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Vegetable Hair Dye

Ashwini Kulkarni Sule
Vegetable hair dye is a great way of coloring your hair without subjecting them to harsh chemicals. Read on to know more about the various shades you can get from them, and the recipes required for these dyes.
Hair dyes are always in vogue since all of us love to try on new colors. The natural color can become a tad boring after a few years. A new color, on the other hand, can revamp your entire look. You can get a glamorous, funky, or a sophisticated look, just by coloring your hair in new colors.
However, the harsh chemicals present in artificial dyes often take a toll on the health of your hair, leaving them dry, brittle, weak, and susceptible to fall. These chemicals are toxic, hence can be particularly harmful for pregnant women or people with immune disorders.
This is the reason why many people shy away from using hair dyes. However, with the help of vegetable hair dyes you can acquire a desired shade, without inflicting damage upon your hair.

Types

Vegetable dyes are made from plant origin. They are classified as root, stem, leaf, flower, or fruit depending upon the part of plant used. The most common type is leaf dye. However, flower and fruit dyes are also extensively used due to the wide gamut of colors offered by them. They can also be classified as temporary and semi-permanent.
Temporary dye wears off within 6 to 8 shampoos, whereas semi-permanent dyes may last for a couple of months, provided you use them regularly. They can also be classified depending upon the mode of their preparation. For instance, some are made by crushing their leaves in powder and making a paste, while some are steeped in water.

Henna

Henna is 100% natural and renders a dazzling red hue to your hair. To make henna hair dye, mix 200 g of henna powder with 1 egg yolk, 1 tsp rum, and water. Prepare a homogeneous mixture and keep it in an iron skillet. Leave it overnight and then apply it the next morning.
Leave the dye on your hair for a couple of hours and then rinse it off with water. Allow it to dry properly. Then apply oil and leave it overnight. Shampoo as usual and also apply a good conditioner.

Saffron

This dye covers gray hair with a shiny golden color. Boil 2 tsp saffron in water for about 15 to 20 minutes. Strain the solution and allow it to cool. Pour this solution all over your head and let it dry. After an hour or so, rinse it off.

Walnut Husk

Mix equal portions of water and walnut husk and boil for about 15 minutes. Strain the solution and let it cool. Soak your hair with this solution and wash after 15 minutes.

Rosemary and Chamomile

Mix 1 cup of lemon juice with 3 cups of chamomile tea or solution steeped with rosemary leaves. Brew the ingredients and pour the concoction all over your head. This particular vegetable hair dye gives a blond effect.

Drawbacks

Dyes of plant origin sure have many advantages when compared to chemical ones. They are not toxic and do not cause any damage. However, there are certain drawbacks. These dyes do not render the desired color in just one application. You may have to use them daily to get a noticeable change in color.
Moreover, they do not bring about drastic changes. You can only get a shade closer to your natural color. Thus, it is not possible to go completely blond from dark brown hair and vice a verse. Also, they lose their effect after shampooing.
Vegetable hair dye could be a great option, if you have severely damaged hair or you suffer from any health disorders. They are also great if you only want to change your natural hair color by only a shade or two.