Along with homemade shampoo and DIY dry shampoo, I’ve spent hours and hours experimenting and formulating natural hair dye recipes. My family is used to my kitchen experiments, but this one came with its fair share of laughs as I walked around with some concoction of herbs on my head for weeks!
I’d experimented with natural hair lightening in the past but hadn’t tried dark or red shades (since I have blonde hair). I found a few willing dark-haired friends to test other formulas. Many wasted herbs and a bunch of randomly colored streaks later, I figured out some good dark and red options as well!
Not sure why you’d want to use herbal hair dyes? Read the ingredients on conventional dyes and then get back to me! 🙂
DIY & Natural Hair Dye From Herbs
These are natural colors made from herbal ingredients and as such will create natural hues on your hair. They will not create artificial colors like hot pink, completely platinum blonde, or jet black (ok, so that isn’t a fake color, I just haven’t figured out how to do it!).
The blonde/light recipes will actually permanently lighten hair since they naturally bleach it. The red and dark hues will leave a temporary tint for a few weeks (depending on how often you wash it). Time in the sun will help set all of the hues and bring out natural highlights.
Note: I have not tried all of these natural hair color methods on previously dyed or chemically treated hair. Always test a small swatch of hair (I put a little on my skin too) to test for results and rule out any allergic reactions. Also do not use these hair dye recipes on hair that has been chemically treated in the last 6-8 weeks.
Herbs for Light Hair
I’ve tried several basic herbal variations including:
- Pure, strong chamomile tea sprayed or poured on hair and left on for several hours. Sitting in the sun during this time will enhance the lightening effect.
- Fresh squeezed lemon juice, sprayed and brushed through hair and left on for several hours (in the sun) will also produce natural highlights.
- A chamomile tea rinse at the end of each shower (leave in hair!) will produce smooth, silky hair and naturally lighter hair over time.
For a stronger and faster effect, I’ve used the recipe below. It has left my hair very blonde, easy to work with, and not yellowy/brassy at all.
Herbs to Dye Red Hair
These will create a red/dark strawberry blonde tint in lighter hair and an auburn tint in darker hair. The effects are cumulative, so extended use over time will create a more vibrant red. The easiest thing is to make it part of your hair care routine if you want continual red hair.
- Calendula flowers or fresh marigold petals from your garden (don’t worry, you can buy these if you don’t have any)
- Hibiscus petals
Henna Natural Hair Dye: A Faster Way
If you want faster and more permanent results, you can use henna hair color. I’ve purchased from Morrocco Method with great success. They are excellent natural products, and the results are very dramatic.
They have a lot of color variations with red hues and light to medium to dark brown. The results last for several months (or longer if you wash your hair less often or use a gentle natural shampoo). They won’t completely cover grey hair, but will darken it.
Important Note: Henna can react with the ammonia in conventional hair dye and the results turns hair orange or even green! If you have chemically treated your hair recently, wait until it’s been at least 6-8 weeks before trying henna. Before applying the package, test on a small section of hair before using on the whole head!
Herbs to Dye Brown Hair
It is easiest to darken hair that is already light brown or darker, though these colors will darken blonde tones as well.
Always test on a small part of hair before using on the whole head, especially on chemically treated hair. Used as a rinse, these herbs will also darken grey hair over time. The more they are used, the darker the results.
For a faster, more dramatic effect, use a henna color like black, dark brown, or mahogany. For a slower or more gentle tone, use these herbs:
- Nettle leaf
- Rosemary leaf
- Sage leaf
Herbs to Dye Dark Brown Hair or Black Hair
If you have very light hair, it will be difficult to get really dark hues with just herbs, though with enough patience, it can be done. I’ve listed herbs that work, and you can use any combination.
As always, test on a small section of hair before using henna hair colors will provide really dark results that last longer, but if you want to go dark gradually, these are the recipes I’ve tried:
- Black walnut powder — use as a rinse in the shower for hair and dry in the sun if possible. This will create VERY DARK hair, especially if you have dry or color treated hair. It will also provide the darkest coverage for grey hair. Repeat daily or as needed to darken and maintain dark shade.
- Use strong brewed black tea as a final rinse to darken any color hair. This is also nourishing for the hair and will provide a temporary darkening effect on most hair types. Repeat as necessary to get desired shade and sun-dry if possible.
With any of these herbal hair colors, make sure to test on a small part of your hair first, especially with color treated hair and especially with the henna colors as they have more lasting effects.
Experiment with any of the above and mixtures of them to get the right mix for your hair!

Natural Hair Dye Recipes
Yield
Materials
Light Hair Color Ingredients
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 cups strong chamomile tea
- ½ cup strong calendula tea (optional, will produce more golden tones)
Red Hair Color Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- ½ cup calendula flowers (or fresh marigold petals from your garden)
- 2 TBSP hibiscus petals (or more for more red hues)
Dark Brown Hair or Black Hair Color Ingredients
- ¼ cup black walnut powder
- 3 cups water
Instructions
Light Hair Color Instructions
- Mix all ingredients in a spray bottle or other small bottle.
- Shake well before each use.
- Spray or pour into hair and brush through to get even. This works best when applied to hair directly before sun exposure and left in for 1-2 hours before being rinsed out. Can be used several times a week until desired color is reached. I suggest putting this in your hair and doing a kettlebell workout in the sun for maximum benefit 🙂
- You can also use this as a rinse at the end of a shower (and then lightly rinse with water) though it will take longer to have an effect. This will not have an overnight dramatic effect, though when I've put it in my hair before gardening in the sun for a few hours I definitely noticed a difference.
Red Hair Color Instructions
- In a small pan, bring the water to a boil.
- Reduce to a simmer and add the calendula/marigold and hibiscus
- Simmer for at least 30 minutes.
- Remove from heat and when cool, strain herbs out, making sure all small pieces are removed (I use cheesecloth).
- Store the liquid in the refrigerator.
- Use as a final hair rinse at the end of each shower. Dry hair in the sun if possible.
- Repeat daily until desired shade is achieved and then every few days to maintain.
Brown Hair Color Instructions
- In a small pan, bring the water to a boil.
- Reduce to a simmer and add the herbs.
- Simmer for at least 30 minutes or until the water is very dark.
- Remove from heat and when cool, strain herbs out, making sure all small pieces are removed (I use cheesecloth).
- Store the liquid in the refrigerator.
- Spray or brush into hair about an hour before showering each day, then shampoo as normal. Can also use as a rinse and leave on at the end of each shower.
- Repeat until desired color is reached. It has a cumulative effect and you probably won't notice much difference the first few days. The herbs in this mix are also great for getting rid of dandruff and for increasing hair growth!
Dark Brown Hair or Black Hair Color Instructions
- Tie the black walnut powder in a tea bag or cheesecloth bag.
- Place in a quart mason jar and add the water.
- Steep for at least 6 hours or overnight.
- Use as a rinse in the shower for hair and dry in the sun if possible. This will create VERY DARK hair, especially if you have dry or color treated hair. It will also provide the darkest coverage for grey hair.
- Repeat daily or as needed to darken and maintain dark shade.
- You can also use strong brewed black tea as a final rinse to darken any color hair. This is also nourishing for the hair and will provide a temporary darkening effect on most hair types.
- Repeat as necessary to get desired shade and sun-dry if possible.
Notes
- Always pre-test on a strand of hair before doing the entire head to check color and rule out allergy.
- Dark Hair Caution: Due to the known mutagenic properties of juglone, some sources caution against prolonged use of black walnut hull when pregnant or nursing. Check with your doctor for medical advice if concerned.
Ever used natural hair dye to color your hair? Please let me know below!
I have tried the Brown Hair Color Recipe and I’m really shocked that my greys are slowly going away! I keep a spray bottle of the liquid in my fridge and spray on after each shower, leaving it on all day. It also doubles as an anti-frizz solution for my natural waves. Bonus is that it doesn’t irritate my scalp! yay! After using it for 3 consecutive days, my hair looks noticeably darker with a few grays still poking out. I used to use a “natural” hair colour but it irritated my scalp and I find that it faded quite quickly (in about 1 month). However, I did not have roots. The ENTIRE lot of my grays just reappeared. Realized it is probably because I use Apple cider vinegar (1 to 4 ratio with more water) as a rinse, which was stripping the chemical color away. Anyway, for the Brown Hair Color Recipe, i will not use the ACV rinse so I can prolong the colour. Thank you Wellness Mama for posting this recipe. I really like it!
Hi Katie
Can i use the fresh flowers to make the tea?
Hey, I noticed that these hair dye recipes only pertain to those who wish to dye their hair “natural colors”. Will you please give an alternative hair dye recipe for, say, blue, green, and purple hair?
That’s not something I’ve looked into…
This looks like such a great idea. Do you think it would work for dark brown eyebrows? To replace the tinting or coloring in?
Thanks for sharing, but how long does it lasts?
Hi katie, can you please post before & after pics of your blonde hair color to give a better idea?
I absolutely love ALL your blogs! This one is AWESOME! I have been looking for natural ways to color my gray roots since i was diagnosed with breast cancer. I know even the “so called safest” are NOT safe! Can i dye just the roots with the black walnut powder method? I would have trued the henna but i was cautioned that it is estrogenuc and nay raise my estrogen
You can, but the results will be subtle. Hairprint is another good option.
Hello. i have black hair . Can i dye my hair to dark brown and which herbs would i use that are mentioned above
I do not want to dye my gray hair but tone down the brassieness. I have tried blue shampoos and conditioners but want something natural. Any suggestions? I keep wondering if blueberry juice mixed with shampoo would work but afraid to try it as I don’t want blue hair. Thanks.
I USED to have blonde hair as a child/before motherhood. My hair was always concidered “dirty blonde” but now I’d certainly say it’s more “brown”.
QUESTION: if I want my hair to become more blonde like it used to in the summers, can I do the blonde treatments or if I’m more of a brown now it’ll make it a funky yellow/golden color??
Hi Katie!
I have used your recipe to lighten my blonde hair. However, I have started to get some white hairs around my temples. Do you know if the tea will dye the white hair? Or is there something else you would suggest?
Thank you!
I haven’t personally tried that…
What do you mean by final hair rinse when using herbs for red hair. Do you shampoo and condition, and then final rinse with the red herbs and leave it on and let dry? I’m gonna do it this week.
how long does it usually last?
Hi! Katie,
I stumbled upon your blog by chance when I was looking into coloring my hair naturally, and I’m so glad I did! Loved your blog 🙂
If you could be kind enough to clarify; when using the ‘recipe’ to color your hair brown, could we use nettle leaf powder instead of the leaf itself? If so would the amount used remain the same?
Thank you in advance.
-Rex
Yes and yes 🙂
Hi, to steep the black walnut hulls for the dark brown or black hair rinse, should I use boiling water, or just room temperature? Thank you so much!