conditioner. This one is easy to apply and rinse, as it’s basically conditioner or yogurt with just a hint of henna dye in it. It’s good as either a color refresher in between regular henna applications or if you only wish to have a very subtle color change. It will give reddish hints on blonde and light brown hair. You may see some reddish highlights on medium brown, but probably not too much. On dark brown/black hair you’ll only get the conditioning benefits from the conditioner/henna.
Marigold Hair Color– For red lights in blonde or brown hair.
1/3 C crushed marigold flowers
2 ½ C water
Simmer flowers in water in a nonmetal pot for 20 minutes. Remove from heat; strain when cool, saving the liquid. After washing hair, apply the marigold decoction as a final rinse, pouring it over the hair and catching it in a basin to reapply several times. (Red wine may be added to the liquid to intensify the effect.) Allow hair to dry naturally in the sun, if possible. Repeat the rinsing process with subsequent shampoos until you achieve the desired shade.
Carrot Rinse– Red hair often fades as we age. It loses the bright, rich red tones. This recipe will add bright tones and also camouflage a few gray hairs. It can also be used to warm up brown hair.
2 large carrots
Distilled water
Cut 2 large carrots into pieces. Put them into 2 cups of water and bring it to a boil. Allow the solution to simmer for about 15 minutes. Remove the carrots. (Serve them for dinner with butter and seasoning.) Then use the water to pour over and saturate your dry hair. Wrap your hair in plastic wrap or cover it with a plastic bag and wait about 20 minutes. Rinse well and condition.
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Recipes for Enhancing Brunette Hair & Deepening Tones
Walnut Hull Dye– A very dark, sable-colored dye can be obtained from walnut hulls. Requires substantial preparation.
¼ C Walnut hulls (or preground black walnut hull powder)
20 oz. distilled water
To prepare the dark juice, first crush the hulls in a mortar (or use your preground hulls) and cover them with boiling water and a pinch of salt. Cover and let them “soak” for three days. Then add three cups of boiling water and simmer the hulls in a nonmetal container for five hours (replacing the water as it steams away). Strain off the liquid, place the walnut hulls in a cloth sack, and twist it tightly to wring out all remaining juice. Finally, return the expressed liquid to the pot and reduce it—by boiling to about a quarter of its original volume. The resulting brew can then be used to whip up a rich walnut dye, as follows.
Add a teaspoon of ground cloves or allspice to the prepared extract. Allow the dye mixture to steep in the refrigerator for about a week (shaking it frequently during that time). When it is ready for use, strain the liquid using a piece of cheesecloth and pour it at least 15 times through freshly shampooed hair. Saturate hair and wrap in saran wrap. Let sit for a few hours, and rinse thoroughly.
Henndigo– A mix of henna and indigo. Gives a deep brown with a touch of burgundy. Works best on brunette shades. Please see the chart at the end of this document for what color this may give on your natural hair color.
40% Body art quality henna
60% Pure indigo powder
3TB Amla powder
Apple cider vinegar
Mix the henna up, using a splash of ACV and then warm water (or coffee or black tea) until it is the consistency of pancake batter. Allow for dye release (the top layer of the henna will turn dark). In a separate bowl prepare the indigo by mixing the powder with warm water and allow it to sit for 5 minutes as you prepare the amla. In a small dish mix the amla with water and microwave for 25 seconds. Mix the henna paste, indigo paste and amla paste together, blend well. Wrap your hair up on top of your head in saran wrap; let sit for 3-4 hours. Rinse well and condition.
Cathy’s Two Step Henndigo for Deep Golden Brown– Gives golden highlights in the sun on dark brown hair with 50% gray.
100g BAQ quality henna
50g Amla
50g Indigo
1 TB ACV
Tea Tree Oil
Mix 100g henna, 1 TB AVC, and 5-10 drops of tea tree oil, and use water until the henna is the right consistency and let sit until dye release. Apply henna, wrap head, let sit for 3 hours. Rinse, condition, lightly shampoo to make sure all conditioner is off of hair. Mix up 50g Amla to a yoghurt consistency, mix up 50g of indigo a bit more watery with a teaspoon of salt, put them both together and on to my damp hair. Wrap let sit an hour. Rinse. Special thanks to Cathy88z for this mix!
Sage or Tag Alder Bark Rinse– Helps to deepen the hues of brunette hair, may help blend in grays.
1 handful sage herb
1 quart water
or
1 ounce tag alder bark
1 quart water
A sage rinse can be made by steeping a handful of the dried herb in a quart of boiling water for 30 minutes (longer, if you want a darker tint). Cool the infusion, strain it, and pour it through freshly shampooed hair 15 or more times. Then wait ten minutes before washing the liquid out with clear cool water. Because a sage rinse is a progressive dye, you’ll have to apply it weekly until you produce the shade you want and then continue using it once a month to maintain that color.
Tag alder bark is another popular hair darkening botanical, but it generally produces a lighter tone than sage, so it’s best when used to darken blond hair or to cover gray in locks that are light to medium brown. To make a tag alder rinse, simmer an ounce of bark chips in a quart of water for about half an hour then cool and use it exactly as you would the sage rinse.
Potato Rinse– Helps to deepen the hues of brown hair
1 unpeeled potato
Cook an unpeeled potato in boiling water. Cool slightly. Dip a pastry brush or cotton ball in the cooking water, cover and saturate hair, being careful not to get any on skin. Leave on hair for 20 minutes then rinse out.
Molasses Treatment– Helps tone down brassiness and highlights in brunettes.
1 TB molasses
20 oz. distilled water
Mix into a spray bottle and shake. Spray hair until damp and comb through hair. Let sit for a few hours, rinse.
