Every once in a while, when I start to get sick of my dark hair, I get a burst of envy when I see my blond, waving friend at the beach. Light hair looks so attractive and attractive! Lightening your hair is a great way to accentuate your style and give yourself a fresh look. This article can help you learn how to lighten and highlight hair naturally at home. Not only will you save money with these natural hair conditioners, but they will also make your hair healthier!
Why Use A Natural Lightener?
People have been dyeing their hair for centuries. Prominent hair can be traced back to ancient Greece in 4 B.C. Back then, they used olive oil, pollen, and gold flakes and left them in the sun for hours.
Today, you can find many quick whitening kits at your local drugstore or beauty supply store that chemically whiten your hair. But these kits come with the risk of using chemicals on the hair, such as:
♦ Stiff, brittle, or damaged hair
♦ Skin irritation or eczema
♦ Airway irritation or asthma
♦ May be associated with the development of certain cancers (bladder cancer, breast cancer, leukemia), but more research is needed.
The good news is that, just like the Greeks, you can still try more natural ways to lighten or accentuate your hair. These options may be better for various reasons. They involve less chemical exposure, less chance of skin irritation, and, many times, a much lower price tag.
How To Lighten Your Hair Naturally?
There are so many options for brightening your hair these days that they have instant results. Yes, bleach and highlights will give you an instant sun-kissed look—but there are a few things to consider. Every time you bleach your hair, you risk sacrificing your hair’s health. Before touching bleach, try these other chemical-free techniques.
1. Bring in the lemon juice
Lemon juice works—but proceed with caution. The acidity in lemon juice allows it to boost color by changing the pH of the hair, and the vitamin C in lemon juice can bleach hair without the use of chemicals. This method works best with natural light or golden tones.
You can squeeze a lemon into a spray bottle and spray it on your hair to mimic natural highlights. Let hair dry in the sun. Please be careful! Avoid getting lemon juice on your skin. Bonus: Lemon juice can also help reduce oil and dandruff!
2. Try using apple cider vinegar
You already know that apple cider vinegar is a great antidote and that apple cider vinegar is also a natural way to remove dirt and product buildup from your hair, but did you know that it can also subtly lighten strands? But since ACV itself is delicate, you’ll need to add honey, chamomile, or cinnamon to boost its effectiveness.
Using vinegar as a whitener requires extra care, as too much can cause damage. If your hair is very fine or already brittle, this may not be the natural remedy for you. If you have thick and healthy hair, always remember to dilute the vinegar with water when using it.
When you mix one part apple cider vinegar with six parts water, this pantry-inspired treat helps lighten your hair. Just pour the mixture on your head or use a spray bottle and let it soak in. After about 30 minutes, you can rinse it off. You should be able to see the difference in your hair.
3. Use chamomile properly
Chamomile helps restore shine to hair while adding natural highlights. It’s all thanks to the flavonoid—or the substance that gives the plant its pigmentation—quercetin found in chamomile. Quercetin inhibits tyrosinase, an enzyme that helps control hair melanin production, making chamomile an effective DIY hair lightener.
We recommend that you dilute with water and apply to damp hair and use a wide-toothed comb to work throughout your hair. Brighteners are activated by heat, so you can sit in the sun or use a hair dryer.
If you have a lighter undertone, you can also try chamomile tea from the cupboard and dip your hair into the tea after it’s fully steeped. An added bonus is that chamomile may have conditioning properties that can leave your hair feeling soft and shiny.
4. Mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide
While I don’t recommend using baking soda as a shampoo on hair, it can be an excellent, easy-to-use at-home lightener. Baking soda is an alkaline ingredient that lifts the cuticles of your hair and protects your tone.
On its own, drugstore-generic hydrogen oxide won’t lighten your hair because it dries out before any chemical reaction occurs. However, combining hydrogen peroxide with baking soda creates a paste that can be applied to your hair and will work wonders to lighten your hair by a shade or two. However, you need to exercise caution when trying this method.
Despite the popularity of this hair-whitening method, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide are both very harsh chemicals that can damage the cuticle and irritate the scalp if you add too much paste to your hair and leave it on for too long. As an extra precaution, you can protect your hairline with petroleum jelly and apply a moisturizing mask right after work.
5. Use a saltwater solution
Sea salt is probably my personal favorite natural whitening method. You know those natural-looking highlights in your hair when you spend a few days in the ocean? This is thanks to sea salt. Likewise, sea salt at home can do the same thing, especially on the ends of your strands.
Sea salt can lighten and lighten previously dull hair, as well as lighten natural bases (think kids’ hair). We recommend that you wet your hair with salt water and let it dry in the sun. Just mix a tablespoon of sea salt with 1/2 cup of warm water and let it sit for 10 to 20 minutes.
But it’s worth noting that salt can dry out your hair, so it’s important to use a conditioner, oil, or even a hair mask after each treatment.
6. Don’t forget raw honey
Raw honey also makes an excellent hairdressing ingredient. Fortunately, it’s probably already on your beauty counter. Because it is an antibacterial natural skin care ingredient, it works best on naturally light and blond hair.
The main ingredient in raw honey that is good for hair is an enzyme called glucose oxidase. Its purpose is to break down sugar and act as a protectant against spoilage. However, this enzyme actually produces trace amounts of hydrogen peroxide when you add water to honey. And raw honey combined with cinnamon makes a great natural hydrogen peroxide booster, giving you chemical-free home highlights.
You can apply honey all over your head, or you can target specific areas where you want to add highlights, such as the ends. If you have thick hair, divide your hair into upper and lower sections to ensure the mixture is evenly distributed.
If you’re concerned about dry hair, add 1 to 2 teaspoons (4.9 to 9.9 ml) of olive or coconut oil to the honey-water mixture for extra moisture.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a gentler way to get lighter strands, the DIY method above may be better than bleach or commercial products. The results you see won’t necessarily be as obvious as the chemical process, but they may be better for your hair and overall health. If you have any questions, please leave a comment directly below the article!
