Hair Tint

Hair tinting is the same as hair coloring. When you opt to color all your hair, you are opting for hair tinting. The tint only works to replace the natural color of your hair, as against hair bleaching, that strips the natural color of your hair. Hair tint is better if you want to lighten or darken your hair to a color belonging to the same family as that of your original hair color. For instance, if you want to go blond, a tint will work only if you light brown hair. This is because it has the capacity to alter natural hair color up to four shades lighter. In any case, if you wish to go for a hair tint, make sure your hair has not been recently bleached, or colored. Tints work best when applied onto the natural hair color. The chemicals contained in commercial products may cause certain side effects such as itching and rashes. To avoid these, you can try some of these natural hair tinting techniques.

Natural Hair Tinting Process

You can opt for several colors even while going for a natural hair tinting process. Remember that even if this is a natural procedure, performing it on recently treated hair may alter the results. Instead, wait for about three weeks if your hair has been recently straightened, permed or commercially tinted, before trying any of these natural hair tints. Take a look at these various natural recipes for you to achieve the kind of color you desire.

Hair Tint with Henna
While opting for henna, remember that henna can only give your hair a reddish tinge. Any other henna that claims to give your hair a dark brown or black color has been mixed with a commercial hair color to produce that effect. This can have a negative effect on your hair. Pure henna on the other hand, in its natural form is a great conditioner for the hair, and gives the hair a great reddish tint (if you have brown hair), too.

Ingredients

• Olive Oil, 2 teaspoons
• Water Boiled with Tea Leaves, 3 cups
• Henna Powder (4 oz. for short hair, 6 oz. for medium length hair or 8 oz. for long hair)
• Egg Yolk, 1

Procedure

1. Take the recommended amount of henna for your hair length, and put it in a non metallic bowl. Add to this the water boiled with tea leaves. This water should be boiling hot when added. Stir well.
2. Now add in the egg yolk and the olive oil, and blend well.
3. Let the mixture cool. Until then, wet your hair slightly. It should be damp and not soaking wet.
4. Take a dye brush and apply it all over your hair. As you apply it to each section, start piling the hair on your head.
5. Cover your head with a plastic shower cap, and then with a towel. This will give the hair a stronger color.
6. Let it remain in the hair for a minimum of one hour, and then rinse under a tap and not a shower using any of the available hair tinting shampoos, followed by a conditioner.
7. Remember that henna is very tough to remove when it dries up, so you are going to have to give it a thorough wash so that it all comes out.

Hair Tint with Lemon Juice
Lemon juice acts as a natural bleaching agent, and is less harsh than those available commercially. It works as an agent for lightening hair over time. When you use this rinse regularly, you will notice your hair lightening after every wash. Again, this will work for hair that is lighter, if you want a blond hair color. Dark hair will lighten considerably, but may not appear blond.

Ingredients

• Fresh Lemon Juice, 2 teaspoons
• Water, 2 cups
• Chamomile Flowers, 5 tablespoons

Procedure

1. Heat the water and bring it to a boil. Add to it the chamomile flowers. Now take the water off the heat, and let it rest till it cools.
2. Once cool, add the fresh lemon juice to the solution. Mix it together, and then strain the solution.
3. Follow your regular shampoo and conditioning routine. Finally, rinse your hair with the prepared lemon solution. Spread it evenly all over.

Hair Tint with Walnuts
If you have a dark brown hair color, or hair that is any other shade of brown, using this natural tint made of walnut shell powder will give your hair a bright tint. You may either purchase walnut shell powder available at any health store, or prepare your own powder by grinding small pieces of walnut shells.

Ingredients

• Walnut Shell Powder (4 oz. for short hair, 6 oz. for medium length hair or 8 oz. for long hair)
• Lemon Juice, 1 teaspoon
• Boiling Water, 3 cups
• Avocado/Olive Oil, 1 tablespoon

Procedure

1. Prepare the walnut shell paste with boiling water, just as you would do for henna.
2. Allow it to rest for about 10-15 minutes, and add in the lemon juice and olive oil. Stir the mixture well.
3. Apply this mixture to damp hair, piling hair on top as you apply it to each section. Cover the hair with a plastic cap followed by a towel.
4. Rinse it off under a tap. Follow it up with your regular shampoo and conditioning routine.

While it is true that natural hair tints last for a shorter time than commercial ones, you are not prone to the many side effects of these commercial products. In fact, these natural products improve the quality of your hair along with giving it a tint. It is thus, always wiser to opt for a natural tint rather than a commercial one. However, if you still think you want brighter and wackier colors that cannot be obtained form natural hair tints, go ahead and give it a shot. Just remember to follow a thorough hair care procedure, if you want to keep your locks looking healthy and lustrous.