How to naturally darken hair color

Can you deepen your hair color without using harmful bleach and hair dyes? It’s true. Many household products can darken hair naturally, such as coffee or tea. Things like Indian currant powder and mustard oil are harder to come by. Most natural methods only darken hair slightly over time, and henna is a popular natural hair dye if you want a more dramatic change.

Methods
1
Use mustard oil

1
Buy some mustard oil. You should be able to find it at stores that specialize in spices, or grocery stores that carry Indian and Southeast Asian products. Make sure you buy an edible oil, preferably cold-pressed. Don’t buy essential oils; mustard oil can irritate the skin.
If your skin is irritated in any way during the hair coloring process, stop using mustard oil immediately. You can take a coin-sized amount and rub it behind your ears beforehand and observe it for 48 hours to see if you are allergic to it.
Mustard oil may be available in the international food department of your local grocery store.

2
Mustard oil should only be used topically. Some European and American countries strictly prohibit the consumption of mustard oil, including Europe, the United States and Canada. It contains high levels of erucic acid, which can cause heart problems and anemia, and increases the risk of lung cancer.

3
Heat mustard oil. Before rubbing mustard oil on your head, pour it into a small bowl and place it in the microwave to heat slightly. You can also pour it into a small pot and place it on the stove to heat. Don’t let it get too hot, just slightly above room temperature.
If using a pot, heat it up and pour the oil into a bowl and take it to the area where you want to do the hair coloring.

4
Protect your clothes, skin and the area where you are dyeing your hair. Mustard oil can stain clothes, skin and the area where you are coloring your hair. Take the following precautions.
Wear old clothes, or at least a towel around your shoulders to protect your clothes.
Wear gloves to keep your hands from getting stained by the oil.
Apply a layer of petroleum jelly or a thick moisturizer to your neck, ears and hairline to keep these areas from getting stained.
Use newspaper or an old towel to cover the area where you are coloring your hair.

5
Rub mustard oil into your hair. Start with the ends of your hair. Once the ends are coated with the oil, slowly work your way up to the roots. Place the strands between your fingers and/or rub them gently in your hands to ensure an even application.
You can use your hands or a hair coloring brush to apply the oil. Hair coloring brushes are available at pharmacies or beauty supply stores.

6
Massage your scalp with mustard seed oil. After applying the oil to the roots of your hair, you can massage your scalp yourself. This will moisturize the scalp. Many people claim that massaging the scalp with mustard oil also promotes hair growth, although there is little scientific evidence to support this.

7
Make sure the oil is evenly distributed. Run your hands through your hair and make sure the oil covers all of your hair evenly. Combing your hair with a wide-tooth comb will help distribute the oil evenly.

8
Wrap your hair in a shower cap. If necessary, you can also mold a plastic shopping bag into the shape of a hat and use it to wrap your hair.

9
Wait at least 2 hours. You can also leave it like this overnight and continue the next morning.

10
Wash your hair. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo. You may need to wash it twice for the greasy feeling to go away. Your hair will still have some oil in it, and it’s best not to use conditioner to keep it from looking greasy.
If you do want to use conditioner, then put just a little bit on the bottom half of your hair.

11
Style as usual.

12
Repeat no more than 3 times a week. You can color your hair with mustard oil up to 3 times a week.

Method
2
Use Indian currant powder

1
Buy Indian currant powder. It’s a little difficult to find Indian currant powder in local stores; it’s easier to buy it online. If you prefer to buy it in person, you may be able to find it at a store that sells Indian products, natural or herbal products.

2
Make a paste of Indian currant powder. Put 2 teaspoons of Indian currant powder (about 10 ml) into a bowl. Then add 1 teaspoon of oil (about 5 ml). Use whatever oil you want, many people choose coconut oil. Then add water, just enough to cover the Indian currant powder and oil. It is recommended to use hot water. Mix all the ingredients together until it becomes a smooth paste.

3
Add some conditioner to the blended hair color paste. Add just enough to soak through the hair. If you have long hair, perhaps double or triple the amount of Indian currant powder, oil and water.

4
Protect your clothes. Indian currants have the ability to deepen color, and it’s best to wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. If you trust yourself not to spill mixed hair dye on your pants or socks, you can also just put a towel around your shoulders.

5
Wet your hair and divide it into sections. Don’t wash your hair yet, because you’ll need to wash the dye out with shampoo afterwards.

6
Apply the hair dye to your hair. Apply this hair dye to your hair just like you would a conditioner. Make sure it is evenly distributed, paying particular attention to the scalp and ends of the hair.
Indian gooseberry has strong antioxidant properties and is good for the scalp. So after applying the hair coloring cream, take some time to massage your scalp well.

7
Wait 30 to 90 minutes. You can wrap your hair in a shower cap or plastic bag to avoid staining your furniture and clothes.

8
Wash your hair.

9
Repeat once a week. Indian currant has only a very slight deepening effect on hair color and may take a while to take effect. It is more widely known for its moisturizing and volumizing effects.
It is common to use Indian currant in combination with henna to help deepen and moisturize the hair.

Methods
3
Use henna powder (Hina powder)

1
Buy henna powder. You can buy henna powder in many stores and online. Most natural food stores and some pharmacies carry it. Many people rely heavily on the henna they buy in Indian product stores, believing them to be pure.
If you buy henna hair dye powder at a natural food store or pharmacy, remember to check the label to make sure it contains only natural ingredients. Some manufacturers will mix henna with harmful chemicals commonly found in common hair dyes.
Note that pure henna powder will dye your hair a reddish brown color. If you want a dark brown or black hair dye powder, it will have other botanical ingredients added to it, such as the indigo plant. Check the label on the package to make sure all the ingredients are natural.

2
Get the rest of the ingredients. You’ll need a stain-resistant bowl to mix the henna hair dye, and a whisk to stir it. In addition, you will need some bobby pins to separate your hair into sections, gloves to protect your hands, and a hair dye brush to apply the color.
After applying the henna hair dye, you will also need something to wrap your hair in. Many people like to use heat shrink plastic wrap, but you can also use a shower cap or plastic bag.

3
Protect your clothes, skin and the area where you dye your hair. Dyeing your hair with henna can get messy. Change your clothes into something you don’t mind getting dirty. Or at least put an old towel around your shoulders. Apply petroleum jelly or a thick layer of moisturizer to your forehead, neck and ears to prevent henna from staining your skin. Finally, lay some old newspaper or an old towel over the area you want to dye your hair.

4
Mix the henna powder into a paste. The mixing method depends on the manufacturer’s instructions, the amount of henna powder and the color you want to dye.
Common ingredients used to make a basic henna paste include boiling hot water, lemon juice and henna powder. The texture of the resulting paste is similar to that of mashed potatoes.
Some manufacturers require that the hair dye paste be allowed to sit for a few hours before use. Check the directions on the package to see if you need to wait a while before using it.

5
Separate hair into sections. Use bobby pins to divide hair into sections. Divide your hair according to thickness and length. Separate into at least six sections, two at the back of the neck, two in the middle of the head, and then two at the top of the head.

6
Apply henna paste to the hair. Wearing gloves, apply henna paste starting at the base of the neck. Apply each section from the ends of the hair up to the roots. After applying one section, re-pin it with a bobby pin so it doesn’t block the rest of the section.
Apply a generous amount of henna paste to each section until the hair is soaked through.
It may be easier to apply with a hair coloring brush. If the hair dye paste is too dry and hard to be easily applied with a brush, don’t worry, it’s okay to apply it directly by hand after wearing gloves.

7
Wrap the hair. Many people recommend wrapping your hair with plastic wrap after applying henna paste. If you don’t like plastic wrap, you can also use a shower cap or a plastic shopping bag. The important thing is to wrap your hair and keep it as close to your head as possible.

8
Wait quietly. How long you have to wait depends on the manufacturer’s instructions, and how dark you want to dye your hair. You may need to wait at least two hours. Some people even just leave it on overnight and wash it out the next day.

9
Wash off the henna paste. Be sure to wear gloves to avoid getting your hands dirty. Once all the henna paste has been washed off, you can wash and condition your hair as usual.
It’s easier to wash it in the sink or in the bathtub with the faucet on. Clumps of henna paste can fall out of your hair and make it dirty, so many people don’t like to do this in the shower.

10
Be careful with hair that can stain what they come in contact with. For the first few days after dyeing your hair with henna, your hair may lose its color and stain pillowcases and clothes. So, be careful where you place your head. A few more washes will keep the color from falling out.

Method
4
Use shampoo

1
Purchase a shampoo and conditioner for chestnut red hair. Choose the darkest shade possible. If your hair is already chestnut red, these products will bring out the lighter shades of hair and deepen the darker shades.
Most drugstores sell these products. Some salons sell products that may be more effective, but also more expensive.

2
Wash and condition your hair as usual, but use a special shampoo for chestnut red hair instead of your usual shampoo and conditioner.

3
Repeat. The more often you wash your hair, the faster you’ll see results. Wash your hair every day or every other day and you should see results within a week or two.

4
Add cocoa powder to your shampoo. Don’t want to buy a special shampoo for chestnut red hair? Many people claim that adding an equal amount of cocoa powder to shampoo will also deepen hair color.
Pour equal parts shampoo and cocoa powder into a bottle and shake vigorously until well mixed.

Method
5
Use black tea

1
Make a pot of strong black tea. Let it cool until you can put your fingers in the tea and stir them without pain.
2
Pour the black tea into a large bowl. The bowl should be large enough to hold all of your hair.

3
Soak your hair in the tea for 15 minutes.

4
Wash your hair.

5
Repeat once a day for two weeks. This method will most likely take two weeks of doing it consistently to see results. After that, you may be able to soak once a week to maintain your hair color. Depending on your hair type, your hair may return to a lighter color soon.

6
Try a little variation. For a slight variation, fill a tablespoon of loose black tea leaves (45 ml), and a tablespoon of rosemary leaves (15 ml), put them in about 960 ml of boiling water, steep for about 45 minutes, then wait for it to cool.
Wash your hair with shampoo, rinse it out and pour the mixture on your hair. Wrap a shower cap around your hair and wait for at least 30 minutes, then rinse well with slightly warm water.

Method
6
Use coffee

1
Make a pot of strong coffee. Add enough water to brew almost 3 cups of coffee. Use at least twice the amount of ground coffee you normally drink.

2
Let the coffee cool.

3
Pour the coffee on your hair. Lie over the sink or stand in the shower and wash your hair with coffee at least three times.
Another way is to pour the coffee into a large bowl and dip your hair in it for a few seconds.

4
Wash your hair as usual and rinse it out.

5
Repeat. Each time you use this method, you will notice that your hair color is two shades darker than before.

6
Try a variation. Mix 480 ml of leave-in conditioner, 2 tablespoons of organic coffee powder and 240 ml of brewed coffee. Let the coffee cool before using. Pour it on your hair and leave it on for about 1 hour before washing it out.
Tips
Prepare a towel first to dry your hair right after you finish, no need to look around for a towel with wet hair on top and drip water all over the floor.
When using products that deepen hair color, remember to wear protective gloves and old clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Lay newspaper and or old towels on the area where you are coloring your hair.

Warning
If you are going to use a material you have never used before, such as Indian currant powder or mustard oil, first perform an allergy test on a small area of skin and observe it for 48 hours to make sure your body does not have an adverse reaction to it.
If you use henna hair dye, if you want to use regular hair dye afterwards, be sure to ask your hairdresser first. These two hair dyes can interact with each other and can cause disastrous results.
When using henna, be prepared to sacrifice a towel used when dyeing your hair, as henna can stain towels.
Be prepared for the strong smell of mustard oil.
In Europe, the United States and Canada, mustard oil should only be used topically.