Lighten Hair Naturally
Dying your hair a lighter color does not require at trip to the salon. Several household staples contain ingredients that can lighten hair, especially if used with sunlight. You can find out how to lighten hair naturally using 1 of these methods.
Contents
Steps
Lemon Juice
- Mix a solution of 1 part water to 1 part lemon juice.
- If your hair is graying or very dry, mix a solution of 1 cup (0.2l) water to 1 tbsp. (15ml) of lemon juice. The citric acid in lemon juice dries and damages hair, in a similar fashion as salon chemicals.
- Add 1 tbsp. of olive oil. Mix well.
- The olive oil works as a moisturizing agent while the lemon juice is stripping the pigment from the hair.
- Wet your hair thoroughly. Towel dry it.
- Pour the lemon juice mixture on the top of your head. You can also pour it into a spray bottle or comb it into your locks, depending upon where you want the color to be saturated.
- Go into bright sunlight for 30 minutes to 1 hour, until your hair has dried.
- You can substitute time in the sun with heat from a blow drier. The heat source helps improve the efficacy of the citric acid.
- Don't forget to apply sunscreen all over exposed skin before spending time in the sun. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause skin cancer.
- Wash your hair and condition it.
- Repeat and reapply to see faster results.
Chamomile
- Buy chamomile flowers in bulk. Using homemade tea instead of tea packets seems to lighten hair faster.
- Fill a 16 oz. (0.5l) mug with chamomile flowers.
- Pour 16 oz. (0.5l) of boiled water over the flowers. Let it steep for 5 minutes.
- Wet your hair. Towel dry it so it is damp, not dripping.
- Strain the chamomile flowers from the tea with a fine mesh sieve. Discard the flowers.
- Pour or spray the chamomile tea onto your damp hair.
- Use a heat source, such as sunlight or a blow drier for 30 minutes. Repeat daily without heat for a more gradual lightening.
- Add 2 tbsp. (30ml) of lemon juice to increase the efficacy of the tea rinse.
- Wash your hair once it has dried.
Honey
- Pour 1 tbsp. (15ml) of honey into 1 cup (0.2l) of hot water. Stir it to dissolve.
- Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes. This is reported to help activate the trace amounts of hydrogen peroxide in the honey.
- Coat or comb in the mixture on dampened hair you want to lighten.
- Use a heat source or sunlight for 20 minutes. In place of heat, you can leave the mixture on the hair overnight. Be sure to coat your head with plastic wrap and a shower cap before going to bed.
- Hydrogen peroxide is an effective way of dying hair a lighter color. However, it is very damaging to hair. You can add 1 tbsp. (15ml) of hydrogen peroxide to any mixture to increase its dying power.
Tips
- Some sources suggest combining a number of these treatments. For example, mix 1/2 cup (118ml) of water, 1/2 cup (118ml) of chamomile tea, 1/4 cup (59ml) of lemon juice and 1/4 cup (59ml) of hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. Mix well. Apply and place under a heat source for at least 20 minutes.
- Consider using lemon vodka in place of lemon juice. The alcohol and citric acid will lighten hair in the sun; however, they will also dry the strands faster.
Things You'll Need
- Lemon juice
- Water
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Olive oil
- Heat source (sunlight or blow dryer)
- Spray bottle
- Comb
- Towel
- Chamomile flowers
- Kettle
- Mug
- Honey
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