Natural Highlighting

Chemical hair colorings contain ammonia, synthetic coloring agents, detergents, ethylene diamine triacetic acid (EDTA), ethanol, synthetic fragrance, glycols, hydrogen peroxide, lead, mineral oil, and sulphur compounds - all of which can penetrate the scalp and enter the bloodstream. Some of these chemicals are suspected carcinogens, yet remain unlabeled on the packaging because the Food. and Drug Administration does not oversee the manufacture and labeling of hair dyes.

If you would like to bring out your hair's distinctive highlights, or add a few new ones, experiment with natural ingredients instead. They won't make a blond out of a brunet; they will, however, add to the health and natural beauty of your hair.

Listed below are all-natural highlighters. For subtle color, use them in infusion form or in small amounts as shampoo boosters. For more dramatic results, apply the infusion directly to clean, towel-dried hair, and leave on as directed. To ensure satisfaction with the results, test the color by first snipping a small amount of hair, tying it with thread, and soaking it in the preferred mixture for the specified period of time; check the results in sunlight. If more color is desired, snip fresh swatches of hair, and experiment with stronger infusions and longer soaks.

>If your hair is black, use indigo, black malva, or lavender. Leave on 30 minutes, then rise.

>If your hair is red, try rosehips, paprika, Red Zinger tea, black coffee, Jamaica flowers, red hibiscus, marigold, cochineal, or cloves. Leave on 15 minutes, then rinse.

>If your hair is white, use blue malva, white chamomile, or comfrey root. Leave on 10 minutes, then rinse.

>If your hair is light brown, try chamomile, calendula, yellow broom flowers, saffron, turmeric, quassia chips, orange peel, marigold flowers, or yellow mullein flowers, Leave on 15 minutes, then rinse.

>If your hair is dark brown, use nettle, rosemary, ginger, nutmeg, jaborandi, cloves, sage, maidenhair fern, yellow, coffee, walnuts, oak bark, or sassafras. Leave on 30 minutes, then rinse. >Rhubarb root will lighten all hair colors, producing dramatic results when the hair is allowed to dry in the sun. Leave on 15 minutes, then rinse.

>Henna, an ideal treatment for many hair colors, will add beautiful reddish highlights as well as good deal of conditioning. Hennatannic acid - the active ingredient in the henna plant - coats the hair shaft, smoothing and protecting it while sealing in natural oils and reflecting light, thereby causing the hair to shine. Henna should not be used on gray or blond hair, hair that has been chemically dyed, or hair that has been permed.

Henna can be used in infusion form or, for more dramatic results, as a paste. To make henna paste: blend henna powder with enough water to form a thick, creamy mixture. For dark highlights, add 1 teaspoon of coffee per cup of henna mixture; for lighter results, and 1 egg plus the juice of 1 lemon. In any case, add 1 teaspoon of vinegar to stimulate the release of color. Place the blend in an enamel pot, and heat until hot but not boiling. Then remove from heat, and allow to stand until just warm.

When your hair is clean and dry, and the warm paste is spreadable (if not, add water), you are ready for a henna treatment. Begin by applying skin cream to hairline, ears, and neck to avoid staining your skin; also slip on a pair of rubber gloves. Concentrating on one section of hair at a time, coat the strands with warm paste from root to end. When hair is fully coated, wrap it up in plastic, then a towel, and relax comfortably in a warm spot.

Remember that light hair absorbs color faster than dark hair, and that the longer the henna remains on your hair, the greater the color change will be. After 10 to 30 minutes have passed (let your swatch test be your guide!), unwrap your hair, rinse several times, and shampoo. To keep hair beautifully conditioned and highlighted, repeat this treatment monthly.