A Year of Natural Health & Beauty Tip #39: Enhance Your Hair’s Dark Tones with Coffee or Tea

Image by THOR via Wikimedia Commons

To view all tips so far, click here or simply scroll to the top of the screen and click on 52 Tips.

If you’ve been following along so far, you’ve already gotten tips on making homemade blonde highlights, and perking up red hues with hibiscus tea. Well, if you’ve got lovely chocolate-hued or raven locks, you’ll be happy to know that you can enhance your dark hair just as easily—and just as naturally, too!

This easy DIY home remedy will also help to cover stray greys and peek-a-boo light roots. If you’re a natural-born brunette, you might notice your hair getting mousy over time. And if you color your hair brown, you might want to add rich depth without spending a fortune.

My favorite all-natural, easy way to enhance dark hair is to simply use coffee or black tea! Unlike the blonde and red highlighting sprays, though, this remedy works best when your hair is completely saturated. So be sure to give yourself at least 30 minutes to an hour—and try to avoid using light-colored towels for clean-up

Coffee will impart a rich, chocolatey tone; black tea will give your hair a deep tone with fantastic shine. If you’re feeling extra-bold (mmm, just like a fresh cup of coffee), use both coffee and tea!

And remember, if you are a blonde or redhead, be sure to check out my previous posts for tips suitable for your locks! (My hair has been just about every shade in the book, so believe me, I’ve done them all.)

Stuff to Know:

• This rinse is recommended only for hair that is its natural color or has been colored only with natural products, such as henna or herbs. If your hair has been chemically treated or if you go to a salon for highlights or coloring, please talk with your stylist first.
• Spot test any products or ingredients before using any homemade products on your face, head, or body, especially if you have sensitive skin or are prone to irritation and/or allergies.
• This rinse is best used right away. Do not store it.

Coffee / Tea Hair Rinse for Brunette Highlights and Depth

Ingredients

• 1/2 gallon brewed coffee, very strong. Do not use instant coffee, only freshly brewed.
• OR 1/2 gallon very strong black tea (use at least 5 tea bags and brew for at least 5 minutes)
• OR a blend of coffee and tea

To use:

• Make sure your coffee/tea has cooled completely before using.
• With a towel wrapped around your neck, align your head over a sink basin or bucket.
• Very slowly pour the coffee/tea over your hair until each strand is fully saturated.
• Comb through. Style your hair into a bun if possible, and cover with a shower cap or plastic wrap to prevent drips.
• Leave on for one hour, then rinse and shampoo as usual.
• Repeat as needed to keep you hair rich and deep!

Do you have dark hair or dark lowlights?

Have you ever used coffee or tea in your hair care?

Things I Love Thursday

Happy Thursday! And happy sum-sum-summertime to youuuu! Why are you inside looking at the Interwebs instead of picnicking, sailing, or napping in a hammock? Oh, right. You’re probably at work, procrastinating.

Well, procrastinate away today. I’ve got some fab-o links for you to peruse, read, and get inspired by. Check ‘em out! Then get outside for some fresh air and sunshine! Promise??

1. Cheap chic ruined us, via Salon

An interview with the author of a new book,  Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, in which she discusses the massive environmental and emotional disaster that is the result of literally tons of cheap clothing sold in the U.S. It’s a very thought-provoking subject, one that’s close to my heart. In 2010, I went a year without buying clothes and learned a lot about my own consumption habits, while vowing never to buy cheap, crappy, ill-fitting, emotionally draining clothes again. So far, so good. You can read all about my year without buying clothes here. But click the link above to check out the Salon interview, too! It might get you thinking about doing something similar.

2. Olympic Cyclist Evelyn Stevens talks about her journey from Wall Street to London, via Outside Magazine

Such an exciting and inspiring story! Stevens only started racing in 2008, and didn’t even quit her Wall Street job until 2009. And now, this summer, she’s an Olympic cyclist! It boggles the mind and inspires the quads, I tell ya.

3. Decorate with octopi! Via CasaSugar

Octopus is the new owl. Trust me on this.

4. An Olympic logo a day

Brilliant, creative, and adorable ideas.

5. Make a hula hoop chandelier, via Dollar Store Crafts

File this under: Why Didn’t I Think of That?!

6. Stressed and online? Visit Calm.com for 2 minutes of relaxation. Via Mashable

Got two minutes? CTFO, baby. (chill the f out, natch )

7. An updated list of lesser-known editing symbols, via Janet Reid

For professional use only. Be sure to click the link above to see them all.

8. Sci-fi film posters re-imagined as pulp fiction book covers, by Timothy Anderson (via Boing Boing)

Swoon-worthy!

9. Iconic ’70s skateboarder Cindy Whitehead, via Tomboy Style

The definition of rad. Click for more killer images.

10. Finally, What it’s like to live without money, via SavvySugar

An introduction to Heidemarie Schwermer, the subject of a new film called “Living Without Money.” A native German, Schwermer house-sits, travels, and does odd jobs while successfully living sin dinero (errr, I mean, ohne Geld). She’s no spring chicken, nor is she a dumpster-diving hipster. Read through and re-think your life. Dare ya not to.

Well, friends, that’s all for now Have a wonderful weekend!

What are some great things you’ve seen this week?

Got any fun plans for the weekend?

A Year of Natural Health & Beauty Tip #14: Enhance Your Hair’s Red Tones with Hibiscus

Photo by Andrea Drugay

To view all tips so far, click here or simply scroll to the top of the screen and click on 52 Tips.

Red is a temperamental hair color! It likes to make a bold entrance, but doesn’t like to stick around.

If you’re a natural-born redhead, you might notice a gradual fading of your vibrant hue over time. And if you color your hair red, you might notice that it often fades quicker than other colors.

There are a couple of easy home remedies to perk up your fiery hues, without slathering your head with chemicals.

The first, and perhaps most well-known, option is to use henna instead of hair dye. Henna is a plant that’s been used since ancient times ~ think Cleopatra ~ to impart a red luster to locks. It’s an excellent all-natural choice if you’re looking to dye or to replace chemical dyes with something simple and time-tested. However, be aware that it’s a commitment, usually taking several hours from start to finish. Hairdressers claim it coats your strands, making it impossible to ever be stripped, so if you’re a commitmentphobe, stay away.

However, if you’re looking for all-natural, easy ways to enhance any naturally existing red tones or to brighten up fading color, look no further! It’s extremely simple to make your own red-highlighting hair rinse using just tea. If you’ve tried my homemade hair lightening spray, you already know how easy that one is. This one is just as easy ~ even more so because it only contains ONE ingredient!

This DIY spray will impart warm, red highlights. You can use it on individual strands or chunks, or on your entire head for an allover refresh. When used over time, it will keep your color vibrant, bright, and fiery!

If you are a blonde or have blonde highlights, be sure to check out my post on DIY hair lightening spray. If you’re dark-haired, stay tuned. I’ll be posting tips for you, as well! (My hair has been just about every shade in the book, so believe me, I’ve done them all.)

Stuff to Know:

• This rinse is recommended only for hair that is its natural color or has been colored only with natural products, such as henna or herbs. If your hair has been chemically treated or if you go to a salon for highlights or coloring, please talk with your stylist first.
• Spot test any products or ingredients before using any homemade products on your face, head, or body, especially if you have sensitive skin or are prone to irritation and/or allergies.
• This rinse can be stored in a cool, dark, dry spot for up to 1 week.

For a container, I used a small plastic spray bottle from the drugstore, which cost $0.99. I had all other ingredients on hand.

Photo by Andrea Drugay

Hibiscus Hair Rinse for Red Highlights

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried hibiscus flowers OR 3-5 bags of hibiscus tea **NOTE: Celestial Seasonings Zinger teas ALL have hibiscus as the first ingredient! You can use any one of the zinger teas for this hair rinse, but Red Zinger, Raspberry Zinger, or Tropic of Strawberry are your best choice.
• 2 cups purified water
• pinch of paprika (optional)

Steps

1. Boil the water in a saucepan. Once the water has reached a rolling boil, turn off the heat.
2. Add your tea bags or flowers to the steaming water. Steep for 5-10 minutes. The longer you steep it, the stronger your rinse will be.
3. Strain the flowers or tea bags and allow the water to cool completely.
4. As an optional step, you can add a pinch of paprika to the tea. Mix well until incorporated.
5. Transfer to your container. Store the remaining tea ~ or drink it!

To use:

• Spray on dry, clean hair, either all over or in small sections for targeted highlights.
• Comb through. Leave on for one hour, then rinse and shampoo as usual.
• For expedited red highlights, blow dry your hair while the spray is still on it, or sit in the sun while your hair air dries. The heat will speed the highlighting process.

Do you have red hair or red highlights?

Have you ever used henna or other natural hair coloring?