Can Any Herbs Restore Hair Color?

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If your hair looks dull and lifeless, you don't need to head to the salon for a fix. Instead, make your own herbal hair color at home. Many herbs, as well as a variety of plants and spices, lighten or darken hair. An herbal treatment can even cover up grays. Herbal colorants don't contain any chemicals or harsh ingredients, so they're safe for your hair.

Hair Lighteners

If you are blonde, you can restore your hair's brightness with herbs and spices such as calendula, chamomile, saffron, turmeric, yarrow, red clover and mullein flowers. Make your own hair lightener by soaking 1/2 cup of any of these herbs in 1 quart of boiling water. Steep the herbs in water for 30 minutes and then strain out the plant material. After you shampoo, pour the liquid over your hair. Catch the liquid in a bowl and then pour it over your hair again. Repeat 15 times and then rinse with clean water. Alternatively, brew 1 cup of chamomile or calendula tea. Combine the liquid with 1 tablespoon of vodka and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice in a spray bottle. Spray your hair thoroughly before going outside, where the sun will boost the lightening effect.

For Dark Hair

Herbs that enrich dark hair include rosemary, sage, marjoram and blue malva flowers. Tag alder bark is suitable for darkening gray or blonde hair. Black tea, coffee, walnut shells and apple-cider vinegar aren't herbs, but they also have a similar effect on hair. Steep sage or another darkening herb in hot water for half an hour. Strain and cool. Then pour over the solution over your hair 15 times, catching it in a bowl each time.