Many of us consider coloring our hair at one time or another. We might crave a change or want to mark a new direction in life. Sometimes, it's nothing more than an amusing whim. Any reason will do, but the same can't necessarily be said for the means. If you've avoided this adventure, concerned about the chemicals used in commercial dyes, there are many natural options to get you back on the path to play and experimentation.

Before you try any hair dye (commercial or otherwise), it's always smart to do a test run. You can snip a lock from the nape of your neck or collect a few trimmings at your next salon visit. Try the complete process on the test piece to determine if the shade is lighter, darker or even totally different from what you're going for. Adjust accordingly, and continue to test until you find the right shade.

Blonds
Flowers and herbs with yellow blossoms are almost all viable options for blond dyes, though chamomile is probably the most widely used. Other examples include yellow broom flowers, calendula, turmeric and saffron. Lemon juice is another popular natural lightening agent, while rhubarb root creates a rich, honey tint.

Brunettes
Henna has been used to create auburn hues since before 3,000 B.C. A potent colorant, it shouldn't be applied to light blond, white or gray hair. Henna should always be mixed with a lighter-tone herb such as chamomile. It creates a brassy color when used by itself. Again, always test the dye before coloring all of your hair.

Dark Brown & Black
Sage is another highly effective colorant that's been used for thousands of years. It can mask gray strands (if your hair is dark to begin with) or give depth to naturally brunette color. The darkest color, a sable shade, can be achieved with walnut hulls. The hulls themselves secrete a strong dye and will stain skin and nails unless you wear gloves when handling them. You'll also need ground allspice or cloves to create the walnut formula.

The bark from a tag alder can darken hair but yields a lighter shade than sage or walnut hulls. It's well suited for camouflaging grays in light or medium brown hair, or making blond hair darker.

You can find the shade you're looking for with effective, inexpensive and healthy natural dyes. For additional information, and step-by-step instructions, read Robin Shepard's 'Color Your Hair, Naturally!'
from Mother Earth News magazine.