How to Dye Your Hair Amber Naturally

What color is amber hair?

Amber is typically warm, yellow-orange shade. There isn’t really a universal “amber” shade. Sometimes, amber is a more orange-toned color, while it may be brown-tinted in other cases. If you look up “amber hair” on a search engine, most of the results show a deep orange or ginger color.

How do you make homemade amber hair dye?

Craft a warm, rusty orange hair dye with red henna powder. Mix ½ cup (56 g) of henna powder with ⁄4 c (59 mL) cup of water until it creates a thick, mashed potato-like consistency. Cover the mixture with plastic wrap, and leave it covered for about 12 hours. If you have long hair, you might want to double or triple the recipe, just to be safe.

Shampoo your hair and protect your hairline. Washing your hair helps open the hair shafts, so your hair can really soak in the dye. Rinse out the shampoo and dab coconut oil along your hairline, so the henna dye doesn’t stain your scalp. Don’t condition your hair right now.

Spread the dye all over your hair. Once you’ve applied the paste all over, cover your hair with a sturdy layer of plastic wrap. Leave the paste on your hair for 2-6 hours, and then rinse it out. Typically, this homemade hair dye lasts between 4-6 weeks. Feel free to try this dye if you have darker hair, but you might not have as noticeable results.

How do you create a dark red dye?

Use beet juice to get a cool red shade. You can purchase a jug of beet juice from your local grocery store, or make your own own juice with whole beets. Buy or prepare enough juice to cover your hair, so your dye job looks nice and consistent.

Cover your hair with the beet juice for 1 hour. Pour the juice directly over your hair, spreading it through your locks with a comb. Then, let the juice sit for 1 hour. This method can get a little messy, so you might be better off doing this over a sink or bathtub. Keep some extra towels on hand to clean up the mess, too.

Rinse out your hair with cool water. Hit the shower until you’ve rinsed out all the leftover beet juice. Then, lightly blow-dry your hair and admire your newly tinted hair! Beet juice acts like a temporary dye, and probably won’t last longer than a few weeks. Beet juice might not work well if you have dark hair, but it could be a worth a try.

What other homemade amber dyes can I make?

Carrot juice is a popular option if you’d like a warm, light orange tint. Create a homemade dye by mixing equal parts carrot juice and olive or coconut oil. Massage the mixture all through your hair, and then cover it up for 1 hour with plastic wrap. Then, rinse out your hair with apple cider vinegar. You may not get your desired color at first. That’s okay! Just repeat the coloring process until you’re happy with the shade. Unfortunately, carrot juice probably won’t work well if you have darker hair.

Marigolds and dried calendula give your hair a soft, warm red shade. Simmer 2 ⁄2 c (590 mL) of water and either ⅓ cup (13 g) of marigold flowers or 3 tbsp (7.5 g) of dried calendula leaves over low-medium heat in a non-aluminum pot. After 20 minutes, strain out the flowers and add a splash of red wine to the mixture. Wash and condition your hair, and place a large bucket or basin at your feet in the bathtub or shower. Then, pour the mixture over your head, letting it recollect in the bucket. Continue pouring the mixture over your hair several times—then, sun-dry your hair outside, and enjoy your new amber locks! Feel free to re-dye your hair the next time you wash it if you aren’t happy with the color. Hobbyists don’t suggest a specific amount of red wine for this recipe. Start with a small amount, and add more as needed. This specific recipe works best with light brown or brown hair.

What if I have darker hair?

Try a hair chalk or color spray. Unfortunately, if you have black or dark brown hair, it’s hard to get show-stopping results without reaching for the bleach. If you’d prefer a bleach-free look, check online or at your local beauty shop for amber-toned hair chalks or sprays. Hair tinting kits aren’t natural, but they’re a little less tough on your hair than bleach. If you’re in a pinch, you can even dye your hair with sidewalk chalk.

How can I make my amber hair last longer?

Don’t wash your hair quite as often. Natural dyes, like beet juice, can give you a cool new look, but they won’t last as long as traditional hair dye. Instead, space out your regular shampoos, and only wash your hair with cold water.

Opt for an all-natural boxed dye. There are tons of organic and all-natural dyes out there that can give you the color you love without the chemicals you hate. While no dye will be completely chemical-free, brands like Herbaceuticals, Onc NaturalColors, and Clairol Natural Instincts are a few natural options you can try.