Natural Beard Dye Formula

Greetings,

If you enjoy slapping plant products on your facial hair for long periods of time, with the eventual result that you smell vaguely of soy sauce and yet somehow look 20 years younger, please read on.

For many years, I used a brand of natural beard dye which I shall not name because I don't want to give them the publicity. They were great, and very effective in gently producing a natural look which did not scorch my skin. However, they were very cagey about the herbal ingredients to their product, and when they hit on supply problems I became tragically stuck, with wait times of > 2months to get an (often overpriced) order. Anyway, after a while I got tired of being taken the piss out of and decided to do my own research and make my own natural beard dye. Turns out it wasn't so difficult to discover the mystical herbs, and get a bulk supply of each. The saving was terrific, and the result reliable. Below is the process, including ingredients required.

Base
2 parts Amla
1 part False Daisy
1 part Neem powder
12 parts Henna
4 parts Indigo

Use the base initially for 20-30 min, and reapply if necessary for stubborn grey hairs.

Main Dye
2 parts Amla
1 part False Daisy
1 part Neem powder
8 parts Henna
8 parts Indigo

The main dye (45-60 min) Apply as a follow-up to the Base formula. Can reapply or increase the proportion of Indigo for a darker colour.

Alternatively, you can mix the Amla, False Daisy and Neem powders and make up a large jar of this. Every time you want to mix up Base or Main dye, just add 1 Tbsp of the Amla/ False Daisy/ Neem mix to 4 Tbsp of Henna/ Indigo, in whatever proportion required.

When it comes to crafting a natural beard dye using herbs, each ingredient brings something special to the table; not just for colour, but for the health and condition of the beard itself.

Amla, known more formally as Indian Gooseberry, plays an important supporting role in the mix. It doesn’t dye hair directly, but it helps the other herbs; especially henna and indigo; bind more effectively to the hair. Amla also has the handy effect of slightly cooling and darkening the resulting colour, softening henna’s tendency toward bright copper tones. With its richness in Vitamin C and antioxidants, amla doesn’t just enhance the dye, it also strengthens the hair and improves overall beard health. In the blend, amla typically makes up about ten to twenty percent of the total, enough to boost performance without overpowering the dye itself.

Then there’s False Daisy, known in Ayurvedic circles as Bhringraj. This is another herb traditionally associated with darkening hair and keeping greys at bay. It’s valued not only for the colour support it offers but also for its ability to nourish the actual hair shaft, leaving the beard softer, stronger, and with a natural shine. In a well-balanced formula, False Daisy would make up somewhere between five and fifteen percent of the blend.

Neem powder is often included too, not so much for its colouring ability but for what it does for the skin beneath the beard. Its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties help keep the skin calm and healthy; useful if the wearer is prone to irritation or beard dandruff. It can even help the dye absorb more evenly. That said, neem is powerful stuff, so a little goes a long way; five to ten percent is usually plenty.

The two stars of the show are, of course, henna and indigo. Henna is the foundation of the dye, providing rich reddish tones that cling tenaciously to the hair. It’s a fantastic conditioner too, adding body and softness as it works. Depending on the final shade desired, henna might make up anywhere from thirty to forty percent of the blend; more if you want a warm auburn result, less if you’re after darker tones.

Indigo, by contrast, is all about the blues and blacks. It doesn’t work well on its own, but layered over a henna base, it deepens the colour into darker browns and, if used generously, full black. For a typical dark beard dye, indigo would also hover around thirty to forty percent of the blend, paired closely with henna.

A balanced formula for a dark brown or black beard might end up looking something like thirty-five percent henna, thirty-five percent indigo, fifteen percent amla, ten percent False Daisy, and five percent neem. This gives a blend that not only covers greys and colours the beard, but actively cares for it too.

It’s worth noting that the actual process of application is just as important as the blend itself. In many cases, the best results come from applying henna first, rinsing, and then following with indigo. This two-step process locks in the colour more effectively, particularly if you’re aiming to cover grey hairs. Amla, with its cooling effect, can also be mixed directly into the henna paste to tone down any unwanted brightness.

Together, these herbs create a beard dye that doesn’t just stain the hair but nurtures it, leaving it strong, healthy, and naturally coloured. If you want, I can also walk you through the exact mixing process, including tips on what liquids to use (like tea, coffee, or lemon juice) to get the best result for your particular shade.