Mrs. Stewarts bluing for Hair As An Alternative Hair Dye | NAIL AND HAIR GODDESS (2024)

Generation after generation has continued to use Mrs. Stewart’s Bluing for HAIR – (MSB) as their preferred fabric whitener. As friends exchange household cleaning advice, more and more people are learning about the distinctiveness of MSB! It is simple to use, affordable, and environmentally responsible.

Laundry Bluing is a little deceptive name. Laundry bluing, although blue in appearance, is a liquid additive that can be used to fix color fading and create brighter whites. It has been put to use for many years. Manufacturers of textiles and linens still use it now to make whites even brighter before you buy them. Related Read: How to Make Blue Hair Dye Last Longer.

What is Laundry Bluing

Prussian blue (ferric ferrocyanide), a pigment used in laundry bluing, creates an optical illusion that makes clothes appear whiter. Bluing makes whites appear brighter and minimizes yellowing while preventing the appearance of dingy whites.

Often, bluing is added right into the wash cycle. Also, it might improve the color of your favorite jeans. But you should be aware that it is neither a detergent nor a stain remover.

How to use laundry bluing as a hair dye:

Using laundry bluing as a hair dye is not recommended, and it can cause damage to your hair and scalp. If you choose to use laundry bluing as a hair dye, it is important to do a patch test first to check for any adverse reactions.

It is also recommended to consult with a professional hairstylist or colorist before attempting to use laundry bluing on your hair.

Step-by-step instructions for using laundry bluing on hair:

• Start with clean, dry hair.
• Mix a small amount of laundry bluing with water in a bowl, using a ratio of about one part bluing to two parts water.
• Apply the bluing mixture to your hair, starting at the roots and working your way down to the ends.
• Use a wide-tooth comb to distribute the bluing evenly through your hair.
• Cover your hair with a plastic shower cap and let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
• Rinse your hair thoroughly with cool water until the water runs clear.
• Follow up with a moisturizing conditioner to help counteract any drying effects from the bluing.

Advice and techniques for attaining the hair color and style you want:

• Add bluing gradually until you reach the desired shade. Start with a little amount.

• To produce unique colors, you can combine the bluing with different pigments or hair dyes.

• Add extra water to the bluing mixture to make it a lighter shade of blue.

• To achieve a dip-dye or ombre effect, apply the bluing mixture to particular areas of your hair, such as the tips or ends. You Might Also Like 6 Best Adore Hair Colors. Check it out for all of the details.

Potential variants and combinations with various hair-dying methods include:

• Bleach can be used to bluing to produce a paler shade of blue.

• After bleaching or using another hair-lightening product to make your hair lighter, use the bluing as a toner.

• To add highlights or lowlights, apply the bluing mixture to your hair and then wrap it in aluminum foil.

• Refresh faded hair coloring with bluing. Before rinsing, combine it with water and apply it to your hair.

Again, use caution when putting laundry bluing on your hair because it was not designed for this application and may irritate or damage it.

Why do people use laundry bluing as a hair dye alternative?

Due to its ability to give hair a cool-toned blue or purple color, some individuals use laundry bluing as a substitute for hair dye. Those who want to stay away from the harsh chemicals and potential harm of conventional hair colors frequently employ this technique.

Prussian blue, a blue dye used in laundry bluing, is a complex mixture of iron and cyanide. The blue tint can eliminate any unwelcome orange or yellow tones in the hair when applied, especially in blonde hair. In certain situations, the blue tint can also give darker hair a cool-toned purple hue.

It is crucial to remember that using laundry bluing as a substitute for hair dye can be dangerous and possibly harmful to the hair. The use of laundry bleach on hair is not recommended since it can lead to breakage, dryness, and even irritation of the scalp. The blue color may also fade unevenly over time and not be as long-lasting or consistent as conventional hair dyes.

It’s necessary to perform a patch test beforehand to look for any unwanted responses if you’re thinking of using laundry bluing as a hair dye substitute. Before attempting to use laundry bluing on your hair, it is also advised to speak with a qualified hairstylist or colorist.

Basis Instructions for Whitening Hair with MSB:

When MSB is added to the rinse water during hair washing, many people with white, grey, or “salt and pepper” hair tell us that it prevents yellowing and gives their hair that lovely whiteness that makes them look so young. This article here is all about Kiss Hair Dye Instructions Check it out for all of the details.

Even goods designed specifically for that purpose cannot be obtained. It is risk-free to use as a rinse and only costs pennies per use because it is used by the drop!

Clients tell that they use MSB in the following ways to lighten their hair:

• As usual, wash and rinse your hair and the hair of your pet.
• Then, dilute a couple or a few drops of MSB in 1-2 quarts of water (the water should be a light sky-blue hue).
• Finally, rinse your hair with the diluted bluing.

Some people prevent this by washing their hair every day. Some only use this when necessary.

Benefits and drawbacks of using laundry bluing over traditional hair dyes

Benefits of using laundry bluing:

• Economical: Laundry bluing is a viable alternative for those on a tight budget because it is typically less expensive than conventional hair dyes.

• Distinctive color: Laundry bluing can give hair a distinctive blue or purple color that is difficult to achieve with conventional hair dyes.

• Gentle dyes: Unlike conventional hair colors, laundry bluing does not contain strong dyes that can harm the hair or scalp.

• Simple to use: Using laundry bluing is not difficult. It doesn’t call for any difficult processes or specific equipment. In this article, you will find the best hair dye for all ages. ADORE: Semi-Permanent Hair Color Chart 4oz Check it out for all the details.

Drawbacks of using laundry on hair

The risks of using laundry bluing on your hair include dryness, breakage, and possible irritation of the scalp. Laundry bluing is not intended for use on the hair.

• Fading: Laundry bluing can provide a blue hue, but it may not last as long or evenly as conventional hair colors and fade unevenly over time.

• Unreliable choice: Depending on the initial color and state of the hair, laundry bluing is not a reliable solution for people who wish to obtain a specific hue or look in their hair.

• Safety issues: Laundry bluing should not be applied to the skin or scalp as it may irritate them or result in other negative effects.

Mrs. Stewart’s Bluing: A popular laundry bluing brand

History and background of Mrs. Stewart’s Bluing:

Mrs. Stewart’s Bluing was born in the early 1880s due to a peddler, his mother-in-law, a marginally successful Five and Ten Cent store, and a fireworks explosion. Al Stewart, a traveling salesman for a Chicago wholesale grocer, was a familiar figure in Iowa and southern Minnesota and carried a bottle of Mrs. Stewart’s Bluing in his market basket. Luther Ford, a young silk salesman, moved to Minneapolis and began a wholesale business, carrying notions, toys, and fireworks. Mr. Stewart and Luther Ford crossed paths when Mr. Stewart began searching for someone to manufacture his bluing for him, and Mr. Ford realized the potential of a (safer) future in the bluing business. The first documented sale was logged on July 30, 1883.

Facilities and equipment used in manufacturing in the late 1800s were primitive, with the ceiling in the first basem*nt factory so low; holes had to be made in the floor so the employees had a place for their feet to hang down. Bottles were packed in sawdust in wooden cases or in barrels, and production stopped during the winter until a heated manufacturing building was obtained.

The Bluing Process’s History

The method for bluing white fabric in the house before the arrival of the automatic washer involved soaking or washing the clothing in hot, soapy water, typically in a large kettle over a stove or in a wash tub, and then thoroughly rinsing the clothing in another kettle—often twice. The clothes were then simply dipped momentarily into the “bluing” kettle, removed, and hung to dry in cool water with a tiny amount of bluing added to make the water a light, sky-blue color.

“Now, bluing can be used to return fabric to the “whitest white” in most top and front-loading washing machines during the wash cycle or the final rinse cycle.

Various uses of MSB

How to create a salt crystal garden

Children and families have been creating fascinating scientific projects like “Depression Flowers” and “Coal Gardens” for years. Everyone! Teachers, scouts, etc.

Luminize Hair

A few drops of MSB can be added to the rinse water to quickly and safely whiten or brighten white, grey, or salt and pepper hair. Peruse, less than a cent!

Blot out animal fur and hair

For years, white dog and cat owners have known how to get the whitest white hair on their pets by adding a few drops of MSB to the rinse water after a bath. Because of the whitening power of MSB, even owners of horses, sheep, and rabbits win blue ribbons at fairs.

In Swimming pools

Pools can look “Pacific Blue” safely by adding a bottle or two of MSB where pool water re-enters from the filtering system. It is utilized in display pools by numerous pool manufacturers and chemical supply companies. Furthermore, try adding a few drops to your child’s bathwater!

Fountains

The use of MSB in a fountain by a California motel owner has encouraged many people in the neighborhood to display that crystal-clear, Pacific-blue water in fountains, birdbaths, and garden pools.

MSB can be used to transform ordinarily ugly water into a beautiful pool of water because it has no effect on the purity of the water.

What Does Bluing Do for White Hair

Following Jean Harlow’s debut in the 1930 movie Hell’s Angels, the blue rinse became more well-known. To lessen the yellowed appearance of grey or white hair, a blue rinse is a weaker kind of hair dye.

The 1940s saw the rise of the blue rinse thanks in part to Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.

Should I use laundry Bluing or another laundry detergent on my hair

Laundry detergent, like Laundry Bluing, can be used to wash your hair. But it can be damaging to hair, exposing you to risks such as skin irritation, eye damage, and allergies. This is a fantastic article on How long after bleaching hair you can texturize. Check it out for all of the details.

It can also not feel as clean as shampoos and personal care soaps, as it is not designed to create a lot of lather. Additionally, many ingredients in laundry detergent are harmful to hair, such as enzymes that break down biological molecules and bisulfate, which can disrupt the chemical bonds that hold the proteins in the hair together. This can lead to a dry, tangled mess if you wash it with laundry detergent (laundry bluing), leaving your hair dry, weak, and vulnerable to damage.

Instructions for Using Mrs. Stewart’s Bluing

Here are Mrs. Stewart’s Bluing (MSB) basic usage directions as they are written on the current bottle. The following list of best practices recommendations contains more advice.

Using MSB with Top-Loading Washing Machines

• While using Mrs. Stewart’s Bluing in the wash water, use approximately 1/4 teaspoonful; used in the rinse water, less than 1/8 teaspoon.
• Mix the bluing in a container of clear, cold water before pouring it into the machine.
• Avoid pouring bluing from the bottle into the machine when clothes are present, as any fiber can absorb an excess of undiluted bluing.
• Do not use bluing in conjunction with bleach and/or fabric softener, as bleach encourages more permanent adherence of bluing to fabric and it is generally recommended by most fabric softener manufacturers that fabric softener not be used in conjunction with any other laundry product.
• Bluing is gentle on fabric and will not harm the fibers, so a simple dip or rinse is sufficient.

Using MSB with Front-Loading & High-Efficiency Washing Machines

Regular automatic top-loading washers should dilute 1/4 teaspoon of bluing in 1-2 quarts of water and add it to their already full wash or rinse cycle. High-efficiency and front-loading washing machines use less water than automatic machines, so dilute MSB as directed on the bottle and pour the diluted bluing through the dispensing drawer into the cycle after it has filled with water.

If the drawers on your washer lock remain unlocked during the cycle, add as much diluted bluing as will fit into the largest available drawer. Do some “testing” on old sheets or rags before proceeding to use MSB with garments or good bedding. Many of our loyal customers are using MSB successfully.

Using MSB for Hand-Washing Special Garments

MSB is the perfect product to whiten a “special” garment or piece of fabric, such as an antique christening gown, wedding dress, or great-grandmother’s hand-crocheted tablecloths and doilies. Start by removing stains, washing and rinsing the garment, using a stain remover and detergent gentle enough for the garment, then diluting a few drops of bluing in 1 quart of water and adding the diluted bluing to the water in the sink. Repeat the procedure as directed.

Risks & side effects of using laundry bluing for hair coloring purposes

Hair damage: Laundry bluing, which is not intended for use on hair, can result in dryness, breakage, and possible scalp irritability.

• Skin irritability: Laundry bluing should not be applied to the skin or to the scalp. It could irritate people or lead to other negative effects.

• Uneven color: Laundry bluing can provide a blue tint, but it may not be as even or long-lasting as conventional hair colors and fade unevenly over time.

Difficult to remove: If laundry bluing has been applied to the hair for a long time, it may be difficult to get the blue color out.

• Chemicals in laundry blueing may be dangerous if swallowed or if they come into touch with the eyes. Avoid getting laundry blue in your eyes or mouth, and keep it out of children’s reach.

• Unpredictable results: Depending on the initial color and state of the hair, the final color produced by laundry blueing might be unpredictable and drastically different.

When using laundry bluing for hair coloring, perform a patch test to check for negative responses. A professional hairstylist or colorist should be consulted before using laundry bluing on your hair. Also, it’s critical to properly follow the instructions and avoid using the product for longer than is necessary. In this article, we talk about Kiss Semi Permanent Hair Color Directions. Check it out for all the details.