Bring out the highlights in your hair naturally with this at-home hair coloring recipe.

Botanical Tints
Makes 8 ounces / Let nature wash your hair with fresh new color. Although flowers, stems, leaves, bark, and seeds don't actually change the color of your hair, they impart a wonderful tint. To help guarantee the final outcome, do a strand test before applying the dye to your whole head. Check the strand periodically to calculate the time required to achieve the desired result.

3 cups plant material (choose one from botanical list below)
4 cups distilled water

1. Place the plant material in the bottom of a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Cover with the water and bring to a boil. Boil for 1 hour and then strain. Return the liquid to the pan and boil for an additional hour. Cool before applying to hair.

2. Wearing plastic gloves, pour the solution through hair. Cover hair with a plastic bag or wrap, and allow solution to work on hair for 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the desired results. Rinse out thoroughly, followed by a pH 4.5 to 5.5 shampoo. Dry and style as usual.

Hiding or highlighting? Decide which botanical is best for you.

Effect Desired

Botanical

Part Of Plant Used

Blonde Hair

chamomile or dandelion

flowers

 

onion

skin

Red Hair

beets or cranberries

fruit

Brown Hair

marigold

flowers

 

cinnamon

bark

 

acorn

nuts

 

coffee

beans

Source: Drop-Dead Gorgeous by Kim Erickson (McGraw-Hill, 2002). Reprinted by permission of the McGraw-Hill Companies,

www.mcgraw-hill.com. All rights reserved.