How to Lighten Hair Naturally

Use chamomile flowers to lighten your hair naturally.

You can lighten your hair naturally without going to a salon or using harsh chemicals. Natural lighteners used indoors will give you shine and subtle lightening, not drastic results. You can achieve a more drastic change to your hair by sitting out in the sun after applying any of these natural remedies -- just remember to wear sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun's rays.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Lemon juice
• Olive oil
• Chamomile flowers
• Rhubarb
• Honey
• Water
• Saucepan
• Strainer

1. Make a rinse from chamomile flowers. Chamomile flowers will lighten your hair, as they have a mild bleaching effect. Make a rinse by steeping 2 tbsp of chamomile per 1/3 cup of hot water. Strain and allow rinse to cool. Pour rinse onto your hair and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Repeat three to six times, then rinse your hair with water.

2. Use lemon juice, water and olive oil to lighten your hair. Lemon juice will lighten your hair, but can also dry it out -- add olive oil to moisturize your hair and help keep it soft and shiny. Olive oil also has a mild bleaching effect. Mix 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 1 cup of water. Put the mixture on your hair, comb through and allow to sit on hair for at least 30 minutes. Rinse with clean water.

3. Use rhubarb to add highlights to you hair. Fresh rhubarb is best. Add 1/4 cup chopped rhubarb to 1 cup of boiling water. Allow it to cool. Strain out the rhubarb and use the liquid as a rinse on your hair.

4. Use honey for a bleaching effect on your hair. Honey contains hydrogen peroxide, so will lighten your hair even if you can't go out in the sun. Mix 1 tbsp honey with 1 cup of water. Allow the mixture to sit for at least 30 minutes before you apply it to your hair. This will let the hydrogen peroxide develop. Apply mixture to your hair. Leave it on your hair from 20 minutes to overnight. If leaving mixture on overnight, add 1 tbsp of olive oil to the mixture for a moisturizing effect and wrap your hair in plastic cling wrap before you go to bed. Rinse.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have dark hair, use rosemary or lavender instead of chamomile.

• Use chamomile flowers instead of tea bags, as the lightening effect will be much stronger. Chamomile flowers can be found at health food stores in the tea aisle.

• Any lightening of the hair will cause damage to the hair.

• If your hair has been chemically processed, lightening it may cause unexpected color results. Cut off a 2 inch test strand of your hair and secure the ends with transparent tape. Test any lightening method on the strand before using on all your hair.

• If you have dark hair, natural lightening methods may result in reddish highlights rather than blonde. Test your lightening method on a test strand first.

References

• Grandma's Home Remedies: Home Remedies to Lighten Hair
• Natural News; Lighten Hair Naturally at Home to Avoid Toxic Chemicals; Elizabeth Walling; March 2009
• Beauty Tips: How to Lighten Your Hair
• Blonde Ambition; If Your Hair Has Turned Out Orange?; 2005