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The Best Oils for Colored Treated Hair



Olive oil can help strengthen damaged hair.

You've finally found the perfect color for your hair, but a few months after your visit to the salon, you notice that your locks are dull, frizzy and no longer soft. These symptoms mean one thing -- dehydrated hair. Coloring changes the chemical makeup of your hair, damaging the layers that naturally protect your strands from dryness and breakage. If your hair is dull and straw-like, a deep conditioning treatment is just what the hair doctor ordered. If you don't feel like running to the drugstore to buy a new hair mask that's loaded with chemicals, natural oils help moisturize and repair color-treated hair.


Safflower Oil

If your hair is damaged by harsh dyes or bleaching, you need to choose an oil that helps your hair retain moisture. Safflower oil, like the kind you cook with, is rich in essential fatty acids. These essential fatty acids, which help your hair retain moisture, are naturally present on your scalp but can't reach the damaged ends. To restore essential fatty acids to the ends of your hair, rub two drops of safflower oil between your hands and scrunch into the ends of your hair.

Almond Oil

Kattia Solano, a New York City salon owner, recommended almond oil to help restore moisture to hair that has been damaged by coloring. While there's no real way to completely fix damaged hair, aside from cutting it off and letting it regrow, applying a small amount of almond oil to the ends of your hair and leaving it overnight — covered by a shower cap — will help repair some of the damage. This kind of treatment can be done once a week.

Olive Oil

Not only does olive oil condition your hair, but it actually makes it stronger. Chemically damaged hair is weaker than hair that hasn't been treated, and breakage leads to frizz, so you want to strengthen your hair as soon as possible. Olive oil will make your damaged and dry hair easier to manage, and fewer tangles mean fewer split ends. Just massage half a cup of olive oil into your hair, leave it on your head for a half an hour and shampoo it out to get a noticeable difference.

Moroccan Oil

Moroccan oil, also known as argan oil, can't be found in your local grocery store, but it is sold in the hair care section of most drugstores. This type of oil has been heralded as a cure-all for dry hair because it enriches your hair with vitamins E and F. It strengthens locks, helps your hair absorb moisture, reduces frizz and makes your hair shinier. Argan oil also offers some UV protection, which is a great option for women with color-treated hair who are worried about exposure to the sun.

Neem Oil for Color-Treated Hair



Neem oil nourishes and protects color-treated hair.

If you’re in the habit of washing the gray out of your hair every four to six weeks, the natural oils that give luster to your locks might be going down the drain with it. Styling products may seem to help with damage control, but because they often contain alcohol and other moisture-robbing agents, they can make the problem even worse. A natural plant-based topical treatment called neem oil may be the answer for stressed, colored-treated tresses.


Your Cuticles Are Showing

Not the cuticles of your fingernails, but the cuticle layers that buffer the shafts of the estimated 100,000 strands of hair on your head – more strands if you’re a natural blonde and fewer if you’re a red head. Hair color contains chemicals that lift hair cuticles to allow the deposition of pigment molecules into the shaft. The primary chemical used is hydrogen peroxide, which increases in concentration in the formula the lighter you stray from your natural color. Ergo: The more hydrogen peroxide in the product, the more hair cuticles stand up. Because this is also the vehicle moisture uses to come and go, unsettled cuticles can make your hair look as though it spent time marooned in the desert. Neem oil can help tame the wild in your "do" by smoothing hair shafts down.

The Esteemed Neem

Neem is a tree in the mahogany family and is native to India, where it is known as Indian lilac. Neem is also naturalized in several African countries. “Mwarobaini,” its name in Swahili, literally means “of forty,” a reference to the plant’s reputation for having the capacity to cure 40 diseases. If you’re concerned that your color-treated hair is beginning to resemble straw, consider as a remedy neem oil — which also is sometimes used by those suffering the effects of malaria and hemorrhoids.

Neem Oil Ingredients

Neem oil, obtained from the seeds of the tree, contains a high level of the most biologically active compound in this botanical – azadirachtin. Because this agent is a growth inhibitor and hormone disruptor in dozens of species of insects, it is registered as a pesticide in the United States. Although this substance is toxic to aphids and gypsy moths and causes infertility in mice, it is completely safe for you, your hair and your libido.

Traditional Hair Care

In India, neem oil is a common ingredient in various hair care products, including shampoos and conditioning rinses. Applying a small amount on your head is an inexpensive way to give your hair a hot oil treatment and your scalp a rigorous massage to stimulate oil production. You may even leave it in your hair overnight and cleanse with a gentle shampoo the next morning. On the down side, pure neem oil stinks. The same sulfurous compounds that bug insects and restore life to color-treated hair smell, unfortunately, like rotten eggs. The aroma “cure” for the oil that fixes dull hair and 40 different diseases is a few drops of aromatherapy grade essential oil in your favorite scent.

Gray hair cure? Color treatments, dyes no longer needed?



Scientists claim to have discovered a cure for gray hair. Researchers say a skin treatment for vitiligo, which restores color loss from patchy pigmentation, may actually restore natural color premature grey strands of hair. Should the study results prove positive, color treatments and dyes may be things of the past.
In a report from Fox News on May 6, a similar process to treat problems with skin color loss likely has the same or similar effect on graying hair, possibly leading to a cure.
Essentially, early gray hair development happens due to a buildup of hydrogen peroxide, which damages the root. Over time, this leads to an oxidation process, which causes hair follicles to go gray.
People suffering from vitiligo commonly lack or have low levels of the enzyme catalase. However, when doctors treated patients with a "pseudo-catalase" and prescribed sunlight exposure, their conditions improved.
A cure for gray hair could simply mean using a cream containing the same enzyme to restore hair color, according to a study author.
"For generations, numerous remedies have been concocted to hide gray hair. But now, for the first time, an actual treatment that gets to the root of the problem has been developed," said Dr. Gerald Weissmann, editor-in-chief of The Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.
While more data is needed before final results are delivered, the theory doesn't sound off base. Although there are no promises for a "fountain of youth," a gray hair cure, undoubtedly, is promising news for those wanting to hide their silver manes.

Home Remedies for Color Treated Hair


Hair that is color-treated tends to become dull and loses some of the tint and shine over time. Keeping the hair conditioned and moist will help to maintain the color for as long as possible. There are some mixtures you can concoct at home in your own kitchen that will help you to keep your color-treated hair looking beautiful longer.

Vinegar 

        Use vinegar to eliminate buildup. Product or pollutant buildup on  the hair can make the hair seem dry and dull. By removing the accumulation, you will reveal the underlying color which should be shinier and healthier in appearance. Mix one part vinegar with two parts water for best results. Use a spray bottle to saturate hair with the mixture after a shampoo. Comb through and leave in for at least five minutes for best results. Follow with a shampoo and conditioner.

Mayonnaise

    Mayonnaise is one of the best products you have in your kitchen to help you keep your color-treated hair healthy and shiny. Mayonnaise contains protein from eggs and oils which help to nourish the scalp. It can be applied to the hair after a moisturizing shampoo and combed through using a wide toothed comb. Cover the head with a plastic bag or plastic wrap. Then, apply heat with a blow dryer or moist towels you have put in the microwave for about a minute. Leave on the head for 10 to 45 minutes. Remove, rinse and shampoo again. This will help close the cuticle of the hair and stop the color molecules from escaping. It will also deliver a shot of protein to strengthen and condition the hair.
   
  

Olive Oil

       Olive oil is a great hair conditioner that will help your color to last longer and look more lustrous. Warm 1/16 of a cup of olive oil in the microwave for a few seconds. Apply to the scalp using a color applicator brush, or your fingers. Perform application on the more damaged areas first and then run the oil through the rest of the hair. Give the scalp a massage using your fingertips, applying moderate pressure to work the oil in and increase stimulation. This will give the hair a shine and make the color shimmer. It will also help to close the cuticle of the hair for a healthier glow.

Enhancing Blond Hair Color

      To enhance blond hair color use chamomile tea. Brew 5 to 10 teabags in 3/4 of a cup of water. Let stand, or add four ice cubes, to cool the mixture. Add a teaspoon of lemon juice. Pour mixture into a water bottle and spray the hair until it is saturated. Cover the hair in plastic wrap, or a plastic cap, and allow it to sit for up to 30 minutes. For even brighter results, moisten a towel and heat it in the microwave, then wrap it around the head.

Enhancing Color for Brunettes

      If your hair is very dark, use coffee as a color enhancer. Brew the coffee as you normally would and then let it cool. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and then spray the hair. Comb the coffee through until it is evenly distributed. Leave it on for fifteen to thirty minutes. Repeat if needed for richer results. Rinse and shampoo. Follow with a conditioner to lock in results.

Enhancing Color for Redheads

       Both carrot juice and beet juice can be used for red hair as a dye enhancer. If you have more of an orange or strawberry-blond, reddish color, use carrot juice. For those with a deeper, more auburn red-tone, use beet juice. Purchase beet or carrot juice in a can or jar. Put into a spray bottle and spray on the hair until saturated. Cover the head in plastic wrap and leave in the hair for up to an hour. Apply heat by dampening a towel, heating it in the microwave for a minute or more if needed, and wrapping around the head to trap the heat. This will allow for deeper color penetration.

How to Make a Natural Hair Color Rinse with Green Tea, Coffee, Sage



Gray hair can add years to your appearance and using a hair color treatment can make you look younger very quickly. However, while periodic use of commercial hair dye and color treatments can be good for your hair, repeated use can fry your hair making it look very damaged and unhealthy. Unfortunately, gray hair tends to return long before it's advisable to use another commercial hair color rinse or treatment.

Luckily, there are natural ways to color your hair while moisturizing and cleansing it. Commercial hair dye and color treatment products can also be expensive; making and using a natural hair coloring rinse recipe can save you money.
I developed the following hair color rinse recipe to darken my gray hair and enhance my natural brunette hair color while simultaneously removing build-up, increasing shine and moisturizing my hair. This hair color rinse recipe is natural, easy to make and inexpensive.
You will need the following containers and implements to prepare this natural hair color rinse recipe: 1 large mixing bowl; coffee maker; coffee filters; small saucepan; measuring cup and a large wooden spoon.
You will need these ingredients to prepare this natural hair color rinse recipe: enough coffee grounds to brew 2 cups of TRIPLE STRENGTH coffee; 1 small bag of green tea; 4 tablespoons of crushed sage.
You will also need these items to use this natural hair color rinse recipe: 1 large towel; 1 pair of plastic gloves and hair clips.
Begin preparing the hair color rinse recipe by brewing the three cups of triple strength coffee. The resulting coffee will be very thick. Once the coffee has brewed, turn off the coffee maker and remove the coffee pot from the heating element so it can cool down before you add it to the mixing bowl.
Coffee is a rich, natural source of vitamin E and color compounds called melanoidins. Coffee's presence in the hair color rinse recipe will moisturize your hair while naturally coloring it.
While the coffee is cooling pour 1 cup of water into the small saucepan and then heat the water to a rolling boil. Once the water is boiling remove the pan from the heat. Add the bag of green tea and the 4 tablespoons of crushed sage to the water and stir it carefully. Cover the pan and allow the green tea and sage to steep for about ten minutes.
Green tea is excellent for your hair. It is a natural source of anti-oxidants and acids; use of it in the hair color rinse recipe will remove buildup from your hair and leave it soft and shiny.
Sage is also excellent for hair. Sage has long been used to darken hair and provide gray coverage. Sage's natural caffic and tannic acid content when used in the hair color rinse treatment will also help remove buildup from your hair while leaving it soft and shiny.
After the green tea and sage mixture has cooled, strain the sage out of the brew and remove the green tea bag.
Once the coffee has cooled and the green tea and sage mixture has steeped you are ready to blend your hair color rinse recipe.
Pour the coffee into the mixing bowl first then pour one cup of the green tea and sage brew into the mixing bowl. Stir the ingredients for a couple of minutes until the hair color rinse is well mixed.
For best results apply the hair color rinse to your hair while it is still warm but make sure that it is not hot or you will risk burning your scalp.
Apply the hair color rinse to your hair just as you would commercial hair dye and be sure to use gloves to avoid staining your hands. Start applying the hair color rinse to your roots first since that is where most people's most stubborn gray hair is.
After applying the hair color rinse to your hair, wrap your hair in a towel and allow the hair color rinse to set for about 25 minutes.
Once the hair color rinse has set remove it using warm water until the water runs clear. If the hair color rinse treatment is sticky or difficult to remove after several minutes of washing with warm water you can use a small, dime sized amount of shampoo to remove the rest.
This natural hair color rinse treatment is gentle enough to use on a weekly basis. If after the first time you use it, the color is not dark enough you may repeat the treatment once immediately with no ill effects.

Herbal home remedies to colour your greying hair



herbal hair dye
Till about a few decades ago, grey hair was a sign that you had grown older and probably wiser, too. However, in today’s times, grey hair is more likely to be an indication of your stress levels, having nothing much to do with age or wisdom. This greying of hair is a condition that cannot be reversed, but can be effectively concealed by the use of hair colours.

However, before you reach out for that synthetic hair dye, pay attention to what medical researchers have to say about its safety. Hair dyes may contain certain chemicals that go by the name of secondary amines and these can react with exhaust from vehicles as well as tobacco smoke, to form other compounds called N-nitrosamines that have been implicated in cancer.
Given the high levels of pollution, and our exposure to people who smoke, this is indeed a cause of concern.
Giving up the use of hair dyes means compromising on appearance and not many of us find that acceptable. What can be done? The answer – go natural. Colour your hair with absolute safety using natural colours that come from plant sources. Here are a few hair colouring ideas to try at home.

Henna

Henna contains compounds that stain the hair or skin a dark red or brown colour and this makes it a wonderful natural hair dye.
For black hair that has gone grey, use henna in combination with sesame (gingelly or til) oil and curry leaves. Boil some sesame oil, add a few curry leaves and keep this liquid in a tightly closed container. Anytime you want to colour your hair, add some henna into this extract and boil for a few minutes. Cool and apply to hair, wait for three to four hours and then wash your hair using shikakai.
Some people also use castor oil with henna instead of sesame oil and leave out the curry leaves. Just boil henna with castor oil in an iron pan and set aside until the oil takes on a black colour. Then apply it to your hair and leave on for three to four hours and wash with shikakai.
If you are looking for a burgundy shade, cut and grind a beetroot and mix this juice into henna to make a paste.
Those who like a more reddish-brown colour, can mix henna with some lemon juice and curd along with some tea decoction.
Henna alone gives a copper red colour and only indigo (neel) gives a blue colour; by combining henna with indigo in different proportions, you can get varying shades of brown. If you want a redder colour, keep henna levels high and if you like more brown, include more of indigo.

Tea and Coffee:

Both tea and coffee have the ability to dye hair a dark brown, but the liquid you use has to be sufficiently concentrated. Use tea powder or tea bags to brew a strong tea, strain and use the liquid when it is warm. Strong black coffee decoction obtained by mixing coffee powder with boiling water and then straining can also help to stain hair a dark brown. You need to soak your hair in the tea or coffee decoction for quite a few hours to see the results. An easier way to make the coffee dye is to mix in some instant coffee granules with some hair conditioner and mix well before applying to hair.

Amla:

By itself, amla does not have the ability to dye hair; however, it can help to tone down the red or brown colour of a henna-indigo hair colour. Along with this, amla also helps to give a natural shine to the hair after you have washed off the dye. When mixing in amla powder, it is important to add it last into the paste, just before you apply the paste to your hair.

Walnut shells:

The outer hard shell covering of walnuts gives a very strong colour that can dye your hair a dark brown. Crush the walnut shells and immerse them in boiling water, and boil well for about half an hour. Then cool the liquid, strain it and using a cotton ball, apply the liquid over the part of hair you want to dye. Allow to stay on hair for at least one hour and then rinse out using a mild shampoo and water; avoid using hot water which may cause a loss of the dye effect. This liquid is a very strong dye and will stain everything it comes into contact with a dark brown – skin, cloth, utensils and even the tiles. Therefore, make sure you avoid contact with such surfaces during the preparation, applying and washing off.
Although you may think that a hair dye that is applied to the hair will not enter inside the body, it is difficult to ensure this because the dye comes in contact with skin on the scalp. This skin is very likely to absorb the chemicals in the hair dye and pass them into the blood and this is what makes such chemical-based dyes dangerous. Natural hair colours obtained from plant sources are therefore much safer than commercial hair dyes that may contain unhealthy compounds. Agreed, you may not see a dramatic result overnight, and you would possibly need repeated treatments with the natural hair colour to see a change but you can be assured that these are much safer options than you chemical dyes as they are natural.