Can You Dye Your Hair with Toothpaste?

Funky hair color—purple, blue, green, and even rainbow—has been a hot trend for hair lovers old and young. But there's a new hair craze in town. Now, it's all about using alternatives to traditional hair dye to change up your look.

Ink from highlighters and markers, certain vegetable juices, coffee beans, and loose-leaf teas have all been experimented with. But can you dye your hair with toothpaste? It seems like everyone is trying food products or office supplies, but why not the number one bathroom staple?

Can You Dye Your Hair with Toothpaste?

There are two ingredients commonly found in toothpaste that have lightening abilities:

• Hydrogen peroxide: This is often added to toothpaste to whiten teeth. It's a chemical compound commonly used to bleach hair, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
• Baking soda: This ingredient can lighten the appearance of hair, but it's usually only effective in doing so when paired with hydrogen peroxide. However, baking soda is abrasive and should be used carefully when applied to hair.

But can you bleach your hair with toothpaste itself? It's possible—but it certainly won't be done well. Even though applying a toothpaste that contains hydrogen peroxide to your strands may result in lighter hair, this procedure offers unpredictable results and can cause hair damage. Also, think of the globby mess!

What Else Can You Try?

So, toothpaste isn't an ideal hair dye—that's fine. Let's leave it on the brush where it belongs and try some other natural ways to lighten your hair. You might consider:

• Cinnamon and honey. There's a rumor floating around the internet claiming that a combination of cinnamon and honey works. The theory claims that cinnamon activates trace amounts of hydrogen peroxide in honey. There is no readily available proof supporting this claim, but cinnamon and honey is a beneficial combination for skin, so maybe it's not that outlandish!
• Charcoal. Those looking to go for darker tresses might opt for charcoal to dye hair black. A better idea? Use charcoal toothpaste on your teeth for a dazzling smile.
• Lemons, tea, coffee, herbs, and natural juices are also natural options you can use to dye your hair.

If you are looking to dye your hair with natural ingredients, there are several alternatives to chemical hair dyes (and toothpaste!) that are effective and won't damage your luscious locks.

For more ideas on a natural personal care routine, check out our DIY Naturally board by @tomsofmaine on Pinterest!

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