Getting to Brown

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Posted by Ben on February 10, 2004 at 13:10:27:

I love women with red hair.
But I am a man looking for a natural looking dark brown, to cover gray
without poisoning myself.
So far I have seen strong coffee suggested as a mix-in to get brown.
Any other suggestions? Does anyone have experience with sage tea?

Also: on the bodyart section of the site, I read about the ammonia
treatment that changes henna's color to a "soft black". Sounds close
to the dark brown I want.

The ammonia trick works by reducing the henna with an alkali (ammonia
is basic). While this is an unacceptable chemical to apply to the hair
(which hasn't stopped the commercial hairdye folks) - there is another
readily available alkali that should work - the 6 or 9 percent
hydrogen peroxide solution sold as "developer".

Hydrogen peroxide should do the same chemical trick on the henna as
the ammonia. Perhaps more gently, which would give a warmer brown
instead of near-black.

Has anyone tried this? I am harvesting gray hair from my comb to try
this. I plan on henna-ing, then applying the peroxide. I'll probably
finish with an acid rinse to close the keratin scales on the hair.

I'll let you all know how it comes out. If you've tried this before,
TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED.

Thanks,
Ben

Follow Ups

Hydrogen Peroxide??? Deborah 10:32:30 2/11/2004 (0)
Re: Getting to Brown iris 19:10:18 2/10/2004 (3)
- Re: Getting to Brown Kavi 23:10:11 2/10/2004 (2)
  - the ammoniatrick iris 23:49:27 2/10/2004 (1)
    - Re: the ammoniatrick Kavi 13:43:01 2/11/2004 (0)

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: I love women with red hair. : But I am a man looking for a natural looking dark brown, to cover gray : without poisoning myself. : So far I have seen strong coffee suggested as a mix-in to get brown. : Any other suggestions? Does anyone have experience with sage tea? : : Also: on the bodyart section of the site, I read about the ammonia : treatment that changes henna's color to a "soft black". Sounds close : to the dark brown I want. : : The ammonia trick works by reducing the henna with an alkali (ammonia : is basic). While this is an unacceptable chemical to apply to the hair : (which hasn't stopped the commercial hairdye folks) - there is another : readily available alkali that should work - the 6 or 9 percent : hydrogen peroxide solution sold as "developer". : : Hydrogen peroxide should do the same chemical trick on the henna as : the ammonia. Perhaps more gently, which would give a warmer brown : instead of near-black. : : Has anyone tried this? I am harvesting gray hair from my comb to try : this. I plan on henna-ing, then applying the peroxide. I'll probably : finish with an acid rinse to close the keratin scales on the hair. : : I'll let you all know how it comes out. If you've tried this before, : TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED. : : Thanks, : Ben
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