Can Grey Hair Turn Black Again? What Amla, Bhringraj, Henna and Indigo Really Do

The short answer: no. Once a hair has grown grey, nothing you put on it brings its pigment back: not Amla, not Bhringraj, not Brahmi, and not any oil, rinse or wash. What you can do is colour grey hair, and plant colour does that well: henna gives copper, henna with indigo gives brown, and henna followed by indigo gives black.

Why do people believe herbs can turn grey hair black?

Amla and Bhringraj have centuries of association with dark-looking hair in Ayurvedic hair care, and Bhringraj is traditionally called Kesharaj, the King of Hair, though the name doesn't mean it grows hair or brings colour back. Two everyday things keep the belief going. Oil and fine plant particles left after a mask can change how hair looks until they wash out. And many traditional mixes include henna or indigo, so when the colour changes, the whole blend gets the credit.

Can Ayurveda reverse grey hair?

No. Colour is added to a hair as it forms under the skin. A grey or white hair grew with little or no pigment, and by the time you can see it, nothing applied to the outside of the strand can put that pigment back. That's true of every herb, oil and home remedy, not only the ones we sell. The tradition is real and worth respecting; reversing grey isn't part of what it can do. If your hair is greying suddenly or unusually early, see a doctor or pharmacist.

Do Amla, Bhringraj, Brahmi, Shikakai or Reetha make hair black?

No. None of them is a hair dye, and none of them puts colour into grey hair.

• Amla is a conditioning mask. On its own it doesn't dye or blacken hair; mixed into henna, it can mute the brightest copper.
• Bhringraj (Eclipta prostrata, also sold as Eclipta alba) is a conditioning mask that leaves hair easier to comb. It doesn't darken hair or turn grey black.
• Brahmi is a scalp-focused mask for softer, easier-to-detangle hair. It doesn't darken hair either.
• Shikakai and Reetha are washes. They don't colour hair, and they don't bleach your natural colour: clearing away oil can simply make existing greys easier to see.

Does Bhringraj darken hair?

No. Bhringraj doesn't darken hair, powder or oil. Its link with dark hair comes from tradition, not from evidence that it changes hair colour. If hair looks darker after a mask, it's usually leftover plant particles or oil, which wash out.

Can Amla or Bhringraj reverse grey hair?

No. Neither puts pigment back into grey hair, and leaving a mask on longer won't turn it into a dye; it only makes the hair drier. Amla powder can't be used as a hair colour on its own.

Does Shikakai make hair white?

No. Shikakai is a wash, not a bleach. It doesn't take colour out of your hair.

How do you use Bhringraj or Amla on grey hair?

As a conditioning mask, the same as on any hair: mix 2–3 tablespoons with warm water into a smooth paste, apply it for 20–30 minutes and rinse thoroughly, up to twice a week. It cares for how grey hair feels and handles; it won't change the colour. On very light or white hair, try it on a small lock first, because fine powder can stay visible until it's washed out. The Bhringraj and Amla pages have the details.

How can you make grey hair black naturally?

By colouring it with henna and indigo, the two plant powders that colour hair. Grey can be resistant, so saturate grey strands fully. Choose your route:

• Copper to red: henna on its own. Grey strands take it brightest.
• Brown: henna and indigo mixed in one step, 70:30 for light brown, 50:50 for medium or 30:70 for dark, for 1–2 hours.
• Black: two steps on the same day: henna for at least 2 hours, rinsed with water only and left to dry or just damp, then indigo mixed fresh with warm water and a pinch of salt, stirred into saved henna at 80% indigo to 20% henna and left 1–2 hours.

Indigo on its own over grey or white hair usually turns blue or green; the henna step is what makes black work. A powder sold as making hair black in one go has something else in it, so read the ingredient list. The method for black is in how to use indigo powder for jet black hair, and covering grey hair with henna and indigo compares all three routes.

Patch test 24–48 hours before first use, with the mix you plan to use: put a little on a small patch of clean, unbroken skin. Don't go ahead if the skin burns, swells, blisters or turns red, or if it itches and the itch doesn't settle. A patch test can't rule out a reaction later. Strand test a hidden lock too, because grey shows every change clearly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will indigo turn grey hair black?

Over henna, yes; on its own, usually not. Indigo alone on grey tends to look blue or green, so apply henna first and indigo second. Covering grey hair with henna and indigo explains the steps.

Does indigo turn your hair black?

Over a henna base it usually reads as very dark brown to black; on dark hair alone it cools and deepens the colour. See how to use indigo powder for jet black hair.

Which henna is better, black or brown?

Neither is pure henna, which only gives copper-red: their shade comes from other plants or dyes, and some "black henna" contains PPD, a synthetic dye that can cause severe allergic reactions. See is henna bad for your hair?

Does Amla, Reetha (Aritha) and Shikakai make hair black?

No. That mix is a wash: Reetha and Shikakai clean, and Amla adds a conditioning feel. It isn't a dye.

Why is my white hair turning black again?

If it happens after a mask or a wash, it's usually plant particles, oil or a henna or indigo mix in your routine, not new pigment. Rinse well and see whether it stays.