Coloring and Styling
Some people like to take their hair beyond the basic (clean and healthy) without venturing into the world of synthetic dyes and styling products, which can leave hair and scalp damaged.
Commercial hair colors are a virtual chemical bath and contain some of the harshest ingredients you can find in an over-the-counter (OTC) product. But you've got some more natural options:
• Amla (Emblica officinalis, Phyllanthus emblica) |
Also known as amalaki or Indian gooseberry, the fruits of this tree are a mainstay of Ayurvedic medicine (used to strengthen the hair and scalp, among other things). Powdered amla fruit can be used as a shampoo (it contains a soap-like chemical) and hair color (it creates an ashy brown shade). Amla oil is used as a hair conditioner, as well. |
• Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) |
This is classic treatment for temporarily brightening natural or out-of-abox blonde hair (it also works on streaks and highlights). |
• Henna (Lawsonia inermis, L. alba) |
The best-known natural hair color and one of the earliest cosmetics (Cleopatra was reportedly a fan), henna contains a reddish pigment called lawsone. Henna has been used traditionally around the world to dye hair as well as skin (it's the pigment used in mehndi and other temporary “tattoos”). |
• Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria) |
Like henna, indigo has a long history of use as a hair and body dye. Once (mistakenly) known as “black henna,” indigo actually contains a bluish black pigment-the same one that gives blue jeans their color-that creates a very dark hair color. Some people mix indigo with henna to get a deep brown color. |
• Tea (Camellia sinensis) |
Black tea contains mildly astringent tannins (which leave hair shiny) plus dark pigments that intensify and revive black and dark brown locks. The leaves and husks of the walnut (Juglans regia) and the leaves of the eclipta, or false daisy, plant (Eclipta alba, E. prostrata) are also used to make a rinse for dark brown hair. |
Natural henna produces a reddish brown color — there's no such thing as “neutral” or “black” henna — so products promising to deliver other colors must contain additional ingredients. Some manufacturers add chemical dyes or metal salts, which can react with the chemicals in conventional hair products and leave you with green, purple, or otherwise horrific hair. Read labels carefully.
Several herbs work as natural styling products:
• Aloe (Aloe vera) |
Aloe gel is an effective moisturizer for hair as well as skin, and, because it creates a semi-stiff surface when dry, can replace commercial styling gel or hairspray. |
• Avocado (Persea americana) |
The rich emollients in avocado pulp work as well as a commercial pomade or sculpting wax, delivering a dose of conditioning at the same time. |
• Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) |
Marshmallow contains humectants (chemicals that attract and hold moisture), which make it a natural hair-styling agent. |
• Nettle (Urtica dioica) |
Nettle contains astringent chemicals that are natural body-builders, making it a good stand-in for commercial volumizing products. |
• Psyllium (Plantago ovata, P. psyllium) |
Psyllium seeds contain mucilage, a slimy substance that does what many commercial gels and mousses do: coats your hair when it's wet and holds it in place as it dries. |
The average American uses between fifteen and twenty-five personalcare products every day (including several hair care and styling products). But each product you pile on adds more chemicals to your hair and scalp, increasing the chance of a bad reaction (or just a lot of product buildup). In contrast, most herbs work alone or in combination with just a few other ingredients.
