A Brief History of Hair Dye

Today we’re exploring hair dye—where personal expression, social status, and a bit of alchemy meet in the strands of history.

So grab your favourite mug, find a soft space to curl up, and let’s wander a little deeper into the past.

Most people know me for my green hair—but a couple of weeks ago, I took a bold step out of my comfort zone and went… orange. I’ve worn green off and on for years, but something about this summer called for change. Naturally, the historian in me got curious about the roots of hair dye. (Pun enthusiastically intended.)

Hair dye is likely older than you might expect. The earliest known recipes date back to around 2177 BCE, with one concoction involving leeks and cassia (Chinese cinnamon). I imagine this would’ve resulted in a rich brown hue—though I can’t confirm if it also smelled like soup.

Throughout history, a wide variety of substances have been used to colour hair—some familiar, some deeply questionable. Among the less palatable: the bile of a black ox. (Delightful.) Others were more natural and enduring: henna, red ochre, turmeric, and indigo, for example.

While we don’t always know why ancient people dyed their hair, we do have some clues. The Egyptian Ebers Papyrus includes recipes for dyeing grey hair and even eyebrows. Hair colouring likely had ties to social status, ritual practices, and personal presentation. It’s not hard to imagine rulers darkening their hair to appear younger and more vigorous.

The Greek historian Diodorus Siculus wrote that Celtic warriors used lime (calcium hydroxide) to bleach their hair blonde—an early, slightly caustic cousin of modern peroxide treatments. Blonde ambition, indeed.

And as someone who adores vibrant colours, I was delighted to discover that the 1661 publication Eighteen Books on the Secrets of Art and Nature includes methods for dyeing hair green and gold! I may need to get my paws on a copy... and I can’t promise I won’t attempt a historically accurate emerald rinse.

Fast forward to the early 20th century, when Eugène Schueller, founder of L'Oréal, created the first synthetic hair dye. I couldn’t find definitive confirmation of its original colour, but based on the advertisements, it appears to have been a rich, dark brown. A 1914 poster shows two women: one lamenting her faded locks, the other absolutely glowing with the results of her new colour. You can find a link to the image below, if you'd like to see it for yourself.

Bright hair, bold history—and a few curious concoctions along the way. Wherever your dye journey takes you, know you're in good company, stretching all the way back to ancient Egypt (and possibly a very confused ox).

Sources https://www.firstversions.com/2016/07/loreal-hair-dyes.html

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed your time in The History Nook today.

Until next time, stay curious, and keep warm.

🐾 A Footnote from Index 🐾

I remain deeply unconvinced about this orange phase. Green is clearly superior—it matches my collar. However, I suppose one must allow humans their whims. As for the history… if anyone comes near me with ox bile or lime, they will be soundly bitten. Nine lives, yes, but not one of them includes hair bleach.