One question we get most often is how to choose the correct color. How to choose and mix EarthDye is not complicated.  You do have a many choices:

  • Match your current color and blend it over gray for even coverage
  • Add highlights
  • Add other colors to existing hair
  • Liven up color
  • Ombre or reverse ombre
  • Please remember our dye will not go lighter than the color you are now. It will be equal or darker. The color you start with determines the color you get, unlike chemical hair dye, which has a picture of what you see is what you get.  So only do roots as needed and keep notes if you mix colors.

To start, each shade of color has multiple shades. In other words, brown, for example, has 60 plus levels. You need to figure out what shade you are closest to dark brown, medium brown, or light brown. If you are unsure, ask a few friends or family members. It is amazing how we all see colors. Differently, it is called color constancy. On Facebook, we did a little test of what color you see. We were shocked that so many people saw different colors! What color do you see?  Our office had mixed results, some saw blue teal and others saw pink/gray, and a few saw purple.  https://www.facebook.com/earthdye/

Now decide if you are growing white hair. Growing in gray hair. Do not get gray confused with white. Is it strands of white or gray mixed in with your natural color? Or is it coming in white from the roots? Or is it coming in darker than the rest of your hair that has been chemically treated?

Once you decide what color you are, you are ready to decide what color you want to be.

Keep in mind you can mix any EarthDye colors to create more colors. For example, if you want an auburn color, you can mix brown or dark brown with natural red. The redder you add, the redder it will be. If you add more brown, the browner it will be. If you want a brown in between dark brown and medium brown or light brown and medium brown, just mix the two 50/50, and you will have a shade in between. Use pure indigo to darken up any color. For example, dark brown with 25-50% pure indigo will make it black. See mixing suggestions below for each color.

Browns

Light brown is a very common color. You can use this to your advantage. If you have light brown hair and gray roots coming in, you can use light brown or brown to create even color. You can either do the entire hair or just focus on the new root growth. If it is strands of gray or white do the entire head, if it is white growing in then you might want to consider doing the roots a darker color like brown or mix brown and light brown to get a middle color.  If it is gray coming in, then stick with light brown. No matter what shade of light brown the brown will even out the color. If it does come out too light, then you can apply again 24 hours later and use a darker brown the next time. We say to wait 24 hours because all of our colors darken over this period of time. If you do it too soon you risk making it to dark.

Brown also known as natural medium brown hair dye, is also a very common color. EarthDye brown will blend perfectly with most shades of brown. If you have brown hair and want to make it even use brown. If you are getting off chemical dyes and have brown hair with white or gray roots coming in, you can focus on only the roots. Mix a small amount of mahogany, burgundy or deep red in with brown to get a chocolate brown. This will look more natural. You can feather in the roots to blend in with the rest of the hair or do the entire hair.

If you have a solid head of brown hair or solid with gray strands have some fun! Use deep red or burgundy alone to create highlights on the strands of grays or add a hue of red. Natural red will give you auburn hair, deep red will give you a cherry cola red.

Dark brown is our biggest selling color. EarthDye will not go lighter, so if you use light brown on dark brown hair, it will still be dark brown. If you have gray coming in you can use a lighter color like brown. If your roots are white coming in use dark brown. You can do only the roots or the entire hair. If you have strands of gray or white use dark brown on the entire head, or use reds for highlights. Deep red will show more on dark brown than burgundy. Burgundy and mahogany will make it much darker with hues of burgundy, but will mostly be seen in the sun. Natural red will give you subtle auburn effects.   Do only the roots as needed and when the entire head fades do all of the hair over.

Copper brown is actually auburn on most. It looks best on light to dark brown colored hair. The lighter the hair the more auburn it will be. Copper brown is also a great color to use over highlighted hair, creating a brighter highlighted effect while darkening darker hair.  Copper brown on white hair will be more of a natural red, while on darker hair more of a darker auburn color. Also a good color for the ombre effect. If you have light/blond colored tips and faded hair or light-colored hair at the roots, use copper to add natural red to the tips and add depth to the rest of your hair. The same effect will happen with a reverse ombre.

Ash beach brown, is our lightest brown. It will not lighten the color of your hair. It will come out ash blond on white hair and light gray hair will come out ash brown.  Ash on any color darker than blond will not be seen. If you have blond tips and the roots are coming in gray, then you more than likely will not see any effects on the gray. If your roots are coming in white then you will get ash blond.  Ash brown can be used to lighten any EarthDye colors.

Mystic Mahogany is a dark brown with hints of red. On white hair it will be more red.  Mahogany is a great color to mix with other browns or soft black to create a super rich color. Mahogany is great over any color and will even liven up blacks. Use 1-2 spoons mixed with dark brown to create a very super sexy deep brown. If roots are coming in white, use dark brown first or dark brown mixed with mahogany to get an even coverage.  Mahogany on most is a dark brown with hints of red. Always do a strand test to determine the color!

Blacks

Soft black is called soft black for a reason. On white hair, it will be a soft black or even platinum color.  On gray hair, it will be black. If the first time you used it and 24 hours later it is not dark enough you can apply it again to make it darker. If you have black hair with strands of gray, use soft black on entire hair. Soft black will blend the grays away! If you have white hair strands the soft black will give them a really cool platinum effect. We have had many people switch from jet black to soft black.

Jet black is our darkest color and some may require a two-step process. Black comes with 2 packets, natural red and pure indigo.  The two used together can create a very dark black. Black will work over any colored hair and has 3 ways to get black. our goal is to help you save as much time as possible. However, keep in mind the two-step is very rewarding because of its conditioning effect. To achieve the darkest black, use the natural red first and then use the pure indigo right after for a second application. The indigo adheres to the natural red and together they create a beautiful rich black.  Some can also achieve black using indigo alone. This is less permanent on most but is used with much success on others. For a borderline dark brown-black, mix 90% pure indigo with 10% natural red. You can purchase natural red and indigo separately as needed.

Some can use pure indigo to achieve black. Not everyone’s hair can do this, and this why we require the 2 step black for jet black.  Pure indigo can also be used to darken up any EarthDye color. Add to dark brown to make a darker brown, or to deep red to make a deeper red. So many ways, so little time! The more indigo you add, the darker it will be. Color will darken over a 24 hour period.

Tips: Do not use anything other than water or vinegar when mixing indigo. For example: Lemon will cancel out indigo and keep it from working.
Do add any other EarthDye color!

Reds

Natural red hair dye is a natural redhead color. If you have dull or faded natural red hair, use natural red to liven it up or strawberry blond for a much lighter red. Natural red has many benefits and is extremely easy to touch up. Use natural red over any browns for an auburn effect. The lighter the hair the redder it will be. Awesome for highlights over gray strands in browns.

Tip: easily touch up your roots in the shower leaving natural red in for 10 minutes. You can mix it in with your shampoo or mix it straight in your hair while in the shower. Do not forget to use gloves and make sure your tub is stain resistant (most are).

Deep red looks great alone or mixed with any of the colors. Deep red on browns and dark browns will be a cherry cola red and brighter on light-colored hairs.  Deep red is awesome for highlights and mixing with browns. Deep red shows better than burgundy on dark brown hair.  If you have white roots and the rest of your hair is dark brown, mix deep red with mahogany or dark brown, then apply to roots, and apply deep red to the rest of hair to make even color. Great to highlight strands or do ombre style hair.

Tip: To make the color last even longer/less bleeding and be more vibrant follow these steps:  shampoo hair, and then rinse for 3 minutes with regular apple cider vinegar, rinse and towel dry and mix and apply the dye. Boil your water before you shampoo and then let it cool to warm temperature ( do not use boiling water!). Use that water to mix powder and apply. Deep red has a tendency to bleed the first shampoo. Following these steps will help your hair hold the color and last longer, then just touch up roots as needed

Merlot burgundy is very similar to deep red. Burgundy is wonderful to mix with browns and blacks to create super rich hues. White hair burgundy will come out orange and darken over night, so be patient. A second application over white will turn it more burgundy. Burgundy over gray/light and darker hair will be more burgundy. Burgundy on black will not show, however will make black much more vibrant and intense.  Burgundy is a great color to mix with dark brown or soft black.

Tip: If using over white hair, mix with dark brown or soft black.

Tip: Add high alcohol (bud ice) beer to the mix for more burgundy purple hue

Strawberry blond is our lightest red.  Strawberry blond is great for touching up natural red hair or switching from the bleached blond.  It will not make your current hair color lighter. It will add highlights to lighter colored browns or blonds.

Tip: for a more golden blond, use Grand Pa’s Pine Soap on hair prior to application.
Easy touch-up! Mix a small amount prior to taking shower and massage into roots, leave in for 10 minutes and rinse with or with out shampoo.

Plum purple is simply pure indigo. The only difference is you are mixing beer with it instead of water. Use bud ice for optimum results. You will not seem plum purple over dark brown or black hair. Looks brighter on white, gray, and lighter colored hair.