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Black walnut hair dye (using hull powder)
When I was looking for ways to all naturally darken my hair I came across the method of using black walnut hair dye. At first, I couldn’t find too much information online about how to use black walnut hair dye or if it really worked. So I figured I would try it out myself. At first I tried to buy the actual black walnut husks, but since no one sold them I bought a bag of black walnut powder online. It was about 3 dollars for 8 oz. I was even able to find organic black walnut powder.
After the walnut hair dye powder arrived, the next question was how do I make the black walnut hair dye from the powder. I decided to use a method that is used for dying cloth.
So I boiled a pot of water (about 5 cups of water), took it off the stove and put in 5 tablespoons of black walnut powder. I let this steep for about an hour.
Then once my walnut hair dye mixture cooled down, I dipped the ends of my hair in the pot (since this was my first time using it, I only dipped the ends of my hair in to test it out). I let it absorb for about 15 minutes and then just let my hair air dry for 3 to 4 hours. (note: After applying the black walnut hair dye I did not even rinse with water.)
The black walnut hair dye results:
The walnut hair dye did darken my hair! Yay, success! My hair is a light to medium brown color naturally. The picture above compares my test strand to my natural hair color. It seems it may work even better for someone with a lighter hair color.
To get an even darker color you could try steeping the black walnut hair dye mixture for a longer time.
AFTER PICTURE: (This picture was taken 2 days after doing the black walnut hair dye, there is a before picture of me on my about me page with my natural hair color and also on my facebook page).
If you are going to try black walnut hair dye, just note that my hair has not been colored or dyed in anyway, so I’m not sure how doing this on colored hair would work, but I am curious if it would have the same results.
Please leave a comment if you have tried coloring your hair with black walnut powder and let us know how it worked for you!
UPDATE: I have received a few comments from readers who have tried this method and suggested sitting in the sun or using a hair dryer when you have the mixture in your hair. The heat may help increase the ability of the color to stay.
Check out more Natural Hair Dye Methods using Fruit and Herbs!
1. Beside black walnut power/ henna, is there any other natural products available.
2. For best result, any thing can be added in addition to only black walnut power/ henna.
Pl comment.
I have tried using coffee and herbal tea to help darken my hair, but so far the black walnut has been the most successful.
Can anyone tell how many shampoos does the color from black walnut hair dye will last? I have gray hair and would like to know how often I will have to use this dye. Thanks
It lasted about a month or so for me and slowly began to fade. I wash my hair about every 2 days.
Hi,
Even I got interest by reading all these posts. I am Indian girl having black hair, but I am having some grey hair also. At present I am staying in Berlin(Germany). My question is : where can I get this Black Walnut dye in Berlin.. If you know any information pls let me know. I am afraid of applying these hair color products which r available in stores. I heard that if we start applying these colors, slowly the rest of my black hair also turns to grey. Pls give me information if possible. Thank u very much.
You should be able to order it online, I wasn’t able to find it locally either.
Hi,
Reading these posts has made me really interested, I am a 56 yr old gray man who used to have brown colored hair. Tried hair does and don’t like it at all, can you tell me which of the herbs you recommend to have a brownier hair and also does this work with a full beard?
I’ve used the black walnut hair dye with good results, it seems to be the most powerful compared to using teas or coffee.
Hi.. I love the idea of colouring your hair naturally.. I have naturally soft black hair, can you tell me how I can make it a chocolate brownish shade?
Thanks
You could try lemon juice, it is commonly used to lighten hair.
Can we use black walnut extract in place of black walnut powder?
I haven’t tied the extract. Let us know how it works if you give it a try.
hi, this is all so interesting. I wonder if it would work by adding it to a shampoo like Wen? Just a thought
Interesting, let us know if you decide to try it.
I use wen, but hadn’t thought of that! I too want it to be a thicker product when applied,
Hi! I just thought I’d share a variation I’m working on. Down here in South Texas, we don’t have Walnut trees (that I know of 😉 ), but we have plenty of Pecan trees. The Pecan hulls are so similar to Walnut hulls–they are just smaller. I collected Pecans and hulls last week at my friend’s little Pecan grove. I’ve tried several techniques to cover my grays and darken my hair. I’m getting there, but not quite where I want my hair to be yet. I ended up boiling the hulls (about 30 in 8 cups of water) for nearly an hour, and then let it steep for several hours. I refrigerated until I could figure out how I wanted to do it. Instead of holding my head in a bowl, I thought I’d try thickening the liquid dye. I wasn’t sure what to use, but I had cornstarch on hand. I did a section of my hair to test, but only had time to leave it on for 25 minutes. I saw no marked difference. bummer.
Today, I decided to poor the dye over my hair (catching the dripping dye back into a bowl). I soaked all my hair and then put a plastic processing cap on and wrapped an old towel on. I waited over 30 minutes. BTW–I didn’t think longer was better because I had done a test the day before with 3 different pieces of white fabric. One piece was in soaking in the dye for an hour, the second for 40 minutes and the 3rd for 20 minutes. They all looked exactly the same.
The above technique showed some darkening, but not much. I decided to go ahead, mix about 3/4 cup with 1 T cornstarch over a burner and thicken it. It started out looking like chocolate milk, but as it started to thicken, it turned a rich brown. I put my gloves back on and began chunking this mixture all over my head. When all of my hair was thoroughly coated, I put another plastic processing cap on, wrapped my head in a towel and took an hour-long nap. 🙂 when I awoke, I rinsed my hair. I could see a difference this time. But I still want it darker. And I don’t want to see any gray (I still see a bit). So, I’m going to color again tomorrow. If I can’t get where I want to go with this, I’m considering the indigo. 🙂
Have fun, y’all!
Thank you so much for sharing! Glad to hear you saw some results with it. 🙂
Can I use black walnut extract mixed with water……….
I’ve only tried it with the black walnut powder. If you give it a try, please let us know if it works for you!
I was wondering if you had success dying your hair with it just washed before hand or left a bit oily when you put on the dye? I’ve heard that affects the outcome. thanks!
Hi was wondering how long this black walnit colouring wil last, is it a deep pentrating colour,,thanks
It lasted about a month for me and then slowly the color lightened up.
Hi
I have just put black walnut powder mixture on my hair.Managed to get it on amazon from Germany (I live in UK).It was expensive,so I do hope it will work.Although I have mixed it with little conditioner to ensure it stays on my hair,otherwise it was dripping.Will let you know if its works.
Hope it works for you! Let us know your results.
Hi,
I’ve been using the black walnut hull powder dye in my hair for about 2 weeks now and have definitely seen some color on my grey :-). I pour it over my hair (over a huge basin in the sink), allow the excess to drip back into the basin. I will let my hair air dry and sometimes I leave it until the next day before rinsing :-). For now, I’m using the rinse several times a week especially after cutting my hair. I store any left overs in a jar in the fridge and reuse daily. I have dark brown hair and a few light brown so the combination is very pretty. I currently use Bert’s Bee’s shampoo and conditioner (sometimes I use yogurt as a conditioner).
Glad to hear it helps cover grey! Thanks for sharing your results 🙂
I am so going to try the walnut powder. I’ve been using the sage and black tea for about a month with minimal results, or so I thought. I went on holidays overseas for two weeks and so was unable to use my sage/tea. By the end of the two weeks I was sporting a multitude of greys, I was horrified lol. Obviously it was covering more than I thought but I’m keen to try the walnut powder. I have dark brown hair.
Let us know your results 🙂
I am still waiting for my delivery of the Walnut powder. In the mean time, I finally decided to give henna a go as there is no way I can go back to regular hair dye because of my PPD allergy. I’ve done the henna twice and I have to say, I’m hugely impressed with its grey coverage. I have no greys now :-).
I’m just going through the process of learning the ins and outs of henna. I think I may be able to add the walnut to the henna mix for a more brown result.
Hmmmm much research to be done.
Glad to hear you’ve had good results with henna, I haven’t tried it yet. Hope the color turned out great!
I am still waiting for my walnut powder to be delivered. It’s taking an awfully long time. In the mean time, I finally decided to give henna a go due to my allergies to PPD and my growing numbr of greys. I’ve done the henna twice in the one week, and I have to say, I’m truly impressed. Not one grey hair in sight…Yay!
Much to learn about this henna, it’s application, dye release etc etc. but I really do think this is my answer. My hair is so much more shinier, feels thicker and best of all I don’t have to tie it up all the time to hide my frizzy curls because the frizz is, like, disappearing. I’ve worn my hair down in the last two weeks than I ever had and I’m looking forward to reaching full henna saturation. 🙂
hi,
i am from india (southern part of india), a place called CHENNAI a cosmopolitan city, forgot to put that earlier. if it is available anywhere in INDIA please let me know to try it
hi ,
can anyone tell me where i can get black walnut hulls or shells for using it as a hair dye.
basically my hair is black but now it is with white streaks and i have hennaed it using Henna powder and hence it is now red in colour.
Hi there, I bought mine online, the brand name was Starwest and I was glad they also sold an organic kind.
Anybody who has henna on your hair- I don’t think that this, or any other hair dye is going to give you predictable results, or maybe work at all. Henna coats your hair and keeps other dyes from penetrating.
How long does the color stay in? Especially if you use the walnut over grey?
I read a book “Diagnostic Face Reading and Holistic Healing’. In it Roger Bezanis, the author says that the Kidneys rules the scalp and if you help the Kidneys, a great deal of the time you can actually get a lot of your natural hair color back and the gray goes away. He also says the Kidneys love grapes. They cleanse and heal them. Of course good water is important too.
I’ve read Black Walnut Tincture is used for parasites in the colon in addition to a couple of other herbs.
A friend of mine used the Black Walnut as a rinse for her hair after every shampoo instead of conditioner. The girl had some shiny beautiful hair!
Good luck ladies! I’m going to mix mine up tonight and apply tmrw!
Hi, I was wondering what website you bought the black walnut hull powder from? Thank you
I need to know if I can apply this mixture at the roots… my hair sustains heena colour for 3 weeks but my hair has good growth.. so even when the colour is still shown my new grown roots r gray n I need touch up… can u respond this if I can us this paste at the roots andhow ssafeit is.. thanks in advance. .
How long does this dye last for?
For me, it lasted several weeks then slowly lightened up.
Hi i was going to try this, but i have two Q:
How long do i let the walnut mixture sray in my hair
how should i wash it out?
Thanks!
Some leave it on for a few minutes to a few hours. I have been getting quite a few emails from people who have tried it saying that sitting in the sun or using a hair dryer while the mixture is in your hair helps. I gently washed my hair with shampoo the next day.
I tried the Black Walnut dye. (apologies for the lengthy post)
In the sink, I’d shampoo then rinse with the black walnut dye in a large bowl for about 15 minutes. I would towel & air dry. In the morning, I would rinse it, condition, and style as usual. Again, the gray was harder to cover but after 1 week of daily apps, it was covering fairly well. After 2 weeks I had almost all gry/white coverage. It is a bit drying, so I found a recipe that included a little olive oil, sounds greasy, but it wasn’t. This does work. After 2 weeks I began skipping the process. The recipe recommended once you achieve your darkness, to mix some of the dye with shampoo, then only rinse with the dye about once a week. This sounds complicated, but it isn’t. A batch last about 7-10 days, and keeps in the fridge. It’s effort for 2-3 weeks, then it’s almost no difference than regular hair maintenance.
My problem: my hair grows so fast. So I was applying frequently, which gave a monotone look to my hair, and to me. I need highlights. I tried a little lemon juice in the sun, and again I had success, but once you apply the dye again, the highlights are gone. What I’m trying to find is a way to apply the dye to the roots only. I tried numerous batches trying to create a gel that would keep the dye on the roots only, but no success. I do believe a previous post said water makes a difference, I think so too. Also, the dye varies considerable with each recipe and cooking/setting. You just have to be patient and find what works for you. I’m currently using the chemicals coloring again, because I need some highlights so I don’t resemble death. But I’m still looking for a gel base that will work. The sage tea washed out quickly, but I only used it for several weeks. The black walnut does not rinse out. For me it began to fade. It’s been several months, and it is still present, but faded. Even the gray covered hair, did not wash out, but faded. I’m impressed with the possibilites.
Also, I did a lot of research on Black Walnut. From what I’ve researched, there is no danger in applying it to your hair/skin. If you are going to ingest it, you should not take it as a permanent daily supplement – you need breaks in the cycle after several months. I would recommend you speak to a healthcare professional if you wanted to take it internally for months. I do believe Black Walnut has incredible medicinal value; I’m so thankful to have it. Just applying it to my hair/scalp, I noticed good improvement in my skin. I believe it has anti-fungal anti-viral properties, which might explain why you can’t take it daily on an unlimited basis. Research, research, it’s the only way to know what works for you.
I had more manageablity with the Sage, Rosemary and Black tea. A good conditioner makes a huge difference with both. Good luck.
Hi Nancy! Thank you so much for sharing. Glad to hear you had good results with it covering greys.
You’re welcome Lori. It did take a while, and I do believe how long it simmers or sets make a huge difference. I’m happy to have found your sight and this post you started.
Hi Nancy, I only tried once with black walnut hull to dye my white hair which was not successful. I am wondering how much powder you put into the bowel. Did you boil the powder too? Thanks.
Cathy, I will have to check my notes when I get home from work. I will try to respond tonight.
Did you ever respond?
I have no idea how you cook up your dye, but I have been making a strong decoction from rosemary and sage, using this to make strong coffee and then creating a gel with cornstarch. I leave it on my head (wrapped in a plastic bag) for 6 hours, once a week. I haven’t been doing it consistently enough to be able to tell you what to expect. I did it 3 or 4 times, missed a couple of months and then have done it again this past month. My hair is brown, streaked with grey and it turned the greys blond. It didn’t wash out during the 2 months I missed. I don’t know how dark it will go if I am consistent, but the colouring is gradual, to the roots blend in quite well. The main thing is the cornstarch, I used my pudding recipe and it makes it a good consistency.
Is it not possible too use gelatine? In Norway we have gelatin plates that are used for cooking, and they will dissolve in hot water, only to become like gel when it cools down..
Im trying the black walnut powder for the first time tonight, but maybe I should test out the gelatine next time=D
Wonderfull tips by the way Lori:D and Nancy:) Been struggeling with bad consciousness for using toxic haircoloring for many years now, and Im excited to see if it works on the light roots..
Hi!
When you say:
The recipe recommended once you achieve your darkness, to mix some of the dye with shampoo, then only rinse with the dye about once a week.
Do you mean you use the dye mixed with shampoo as your permanent shampoo from then on, AND you soak your hair in a separate thing of just dye once a week? This is for my mom, who’s managed to have a ridiculous reaction to every single hair dye I’ve brought her, ammonia-free or not.
I tried this today and it didn’t work at all. I have red hair and wanted to go brown. Didn’t even accept. Although it did stain my hands .05%. Will try again tomorrow with guar gum.
Hope it works for you. Many say that once applied, it needs to be heated to help the hair take the color (using a hairdryer or sitting in the sun).
Hi Lori,
I want to try this walnut powder you recommended. Which brand you have used? So I can buy on Amazon. Thnx.
I use unrefined coconut oil.
Hi everyone!
I did a walnut dye application. I posted about it on the Long Hair Community forum if you want to see pics and have a read: http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=112907
Thanks, Lori, for ‘pushing me over the edge’ as they say 🙂
It was SO worth it 🙂
Wow Nicole, your hair looks beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
I am very surprised that you figured the whole thing out. We can color our hair using Black Walnut Hull Powder.
I really want a way to darken my hair naturally, but the other poster with the juglone question made me very nervous, do you feel like this is safe to use?
I don’t believe there is any harm because I have read a great amount of information about many eating it to treat cancer. Here is an interesting post to check out:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/432541-the-uses-of-black-walnut-drops/
Hi Lori.
Your hair looks beautiful!
However the following two weblinks, based on research done, indicate juglone is toxic to human fibroblasts cells and damages cell DNA.
1. http://www.livestrong.com/article/145740-black-walnut-hull-side-effects/
2. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0041008X05001304
Please take a look and comment.
Best regards.
Paul.
hey lori! thanks alot for sharing this..never thought that one can use nuts for coloring hair.! I wanted to ask that can i use the walnut powder do the husk powder??
Hi Julie, I used black walnut hull powder but I have read that using the husks is best (to achieve better color).
Hello, I was wondering how much water to use? I just got the black walnut powder in the mail, and I am very excited to test it out! 🙂 I suppose it is just: the less water and the more powder = darker. and vise versa … but I’m still unsure about the amount of water to use. thanks!
I used about 1/2 cup of water, but as you mentioned the result should be darker when you use less water and more powder. 🙂