What mixture did women use to achieve flaxen hair during the Middle Ages?

During the Middle Ages, women sought various methods to achieve desired hair colors, including flaxen hair. The correct mixture, comprising black sulfur, honey, and alum, was commonly utilized due to the unique properties of its ingredients.

Black sulfur had a natural bleaching effect that could lighten hair color, giving it a more desired flaxen appearance. Honey served as a natural conditioner and could enhance the lightening effects of sulfur, while also providing additional moisturizing benefits. Alum, a type of potassium aluminum sulfate, acted as a mordant, helping to fix the color to the hair and enhance the overall lightening process. This combination effectively highlighted the hair while also conditioning it, which was essential for maintaining healthy-looking locks.

The other mixtures listed do not provide the same level of effectiveness for achieving flaxen hair. Olive oil and lavender, for instance, are generally more associated with nourishing and scenting hair rather than altering its color significantly. The blend of honey and milk would be more soothing and conditioning rather than providing a bleaching effect. Walnut paste and chestnut extract were typically used to darken hair, rather than lighten it. Thus, the unique properties and interactions of sulfur, honey, and alum made this particular mixture the most suitable choice for achieving the desired flax