You want to lighten your hair, but lightening your hair at the salon can cost a lot of money. In addition, hair lightening chemicals can also cause permanent damage to your hair. Sun exposure will gradually lighten your hair, but you may need a quicker method. You can use a variety of ingredients to lighten your hair at home without breaking the bank, such as: lemon, honey, hydrogen peroxide, cinnamon, chamomile, olive oil, vinegar, and baking soda.
While there are many other options listed in method 4, lemon juice, honey, and cinnamon are the three most commonly used as hair lightening agents. Choose one of the methods below, watch the steps carefully, and learn how to lighten your own hair color!
Step
Method 1 of 4: Using Lemon
Step 1. Rinse hair with lemon juice
Rinsing your hair with lemon juice is one of the easiest ways to lighten your hair at home. Lemon juice contains citric acid which has a whitening effect when applied to hair repeatedly.
- You will most likely have to repeat this step a few times until you start to see a noticeable change in hair color.
- Sit in the sun if you have a few hours to let the lemon juice soak into your hair. Consider using the method described in the article: How to Lighten Your Hair Color. But if you want a faster way, continue reading.
Step 2. Buy or make lemon juice
You will need about 1 cup of thick lemon juice.
- You can also use limes, grapefruits, or any fruit that is rich in citric acid.
- To make your own lemonade: buy or pick four lemons. Cut into two parts. Squeeze lemon juice into a bowl, or use an orange squeezer.
- The acidity of lemon juice is very high. Consider adding 1/4 cup of water to each cup of lemon to prevent damage to your hair.
Step 3. Prepare lemon juice, and wash your hair
If using shampoo, make sure to spread it all over your hair.
Step 4. Apply lemon juice to your hair while it's still wet
Be sure to apply the lemon juice all the way to the roots of your hair.
Make sure to close your eyes to avoid getting lemon juice. Citric acid can irritate the eyes
Step 5. Wait for 2-5 minutes, then rinse off the shampoo and lemon juice
You'll need to let the lemon juice sit for a while for it to soak into your hair. However, do not leave it too long, because the citric acid can damage your hair over time
Step 6. Apply conditioner to your hair so it doesn't dry out
The citric acid in lemon juice tends to dry out your hair, so don't damage your hair.
Step 7. Repeat this method once a week until the hair color looks the way you want
Again, you will most likely have to repeat this method a few times before you start to see a clear difference.
Method 2 of 4: Using Honey
Step 1. Use honey to lighten hair color
Honey naturally contains a small amount of hydrogen peroxide, which has a whitening effect.
- You can also use bottled concentrated hydrogen peroxide, but because it's stronger, it's more likely to damage hair roots. This is the reason many people use honey to lighten hair color gently.
- Honey is also useful as a moisturizer, which can counteract the drying effects of the peroxide content in it.
Step 2. Prepare at least 1 cup of raw honey
You should be able to buy honey like this easily at most convenience stores and health stores.
Step 3. Mix 4 parts honey with 1 part water or apple cider vinegar in a bowl
Stir until all ingredients are evenly mixed.
- Honey is very sticky, and the water will thin the consistency, making it easier to apply to your hair. On the other hand, apple cider vinegar is useful as a natural conditioner.
- If your desired hair color change is more drastic, consider adding some hydrogen peroxide bottle caps to the honey mixture. The addition of this peroxide will amplify the effect of the peroxide already contained in the honey, and will react to lighten your hair color to some degree. Just don't add peroxide if your hair color is black or dark brown, as this can turn it orange.
- To get a reddish-blonde hair color, you can add henna powder, cinnamon, or ground coffee to the honey mixture. A few tablespoons of hibiscus petals will give your hair a strawberry-blonde feel.
Step 4. Let the mixture sit for 30-60 minutes
That way all the ingredients in it can be combined.
Step 5. Apply the honey mixture to your hair
Put a layer of towel on your back to protect your clothes, then slowly pour the honey mixture over your head. Massage the honey into your hair with your fingers, and continue until the entire hair shaft is coated with honey.
Consider standing on a towel to keep your floor from getting dripped with honey. Honey is very sticky and difficult to clean
Step 6. Cover your hair with plastic and leave it on
Put on a shower cap or attach a plastic bag to your head to prevent the honey from dripping. Leave the honey on your hair for at least 2 hours until the effect is visible. If possible, let the honey sit overnight in your hair.
- Twist the hair and pin it up and cover it with plastic while waiting if it is long enough and difficult to fit into the plastic.
- If you can leave the honey overnight, the resulting hair color will be much lighter. This treatment is also useful as a deep conditioner. Put a layer of towels on top of the pillow and sleep with a shower cap on.
- You don't need to use a hairdryer as a heater. Honey is quite effective at working at room temperature.
Step 7. Clean the honey from your hair
Rinse with warm water, then use shampoo and conditioner as usual. Pat your hair with a towel and let it dry on its own or use a hairdryer. Your hair will be the color of honey.
Step 8. Consider using honey as a conditioner to make the results last longer
Mix 1/4 cup honey and 1/2 cup conditioner. You can use any conditioner, as long as the scent matches the honey. Mix the conditioner and honey in a bowl until they are evenly combined.
- Store any remaining conditioner in the conditioner bottle for future use.
- Use the same ratio of honey and conditioner to make even more mixtures.
Step 9. Use conditioner after every shampoo
After shampooing, use honey conditioner as you normally would. Apply a small amount of conditioner evenly to your hair, and rinse when you're done.
- For a lighter color result, let the conditioner sit on your hair for 5-10 minutes while continuing to shower.
- If your hair feels sticky after rinsing, reduce the amount of honey and increase the amount of conditioner in the mixture.
Method 3 of 4: Using Cinnamon
Step 1. Use cinnamon to lighten hair
Cinnamon, like honey, contains a small amount of peroxide and will not dry out your hair. This method is very suitable for use on dark hair. You can buy cinnamon at most convenience stores, or it's even available in the kitchen!
Step 2. Wet hair (in the shower, sink, or with a spray bottle) and apply conditioner
The conditioner will help the cinnamon stick together while brightening your hair evenly.
Step 3. Mix cinnamon and water into a paste
The amount you use is determined by the thickness of your hair. Start by adding a few tablespoons of ground cinnamon, and add water little by little until thick but spreadable.
Step 4. Apply the cinnamon paste and water to your hair
Make sure to apply evenly from root to tip and to the inside of your hair, not just the outer layer.
- Rub hair with both palms of your hands. This movement will help to evenly distribute the cinnamon paste.
- Consider using a brush to spread the cinnamon all over your hair. If you're using a brush, be sure to wet it first so the cinnamon paste can be applied easily to your hair.
Step 5. Let the cinnamon paste sit on your hair for 4-8 hours, depending on your hair color
If possible, leave the cinnamon paste on overnight.
- The longer you let the cinnamon stick to your hair, the brighter the results will be. 4 hours is enough to change the color of your hair, but you may need to wait 8 hours or more to get the hair color you want.
- As a reminder, you can still repeat this treatment again!
- Cover your hair with the cinnamon paste with a shower cap or plastic bag to prevent the cinnamon layer from peeling off.
- Your scalp may feel a little hot and itchy, but this is normal and will subside.
Step 6. Rinse the cinnamon out of your hair when you are ready
Your hair will smell great once it dries!
- If your hair is curly, use shampoo to clean the cinnamon.
- Remember, you can still try this treatment again if the colors aren't bright enough.
Method 4 of 4: Other Ways
Step 1. Chamomile:
Chamomile tea is a powerful ingredient for naturally lightening hair color, and won't damage your hair.
- Brew chamomile tea for 30 minutes in a glass or ceramic cup. Allow the tea to cool until it is lukewarm.
- Wash your hair as usual, and use this chamomile tea as a final rinse. Use a bowl to catch any spilled tea after use and use it to rinse your hair again.
- Let your hair dry in the sun. You should do this every day, or even more often, to make your hair color last longer.
Step 2. Hydrogen peroxide:
Peroxide is the bleaching agent that makes honey and cinnamon useful for lightening hair. You can use hydrogen peroxide straight from the bottle, but because it's so strong, you have to be careful not to damage your hair. For more complete information, read the article How to Lighten Hair with Hydrogen Peroxide.
Step 3. Vinegar:
The latest trend of "shampooless" shampooing is now making people discover that vinegar is beneficial for lightening hair. Rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar in the shower. Doing this method regularly will slowly lighten your hair color.
Step 4. Baking soda:
Like vinegar, baking soda is another "no-shampoo" shampoo of choice that can also lighten your hair color. Sprinkle baking soda into your hair and work it up to the roots every time you shower. A paste of baking soda and water will lighten your hair naturally.
Notes
- If you're unsure about lightening your hair, consider testing one of the methods above on a small section of your hair (such as the ends at the back) before applying it to the rest of your hair. You can still lighten the rest of your hair later.
- If you try one of the methods here and it doesn't turn out bright enough for you, try again until it's to your liking. Lightening your hair naturally is gentler than chemical treatments, so try your best.
- If you lighten your hair color and it's too bright, don't worry! Your hair roots will grow back in their natural color. However, if you don't want to wait, try using the method in this article: How to Darken Hair Color Naturally.
