How To Lighten Your Hair with Lemon Juice

So, I’m a dirty blond. I was born with this cute bleach blond color as a little baby but my hair has faded into this guessing game of greasy blond or brunette lately. I’m sure there’s a few of you out there who can relate.

Anyways, lets talk solutions: lemon juice and sunshine baby! Easy peezy.

Lemon Juice Recipe

1. Mix 1 cup of lemon juice (about 4 lemons) with a 1/4 cup of warm water
2. Put it in a spray bottle (I got my cute blue one at Vitamin Cottage for $2)
3. Spray the mixture in your hair until damp
4. Expose your hair to sunshine for 30-60 minutes
5. Take a shower and use a generous amount of conditioner (my favorite is Organic Excellence Wild Mint Conditioner…so good)

Why? The reason this whole process works is because lemon juice is very acidic which lightens the pigments in your hair and then the sunshine just magnifies the affects. But, because the lemon juice is acidic, it dries your hair out so the conditioner replenishes your mane. Okay, before you all run to the nearest lemon juice store, here are a few things to note:

• This will lighten your hair just a few shades, which is good, because you don’t have to deal with that artificial roots problem that salon-dying causes. The downside is, you really don’t know what color to expect. Consider it a surprise party for your hair.
• Also, the more times you juice and sunbathe, the lighter your hair will get. Duh. Ok, ladies. Let’s talk moderation. Do not do this every day and then sue me when your hair falls out. Maybe, do it once every week or so until you get the color you desire.
• Warning: Do not put lemon juice in your hair and then go swimming. I have never tried this but I can pretty much guess what would happen. Green hair and tears. Don’t let this happen to you but if it does, please send me a picture. Haha. I’m just kidding…but seriously.
• Double Warning: Don’t get too excited about your new lemon highlights and forget to put on sunscreen please…if you do though, aloe vera can ease the pain of sunburns.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lemon Juice Lightening

Does lemon juice work on dark brown or black hair?

The answer is maybe. Lemon juice will most likely have no affect on dark hair. It is tough to know without trying though because everyone’s hair reacts differently. Sometimes darker hair types will turn orange when mixed with lemon juice. If you have dark hair and notice a reddish tint when you are outside, then you are probably going to be someone who would result with orange/brassy highlights. There are products such as Sun-In and Go Blonder by John Frieda that use more intense ingredients but be careful with these. The chemical ingredients in them aren’t great for your hair. For you dark haired people, I recommend trying a small chunk of hair first before doing your whole head.

Can I use limes instead of lemons?

The reason lemons are recommended is for their high level of citric acid. Citric acid opens up your hair cuticles and with the combination of UV rays (from the sun) and oxygen, a bleaching process begins. Lemons and limes have about the same percentage of citric acid (up to 8%) so, the answer is yes, you can use limes instead of lemons.

Do I need to go in the sun or can I blow dry my hair? 

As far as I can tell, blow drying hair does not do anything to magnify the affects of the lemon juice. People who perpetuate this myth think that it is the heat from the sun doing the lightening when in reality, the UV rays are responsible for the bleaching. People who put lemon juice in their hair and then blow dry it, could see results…but that is only because of the lemon juice and has nothing to do with the blow drying.

Best of luck hippie hair dyers and please let me know how this summertime hair chemistry works out. I will post some pictures soon.

Cheers!

KTB

Tagged as: Healthy Happy Lifestyle, Natural Product/Ingredient Reviews