To modify up your look, lightening your locks generally is a enjoyable possibility. What’s much less enjoyable, although, are the horror tales we’ve all heard about bleach.
Whereas bleach often is the easiest, most surefire approach to lighten hair, it typically comes at a value. That’s as a result of, whereas eradicating your strands’ pigment molecules, bleach additionally strips away the pure fatty acids discovered on the hair shaft. This may result in weakened, brittle hair and, in excessive circumstances, even hair loss — which is why bleach, when wanted, is finest utilized by an skilled colorist.
Studying easy methods to lighten hair naturally, understandably, is an interesting various. However a few of the in style DIY choices on the market really feel, effectively, just a little Goop-y. Utilizing lemon juice to lighten hair, as an illustration — is that really a factor? We requested hair care consultants all about easy methods to naturally lighten hair, and it seems that lemon juice actually is an efficient (and low cost) answer — generally.
In keeping with Rachel Bodt, a senior colorist at Cutler/Redken salon, pure lightening actually solely works if in case you have truthful hair with a tremendous texture to start with. “When you find yourself working with darker hair, you might be coping with crimson and orange undertones, and these would be the first colours to be uncovered,” she says.
So, earlier than trying to lighten hair at house, think about what outcomes you may obtain. When you’ve got blonde hair, it should get blonder. When you’ve got gentle brown hair, you would possibly find yourself with some darkish blonde peeking by means of, and crimson heads will doubtlessly rework to strawberry blondes. When you’ve got darkish brown or black hair, nonetheless, a DIY hair lightener like lemon juice isn’t actually going to work. Although some magnificence blogs will nonetheless attempt to persuade you it’s an possibility, basically, you’re going to get higher (and rather more seen) outcomes working with a stylist. (Have darkish hair and desire a refined, pure change? Bodt recommends a mineral-removing shampoo like Malibu C Laborious Water Wellness Shampoo to provide your hair a softer, lighter look total.)
For these of us with gentle hair, lemon juice — amongst different DIY, kitchen-cupboard creations — can lighten our hair a couple of shades, however you’ll nonetheless need to train some warning when altering your hair colour naturally. Not solely will one thing like lemon juice not really feel nice if it will get into your eyes, however simply because one thing is “pure” doesn’t imply it may possibly’t trigger harm, as Ghanima Abdullah, a cosmetologist and stylist with The Proper Hairstyles, identified: “Something that messes with the keratin construction of your hair is doubtlessly damaging. The harm will not be to the identical extent as really bleaching your hair, however do be sure to use a conditioner after making an attempt these strategies.”
Prepared to provide pure lightening a whirl? Learn up on easy methods to (safely) lighten hair with out bleach, utilizing objects you would possibly have already got mendacity round the home. A few of these aren’t simply good for pure, sun-kissed highlights; they’ll go away your stands shinier and softer, too!
1. Combine Up Your Lemon Juice with Conditioner
In keeping with celeb colorist Aura Friedman, lemon juice works — however proceed with warning. “Lemon juice does lighten hair, but it surely may also be harmful,” Friedman says. “It is so acidic it may possibly burn your hair. The easiest way to make use of it’s by mixing it with conditioner and even with coconut oil, so that you get these necessary hydrating and reparative advantages.”.