Lemon Juice in the Sun for Natural Highlights
Livening up those lackluster, blond locks doesn't take a trip to the salon. It can actually be done with a trip to the grocery store or produce market. Applying lemon juice to light blond to dark blond hair can lighten your hair by bringing out natural-looking highlights. This easy-to-do hair trick can save you hundreds of dollars a year in hair coloring. Does this Spark an idea?
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How Does It Happen?
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The scientific process of lemon juice highlights is simple. By applying the lemon juice to your hair, you are opening up the follicles of each hair strand with the citric acid in the juice. When hair follicles are open, the strands are able to process changes to the hair. The ultraviolet, or UV, rays of the sun are able to penetrate the hair when the follicles are open. The mixture of the UV rays, the acid of the lemon juice, and the oxygen in the air and water will bleach the strands of hair. The process is called acid-catalyzed oxidation because the acid in the lemon juice acts as a catalyst for the sun's rays.
Application of Lemon Juice
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You will need an empty spray bottle, lemons or lemon juice, and water to prepare and apply the lemon juice mixture. Pour 1/4 cup of lemon juice into the bottle. Add 3/4 cup of water to the lemon juice and replace the top. Shake the bottle well. Spray the mixture on your hair. You can apply it generously to the hair or you can select certain sections of hair for chunky highlights. After you have applied the desired amount of spray to your hair, go outside and let the sun do the work for about an hour. You can sit in the sun or do activities; it doesn't matter as long as your hair is being exposed to the rays of the sun.
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Variations
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Some lemon juice enthusiasts vary the juice mixture. You can add a tablespoon or two of olive oil to the lemon juice instead of water. This will prevent the lemon juice from drying out your hair. You can also substitute the water with chamomile tea. This will add a nice golden tone to the hair. Mixing lemon juice with hair conditioner will also lighten your hair in the sun. Mix lemon juice in a bowl with hair conditioner, and brush it onto the hair. After 20 minutes in the sun, you should have nice, hydrated highlights in your hair.
Tips and Precautions
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While you don't have to be a trained professional to achieve highlights with sun and lemon juice, you should take certain precautions. Do not apply lemon juice directly to the scalp. The lemon juice can cause your skin to burn. Do not let the mixture get in your eyes as you spray. Use a towel to catch the mixture if it runs down your neck. Use the mist option on the spray bottle instead of stream. This will cover the hair evenly. This process is a good way to gradually lighten hair. Try to apply it over a couple of days instead of multiple times a day. Lemon juice only works on blond hair. If you have medium brown to black hair, don't apply lemon juice; it will turn your hair a reddish color instead of blond.
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References
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