Hoping to achieve paler locks without having to head to the hairdressers?
You’re in luck as there are numerous methods you can use to naturally lighten your hair, from lemon juice masks through to treating your hair with cinnamon.
What are the benefits of lightening your hair naturally?
While having your hair dyed or highlighted will instantly brighten it, most hair dyes are packed with chemicals which can be damaging to both your scalp and your hair. For example, dyes which make your hair look lighter will almost always contain bleach, ammonia or parabens.
Using a natural hair lightening technique instead will eliminate the risk of being exposed to these often-harmful substances, plus it’s also usually much cheaper as you’ll likely have most of the ingredients you need already.
And the cons?
The most obvious disadvantage when it comes to methods that naturally lighten hair is that they won’t be as effective as simply dying it. Depending on the original colour of your hair, they may not even work at all!
Naturally lightening your hair can also take longer to achieve visible results. Instead of having it dyed by a hairdresser in just a few short hours, it may take a few weeks and multiple applications before you start to see any changes.
The best ways to lighten hair naturally
When it comes to how to lighten your hair naturally, there are a range of different options you may want to try. These include:
1. Lemon juice
This is a popular hair lightening treatment in the summer months and can be successful for some people if you’re after lighter tips or highlights. Try mixing the juice of half a lemon with a cup of water and applying it to your hair evenly using a spray bottle.
Ideally, you should let the lemon juice mixture dry while you’re sat outside as it activates faster in sunlight. After a few hours, rinse it off with shampoo and then condition your hair.
2. Natural henna dye
Henna hair colouring treatments are a fantastic alternative to more modern dyes as they contain no nasty chemicals which might dry out and damage your hair. Henna – a dye made from the leaves of the henna tree – has been used as a stain for leather goods for centuries as well as for colouring clothes and henna tattooing.
When it comes to hair, henna can help lighten the tone of your locks or make them appear highlighted. You’ll need to mix it into a paste with water and then leave it on your hair for a few hours to see any results.
3. Cinnamon
Many people claim this popular baking ingredient can actually be very effective at subtly lightening hair. It’s often added to home hair lightening remedies and may help achieve natural highlights or make your entire mane look lighter depending on where you apply it.
You’ll need to mix about two tablespoons of cinnamon with half a cup of conditioner. This can then be liberally applied to your hair and left either for a few hours or overnight before you rinse it out.
Natural hair lightening treatments aren’t without their faults, though. Many can make your hair feel a little bit dry, so it’s always a good idea to use a conditioning treatment or hair mask afterwards to soften and moisturise your mane.
Before attempting any natural hair lightening techniques, always test your chosen mixture on a few strands of hair first to make sure you don’t have an allergic reaction or any irritation.
Last updated: 25 March 2020
Sources
https://www.healthline.com/health/natural-hair-lightener#lightening-options
https://www.elle.com/beauty/hair/a27257537/how-to-naturally-lighten-hair/
