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For awhile I dyed my hair with regular Feria, but then I realized that chemicals like p-Phenylenediamine are bad news, esp thinking of future children. Right now I'm growing out the hair dye (red). My natural color is a dark brown with light brown highlights, so I've been using henna to blend in the roots a little, though it only dyes the highlights. I've done a few lemon juice rinses hoping to lighten my roots a bit, but it doesn't have much effect (it did allow me to go no-poo though since it dried out my hair lol). Does anyone have any experience with growing out hair color? Did you chose to give up hair color for health reasons? Any tips for naturally modifying your hair color with less-harmful methods?

Here is a forager man (from the "uncontacted tribe") with hair color. I suspect it's annatto and grease, which doesn't work very well in the modern world because it gets all over everything. alt text

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I was thinking about asking a similar question this morning. Thanks! – mindi Jul 29 2011 at 11:22

9 Answers

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Here's one of those situations where I just accept that if I want my hair to be a different color, I deal with "toxins" for 45 minutes every 3 months. Though, I suppose if you really want to minimize it you could pay for a colorist to contain the color in foils so it doesn't touch your scalp, but I'm assuming if you home color you wouldn't be up for paying the extra for foils. If you're trying to hilight you can always do the middle school trick and comb some lemon juice through your hair and go out in the sun, or conversely you can make a really strong coffee and soak it in your hair covered with a bag for an hour or so to make it darker.

I believe Aveda and Joico have lines of color that are slightly less toxic than the other brands. You'd have to have a hair stylist friend buy it for you at the professional supply store, though.

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yeah, and Aveda salon might be a good solution if you have the dough. They use less toxic ingredients and they are skilled enough to prevent the stuff from really touching your scalp much. – Bread-Eating Beelzebub Jul 29 2011 at 12:52
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 Aveda salons are very hit and miss or have been for me. I had a great girl in Tampa who did such a good job and when I moved to orlando I went to an Aveda salon inside of a Dillards. This girl sucked and bleached the hell out of my hair and gave me some funky cut that I hated. Just a cautionary tale! – HeatherC Jul 29 2011 at 13:19
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 Aveda salons are inconsistent because they don't oversee the training and development of staff for basic services. They're basically product-branded salons where the employees have a certain knowledge of Aveda products, and are supposed to use those products exclusively, but that's it. Actual skill in cosmetology in Aveda salons is entirely based on where employees studied and previously worked, and has nothing to do with the Aveda company. – WyldKard Jul 29 2011 at 13:38
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From what little I've read, there are no common methods outside of henna/indigo to naturally color your hair. The darker the desired color, the more difficult/arduous/smelly the process is.

This is a great decision-analysis problem. On one branch of the decision tree is coloring with unnatural stuff that really hasn't been studied vary thoroughly, yet only barely seems to increase chances of certain blood cancers, and could possibly induce broader chemical sensitivity. Yet it is a controllable toxin, so some may not want to even risk that. On the other branch of the tree is accepting one's natural hair color and eventually perhaps white hair. I tried to convince my mom to give up the fake stuff, but for many people hair is very very important. I'm curious to see other people's opinions.

From this funny website...

"So these dead, microscopic strands grow out of our skin all over our bodies. And the only part to indefinitely grow past a certain point is on our heads. And we cut that part and perm it and color it and style it and prop it up with gels and sprays and wax.

And if it looks alright on a particular day, we call that day a “good hair day.”

Am I the only one who thinks this is all batshit crazy?"

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My opinion: Egocentric. Fake. Silly. Unimportant. Way too much trouble. – Susan Jul 29 2011 at 5:18
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 msu.edu/~jdowell/miner.html?pagewanted=all – Paul Jul 29 2011 at 6:03
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If you are concerned about graying hair you might consider researching supplementing copper as it can reverse gray hair and bring it back to your natural hair color.

I used to dye my hair all the time when I was healthy but since I have had a really serious problem with my hair falling out (hypothyroid/PCOS) for the past 10+ years I have decided to stick with my natural hair color and avoid any additional stress to my already thinned out hair.

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People keep saying "copper reverses grey hair", but where is the evidence? – Stephen Apr 29 2012 at 16:10
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Aveda salon. Or see if there are any "organic" salons in your area. My salon uses wella color products and I don't know how bad they are. I only get highlights so it doesn't touch my scalp, I just suck it up and figure it's my only guilty health-affecting pleasure, personal-wise anyway. Henna is the only other option I can recommend.

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yeah, I think I might go to an Aveda salon in the future. I think they are skilled enough to get it so it doesn't spend much time (if any) on the scalp. $$ though. – Bread-Eating Beelzebub Jul 29 2011 at 12:56
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 I'd just beware of Aveda because they aren't as all natural and organic as they say they are. If you look at their ingredients they're not much different than a traditional salon. BUT if you do decide to go the Aveda route then you could go to the school and have a student do it for you. They're over seen by professionals and it's a fraction of the price. – PaleoAngel Jul 29 2011 at 13:14
It really varies by Aveda product. They've discontinued a lot of their more toxic products in the last couple years. I forget the site now, but there's an online reference for various beauty products and how toxic they are. In the past, the site slammed several Aveda products, while others were considered among the healthier options available. – WyldKard Jul 29 2011 at 13:41
WyldKard, that site is ewg.org/skindeep – Koko Jul 30 2011 at 5:51
(If we are thinking of the same one) – Koko Jul 30 2011 at 5:51
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There are a growing number of natural/organic hair salons springing up. Another alternative is to buy one of the more natural hair dyes from a health food store and apply it yourself or ask your hairdresser to apply it (my aunty does the latter).

Here's some more ideas for home-made hair colour enhancing recipes: http://www.vanillasoul.co.nz/article_view.php?articleid=72

I personally use lemon essential oil (see the article) to lighten my strawberry blonde hair and find it works very well - much more effectively than lemon juice.

Hope you find something that pleases you.

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there is a more natural product that they use on pregnant women that is a color rinse that lasts about 4-6wks. I had to use it for several months when they burnt the crap out of my hair doing highlights but I actually loved it because it added so much shine as well.

I don't recall what it was but they'll know what you are talking about if you ask.

My mom at 70 just now went completely gray (meaning no longer coloring it). It looks much better for a person her age, the color was too strong against her aging skin and they never got the color right, always red, or orangey which I think happens when you deal with lighter colors and difficult gray.

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I'm a stylist and understand your pain! Just a couple of things. With all the processing that your hair has been through (Feria,Lemon Juice, Henna). I'd really like you to share with your stylist in as much detail as possible what you have in your hair. Even if it was Years ago..depending on your length chances are it's still in you hair and that can really effect end result. Henna in particular can close/seal the cuticle which will not allow deposit of any color..so all that expensive dye will go right down the drain.

There are possibly some European colors that might be a little better but I don't know of any.

If you're not looking for grey coverage then highlight might be for you. Or if it's just the amount of time that concerns you there are Demi Permanent colors (SHades EQ from Redken is one). They only stay on about 7 minutes on the scalp with highlights or up to 20 if you want richer color. Not sure if you'r trying to cover grey or not but the demi permanent will not fully cover that.

Hope that helped.

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Honey has peroxide that can lighten and some people have had good results with that, or straight up peroxide. I use that on my body hair.

For red I use Henna and it works well. There is a lot of technique information on the web

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There is a German Brand for home coloring your hair: Logona Herbal Hair Colors

http://www.logona.com/PHF/PHF_E/index.html

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ingredients.

  • LOGONA Herbal Hair Colors color your hair gently and long lasting.
  • Independent labs test each hair color batch for residues of agricultural chemicals and heavy metal concentrations. – LOGONA hair colors do not attack the hair structure, as do permanent hair colors. – LOGONA hair colors are completely free of synthetic colorants, fragrances, preservatives, and aggressive

I don't colour my hair, but a friend of mine uses it and has wonderfull chestnut brown hair.

But I don't know if you can buy it where you live...

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These are henna and/or indigo based; they won't lighten hair. – Karen Jul 29 2011 at 9:57
yeah I was using herbatint, which is similar. Less toxic, but contains PPD still. – Bread-Eating Beelzebub Jul 29 2011 at 12:22

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