If you don’t want to go down the obvious route of peroxide and bleach, what can you use to lighten your hair? Have you been looking for alternative, more natural ways to make your tresses a shade or two lighter?
If so then take heart – there are actually a great number of things you can do to lighten your hair more naturally than traipsing to the salon for another round of bleach.
- Lemon juice – This bitter fruit can leave a sweet taste when you see what it can do to your hair! Adding lemon juice to water then applying it to you hair and leaving for half an hour or so can make you a few shades lighter. Sitting in the sun while the mixture is on your head can also increase the lightening properties of the lemons, so make sure you pick a sunny day to do your natural dyeing!
- Chamomile tea – Not just a hot drink to relax you before bed, chamomile tea can actually help to lighten your hair too (but you have to apply it to your head; just drinking it won’t have the same effect!) Make a strong brew, apply it to your hair and leave for about half an hour before rinsing off.
- Honey and olive oil – This can create subtle highlights in your hair, and bring out your natural colour. Take ¼ cup each of olive oil and honey, and apply it to areas you wish to highlight. About 5 minutes before you wash it out, massage the mixture into your whole head for a more even, natural finished look.
- Rhubarb – Although it’s generally more suited to crumbles, you can use rhubarb to lighten your hair too. Boil up ½ cup of rhubarb to 2 cups water, then strain the liquid and pop it on your head. Leave it for about 10 minutes and rinse out, then admire the results!
- Baking soda – This is a great store cupboard ingredient that can work wonders towards lightening your hair. Add about ½ a cup to water, enough to make a thick paste. Apply it and leave for 15-20 minutes, then check the hair. If it’s light enough then rinse it off, if you want it lighter then leave it for a bit longer before rinsing.
- Salt – You know how your hair always looks lighter after a week at the beach? This is because of the salt in the sea. Salt is a good highlighter that can give you naturally lighter hair. Simply dissolve about a tablespoon of salt into ½ cup of water, leave on the hair for 25 minutes then rinse. You can achieve those salt-kissed locks at home too (although obviously, the beach is a nicer place to do it!)
- Cinnamon – This common cupboard spice can add richness and colour to your natural shade. All you need to do is take ½ cup of your normal conditioner, add enough cinnamon to make a thick paste, then apply it to your hair. Leave it for 3-4 hours, then check the shade. If you want it a bit deeper, then leave it overnight.
- Apple cider vinegar – This is a great ingredient for adding shine and lustre to tired hair, and it can also lighten your locks too. You may have to use an ACV rinse a few time in order to see any results though.
As you can see, there are many ways to lighten your hair without resorting to chemical dyes or bleaches. Many of these products will also have the added bonus of increasing your hair’s natural lustre and shine, and improving its general condition.
What can you use to lighten your hair? A great many products that you can find in your everyday food cupboards, without having to resort to spending lots of time and money at the hairdressers!
Bear in mind that if you are looking for ways to lighten your hair naturally, most of these suggestions will only make a real difference if you already have light-coloured hair.
Darker blonde will lighten, and light blonde will become brighter still, but dark hair will probably require more chemical treatments to lighten it enough to make a real difference.
