Naturally Lighten Hair Color

Naturally lightening your hair is definitely cheaper than going the professional salon method. However, you are exposing your hair to the possibility of turning an undesirable shade. All hair lightening techniques will damage your hair to some extent - even salon methods. Every hair type responds to lightening differently, so you should not have expectations. The natural method does often take longer and it's best for medium brown and lighter hair colors. Dark brown and black hair will likely become brassy, orange, or another undesirable shade. However, they sometimes turn a few shades lighter. Results are NEVER guaranteed and you are putting your hair at risk every time you color it no matter what method you use.

Ingredients:

• Baking Soda
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Pure Honey

Instructions:

1. Mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide together to form a slightly runny paste. Start with a 1:1 ratio of baking soda and peroxide, then add more of either until you achieve the perfect consistency. The paste should be thick enough to hold together, but thin enough to spread easily over your hair. Warning: Too thick of paste can leave clumping stains in your hair.
2. Add 1 tsp. of honey to the mixture. Thoroughly mix it in.
3. Use aluminum foil to separate areas of hair you want lighter.
4. Using a brush, apply the mixture to the strands or areas you want to make lighter. Brush from the roots downward to the tips.
5. Wrap those areas of hair up in the foil to keep the heat in.
6. Let the mixture stay in your hair for up to 30 minutes. Allocate less time if you want less extreme results.
7. Create a mixture of one part baking soda to one part shampoo. Use this mixture to wash your hair, allowing the mixture to set for 3-5 min. before rinsing. The baking soda will remove any residue from your hair.
8. Conditioner your hair with a deep conditioning product to restore lost moisture.
9. Repeat weekly until your hair is the shade you desire.

You can lighten light to medium brown hair with just hydrogen peroxide. This is a gradual method, but it definitely works. It may cause some dehydration and damage to your hair. Remember that everyone's hair reacts to hydrogen peroxide differently, so be very careful! If you have dark brown hair, it make come out looking brassy. Several applications may be necessary to achieve your desired hair color. Individuals with medium to light brown hair will experience a faster lightening effect.

Instructions:

1. Fill a dark-colored (important) spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide that is sold at drugstores. Hydrogen peroxide comes in dark-colored bottles because it reacts with sunlight.
2. Spray the hydrogen peroxide onto the regions of hair you want lighter. Apply more heavily to areas you want really light, and lighter to areas you want lighter.
3. Brush or comb through your hair to evenly distribute the hydrogen peroxide.
4. Go out in the sun and let the hydrogen peroxide set on your hair. The longer you keep it in your hair, the lighter it will become. For very light hair, 30 minutes should be sufficient. Allow 20 minutes for medium-light effects, and 15 minutes for very light effects.
5. Make a paste of baking soda and shampoo, apply to hair. The baking soda should remove any orange residue from your hair.
6. Let the paste set in your hair for 3-5 minutes before washing it out.
7. Conditioner you hair with a deep conditioning formula according to the manufacturer's directions.
8. Repeat this method as many times as you need to achieve the color you want.

Lemons are natural lighteners, so they are effective at lightening hair. This is method is best for light brown to blonde hair.

Ingredients:

• 2 Lemons or 1/2-cup lemon juice from concentrate
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil or pure honey

Instructions:

1. Squeeze all the juice from the fresh lemons and pour the juice into a spray bottle.
2. Add 1/2-cup of lukewarm water to the spray bottle.
3. Add the olive oil or honey to the solution (to keep hair from drying out).
4. Screw the top on the bottle and shake up the mixture really well.
5. Comb or brush out your hair using a wet comb or brush.
6. Spray the mixture evenly throughout the regions of hair you want to lighten.
7. Go out in the sun for 30 minutes to 1 hour. The sun will help speed up the lightening process.
8. In the shower, make a paste of baking soda and shampoo. Apply to your hair and let set for 3-5 minutes. The baking soda should remove any residue from your hair.
9. Rinse out the mixture thoroughly.
10. Apply a deep conditioning product to your hair, let the conditioner stay in your hair for 5 minutes.
11. Rinse your hair.
12. Repeat this process no more than twice per month until desired results are achieved.