How did women achieve darker hair in the Middle Ages?

Women in the Middle Ages often sought to achieve darker hair, and the method involving walnut and chestnut paste was commonly utilized for this purpose. The natural pigments found in walnuts and chestnuts provided a rich color that allowed women to darken their hair effectively. This method was popular due to the availability of these materials and their ability to produce a more appealing hue without the harshness of some synthetic dyes that would not have been available at that time.

Using walnut and chestnut was also relatively safe compared to other potential methods of hair darkening. As a result, this technique not only catered to the aesthetic preferences of the time but also aligned with the natural beauty practices that women employed, making it a favored choice in medieval hair care routines.