-with a healthy head of hair
YEARS AGO, as a 15-year-old school girl with a strong interest in hair colour, I noticed how those concentrated artificial drink mixes, such as Kool-Aid, would stain skin, teeth, clothing, containers, spoons, or anything they came into contact with.
“So why not hair?” I reasoned. Emptying some packets of grape flavoured drink mix into a saucer, I added just enough water to make a paste, and applied it to my hair with a toothbrush before going to bed with a plastic bag over my head that night.
The next day I had a lovely layered purple colour to my hair. It was dark, but glowed red in the sunlight (purple is a mix of red and blue), and was just perfect for school, since the teachers wouldn’t see the colour indoors. The only consideration was that I would have to wash it out for the outdoor assembly on Friday.
I discovered the potency of food colouring when, instead of fading away, the colour unfortunately turned brighter. Hair, as I have since learnt, is very porous, and my hair had just absorbed the colour.
After that experience, I shared the tip with amazed persons who asked me what hair dye I had used. It was not until years later, whilst watching television, that I saw one of those American talk show programmes in which the dyeing of hair with food colouring was being touted as if it were something new!  I later learned that kite paper and brightly coloured crepe paper were also exciting hair colouring tools.
Today, more and more persons are staying away from harsh chemical hair dyes and looking to safer, more natural solutions that will lighten or darken their hair. While the more natural methods may not produce immediately noticeable colours like chemical dyes, they work well overtime.
Here are some other ways to lighten/darken your hair without having to worry about seriously damaging your crown of beauty…

Henna: 

Henna is one of the most popular alternatives used to colour hair. If your hair is dark, henna isn’t going to do much to lift your colour, but it will add light brown/reddish tints that will be noticeable in sunlight (for jet black, use indigo with henna).

Carrot and beet juice:

Another way to get a reddish tint is to mix half a cup of beet juice with half a cup of carrot juice for similar results. Pour this over damp hair, and sit under the dryer for about 30 minutes before rinsing. If you’re not satisfied with your results, repeat the application weekly.

Honey:

Touted for its moisturizing properties, honey also works to gradually lighten hair because of the peroxide it releases. Add some honey to your conditioner every time you deep condition, and you will notice results in a few weeks’ time.

Black tea/coffee:
To darken your hair for that healthy and thick look, brew a pot of black tea or coffee and let it cool. Pour it over dry hair and leave for 30 minutes before rinsing. (A plastic cap helps)

Lemon juice:
Using lemon juice is an effective method to lighten hair, but it is very drying. Apply it and sit under the dryer for 15-20 minutes before shampooing.

Vodka:

I saw this one in a fashion magazine a few years ago. You streak your hair with the vodka, then go out in the sun for a little bit. You don’t have to rush to wash it off, but a ‘whole head’ application is not advisable.

Beer:
This would not intensely colour your hair, but would warm up a dowdy hair colour and give it a nice glow in the sunlight. A friend of mine who had spent some time in Venezuela loved this. Besides, it gave her long hair a sexy, tousled look.