DIY Natural Hair Dyes for Gray Hair: What Works, What Doesn’t?

[@Swanflywind]

I use food dye and diluted vinegar but it is permanent. First time I did green for fun, when it didn't wash out I dyed over it with red food dye for a brown color.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Can you provide an exact recipe for others, please?

[@pachito2736]

Yes please im interested to know aswell

[@26snoopy82]

Same here

[@rsweety2]

Does vinagar work better then the food color alone

[@coffeetalk74]

My research for natural dye for grey hair paused as soon as I found your videos. I appreciate your attention to every detail. I hope you find a winner. I'll stay tuned!

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for watching!

[@ClairHobbit]

I really appreciate all your experiments with these. I can't use even the more 'natural' at-home box dyes any more, they give me a headache, and I feel unwell for a couple of days afterwards. Not worth it. But I'm not loving my greys either. So, I am still looking for a natural solution. I super appreciate your efforts and will stay tuned for any more attempts 😊

[@TheMidlifeRide]

@@ClairHobbit My mom had to stop using chemicals when she was going through chemo, so I was determined to find something that might work for her. I was pretty disappointed that I didn’t discover a natural solution.

[@reyesmartha1982]

Thank you for taking your time for us gray haired people 💕😉

[@OldMotherLogo]

I’ve used henna mixed with a bit of indigo to tone down the red. It definitely dyes your hair and lasts, also gives body to limp hair. However, it’s messy and the color doesn’t go well with my skin tone.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Yeah, henna isn’t the right choice for me, but thanks for sharing:)

[@dianasthings729]

I agree. She has very cool (blue tone) skin and red is not a good look. She looks really good with the gray though because it complements her skin tone. Also gray hair is very resistant to regular box color so natural alternatives probably won't work ..

[@TheMidlifeRide]

@@dianasthings729 thanks for joining the conversation:)

[@jenns37]

I really enjoy these videos! I'm working on eliminating toxic chemicals and love that you are exploring some alternatives. I've read that frankincense essential oil is great for wrinkles, but haven't tried this yet myself.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

I just looked it up and it sounds promising! I’ll give it a try. Thanks so much for watching and for the suggestion:) Here’s what I read online: Anti-Aging and Wrinkle Fighter Frankincense essential oil is a powerful astringent, meaning it helps protect skin cells. It can be used to help reduce acne blemishes, mask the appearance of large pores, prevent wrinkles, and it even helps lift and tighten skin to naturally slow signs of aging. The oil can be used anywhere where the skin becomes saggy, such as the abdomen, jowls or under the eyes. Mix six drops of oil to one ounce of unscented carrier oil, and apply it directly to the skin.

[@misupport6735]

To have test samples of hair, that's a great idea rather than putting it on your head.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Yes!!! You totally just made my day with this comment! I have a feeling I’ll get a ton of complaints about that, but this one comment will cancel them all out :)

[@frontiertina]

I will have to say that I appreciate your patience in performing this project!! 👍 Dang disappointing that the results weren’t more productive! I love your efforts though! Walt doesn’t believe that im not the only one that has that much hair fall 😅! Now I have proof 😂!! Always fun to see what you guys are up to! Hope to see y’all sometime soon!! ❤

[@TheMidlifeRide]

I was waiting for someone to mention that! I could have made a wig or maybe have someone weave back in the brown like extensions! Why can’t only the grays fall out? I mourn every brown hair that leaves my head. 😂

[@patriciagranger9707]

I really feel is she stays away from the conditioner it would work.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

@@patriciagranger9707 I tried without conditioner in this video

[@munoztablet8016]

I have dyed Easter eggs and clothes. The instructions include adding vinegar to set the color. When I forget to add the color is not as vibrant. Mind you the heat is also a big part of setting the color. Just a thought.

[@patriciagranger9707]

@@TheMidlifeRide tells you how close I followed. You are so patient, but have to tell you, seriously....I love your own hair color and wished mine were that color. You have no idea how pretty it really is!

[@Sequoyah_7]

Heat opens the hair shaft. I know with henna, and other hair coloring and chemical services, natural or not, a recommendation to help penetration and assist in it grabbing the hair shaft, is to add heat. You can do this with a blow dryer, or an at-home hood dryer. So, if you tried the walnut extract sample again, saturate the strands with the extract, then cover it with cling wrap, then take your blow dryer and heat the sample for a bit. Not sure of the time but you can try 5 minutes first, check the sample for any color changes. If it hasn't taken, add a few more minutes of heat, check the strands again. You may find after so many minutes, the color takes to a level you like. If it does, then let the sample cool before rinsing it. If you did your entire head, same thing, just apply the extract or coffee or whatever, cover your head with a plastic cap or cling wrap, heat your head for whatever time you think, 5+ minutes, check the color, let it cool, then rinse.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for the suggestions!

[@etsugradlib]

Props to the unsung heroes of all videos like these, where the husbands patiently work the camera while their wives go nuts. 😂 I’m just as nuts, here watching because I want to naturally color mine too, and glad you did all this so I don’t have to.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

@@etsugradlib 🤣 Chris is very sweet to let me do videos when the content doesn’t interest him! Thanks for watching:)

[@gloriasanchez7550]

I believe for hair color to grab to hair you must open the hair shaft with the developer. People always say shampoo your hair with warm hot water than apply conditioner and rinse with cold to close hairshaft. Since you dont want to use chemicals like the developer, maybe trying the experiments again by opening the fallout hairshaft with hot water maybe a minute or two than applying product leaving it on for the same amount of time and then rinsing with cool water. Just a thought would love if you tried.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for watching and for the suggestion:)

[@booteefullmoosic]

Henna stains your hair, like getting permanent marker on your skin. It doesn't bleach out and dry out your natural color before putting on the toner, it just goes over your own color. Before trying henna, I was basically left with, go grey or go bald from the salon dyes that damaged it with every touch up. Like anything else, try it on a lock of your own hair and see for yourself.

[@dawnhewitt1]

Great video, thank you. I think your gray is very pretty tho, it's darker along your hairline which frames your face nicely. 🖤

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thank you:) I am grateful that there is still brown around my face!

[@gloriaofilas8224]

I tried black tea, 2 teaspoon Nescafe coffee, evaporated milk, 4 drops Olive oil, 2 small packs of brown Henna powder. Mix it well until paste is soft and no lumps in it. Apply the mixture ffrom the roots and leave it on for 4 hours. Rinse well and you can shampoo it and apply conditioner. Presto, hair is soft, shiny and beautifully colored and manageable.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for sharing your recipe:)

[@positivevibes6352]

am so grateful for your shared efforts! BTW: i use castor oil at night around my eyes & the skin plumps up and is amazing. Also use on feet & are now baby skin soft!

[@TheMidlifeRide]

How long have you been using the castor oil around your eyes and how long did it take before you noticed a difference? I tried it for a bit, but maybe not long enough for it to work. I used it on my eyelashes, too, and I definitely saw a difference there. I need to start doing it again:)

[@positivevibes6352]

@@TheMidlifeRide i began because i heard a lot that eyelashes benefited...i always apply the castor oil to the entire eye orbital, including eyebrows each night and it was about three months and i realized the skin was more taught as i applied eyeshadow because a plumping effect was occuring - i believe resulting in the firming. i wasn't expecting any results beyond the lashes! I began the feet, using the knees to soak in the excess & then also began while watching tv at night, using a roller ball to generously oil nail beds after lightly filing to smooth and the roughness and then the excess i fingered through my hair ends. So wonderful and cost effective i wont stop!

[@123cardmaker]

I also use castor oil, I swear by it❤️❤️

[@TheMidlifeRide]

@@123cardmaker how do you use it and how long have you been using it?

[@peregrinefalcon6747]

Hello, which brand of castor oil do you use?

[@CameliaLagerström]

Thanks for the video! I have also tried without success. I know an elderly woman of 73 years with white hair who boils leaves of walnut and applies to her hair. It becomes ligjt red-brown color, but it lasts longer.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for sharing!

[@elizabethdavis6505]

Thank you for sharing. I enjoy watching you on doing these diy hair dyes . Because I was going to try. But your videos are very helpful 😊

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thank you!

[@emvastbinder]

A tried & true method is Cool-Aid. Usually it’s used for temp bright color hair, but colors could be mixed to get the brown you want.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Totally forgot about Kool-Aid. Hmmm…

[@meguellatisabrina5631]

May i ask whatsapp cool aid is and how to use it ?

[@booteefullmoosic]

I'm trying black walnut hull powder and plan to make it into a paste similar to henna. I'll try to let you know if it works!

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Good luck!

[@gwenbliss129]

It didn't work either *sigh*

[@sonia4661]

I've basically gone through similar motions as you over the years except hadn't tried walnut extract. Thank you so much for this experiment and the no nonsense of your video, much appreciated. I've read most of the comments and would like to advise against using henna as henna is a metallic which causes breakage. On hair growth, I've tried all sorts of ingredients like onion juice, rice water, parsley as my hair thinned out. I currently get a trim every 6-8 weeks, consume gelatin/bone broth for strength and use a hairdresser that uses the Oway brand of hair colouring & you can buy shampoo etc. which I highly recommend. I suppose food that stains your skin may work on hair like beetroot & turmeric. Mixed with walnut may enhance the effect. Here's to trying 🙂

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for watching and sharing! Don’t worry, I’m not going to use henna because I’ve heard it’s more permanent, will leave a root line, is tricky to get the right shade of brown without red, etc.

[@booteefullmoosic]

I've heard henna has metals in it, but I found a brand that is pure organic henna/indigo: Light Mountain Naturals. Have used it for 3 years and it actually RESTORED my dry, brittle hair after years of using salon chemical dyes. My hair was actually more healthy and super shiny after using the henna with no added oils or yogurt, etc...No I don't work for them, but I am starting to get a little miffed trying to find a beautician who will help me apply it. I get the same dire warnings that my hair will break off, poison heavy metals, it will turn green, you can't dye over it. It just isn't true. It is true if you don't like the color, it is nearly impossible to get out because...it's a really good dye!

[@grammairesimplifiee4794]

Thank you for this effort .. any way you look great and I love your hair colour ❤

[@afvasquenz]

I knew a man who drank black instant coffee every morning. He had a silver grey mustache, but the part of his mustache that dipped into his coffee each day was medium brown.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

That sounds like a story my father-in-law would tell me 😂

[@---rg1gb]

😂

[@kathyverrelli5170]

The thing about the coffee and tea is they are stains so the more applications over time build on each other to Make a darker shade. Making them thicker with more coffee and/or more tea bags with less water would be best. I believe honey mixed in adds moisture and apple cider vinegar in cold water as a cold rinse to close the cuticles in the hair shaft adds shine. The black walnut extract probably is made with alcohol like most extracts or tinctures. Alcohol dries the hair. Black walnuts are costly but boiling then whole in their black shells should leach the black into the water for the hair stain, again less water which dilutes the desired color. Since I personally have hair loss issues my goal is to find herbs that will regrow hair and bring back natural color. I plan to try a homemade spray by boiling in a cup of water fresh rosemary, oregano and sage. Let it cool then strain into a spray bottle. Spray the roots massage in and then spray the rest of the hair. I hope this works with repeat use. My Dr wanted me on topical minoxadil and finasteride pills. (Not for me). I prefer natural solutions so their alternate solution was Nutrafol. All of those costly for my budget. I plan to also massage part castor oil, part avocado oil or coconut oil, as those are the only two my ALCAT said I can use, and rosemary essential oil to massage in three nights a week before bed. I may go back to juicing as my hair in my late 30's grew in thick and dark when I juiced. High concentrated nutrition from fruits and veggies was the key.

[@JenniferNelson2357]

Have you tried henna? Online you can find all sorts of packaged henna hair dyes, not sure what’s in them. I used to buy a ground form of pure henna to add to enhance my auburn highlights. It worked great and gave my mousy brown hair an overall subtle auburn look. I repeated about every 2-3 months. No grow out line. It comes in many shades from auburn to dark brown. I bought mine from a herbal medicine store. “Present Moment” in Minneapolis, MN. (In case you live in twin cities area) I’m sure you could find the powdered, pure henna on line, or check the ingredients on the pre packaged. I’ll keep watching, and in the meantime, pick some up for myself to see if it covers my gray.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

I haven’t tried henna because I’ve heard and read that it does create a root line. It also seems to be a little more complicated to get a brown color (I don’t want any red) and to cover gray. I’ll keep researching, though. Let me know if you have any luck with your grays :)

[@pillango80]

I really like your natural hair color. At the age of 43, my waist-length auburn hair started to turn gray. At first I thought it was terribly ugly, I almost bought henna. (I completely ruled out going to the hairdresser every month, I even cut my hair myself from KZbin videos.) Since I really like my original hair color, and because of that my hair is still mostly brown, I decided to give my hair everything it needs, to keep it shiny and healthy . I just have to convince the people around me that this is normal and beautiful. (Not my husband, he is very supportive.)

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thank you:) I’m glad to hear that you’ve accepted it and that your husband is supportive. No need to convince anyone of anything! Your confidence will speak volumes! Can you share what you’re doing to keep it shiny and healthy?

[@BigMamaCat]

Steel cut oats mixed with honey is a lovely exfoliant for the skin and a small amount of olive or apricot oil massaged into the skin is a really good moisturiser.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for the suggestions!

[@BigMamaCat]

@@TheMidlifeRide My pleasure 🙂

[@nildarodriguez3974]

My mom would save the coffee grounds in a glass jar and put it on a sunny window sill to make a dark tincture to soak faded black clothes and suede shoes. I did a patch test to my always resistant silver hair. I used a hair thickener shampoo (1 tablespoon) and added 1 teaspoon of ground 8 o'clock cofee and a little water to make a slurry. I mixed it well and used some cheese cloth to squeez the liquid. I saturated the strand and I will let you know how it turns out. If it works I'll use my mothers method to make a large batch. My theory is the hair shaft must open for the dye to take hold. Also, conditioner makes the hair slick which will prevent the same. Store bought dye has peroxide which opens the shaft. Keeping my fingers crossed.

[@nildarodriguez3974]

The patch test made my hair a little yellow. I will try my mother's tincture for the darkest dye possible.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Good luck! Will you be happier with yellow than with silver? It doesn’t make much difference to me. I just want it all brown :)

[@odyfern7778]

For wrinkles try using L’Oréal collagen moisture filler. Use it day and night. I have been using it for several years and people always ask me why it is that I don’t have any wrinkles; I am 62 years old. Oh and don’t forget always pray to God ❤

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll try it out:)

[@melissa4455-j8c]

Thank you for your channel..i think in midlife we go through different journeys..i am grateful to be at this point but its a different experience..

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Well said:)

[@vegastocali]

Love your channel and the mix of videos and subjects. Yall are awesome. Thanks for the great tips.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks, Stef! Appreciate you watching:)

[@littletallon]

Your hair is an amazing colour as it is!

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thank you:)

[@MusicFoodandU]

I read somewhere that you need make this as i3-4 day applications, like three consecutive days

[@TheMidlifeRide]

I plan to experiment a bit with continued use. I think it might make a difference, but it will be time-consuming:)

[@danabeba7607]

I am thinking that you need try Hannah natural 100% Pure Hannah powder .It is good for stronger hair and cover white hair.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

I don’t think henna is right for me, but thanks for the suggestion:)

[@julietyler7446]

Love watching your videos I am now just naturally going grey. I have heard lemon tea, coconut oil annd aloe vera is good for wrinkles but not tried them. Good luck and look forward to the next one. x

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Hey, Julie!!! Are lemon tea, coconut oil and aloe vera to be mixed together or did you hear they all work on their own?

[@julietyler7446]

@@TheMidlifeRide apparently they all work on their own.x

[@TheMidlifeRide]

@@julietyler7446 thanks, Julie! I’ll add them to the list and do a little research:)

[@KIGHFFD]

Sébastien cellophane my mom orders it from...sleek shop I think. I use manic panic on my blonde it's super vivid!

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for the suggestion:)

[@KIGHFFD]

@@TheMidlifeRide sure...there's no PPO in those.

[@deredd]

I loooove Sebastian cellophane. It makes my grey look like highlights. I've been using it since the 90s...tried and true. A great tip for saturation, softness and SHINE SHINE SHINE is to wrap the hair in seran wrap after applying the cellophane, and sit under a hooded dryer or heated bonnet for 30 to 45 mins.

[@savitunni]

I appreciate your efforts , great!! Thanks. I am also searching videos for hair coloring. But looking at you, smart , i feel grey too looks great. Just it takes time to accept.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

You’re right, it takes time to accept the gray but I’m finally there:)

[@josanders5435]

thank you for going to all the trouble to show us these demonstrations. So that we know before we try these out that they don't work. 👍

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for watching:)

[@weaverfirst8217]

I’d be careful wit the black walnut hull. That stuff is very acidic. We had trees in out yard and I was out there stripping doors and apparently sat on som walnuts that fell with their hulls on and the caused big bruises! I checked with a doctor and he said it’s very very acidic and lucky it didn’t burn my skin off.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Uh oh! I’m glad you said something because I just found some on our walking trail and collected a bag of them (not using my bare hands). They’ve been sitting here waiting for me to research further.

[@peregrinefalcon6747]

Hello, you mentioned that the walnut hulls are acidic. Does this apply to walnut tree leaves as well? I wanted to dye my hair by using the walnut leaves and water.

[@Dwynfal]

Grey/white hair is particularly non-porous which is why it's so hard to dye. I started going white in my twenties, dyed my hair for a long time but now (early 50's) I'm 6 years dye-free. Half my head is white, half my natural red, and I love it! Now if you're intent in trying to cover some of the grey, you might want to try mixing some food dye with leave-in conditioner and leave it in! It won't penetrate the hair shaft but it should leave a light colour coating on the hair and go away on your next wash. Obviously, not a good idea if you swim or get caught in the rain a lot! 😂

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Great idea! I might try that!

[@Dotdiggitydog]

I just read it’s necessary to apply heat to the walnut application to get it to properly adhere to the hair. Just a thought.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

I only tried walnut extract and I couldn’t find any info on that. Is what you read about extract or just using black walnuts in general?

[@mercyleenapaul9834]

Henna can give a reddish brown colour to your hair. I am trying to make it black by mixing with other natural ingredients. Indigo gives black colour but doesn't last longer.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

I’m not interested in using henna, but good luck to you!

[@deathcador]

I'm actually a henna seller that try to find the right mixture to create a brown color that's not indigo, I got a high hope coffee might do the job, however thanks to your video now everything is very clear to me that the answer is not

[@TheMidlifeRide]

A henna seller! Can you answer this question please? Is henna more like a permanent dye that will leave a root line if not done regularly? Many people have suggested mixing the coffee with henna, but I’m looking for something that will fade evenly so that regular upkeep isn’t necessary.

[@deathcador]

​@@TheMidlifeRide Hmmmm English is not my native language but I will try my best to answer your question nevertheless. Henna is permanent it binds with the keratin in hair, so there will be differences between the dyed hair with the new hair that's growth. I use henna mix with coffee myself and like 1/4 of my hair are grey and so far I really love my hair, it give me the dark-brown color for black-hair and light-brown color for white hair. But today, when I visited my sister house and she use our product, her black hair appear to be so beautiful however her white hair resulted to be that orangey standard henna color. Me and my wife start to ponder what went wrong, but it seems after seeing two of your videos, coffee is perhaps not that reliable. Now we are thinking to change our option to Indigo, but indigo powder is very much expensive and it will cut a lot from our margin, however as we try to build brand and quality this sacrifices is necessary. Don't get intimidated that you will always ending up busying yourself try to maintain your hair-color consistency, if you get the right mixture the result is satisfying. Here is our mixture: 1. Henna 100 gram (we are thinking to drop it to 80 now) 2. Clover powder 5 gram 3. Espresso 15 gram 4. Aloe Vera powder extract 15 gram 5. Amla Powder 15 gram. And Oil, we use kemiri oil, but you can use VCO or others. Anyway, good luck!

[@TheMidlifeRide]

@@deathcador thank you so much for all this information. It will help a lot of people!

[@beautifuldreamer4895]

BTW.. i tried the black walmart hull a couple years ago. My neighbors were more than happy for me to clean them up. I have very long med brown hair. I left in for a few hours. It stains your hands really well. And makes your hair pretty crunchy. But i did not see any difference. Especially the persistant greys. Same with poke berries & raspberries Nothing

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Oh no! How did you apply it to your hair? I can’t believe it didn’t work. So many people have claimed that it does.

[@dahlia58]

What have you done with your hair a year later? I was on the fence about trying black walnut hull powder when I caught your videos. I have been using henna, sometimes amla (gooseberry) and cassia. Henna is always a shade of red. It worked with my medium brown hair that was graying. Turned the gray red for natural looking streaks. If you tone it down with amla or cassia it looks more natural. Watch out for the darker henna's, a bit extreme. Best benefit of this is you can go two weeks before your next application.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

This is what I’ve been doing (and appreciating that I still have hair to love or hate!): I Tried Purple Shampoo for a Month | What Did Purple Shampoo Do for My Brown and Gray Hair? kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6uoZKeNl6yWpKs I won’t do henna or anything that requires upkeep. I’m totally over that.

[@martystevens2313]

The black walnut extract was in a base of grain alcohol. I wonder if that helped it penetrate the hair better.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Hmm. I guess that’s possible. Good catch!

[@sabdurrauf10]

Queston, did you wash your hair first as it may have product on it the repelled the color. Also, keeping your hair wet after you apply the dye by using a cap or using plastic wrap.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

I can’t remember, but I don’t use any products on my hair after showering. Thanks for watching and for the suggestions:)

[@wendy8561]

Silver shampoo I think it's by redken we'll make it look blonde use a little bit of apple cider vinegar diluted with water to take out the yellow and they have a shampoo called fanola works like a charm to make your hair icy blonde they say it works on gray hair too I've never tried but I've tried it on highlighted hair thank you for all your work you put in to show us I've seen all those videos and I thought about trying it You sure have helped me a lot

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for the info! I don’t really care whether it’s gray or blond, I just want brown:) I am going to try some purple shampoo to see if I can get a little shine. My main concern now is how dull it looks.

[@wendy8561]

@@TheMidlifeRide yes ma'am I understand completely try matrix silver or fanola no yellow

[@britt-louisefransson6487]

hej fel när det kommer till håret så måste man ha tålamod , det kan ta upp till två / tre / fyra tvättar

[@chulada03]

Purple shampoo should help a bit too

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks. I plan to try that soon.

[@sunnyday2044]

Thank you, another very good and helpful video.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Glad you found it helpful:)

[@maryannrecht7605]

Great experiment which I appreciated, as I have very gray/grey hair and at 88 years old I am very tired of dying my hair and occasionally thru the winter have let it go for several months and find it quite depressiong in day to day living. I wear wigs out and love them so at least have that out. I remember from my childhood an aunt of mine was rumoured to use "tea" to get rid of the gray/grey but since I didn't live close to her I have no idea about the process, as her hair remained a combination til her demise. Have you ever thought of trying tea? Thanks for your efforts.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for sharing your experiences! I did try tea in this video. The first video was only coffee mixed with conditioner but this one had 6 separate experiments for tea, espresso, coffee without conditioner, food coloring, black walnut hull extract, avocado seed.

[@samaa4622]

You need ammonia to open the hair follicles before it absorbs color of anything.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for the info:)

[@body.mind.spirit.health]

I saw that rinsing with water + vinegar helps fix the color. But never tried any of those recipes yet

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for watching:)

[@rsweety2]

Try using cornstarch instead of condition and coco powder and either cinnamon or paprika

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for the suggestions!

[@Dotdiggitydog]

Thank you. This was very helpful.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for watching!

[@Dotdiggitydog]

I imagine it was about the powder, but it makes sense to me that heat would help it adhere. I don’t have any walnut anything on hand. I intend to make a Rosemary & tea concoction today and use it as a leave in spray on a daily basis. If that goes well…I’ll let ya know. I read about adding sage too, but I’m not feeling that adventurous today. Plus it was referring to leaves and I only have powder. Thanks again for sharing your time, energy and experiments.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

@@Dotdiggitydog Good luck!

[@Dotdiggitydog]

@@TheMidlifeRide Thanks!

[@13538124]

Have you tried Hairprint? It restores your hair to its natural color (not permanently). I'm letting my henna grow out so I can give it a try. I was looking for a temporary cover for my roots until I can use Hairprint, so I'm bummed with you that none of your experiments had great results. Thanks for making this video!

[@TheMidlifeRide]

I have not tried hairprint. I just browsed some reviews and it sounds like more trouble than I want. I used everpro gray away products while I was growing out my grays and they worked well for me. I also did some semi/demi permanent coloring at the salon. Good luck and let me know how it turns out if you try Hairprint:)

[@donnajean9805]

I have been using hairprint for 6 yrs. My thick hair did cover well but I had to stop 2.5 months ago when I noticed rapid hair loss. I am 67, went gray at age 24. I had to keep hairprint on longer & longer to really cover my white roots. I'm not sure if that damaged my scalp. I did start a strict very low carb diet with intermittent fasting earlier this year. Now I read how many lose lots of hair on that diet. So now I'm left with very thin dry hair and 2.5 inches of very white roots. If I didnt have very thick hair I'd need a wig by now. Prior to hairprint I eventually had skin & scalp reactions to all the previous eyes I used. I really enjoy & appreciate what you've been doing on your channel. Thank you !

[@rachelfulton7203]

Food coloring (and Kool Aid) actually dye animal fibers very well, but they need a lot of heat and acid. I have used it on wool, but I'm not sure it would be practical for hair that is still on one's head, especially near the scalp.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Yeah, I’ve thought about mixing some Kool Aid to make brown, but it doesn’t seem worth the hassle after trying and failing with everything else.

[@wyncedc645]

I watched long time ago (not sure exactly when), that potato peels can be used to dye hair. I have not tried that but thinking if you might be interested to try. 🤔

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for the suggestion:)

[@nowhere982]

Like you i stopped dyeing my hair during covid...its making me feel old though😢....at the beginning of this year i bought a garnier nutrisse caramely coloured semi permanent dye (hate the harsh regrowth line) just to soften the harshness of the grey (im naturally quite dark brown).....it worked absolutely great!!! Even came out darker than anticipated which was a huge surprise....fast forward to now , July, cant but it ANYWHERE!😡🤬😡.....am furious. Why has semi permanent dye disappeared???😢😢😢

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Oh no! I hate when they discontinue products I love. I use so few, I swear it seems personal! Have you tried Natural Instincts? I think they have some semi- and demi- permanent products. I’m done with color altogether. It’s just too much trouble and I don’t even mind my gray anymore, it’s been so long. I do think the purple shampoo makes it blend more with the brown. Have you tried that? Here’s the link in case you haven’t watched that video: I Tried Purple Shampoo for a Month | What Did Purple Shampoo Do for My Brown and Gray Hair? kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6uoZKeNl6yWpKs

[@nowhere982]

@@TheMidlifeRide I will check this out...thanks.

[@melissa4455-j8c]

Have you tried henna..ive seen some videos on it..

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Henna is permanent, so it will create a root line and require regular upkeep.

[@stephaniechilton5785]

With the stipulation for no chemicals aside, have you tried color depositing shampoos or glazes? I use dp hue in dark brown and it lasts for three washes and makes your hair very shiny. My hair falls out so easy when I add anything new, but it doesn’t bother my hair or scalp at all. Thank you for your videos. I was super excited. Sorry they didn’t work. The internet is a funny thing.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for the suggestion! I just checked out their website. Which product do you use? The Gloss + in dark brown? Do you have colored hair or natural? Do you have grays? Does it wash out evenly over the 3 washes or does it leave a root line?

[@barb8997]

I used the John Frieda brunette gloss it works good you just have to experiment on leave in times

[@TheMidlifeRide]

@@barb8997 does it darken the grays or just the brown?

[@alicerafferty9595]

Have you tried brown Henna? Henna is natural and washes out.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Have YOU tried henna? I’ve heard it’s permanent and does not wash out evenly.

[@vc663]

Thank you for doing your experiments. I say try the henna.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for watching:)

[@anna1417]

As someone who started to have gray hair at 22 and who by 40 already had half of my hair white I will tell you what worked for me: To accept that our body ages and the organism stops producing certain things as something natural and inevitable. Understanding that it is part of the process of life and that it is not something that I should hide or try to change. In fact, if there was something that could change, it would be the way of thinking of today's society. I'm tired of being asked to comply with certain "canons of beauty". Currently I exercise not to look good but to feel good and maintain my mobility and strength and, regarding my gray hair... I use purple shampoo to make it pop on my brown hair. If you still want to dye your hair in an "easy and natural" way, go to a beauty store and ask about dyes without ammonia. A friend used them during her pregnancies because they don't have so many chemicals but, her complaint was that the color washed out kind of quick. 🙋🏻‍♀️

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for sharing. That’s exactly my plan for now, since I’ve had plenty of time to get used to the gray. I’m planning to try purple shampoo because my color does seem very dull. Do you use the L’Oréal Ever Pure purple?

[@LAtheYoung61]

WEN makes a product I use called Bella Spirit that gives me instant results: one use! I have the indigo and the regular, then mix them to the desired intensity. I’ll leave the combo WITHIN my hair once per week. NOTE: I do not use lathering shampoo, and haven’t since 2008! It’s darkening my hair, noticeably…

[@LAtheYoung61]

PS I know Bella Spirit is very expensive but find that the results I’m getting versus the cost per use still make it well worth it for me. I bumped in to another video about toning conditioners. Here’s a link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGjGd4ihe7Gte5o

[@TheMidlifeRide]

@@LAtheYoung61 Thanks for the info:)

[@GaGentz]

@@TheMidlifeRideI use purple shampoo from Pantene once a week. You don’t need a lot and I leave it on while I wash my body. Rinse with warm water, add a bit of conditioner and then rinse with cold water. It just makes the gray look healthy and shiny. I’ve tried the everpure but prefer the Pantene. My hair is about like yours. Different shades of gray and at first I was determined to find something to color my hair with but now I actually like it. Btw, I just stumbled upon your channel by accident and I so appreciate your efforts to test all of these products. I’m your newest subscriber 😊

[@ሩትመስፍን]

I am surprised the didn't work because tea always stains the cups

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Coffee stains too. Maybe over time, they both would work, but that’s more time than I’m going to spend. I’ll just keep the grays :)

[@LAtheYoung61]

I think what experiment proved is that her cuticles are quite closed…

[@26snoopy82]

I have short hair. I'm getting grey hair. 😢I want a good home made dye instead of having to try like just for men. I have heard eat molasses. Try coconut lemon juice on your hair during the night. Then rinse in the morning.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for watching and for the suggestions:)

[@corrinnajordan2749]

I haven't heard of this, but I was thinking I would have tried with those leftover grounds from the Starbucks. I feel like the watered down version is not going to do the trick.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

I just don’t think coffee is going to work no matter what I do, unless it’s done very frequently or with an unnatural, damaging ingredient.

[@kristiewallis7080]

What about henna?

[@TheMidlifeRide]

@@kristiewallis7080 henna will create a root line and require regular upkeep.

[@peridot1706]

I have no experience with hair colorants so this is just some uneducated, inexperienced thoughts: I wonder if part of the solution is changing choice of liquid? Water dilutes whatever is mixed in and while it can penetrate the hair shaft, it evaporates. Plus tap water varies widely (soft vs hard) as do the levels of minerals and chlorine. That may have some impact. Then too, different hair types have different levels of porosity that can factor. Maybe you were onto something with your first coffee attempt? Instead of a commercial conditioner, what about a natural oil instead? I do know not all oils are the same, some will penetrate the hair shaft while others tend to stay on top and coat the strands. Maybe a penetrating oil would do a better job at depositing color into the hair than water, that might stain the hair better & longer? I'm curious about henna, indigo, and amla (not necessarily together), but saw your other posts about not wanting to try henna.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess it’s possible that a different liquid would be better. It’s just so time-consuming, I doubt anything would work well enough with one application. I appreciate you reading the other comments and responses and not just telling me to try henna:)

[@mistyknights8624]

The coffee ones your supposed to add coffee grounds to the coffee

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Do you mean the grounds left after brewing?

[@mistyknights8624]

@@TheMidlifeRide What you’ll need to make a coffee hair dye: 2 tbsp of coffee grounds 1/2 a cup of strong brewed, dark-roast coffee 1 cup of leave-in conditioner or regular conditioner Step 1: Brew a cup of strong dark-roast coffee and let it cool down. Step 2: Now add 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds and 1 cup of your fave conditioner. Step 3: Next, wash your hair with shampoo to prep it for the coffee hair dye.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

@@mistyknights8624 have you tried it for yourself?

[@zeldadesantiago6974]

Was the avocado okay for conditioner

[@TheMidlifeRide]

I haven’t tried it yet, but I will soon:)

[@riversmith4466]

how about trying castor oil out next time?

[@TheMidlifeRide]

I’ve used castor oil on my hair before because I heard it thickens it and promotes growth. It didn’t darken, though, from what I could tell.

[@renushah7729]

In India we use Mehendi which is definitely much more effective

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Interesting!

[@Herbie11]

MehWHAT?

[@corrinnajordan2749]

I don't have much gray, myself, but I color my hair because my natural color washes me out. I havent been able to cover any of the grays. Oh well. I'm not bothered by it. Honestly, I wouldnt mind having more gray, but I fear it would wash me out, as well.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Yeah, that’s my main issue, too. I think my skin tone looks much better with darker hair!

[@seaspray9144]

I really like your grey hair! Embrace it sweetie! I'm in England and grey hair is hugely 'in' here - young girls pay to get their hair dyed your colour! You could make it more interesting by putting darker streaks in it - you know like highlighted hair? Use a wand/brush to apply the powdered temporary dye - something like Wow which comes with an applicator - then simply paint in your streaks of colour. Hey presto next time you wash your hair - it washes off.. I think you should make a video doing this - encourage women to embrace their grey hair! Grow 'old' disgracefully..

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for the comment and suggestion. I used to do the semi/Demi permanent color at the salon that way. They’d keep my gray as the highlights and paint in my darker base color. It was great, since it washed out evenly. Unfortunately, the stylist lost all my notes and didn’t remember what he did. This was right before a vacation, so I just left and never went back. I have used a temporary color stick (everpro gray away) while I was growing out the gray, but it won’t work all over. Powder sounds like a better option:)

[@seaspray9144]

@@TheMidlifeRide I don't mean 'all over' though - just use the powder as your highlight/contrast. If you don't like it or want to rock a change: just wash it out.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

@@seaspray9144 i know. I meant the stick was only good for a few spots at the root line - couldn’t use it to blend in streaks of dark color like I’d do with the powder.

[@pamelasharp4347]

I wonder if the coffee needs to be more acidic.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

How would we make it more acidic?

[@charlottec6587]

Hi I love your videos. I appreciate your work in this area. I’m in need of something natural for grays. I just found a channel called Hennasooq. Looks really interesting. I wonder what you think of the information on Hennasooq. Thank you so much for doing hair color 😊

[@TheMidlifeRide]

I just checked out a few videos on hennasooq. It looks like a legitimate channel with valuable information, both positive and negative about using henna. I’m not interested in henna for myself for various reasons, but if you are, I think that channel is a good place to start your research. Good luck!

[@RosieTshair]

I liked the video, it made me laugh 😃 the amount of times I've put things in my hair and I take ages washing the bits of residue out 🤦‍♀️ and it didn't work....

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Yeah, I wasn’t going to go through all that again unless I was pretty sure it would work. These little tests on my hair fall were much easier than doing everything on my head:)

[@K13ZONGZ]

I tried everything and can't dye my grays

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Sorry to hear that. Very curious about all the folks claiming it works for them. What are we doing wrong?

[@Melod357]

Why not try putting turmeric in the mixture. Turmeric will stay forever in the dress once you stain your dress with it

[@TheMidlifeRide]

@@Melod357 Lots of things stain clothing, mugs, teeth, etc., but don’t seem to work on hair. Thanks for the suggestion, though! I’ll keep it in mind:)

[@ana-ruxandrailiescu633]

What about onions?

[@TheMidlifeRide]

I haven’t tried onions. Have you?

[@salyschweber3858]

Thank you soo much

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for watching:)

[@lucysky384]

Just use lush henna, why does it have to be so complicated

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Because I’m looking for something temporary that won’t create a root line and require regular upkeep. Henna is not the answer for me.

[@TrudyConway]

Just my opinion but your gray is pretty and would be awesome if it was even brighter. I wish my gray was that color instead of what I call a "yellowish ugh" shade. Just glow it up and work it out. Keanu's woman tried to tell us LOL

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thank you:) I do feel it’s a little dull, so I’m going to try some purple shampoo.

[@undercoversmokelover]

Dead hair depending on how long it’s been dead aka detached from head wouldn’t be too absorbent as your healthy hair could have done section tip dips to test on ends but best to spray strong coffee meaning more coffee grounds or instant than water make a dark brew heat water to boil then mix in instant or let coffee grounds set at bottom and cool naturally then spray into hair saturating all strands like a spray conditioner or in this case a rinse If you want darker with red highlights or an auburn look go henna but normally redheads use to use that back in my grandpas era 😉 he’d buy it for a lady about town when he was a kid to keep her luscious locks deep red and healthy looking Also ever heard of RESISTANT GRAYS 🤔 I unfortunately got a few the vegan manic panic won’t always take neither but I prefer unnatural colors that can’t be achieved by lemon juice in the sun or coffee rinses Beer rinses for shiny hair after letting sun drying and rinsing There’s of course honey and oatmeal mask for hair or face hair conditioning face helps remove dead skin and tighten Lemon on age spots helps to fade them or freckles 🤷‍♀️ fyis thy I can recall before I’m too old to remember Vitamin e around the eyes take a capsule prick with pin squeeze small amounts apply with your pinky finger brush from inner to outer in light upwards motions do at night to soak in apply enough to see and allow to absorb naturally into skin

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for sharing and for the suggestions:)

[@rosemarypacheco719]

Vinegar...Easter eggs..food coloring...berries...cocoa powder

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Is this a recipe or a chain of thought?

[@anna1417]

​@@TheMidlifeRide The grocery list?

[@TheMidlifeRide]

@@anna1417 ha!

[@rosemarypacheco719]

Sorry ... it was just my thought...😂🤭

[@MikeU23]

I don’t have much hair

[@TheMidlifeRide]

I guess you don’t need to worry about grays then:)

[@MikeU23]

@@TheMidlifeRide no hair no gray! Tremendous

[@lorriheffner2747]

This is absolutely funny lol as my coffee brews. Wrinkles: kylie brand hyaluronic acid serum will definitely make you sit up and say wth. If u can find any ✅

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll check it out:)

[@patriciaaini3481]

At this point why not try vanilla extract

[@TheMidlifeRide]

We’ve had a variety of suggestions but I’m not convinced anything semi-natural will work without a lot of time and effort.

[@donnaslaboda8980]

Henna it's natural and comes in different colors.

[@TheMidlifeRide]

It creates a root line, requiring regular upkeep. I’m not interested in going back to that. Thanks for the suggestion, though:)

[@kasie680]

Imagine how much it would cost to soak your hair in the walnut oil 😮 Jojoba oil for your face, but use it at night cause it will eat through your makeup, it’s the closest oil to our natural oil, well it’s technically a liquid wax

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Yeah, it would take a bit to cover my head with the walnut extract but with the little brush applicator, I think it would go further than we think. Thanks for suggesting the jojoba oil. I actually have that and was planning to use it with a few other ingredients on my face. I don’t wear makeup, so that’s not a concern for me:)

[@ladyleo944]

I would so do a test strand also.its just not worth a whole head of a bad results..looks like a science project😂

[@TheMidlifeRide]

It would have taken forever to try all this on my head. No thanks! 😂

[@carolineburton8557]

I'm no expert, but I think all parts of the black walnut is toxic and even with skin contact can cause liver and kidney damage. Whatever you put on your hair and skin will get into your blood and will be processed by your liver and kidneys, but that also applies to many of the commercial hair dyes that contain undesirable chemicals. So why is it that coffee stains are difficult to get out of clothing, yet easy to rinse out of hair? Could it be the conditioner? Try streaking strong espresso along strands of hair and just leaving it in, coffee is actually good for your skin and hair...

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for watching and for the suggestion:)

[@DonnaRn]

😂Love your videos, esp gambling. Fun couple ❤❤❤❤

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for watching:)

[@raelynn5851]

I hate to say that all of this was for nothing...Because for hair color to work it has to have your body heat to open the follicles... Color deposits into and open follicle not a closed follicle. Good luck next time

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Honestly, I saw more results on the hair fall than when I did it on my head in the first video. I just don’t think coffee works, at least not on its own.

[@Larkin4840]

The walnut would have been a lot darker if you boil whole walnuts with the hull still on until it turns the water completely black. Only use about a cup full so its not too watery but more of a paste. Then put it on like a regular dye. It will turn blonde hair a light brown color and light brown a darker brown

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Thanks for the info. I just collected a bunch that fell off the trees. I haven’t researched yet to figure out what to do with them. They are green. Any idea if this is going to stain permanently and create a root line as it grows out?

[@Larkin4840]

@@TheMidlifeRide I read somewhere that it has to have the tannin acid still in it to bond to fibers for dying fabric. Might be true for hair too. I know they remove it in extracts because it's not safe to eat. And extracts are mostly alcohol and not great for hair follicles

[@michellehartford1124]

My guess is you need a walnut tree IN YOUR YARD!! LMAO I has one, and had the misfortune of "dissecting" a walnut. Stupidly without gloves. They look like limes when they fall from the tree. My hands were BLACK!!! Looked like I'd just rebuilt a hotrod engine!! For OVER a week!! NOTHING would clean them. I was emabarrassed to go out!! But I have NO CLUE where one could procure raw black walnuts.

[@michellehartford1124]

BYW, they didn't turn black until I was done with my dissecting. I washed them as I saw them turning color, but too late. I've also noticed when preparing artichokes, my hands will turn black. This does not have the staying power of the walnuts.

[@michellehartford1124]

I've tried everything on my hair!! Tea, coffee, onion skin, clove, beet juice--in ALL combinations!! So far nothing. PS, I moved and now live 1500 miles away from my walnut tree. :(

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Exactly. If I had unlimited access to free walnuts, I’d definitely try it. Walnuts are expensive and then you still have to do the work!

[@TheMidlifeRide]

@@michellehartford1124 artichokes turn your hands black? I’ve never had that happen and I love artichokes!

[@TheMidlifeRide]

@@michellehartford1124 that’s good to know. Thanks for sharing. I’ve had others recommend so many different things and I’m curious, but not enough to try:) Oh no! You left your walnut tree??!!!

[@Ginger5898]

Try henna

[@TheMidlifeRide]

@@Ginger5898 It creates a root line, requiring regular upkeep. I’m not interested in going back to that. Thanks for the suggestion, though:)

[@janetedwards6484]

Have you tried " KOOL-AID, you remember the Un-sweetened little pkgs. What would make " brown ", Grape & Orange??? Grape & Lime?? We also bought "FRESHIE" same difference. My niece's Classmates were getting their Hair colored, her (12) I think wanted too so badly, my sis said " NO"! CHEMICALS ETC... NIECE now Heartbroken. MOTHER too the rescue "" KOOL-AID""!!! Apparently the 'Punk' crowd gave birth too that idea, alla us Poor kids, Nieces classmates were all in AWE over her Hair, not just One Color, washes out,NO CHEM8CALS. Can also give idea if you want SPIKES!!! 😊

[@TheMidlifeRide]

I have researched kool aid a bit, but haven’t tried it yet. Thanks for watching and sharing:)

[@michellehartford1124]

I wish some of this crap would wash out of my clothes/sheets as easily as hair!!! HAHA

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Ha! Right?

[@Daniela-ej2ns]

Just try henna

[@TheMidlifeRide]

Henna will leave a root line.

[@Pamela-q8s]

People pay for your look these days. Ash blonde (grey)

[@TheMidlifeRide]

@@Pamela-q8s So I’ve heard. I’m definitely used to it now and I know it could be much worse.