How to Dye Hair With Household Products

...
hair image by DXfoto.com from Fotolia.com

If you're bored with your current hairstyle, a new hair color can make a difference. A trip to the salon, though, can cost as much as $100. You can save money by dyeing your hair at home, but conventional hair dyes contain chemicals that smell bad and are difficult to pronounce. Instead, use household products to dye your hair. They're cheaper, smell better and are gentler on your hair.

Darkening Hair

Fill a pot with 1 cup of water and add 2 tbsp. of coffee grounds. Boil the mixture on a stove over medium-high heat for 10 minutes. Remove it from the heat and allow it about one hour to cool to room temperature.

Place a sieve inside a funnel and place the funnel into a 1-pt. plastic bottle. Pour the coffee through the sieve to remove the grounds. Add one ounce of hair conditioner to the coffee in the bottle, place a lid on the bottle and shake it well to mix the contents. The conditioner provides a more solid medium for the dye and protects your hair from the harshness of the coffee.

Wash your hair as you normally would. Pour the coffee mixture over your hair and use your fingers to work it throughout. Put a shower cap on your head and leave the dye in your hair for 10 minutes.

Rinse the dye from your hair. Style your hair as usual.

Lightening Hair

Pour 1 qt. of water into a plastic bottle. Add the juice of two medium-size lemons, then place the lid on the bottle and shake it well to mix the liquids.

Pour the mixture over your hair, using your fingers to work it throughout. Squeeze excess moisture from your hair.

Go outside into the sunlight immediately and stay for two hours. The ultraviolet light from the sun will react with the lemon juice to lighten your hair.

Return inside and apply a leave-in conditioner. This will protect your hair from the harshness of the lemon.