Chemical Hair Dye Alternatives

Chemical Hair Dye Alternatives

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Our hair is one of the most obvious things about our appearance. It’s often the first thing that people notice, and when we’re having a literal bad hair day, it can sap all of our self-confidence. When we’re having a good hair day, then the opposite is true: we feel on top of the world.

Hair, left to its own devices, doesn’t change much. That’s why millions of people every year choose to color their hair in the hopes of sending their self-confidence into the stratosphere. However, there’s a downside to hair dyeing — actually there’s a few downsides. Hair dye is expensive, tough to maintain, can bring forth dangerous allergic reactions, and contains a number of chemicals many people don’t want to put near their heads.

So if you want to forgo traditional, chemical dyes, what are your choices?

Natural Plant Dyes

Do you want to be a literal natural beauty when it comes to your hair color? There are three plant dyes which are used to change the color of your hair. The one that you pick depends on the color results you want.

Henna

Henna turns hair red, though the exact shade is dependent on your natural color. If you’re a blond, then the color will be very bright and vivid. On brunettes, it’s usually more subtle, though still noticeable. Henna can be done at home, though you’ll need to set aside at least three hours. It’s easy to make a mistake the first time, so do a strand test first to ensure you’re happy with the color and have an idea of what you’re doing. Once on your hair, henna is permanent, and notoriously difficult to dye over. If you choose henna, you’re committing to several years as a redhead, so be sure before you use it!

Indigo

Indigo is a black pigment. It is often used with henna to tone down the brightness of the red of blonde and light brown hair, or by itself if the user wants raven hair. Like henna, it’s tricky and messy to use, but the results are often beautiful.

Cassia

Cassia isn’t really a dye; it’s more of a conditioning treatment. As well as the conditioning benefits, it will also lighten hair — but this will only be noticeable for those who are already blonde or gray. For everyone else, it’s still worth using cassia due to its conditioning and softening ability; just don’t expect platinum hair to result from an application.

Extensions

Extensions are somewhat limited in what they can do for your hair color. If you’re graying at the roots, then they’re not going to be able to help much. However, if you’re just wanting to change hair color to experiment with something different, extensions come into their own. With tape in hair extensions, you can create the oh-so-popular ombre or balayage looks from the comfort of your own home — and without a drop of dye needed to be applied.

Coffee

Coffee has long been used to darken hair and can be very effective. However, unlike the plant dyes, the effect is temporary. This might be a benefit to you, of course; you can go brunette for a weekend then wash back to your normal color by Monday!

The above list should help you to find a way of changing the color of your hair without the need for a stern chemical cocktail of dye. Happy coloring!

 Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
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