6 ways to naturally lighten your hair without toxic salon chemicals or box dye (2023)

Hair coloring is very popular with women and even some men, especially as they age and gray hairs are appearing. According to some statistics, 69% of women say that they feel more attractive right after coloring their hair. (1)

another studyshowed that 50 percent of women dye their hair regularly. According to the study, both sexes started to dye their hair around the age of 27. (2)

Asthicken hair, the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bcoloring hair has been around for a long time. The ancient Egyptians became pros at learning how to lighten their hair. Unfortunately, it was lead-based at the time and its purpose was to create dark hair by dyeing it black... very black. (3)

In modern times, hair lightening seems to be the most popular approach and often starts at a young age for girls who want to give their hair a sun-bleached blonde look.

But first, let's understand a little bit about hair. I'm sure you've heard of keratin. That iswhat our hair is made of, and it's the same stuff our fingernails are made of.

But how does our hair acquire its color? Hair growth starts in a hair follicle that is under the skin. Here protein pigment is added. Our natural hair color is made up of two pigments - one called eumelanin, which is normally found in brunette and dark hair colors, and pheomelanin, which contains the beautiful red hair colors. However, blonde simply comes from lower pigment levels, and gray occurs when pigment production slows down or stops altogether. (4)

Conventional ways to lighten hair

So what happens when you decide to change your hair color? And is bleaching safe for your hair? Well, when you learn how to lighten bleached hair, remove thosehair's natural pigments. Commonly, the bleach used is hydroxide peroxide, which reaches what is often called peroxide hair.

But did you know that hydrogen peroxide becomes explosive when you heat it to boiling point? And at room temperature, it serves as a disinfectant. The makers of these products know this, so they dilute it a bit to make it safe to use.

It works by penetrating the hair shaft and releasing oxygen. The pigments are broken down in the process. This allows a coloring product to work in conjunction with hydrogen peroxide to achieve the desired hair color. So ultimately you remove the hair with the bleach or hydrogen peroxide to prepare it to accept the color and stay there until new hair growth occurs. But is this a healthy process for your hair? Absolutely not.

It's also important to understand that most commercial hair care products contain dangerous chemicals that, if exposed, can cause cancer and a number of other health hazards. Formaldehyde, for example, is found in tons of hair care products and poses a major risk, according to OSHA. (5) (6)

In addition, hair dyes can cause allergic reactions when they come into contact with the skin, for example,itchy scalp, hair breakage,hair loss, redness of the scalp, conjunctivitis and even headaches. Interestingly, one study shows that regardless of this, 89% of subjects continued to color their hair and many continued to use it throughout their pregnancy.

I find this alarming, as numerous studies show that the toxic chemicals in hair care products are absorbed through the skin on the scalp, which can pose a health risk to mother and child. (7)

6 ways to bleach your hair naturally Lar

Now that you know a little bit about how hair coloring works and some of the risks of using chemical dyes, let's look at some natural ways to lighten your hair.

A study ofMicrobial Biotechnologypublished some surprising results evaluating herbal hair dyes. “Using a laccase enzyme fromVersicolor-Dokumenteand natural plant-derived phenolic compounds, they were able to create a colorful array of eco-friendly dyes.” This included a wide range of colors that ended up reducing the use of hydrogen peroxide-based dyeing methods, which contain potentially carcinogenic phenylenediamines. This is good news for our health! (8)

1. Chamomile

if you thoughtsoothing chamomileit was just for tea, you know what? It can also safely lighten your hair. Just brew a strong cup or two and let it cool. Apply to hair after cooling down for a full lightening effect. Then hang it out in the sun for about half an hour while it dries. Wash and condition as usual.

2. Meat

While henna is generally known to darken hair, it can lighten very dark brunettes by providing some reddish highlights. It takes about three tablespoons of henna powder combined with half a cup of boiling water. Then leave this mixture overnight. Apply to hair the next morning and leave for 2-3 hours. Rinse well.

3. Sprayer

Sprayit can whiten your teeth, but if you're looking for how to lighten your hair, it might help. Make a paste with a little warm water and about ⅓ cup of baking soda. (You may need more if you have long hair). After forming a thick paste, apply it to the hair and let it act for about 15 minutes. Rinse, wash, condition and style as usual. You can even try mineBackpulver-Shampoofor additional results.

4. Lemons

Lemon juice for hair is probably the most popular and has been around for years because it contains it.bleaching properties. It works due to the citric acid in the lemon fruit, which can be used in the sun to naturally lighten hair. This method seems to work best on lighter shades of hair. Regardless, you don't need much.

To gently lighten your hair, mix a tablespoon of lemon juice with about half a liter of water. If you want stronger whitening effects, you can dilute it much less by mixing three tablespoons of lemon juice with about two glasses of water. If you prefer, you can use lemon essential oil to do the trick. Just a few drops mixed with water make the perfect preparation.

Want a shine boost? To useapple cider vinegar for hairsimply adding two tablespoons makes for a great conditioner. To use, apply after a good shampoo. Just rinse your hair with the lemon mixture. Make sure it was evenly distributed. Massage it into your hair. Leave for five minutes to an hour and sit in the sun with the mixture on your hair for a lighter effect. Then apply the conditioner and rinse. You can repeat this technique for two to three weeks until the desired color is achieved.

5. Raw CiderVinegar

As mentioned above, vinegar can add a little shine, but it can also have a brightening effect. Simply combine ½ cupApple vinegarwith half a glass of distilled water. Spray or apply to strands with a cotton ball or brush. Let it act for about half an hour and then rinse.

6. Sea Salt

When swimming in the sea, sea salt can lighten your hair, especially since you are in the sun. You can simulate this effect withsea ​​saltand warm water. Just dissolve a tablespoon of sea salt in about half a cup of warm water. Apply to hair and let it act for about 20 minutes. Rinse and wash for a sexy beach look!

Natural hair lightener recipe

Ingredients:

• ⅓ cup baking soda
• 1 spoon of sea salt
• 5 dropschamomile essential oil
• warm water (enough for a paste)

In a small bowl, mix the baking powder andsea ​​salt. Mix well. Baking soda is a great home remedy because it helps remove residue from other products, removes chlorine (which is useful when swimming in the pool) and even promotes hair growth! (9)

And with the natural benefits of sea salt, you simply can't go wrong. While an overdose in the sea and sun can leave your hair brittle, the occasional work-out can actually provide some great benefits. Sea salt has the ability, of courseBalancing and restoring the scalp, which benefits the hair.This works becauseSea salt is rich in health-promoting minerals such asMagnesium, Calcium, Sodium and Potassium. These minerals are vital for the health of our skin, hair and nails. (10)

Then add chamomile essential oil.Chamomile oil is amazing because it adds shine and softness to the hair while soothing the scalp. It is also known asanti dandruff solution. (11)Now slowly add warm purified water until it forms a thick paste. Make sure it's mixed well.

To apply, choose sections of hair or apply to all hair for an overall lighter effect. In any case, be sure to massage it into the scalp area at the base of the hair you are working with. Leave it on your hair for about half an hour. Sit in the sun during this time for a whitening effect. Rinse thoroughly after half an hour, wash, condition and style as usual. If you want your hair to be even lighter, repeat the next day.

Keep in mind that since every hair is different, results may vary. Using purified water can help to get better results. As some may cause allergic reactions, discontinue use and rinse thoroughly if irritation occurs.

Keep reading: Top vitamins for hair growth