Re: Black Walnut Hull Powder and my vegetable dyeing experience, for what it is worth...

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Posted by Sam on March 17, 2004 at 05:24:27:

In reply to: Black Walnut Hull Powder and my vegetable dyeing experience, for what it is worth... posted by Jane on March 16, 2004 at 13:44:41:

Jane

That's great stuff! Many thanks for this, I think I am beginning to
get some idea of how to go about dying with vegetable dyes. I am
going to try what you did and let you know how I got on. It seems
like a lengthy process and needs a lot of dedication, especially the
fact that I have some grey and it is stubborn and doesn't take
colouring easily. I wonder just how difficult it is going to be for
me to dye it...

Many thanks once again.

Sam

: For what it is worth, I am pasting my "vegetable dyeing" journal
: below. Note, I am still in the experimental stages of what works
for
: my hair. I know for dyeing baskets with black walnut hulls, people
: say to use the whole husk and brew in hot water for 10 minutes or
: more and allow liquid to cool. I might try a similar method for my
: hair next time, but as of yet I am not sure what effect this method
: would have on hair. Anyway, here is my journal. I have not added
: the pictures yet so it is not really complete.
:
:
: A Journal of how I colored my hair with vegetable dyes:
:
: My hair while growing up was blonde—very blonde before age 12 and a
: darker blonde after puberty. I was always in the sun, however, so
it
: is hard to determine when my hair really became brown. In my early
: twenties, my hair was naturally light brown with very light sun-
: bleached blonde ends. Around age 23, I started getting my hair
: highlighted (bleach, no toner). At age 29, a few bad hairdressers
: got a hold of my hair, didn’t listen to me, and did a number of bad
: double processing jobs (including bleach, toners, chemical dyes,
the
: works). The last one was in early January of 2004. I waited 6
weeks
: after that experience and decided to use vegetable dyes in my
hair.
: I read everything I could on the web before doing this on my own.
At
: this point, my roots were an ash/golden brown with a few natural
dark
: blonde highlights. The rest was a mix of low lights that were
: slightly more orange and lighter than my roots and highlights that
: were very blonde. I am a 30 year old with fairly thick, long
hair,
: no gray hair. The goal of using vegetable dyes on my hair is to get
: back to a more natural ash-gold medium brown color and add shine
and
: vitality to my hair. I realize I cannot get back to my exact
: natural color with vegetable dyes, because they simply “coat” the
: hair, but I figure it is worth a try and hope to make the ends
blend
: a bit better with the roots.
: First Experiment, 3/4/04:
: (Note: I did a test first on the hair from my brush.
Unfortunately,
: I didn’t notice much of a difference with this test, but it
verified
: for me that the henna likely wouldn’t turn my chemically treated
hair
: a funky green color, which it can, so I’ve read. I have since
: learned you should do the hairbrush test at least 3 days ahead of
: time, as vegetable dyes, especially henna, darken over the first
few
: days.)
:
: Steps:
: 1. Made coffee (from fresh, whole beans, NOT DECAF, ground just
: before brewing). I am not sure why everyone instructs not to use
: decaf or instant coffee, but I suspect it is because in order to
get
: decaf or instant coffee, chemical processes are used, and one wants
: to use the coffee bean, not a chemically processed coffee bean.
: 2. Let coffee sit approximately 1hour.
: 3. Re-boiled the coffee and added it and 3 tablespoons of olive oil
: to 8 oz. (2 packages) of Light Mountain medium brown henna mix.*
: 4. I allowed the mix to sit for about 10 minutes.
: 5. I piled the stuff on and sat for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
: 6. After that 75 minutes, I poured more coffee and oil into my hair
: and re-distributed the henna. (I was nervous about applying it
: unevenly my first time, or having it dry out.)
: Note: I used no heat, as I did not want to encourage too much red.
: 7. After 45 minutes more (total of 2 hours with henna and indigo in
: my hair) I rinsed (water only) everything out for about 15 minutes
in
: the shower. I did not shampoo until 24 hours later. My hair was a
: little greasy that first day due to the olive oil, but after the
: shampoo 24 hours later, it felt GREAT!
: Note: I have long hair and did the whole process by myself. What a
: mess!!!!
: * I have verified that the only ingredients in the Light Mountain
: medium brown henna are indigoferae folium (indigo) and lawsonia
: inermis (henna). They use no chemicals, no PPD, no ammonia, no
: peroxide, no yucky stuff. The box lists only indigoferae folium
and
: lawsonia inermis. I verified this by emailing @Internatural, who
: sells Lotus Brands (the manufacturer of Light Mountain). Their
: costumer service email address is:
customersupport@internatural.com.
: You can also find more information at www.lotusbrands.com.
: Essentially, all of their “colors” come from mixing different
: proportions of are indigoferae folium (indigo), lawsonia inermis
: (henna), and cassia auriculata (senna), from what I understand.
: Unfortunately, there is no way to know, exactly, their
proportions.
: I suppose that is proprietary information. Of course, it is most
: peoples’ opinion that better quality henna yields a darker,
prettier
: color, but I wanted to go with a pre-packaged mix on my first time,
a
: little wimpy, I guess.
:
: Results: Pretty good. The lowlights definitely blended better
with
: my roots (became darker), but the very light highlights did not
take
: on the dye very well. Overall it is a tad more red than I think is
: appropriate for my skin tone, but I am happier with how much more
: natural and healthy my hair looks.
:
: Picture #1 was taken after shampooing, conditioning and allowing my
: hair to air dry, approximately 24 hours after the henna process.
:
: 3/13/04
: After a little over a week of reddish highlights and some research
: about my skin tone (soft summer/soft autumn), I decided I wanted to
: get a more golden brown look to my hair, something closer to its
: natural color. So, I went to Penn Herb Co. Inc
: (http://pennherb.com/index.html ) and bought some turmeric, senna
and
: black walnut hull powder. Penn Herb Co. Inc. is a wonderful
place!!
: I live in Philly so I visited their store, but you can also buy
from
: them online.
: WARNING: Many people apparently are allergic to black walnut so I
: tested it on my skin and allowed it to sit there for several hours
: first. There was no redness where the paste was when I washed it
off
: so I figured I was not allergic. Also, I again did a test on some
: hair from my brush. This is important, since I have used chemicals
: on my hair in the past, and because turmeric can turn hair very
: YELLOW, if too much is used. Again, it was hard to see anything
with
: the small sample, but it did verify, for me, the dye would not
: drastically alter my hair, which was good. Next time I will do the
: hairbrush test a few days before the “real deal.”
: Here is what I did:
: Step 1. I sifted these dry ingredients:
: ľ cup of senna
: ľ cup of black walnut hull powder
: 1 tablespoon of turmeric
: Step 2. Meanwhile, I had boiled day old coffee (that was originally
: brewed from fresh, whole, non-decaf, beans) and then brewed
chamomile
: (fresh, 4 tablespoons) and English breakfast tea (1 tea bag) in
the
: boiling coffee. Took away from heat and allowed to steep, covered,
: for 10 minutes. I am not sure exactly how much liquid there was,
: likely 4-6 cups.
: Step 3. I added some of the liquid to the dry ingredients, along
: with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. I
: added enough to make it like thick pancake batter.
: Step 4. I slopped the mixture on my freshly shampooed (not
: conditioned) hair and allowed it to sit for 1 hour and 45 minutes.
: Step 5. I added two more tablespoons of lemon juice to the
: coffee/tea/olive oil leftovers and poured that in my hair, remixed
up
: the glob on my head and allowed it to sit for 30 more minutes.
: Step 6. To rinse, I first soaked myself in a tub. The water become
a
: gross brown color, but black walnut hull is also supposed to be
good
: for skin so I figured it was not so bad to be soaking in it for a
few
: minutes. Once I got the bulk of it out, I stood up and rinsed it
: with water and conditioner for about 15 minutes. I did not shampoo
: my hair until the next day. One would think that if the black
walnut
: hull powder is really dyeing my hair, it should have browned my
skin
: as well. But, I was soaked in the tub for a very short period of
: time, and I don’t think the black walnut hull powder mix made an
: extremely potent dye. Again, I am looking for fairly subtle
: results. Someone hoping to go really darker with their hair would
: likely need to do something much more drastic than what I have done.
: Results:
: It darkened my hair a bit, not a lot, but this mix definitely
turned
: the reddish highlights a more yellow/gold/brown color, which looks
: better with my skin tone. I am happy with the results so far, but
I
: think continued vegetable dyes every 4 weeks or so will make the
: results darker and better. I think I am becoming an addict.

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: Jane : : That's great stuff! Many thanks for this, I think I am beginning to : get some idea of how to go about dying with vegetable dyes. I am : going to try what you did and let you know how I got on. It seems : like a lengthy process and needs a lot of dedication, especially the : fact that I have some grey and it is stubborn and doesn't take : colouring easily. I wonder just how difficult it is going to be for : me to dye it... : : Many thanks once again. : : Sam : : : : For what it is worth, I am pasting my "vegetable dyeing" journal : : below. Note, I am still in the experimental stages of what works : for : : my hair. I know for dyeing baskets with black walnut hulls, people : : say to use the whole husk and brew in hot water for 10 minutes or : : more and allow liquid to cool. I might try a similar method for my : : hair next time, but as of yet I am not sure what effect this method : : would have on hair. Anyway, here is my journal. I have not added : : the pictures yet so it is not really complete. : : : : : : A Journal of how I colored my hair with vegetable dyes: : : : : My hair while growing up was blonde—very blonde before age 12 and a : : darker blonde after puberty. I was always in the sun, however, so : it : : is hard to determine when my hair really became brown. In my early : : twenties, my hair was naturally light brown with very light sun- : : bleached blonde ends. Around age 23, I started getting my hair : : highlighted (bleach, no toner). At age 29, a few bad hairdressers : : got a hold of my hair, didn’t listen to me, and did a number of bad : : double processing jobs (including bleach, toners, chemical dyes, : the : : works). The last one was in early January of 2004. I waited 6 : weeks : : after that experience and decided to use vegetable dyes in my : hair. : : I read everything I could on the web before doing this on my own. : At : : this point, my roots were an ash/golden brown with a few natural : dark : : blonde highlights. The rest was a mix of low lights that were : : slightly more orange and lighter than my roots and highlights that : : were very blonde. I am a 30 year old with fairly thick, long : hair, : : no gray hair. The goal of using vegetable dyes on my hair is to get : : back to a more natural ash-gold medium brown color and add shine : and : : vitality to my hair. I realize I cannot get back to my exact : : natural color with vegetable dyes, because they simply “coat” the : : hair, but I figure it is worth a try and hope to make the ends : blend : : a bit better with the roots. : : First Experiment, 3/4/04: : : (Note: I did a test first on the hair from my brush. : Unfortunately, : : I didn’t notice much of a difference with this test, but it : verified : : for me that the henna likely wouldn’t turn my chemically treated : hair : : a funky green color, which it can, so I’ve read. I have since : : learned you should do the hairbrush test at least 3 days ahead of : : time, as vegetable dyes, especially henna, darken over the first : few : : days.) : : : : Steps: : : 1. Made coffee (from fresh, whole beans, NOT DECAF, ground just : : before brewing). I am not sure why everyone instructs not to use : : decaf or instant coffee, but I suspect it is because in order to : get : : decaf or instant coffee, chemical processes are used, and one wants : : to use the coffee bean, not a chemically processed coffee bean. : : 2. Let coffee sit approximately 1hour. : : 3. Re-boiled the coffee and added it and 3 tablespoons of olive oil : : to 8 oz. (2 packages) of Light Mountain medium brown henna mix.* : : 4. I allowed the mix to sit for about 10 minutes. : : 5. I piled the stuff on and sat for 1 hour and 15 minutes. : : 6. After that 75 minutes, I poured more coffee and oil into my hair : : and re-distributed the henna. (I was nervous about applying it : : unevenly my first time, or having it dry out.) : : Note: I used no heat, as I did not want to encourage too much red. : : 7. After 45 minutes more (total of 2 hours with henna and indigo in : : my hair) I rinsed (water only) everything out for about 15 minutes : in : : the shower. I did not shampoo until 24 hours later. My hair was a : : little greasy that first day due to the olive oil, but after the : : shampoo 24 hours later, it felt GREAT! : : Note: I have long hair and did the whole process by myself. What a : : mess!!!! : : * I have verified that the only ingredients in the Light Mountain : : medium brown henna are indigoferae folium (indigo) and lawsonia : : inermis (henna). They use no chemicals, no PPD, no ammonia, no : : peroxide, no yucky stuff. The box lists only indigoferae folium : and : : lawsonia inermis. I verified this by emailing @Internatural, who : : sells Lotus Brands (the manufacturer of Light Mountain). Their : : costumer service email address is: : customersupport@internatural.com. : : You can also find more information at www.lotusbrands.com. : : Essentially, all of their “colors” come from mixing different : : proportions of are indigoferae folium (indigo), lawsonia inermis : : (henna), and cassia auriculata (senna), from what I understand. : : Unfortunately, there is no way to know, exactly, their : proportions. : : I suppose that is proprietary information. Of course, it is most : : peoples’ opinion that better quality henna yields a darker, : prettier : : color, but I wanted to go with a pre-packaged mix on my first time, : a : : little wimpy, I guess. : : : : Results: Pretty good. The lowlights definitely blended better : with : : my roots (became darker), but the very light highlights did not : take : : on the dye very well. Overall it is a tad more red than I think is : : appropriate for my skin tone, but I am happier with how much more : : natural and healthy my hair looks. : : : : Picture #1 was taken after shampooing, conditioning and allowing my : : hair to air dry, approximately 24 hours after the henna process. : : : : 3/13/04 : : After a little over a week of reddish highlights and some research : : about my skin tone (soft summer/soft autumn), I decided I wanted to : : get a more golden brown look to my hair, something closer to its : : natural color. So, I went to Penn Herb Co. Inc : : (http://pennherb.com/index.html ) and bought some turmeric, senna : and : : black walnut hull powder. Penn Herb Co. Inc. is a wonderful : place!! : : I live in Philly so I visited their store, but you can also buy : from : : them online. : : WARNING: Many people apparently are allergic to black walnut so I : : tested it on my skin and allowed it to sit there for several hours : : first. There was no redness where the paste was when I washed it : off : : so I figured I was not allergic. Also, I again did a test on some : : hair from my brush. This is important, since I have used chemicals : : on my hair in the past, and because turmeric can turn hair very : : YELLOW, if too much is used. Again, it was hard to see anything : with : : the small sample, but it did verify, for me, the dye would not : : drastically alter my hair, which was good. Next time I will do the : : hairbrush test a few days before the “real deal.” : : Here is what I did: : : Step 1. I sifted these dry ingredients: : : ľ cup of senna : : ľ cup of black walnut hull powder : : 1 tablespoon of turmeric : : Step 2. Meanwhile, I had boiled day old coffee (that was originally : : brewed from fresh, whole, non-decaf, beans) and then brewed : chamomile : : (fresh, 4 tablespoons) and English breakfast tea (1 tea bag) in : the : : boiling coffee. Took away from heat and allowed to steep, covered, : : for 10 minutes. I am not sure exactly how much liquid there was, : : likely 4-6 cups. : : Step 3. I added some of the liquid to the dry ingredients, along : : with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. I : : added enough to make it like thick pancake batter. : : Step 4. I slopped the mixture on my freshly shampooed (not : : conditioned) hair and allowed it to sit for 1 hour and 45 minutes. : : Step 5. I added two more tablespoons of lemon juice to the : : coffee/tea/olive oil leftovers and poured that in my hair, remixed : up : : the glob on my head and allowed it to sit for 30 more minutes. : : Step 6. To rinse, I first soaked myself in a tub. The water become : a : : gross brown color, but black walnut hull is also supposed to be : good : : for skin so I figured it was not so bad to be soaking in it for a : few : : minutes. Once I got the bulk of it out, I stood up and rinsed it : : with water and conditioner for about 15 minutes. I did not shampoo : : my hair until the next day. One would think that if the black : walnut : : hull powder is really dyeing my hair, it should have browned my : skin : : as well. But, I was soaked in the tub for a very short period of : : time, and I don’t think the black walnut hull powder mix made an : : extremely potent dye. Again, I am looking for fairly subtle : : results. Someone hoping to go really darker with their hair would : : likely need to do something much more drastic than what I have done. : : Results: : : It darkened my hair a bit, not a lot, but this mix definitely : turned : : the reddish highlights a more yellow/gold/brown color, which looks : : better with my skin tone. I am happy with the results so far, but : I : : think continued vegetable dyes every 4 weeks or so will make the : : results darker and better. I think I am becoming an addict.
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