Few things can change up your overall look than changing the color of your hair, and these days there are no shortages of wild colors from which to choose from. However, oftentimes these coloring treatments can be extremely harsh and damaging to the hair, causing breakage and excessive moisture loss. To go a step further, the process of lightening one’s hair is even more destructive, as the excess bleach and chemical compounds involve can prove disastrous to one’s overall hair health.
Thankfully, there are a number of all-natural methods by which one can lighten his or her own hair to bump up one’s color tone without causing damage to the hair strand or negatively impacting one’s hair health. Read below for some creative, all-natural recipes for getting a lighter hair color from the comfort of your own home while saving money and sparing your hair from harmful chemicals!
Lemon Juice
Using lemon juice to lighten one’s hair is one of the oldest and most popular all-natural remedies for at-home hair care. Lemon juice contains a large amount of citric acid, which is a natural bleach chemical that has an extremely low pH value. This low pH value causes the cuticle of the hair to lift when in contact with the sun, allowing for the lemon juice to deeply penetrate the hair strand. The best way to use lemon juice is by squeezing a full lemon in a cup of water and spraying your hair. With the hair full of lemon juice and water, spend the day in the sun and allow the hair lightening to begin!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Also known as ACV, apple cider vinegar contains a large amount of acetic acid, which is a natural lightening ingredient and contains an extremely low pH value to better penetrate the hair strand and raise the cuticle. Even better, apple cider vinegar is incredibly potent antifungal and antibacterial ingredient and can prevent dandruff and other scalp conditions. Additionally, apple cider vinegar helps to cleanse and clarify the hair strand for boosted hair health. To use on your hair, pour one cup of ACV with one cup of water and rinse your hair with it after showering. Allow to sit before rinsing out with water and finish with a conditioner to prevent dryness.
Chamomile Tea
Aside from being a delicious, relaxing tea to enjoy before bed, chamomile tea is a fantastic hair lightening ingredient in its own right. Chamomile contains numerous flavonoids including quercetin, which inhibits the production of pigment in our hair and skin and helps to naturally lighten the hair tone. It is also a soothing, relaxing chemical, helping to calm the scalp and prevent irritation. To use this as a hair lightening ingredient, brew several bags of tea in hot water and allow to sit and cool off. Once cool, soak the hair in the brewed tea and expose the hair to the sunlight for at least one hour. Once complete, rinse and condition the hair for optimal hair health.