How Can I Lighten My Hair at Home?

13 Natural home remedies to lighten your hair

Try making your own hair lightener using natural ingredients rather than the box dyes, bleach, and the hair lightening products available in the market. Below are a few common ways to lighten the hair at home especially during summer:

1. Add some vitamin C into shampoo. Take approximately eight to nine vitamin C tablets, crush them, and mix them in your shampoo. Wash and rinse normally, and your hair will feel amazing, healthy, and light.
2. Spend some time in the sun. Rays of the sun may bleach out the melanin in the hair, giving it a lighter appearance. A tanned face can also make the hair look lighter. Vitamin D from the sun is also great for overall health and healthy hair.
3. Chamomile tea has a brightening effect. Seep several bags of chamomile tea in water and apply it to dry hair. Go out in the sun, and it will help the hair dry and increase the chamomile tea’s effects.
4. Salt opens the cuticles of your hair and lightens them from the inside out. Dissolve a tablespoon of salt in one cup of water and use as a spray. For the best results, use Epsom salt. Epsom salt is full of nutrient-rich minerals that nourish and repair your hair.
5. Honey has a small amount of hydrogen peroxide in it; it strips some of the natural colors of your hair away. Mixing it with vinegar and olive oil helps your hair retain the lost moisture. Brush the mixture onto your hair wherever you want the highlights to appear and let it work its magic. Usually, it is recommended to leave this on your hair overnight.
6. Mix some cinnamon powder into your conditioner and evenly coat your hair. Leave the mixture on your hair overnight and rinse in the morning. Combine cinnamon and organic coconut oil for an overnight lightening hair mask. Apply the mask throughout your hair and cover the hair with a shower cap. Wash and shampoo thoroughly in the morning for better looks.
7. Chop up some rhubarb and place it in two cups of boiling water. Strain the juice, and let it cool for a few minutes. Apply this mixture to your hair and leave it on for 10 minutes. Then, wash it out really well. Rhubarb contains pectin and will get sticky if left on your hair too long.
8. On very dark brown or black hair, henna can lighten and leave reddish highlights. Use the henna powder in half a cup of warm water, let it sit for 12 hours or overnight, and then apply it to your hair. Wait 2-3 hours before washing it out well, and you will have a natural glow.
9. Mix a cup of water with two tablespoons of lemon juice and apply it to your hair. Sit outside in the sun until the lemon juice dries. Wash it with lukewarm water for better results. Vitamin C in lemon juice can lighten the hair. Lemon juice is great for whitening and brightening in cleaning. The lemon essential oil can also be used in the same way.
10. Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide make a powerful hair-lightening combination. Due to their strength, make sure you do a strand test before you apply the mixture throughout your hair. Mix equal parts of 3% hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to form a paste. The paste shouldn’t be too liquid or thick. Add more hydrogen peroxide or baking soda if needed. Section off your hair and apply. Wrap finished sections in aluminum foil to trap heat and help your hair process faster. Wait 30-60 minutes and rinse your hair. Your hair will feel dry at first, so make sure you use a good leave-in conditioner.
11. Vodka can also be used to brighten the hair. Add some fine salt to the vodka, apply it to your hair, and let it bake naturally. It will give you natural sun-kissed highlights.
12. Natural oils such as coconut oil and argan oil help in infusing hydration deep into your hair. Moreover, they are also further able to heal damaged hair from heating tools. You can make a mask with these oils or simply run them all the way through your strands from bottom to roots, leave it on for 20 minutes, and rinse it off. Take a good amount of olive oil and comb it through your hair, further heading outside to let them stay in the sun for about an hour. Wash out the oil, and you will find your hair much more moisturized and, of course, naturally lighter in color. To make it work even better, you can add a little lemon juice to the oil before combing it to your hair and apply it throughout the hair, focusing on the ends. Finally, wash out the oil thoroughly. Repeat thrice every week until you see the highlights you wish for.
13. Apple cider vinegar or distilled white vinegar is an easy and cheap option for lightening your hair. Rinse your hair in vinegar and then rinse it again in cold water to lift color and revitalize dull strands. Apply gloss or conditioner to seal in moisture.