In this article, discover five things that are sure to put a smile on your face!
Chemical stains? You don't want to hear about it anymore! The happiness of your hair is in nature and that you have only been able to observe since you switched to vegetable coloring. The reason you chose to take the plunge is because there are so many benefits to coloring your hair naturally. What you didn't necessarily know, however, is that you were also going to be faced with many funny situations that only fans of plant coloring are aware of. Here we have gathered five of them and give you the keys to doing better the next time you color that beautiful hair of yours. To your notes!
1 – Sometimes the smell of your hair changes
Not the most unpleasant, but neither of those perfumes that we love and that usually coat the hair, the smell of a vegetable coloring is to say the least … special. Depending on the plants it contains, the latter can be more or less strong, similar to Indian curry or henna. During the application, the aromas take hold of the room you are in, it is impossible to escape! As a regular, you know that it will certainly stay soaked in your hair for a few more days, but the first wash will fade it almost completely. The only thing is, when your hair is wet or damp – when you get out of the shower, or in bad weather, for example – this easily recognizable odor may well point the tip of its nose again … You wanted something natural, Of course, but smelling the plant that has just been watered, you would have done without! Note that when this happens, hair perfume has everything it takes to become your best ally.
– Le Parfum – Madam President's hair fragrance – available from 19.90 euros on amazon.fr
A real moisturizing mist, this product does not only perfume the hair fiber: it also takes care of it, protects it and facilitates styling. Enriched with black orchid extract, organic camellia oil and Provitamin B5, this mist with 94.5% natural ingredients is suitable for all hair types.
2 – You have developed real expertise
Plant coloring no longer has any secrets for you. Between research and experimentation – during which you were your own guinea pig – you now know everything about this art that you now master to perfection. It's a fact: this way of coloring your hair is almost like a real addiction, you always want to take the experience even further! You started by buying a vegetable coloring (all that is more classic), which you ended up embellishing – little by little – with a multitude of other ingredients: ayurvedic powders, oils, aloe gel vera… You now have the art of handling the formulation of your personalized coloring according to the desired result!
And because you can never get enough, here are some Ayurvedic powders to add to your collection:
– Sidr Ayurvedic Powder from Natureluxy – available from 35 euros per kilo on amazon.fr
Astringent and purifying, this powder relieves itching associated with scalp diseases, effectively fights dandruff and beautifies hair.
– Cosm’Ethics Ayurvedic Kapoor Kachli Powder – available from 13.99 euros per 100 grams on amazon.fr
This powder enhances the shine of the hair leaving it thicker and shinier. Capable of stimulating growth, it gives off a pleasant smell of cleanliness that takes hold of the hair.
3 – The way hairdressers look at you is no longer the same
Explaining to a hairdresser that you have gone natural is a bit like admitting to them having signed a pact with the devil. What do you mean you only color your hair with vegetables ?! But you know that on a former client who used only henna, the hair color caused a real chemical reaction and it was irrecoverable ?!
This reaction seemed disproportionate to you at first, then disturbing, you finally understood that not all plant colors were problematic and that, therefore, you were not concerned. Indeed, you always pay close attention to the ingredients that make up your hair color and metal salts are never part of it. In fact, they're the ones causing the kind of disasters your hairdresser keeps referring to. In addition, they are very allergenic and cause the hair to dry out while attacking the scalp … You might as well do without them, therefore, that's why you always make sure that the coloring you apply on your head is 100 % natural and you are right!
– The Natural Henna of Centifolia
Pure and free of additives – including metallic salts – it is only natural that this henna colors hair, decorating it in auburn to copper tones.
Where to find it?
– The 100% Hazelnut Plant Hair Color by Jeanne's Colors – available from 11.40 euros on boutiquebio.fr
Recommended for light to chestnut blondes, this intense and natural color will cover even the smallest white hair.
Be careful though, some ingredients – although 100% natural – can still cause unexpected reactions. This is the case with indigo – which can be used to darken plant color – which, when discolored, will give your hair a blue-green tint. Very tenacious, know that the latter leaves traces even after years. What we recommend is that you reveal your hair journey to your hairstylist in great detail before doing anything. Better yet: performing a test on a wick is a guarantee of certainty.
4 – The color obtained is not always exactly the one expected
And you got used to it, better yet, you even appreciate that little "surprise" side of the moment of revelation. Of course, we are not talking about a drastic gap between what was hoped for and the real result, but – with the vegetable coloring – there is always a part of mystery, especially when you start at home … This already explains by the fact that the application can never be completely uniform, but it is also because the pigment will not necessarily set in the same way on all the hair. So with every change of recipe, every addition or removal of key ingredients, it's a bit of a discovery. In addition, to observe the final result, you must always be patient … Indeed, the natural dye continuing to evolve several days after its application – a phenomenon caused by oxidation in contact with air – this adds a point of suspense to the procedure!
Know that if you want to benefit from all the benefits of plant coloring without seeing the color of your hair change, you can always turn to a neutral henna.
– Scented Garden Neutral Color Henna
This natural coloring makes the hair stronger, protects it from external aggressions, strengthens it, gives it flexibility, shine and volume, while not modifying its basic coloring in any way.
Where to find it?
5 – Even with experience, it's still a hassle
Let's face it: applying a vegetable color can quickly become a nightmare. Between the laborious distribution, the smell, the texture, the difficulty of applying such a mixture to all the hair (especially if they are long), the interminable pause time… Who says it is? Was it child's play? All this, not to mention the almost inevitable risk of getting stained … Because yes, it may have surprised you the first time: vegetable coloring stains a lot! Keep your towels, clothes, bathroom surfaces, and even your pillowcases (if you decide to leave your hair color on overnight). You know better than anyone: this muddy-looking mix is unforgiving. And since you are never safe from small pieces crumbling during application, or even after, you must be extra careful. Protect your surroundings as much as possible and apply a greasy substance to your ears, forehead and neck is a first step, using a heating cap is another.
– Wanxida's Heated Cap – available from 7.99 euros for four pieces on amazon.fr
Multi-action, in addition to preventing unwanted stains, the heat emitted by this cap will help shorten the exposure time of your natural hair colors.
As a fan of plant coloring: all of these little problems can only be familiar to you. Despite this, you are far from the idea of one day going back to chemical coloring for now. You appreciate too much the benefits of naturalness and its ability to beautify your hair… And we understand you!
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