Ethanol nitrate method was used to extract the cellulose from waste crop stalks, different substituted ratios of carboxymethyl cellulose was prepared by etherification reaction. The rheological properties of CMC aqueous solution was studied by DHR-2 rheometer, Finally the CMC was used in dye hair with curcumin, and compared with common thickeners on the marker. The results show that CMC solution behaved like pseudoplastic fluid and had the nature of shear thinning. Its system viscosity increased with the larger mass fraction and average substitution degree. The mass fraction of CMC solutions had little influence on linear viscoelastic range which strain less than 70 percent of the area. CMC aqueous solution system had good thixotropy and its viscosity step changed with the step changes of shear rate. CMC could make curcumin easy to dye, and do not severely injure hair, the brightly dying performance, high hair strength and color fastness were obtained after dyed.