What happens if you put lemon juice in your hair? It does sound like an odd question, but if you have been wondering this then you’re not alone – the natural movement is growing apace and more and more people are turning to natural alternatives to harsh chemicals.
How do you think people managed before salons and hair dyes existed? They used natural products to enhance their looks and make them feel good, of course! So what does happen if you put lemon juice on your hair? Read on…
Lemon juice contains around 5% citric acid, which oxidises with sunlight and can reduce melanin (which is your hair’s natural pigment, in case you were wondering) which leads to your hair looking lighter.
Good news for those who want to be blonder without the use of harsh chemicals and dyes which can strip goodness from the hair and leave it feeling coarse and dry.
There are a great many advantages to putting lemon juice on your hair:
- Great at removing excess oils – If you suffer from oily hair, then a lemon juice rinse may be just the thing. All you need to do is wash your hair as normal, then add the juice of one lemon to a cup of water and apply the mixture to your hair. Leave for a couple of minutes and rinse well.
- Can lighten your natural colour – If you are looking for a natural alternative to bleaching your hair then lemon juice is a step in the right direction – it will lighten your locks; not as much as bleach or peroxide, but it will certainly have a noticeable effect.
- The sun can also play a part in lightening hair – Just walking around on a bright day can increase the lightening properties of lemon juice. It’s a great excuse to indulge in a little sunbathing!
- Lemon juice can really help with controlling dandruff – When it is combined with egg white, lemon juice can go a really long way to keeping the flakes at bay. Simply combine an equal amount of lemon juice and egg white, then apply it to your hair and scalp. You will have to leave it for 30-45 minutes before washing it out to have the best effects; just wrap your hair in cling film so you don’t get eggs and lemon juice dripping on your shoulders!
There are a few downsides to putting lemon juice on your hair with the idea of lightening it:
- You may never go back – Unlike most chemical dyes, the changes from lightening your hair naturally with lemon juice are permanent, so be sure it’s what you want before you go reaching for that bag of lemons in the supermarket!
- Only really works on light hair – A bit of bad news for the brunette out there who is desperate for bright blonde locks – using lemon juice to lighten hair tends to only work on those who are already blonde, or dark or ashy blonde. Using lemon juice on dark hair can lead to it looking a bit orange, and if it’s not your plan to become a redhead then maybe this natural trick is best avoided.
- May not react well with chemical dyes – If you have already lightened your hair chemically, there is no telling what may happen. The lemon-lightened areas may be a different colour to the dyed ones, so it’s best to try on a small area that won’t be noticed before you go the whole hog and do your entire head.
- Can dry out the hair – It is important to make sure you use a good conditioner after you have been using lemon juice on your hair, as the acid can dry out the strands, especially at the ends.
So there you have it – what happens if you put lemon juice in your hair? Only good stuff, as long as you are aware of the potential outcomes!
Don’t worry though, any lightening effect from the lemon juice is likely to be relatively minimal, so you won’t have to worry about suddenly going 10 shades lighter and shocking the neighbours! It’s a good way to help control oils, reduce dandruff, and maybe go a shade or three lighter.
