Buzz
Lemon juice has long been a natural and effective way to lighten hair. After mixing lemon juice with water and spraying it onto your hair, you’ll need to expose your hair to sunlight, so don’t forget to apply sunscreen! You may notice subtle results after about an hour of sun exposure, but the change will be minimal. Repeat this process several times for more noticeable effects. Keep in mind that while lemon juice is a natural and affordable option, it may not be the most effective method for lightening hair.
Steps
Mix lemon juice solution and spray it on your hair
Squeeze juice from three lemons. Cut each lemon in half, then use the tip of a knife to remove the seeds. Squeeze each lemon half into a bowl or measuring cup. You may need slightly more or less, depending on the length of your hair.
Mix 2 parts lemon juice and 1 part leave-in conditioner into a spray bottle. Pour the lemon juice into a clean spray bottle. Add a small amount of leave-in conditioner to the bottle. Reattach the spray nozzle and shake well to ensure the two ingredients are fully combined.
- If you don’t have leave-in conditioner, you can substitute it with water. However, leave-in conditioner is often a better choice, as lemon juice can dry out and make hair brittle.
Protect your skin with sunscreen. You’re about to use the power of sunlight to activate the lightening effect of citric acid, so shield your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays. Apply a high-quality sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to your face and body.
- Bring the sunscreen with you when you go outside and reapply if you sweat or swim.
Spray the solution all over your head to dye your entire hair. To ensure even coverage, spray the mixture across your entire hair and gently comb through it a few times. Make sure your hair is damp but not soaking wet.
- If you only want to lighten your roots, tips, or create highlights, focus on spraying those specific sections.
- For an ombre effect, concentrate the spray on the lower half of your hair.
Use a cotton ball soaked in the mixture to lighten specific sections of hair. Once the cotton ball is saturated, glide it down the strands you want to lighten. This method creates subtle highlights. Pay attention to these sections during the process, as you may need to repeat the application multiple times for noticeable results.
- To avoid overlapping or missing sections, you can wrap aluminum foil around the treated strands.
Leave your hair in the sun for 1-2 hours. Spend about 2 hours outside so the sunlight can activate the lemon juice and create the lightening effect. As the mixture dries, it will harden and feel slightly brittle. This is normal! You can gently run your fingers through your hair, but avoid brushing it to remove the mixture at this stage.
Rinse your hair, apply conditioner, and repeat the process
Rinse the lemon juice out of your hair. After 1-2 hours in the sun, head indoors and thoroughly rinse the mixture out of your hair under the shower. Lemon juice can leave your hair extremely dry, so make sure to rinse it out completely.
Use a deep conditioning treatment. Once your hair is rinsed, apply a deep conditioner from roots to tips. Leave it on for about 10 minutes (or as directed on the product), then rinse it out thoroughly.
Dry and style your hair as usual. After the first treatment, you’ll notice a subtle lightening effect! If your hair feels dry, apply a moisturizing product, such as a hydrating styling cream. You can also use a small amount of deep conditioner on the ends to tame any unruly strands.
Repeat this process for 3-4 consecutive days. Lightening hair with lemon juice is a gradual process that requires multiple sessions for noticeable results. Repeat the spraying and sun exposure routine for 1-2 hours over the next four days.
- You can do this daily or spread it out over a week, depending on your schedule.
- Make sure to deep condition your hair after each treatment.
Wait for a subtle change in hair color. After about 4 lemon treatments, you may notice your hair lightening by a shade. If your hair is dark brown, it may turn into a lighter brown. Light brown hair may shift to a deep blonde, while dark blonde hair could become lighter. Red hair may develop golden highlights. Unfortunately, if your hair is naturally black, you might not see significant results.
- Lemon juice is less effective on very dark or black hair.
- If your hair is black or very dark, be cautious—lemon juice can sometimes turn dark hair into a brassy (slightly orange) tone. Monitor your hair color after each treatment.
Allow a few weeks for your hair to recover. Lemon juice can gradually damage your hair over time. Although it’s natural, some argue it can be as harsh as bleach. After 3-4 consecutive treatments, give your hair a break for a few weeks. The lightening effect is subtle but permanent, so it’s best to proceed in stages.
- You can continue lightening your hair with lemon juice after the break, just remember to use a deep conditioner after each session.
Enhance hair lightening with additional ingredients
Add chamomile tea to the lemon juice mixture. Boil 1 cup of water and steep 2 chamomile tea bags for 10 minutes. Remove the tea bags, then mix the tea with lemon juice in a spray bottle. Apply this mixture to your hair as usual.
- Chamomile tea works best for light brown or blonde hair.
Add a teaspoon of cinnamon powder. Cinnamon is a natural lightening agent and can boost the effects of lemon juice. Prepare a fresh batch of lemon juice mixture and add about 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder to the spray bottle. Shake well and apply to your hair as usual.
Add a few drops of honey. Honey is a natural lightening agent and also helps condition your hair. After preparing the mixture and pouring it into the spray bottle, add a small amount of honey. Reattach the nozzle and shake well. Use the mixture as usual.
Tips
- Applying lemon juice only to naturally highlighted sections of your hair will create streaks. If you apply it all over, your entire hair will lighten.
- Continue the process over several days if you don’t have much time to wait during the first session.
- Avoid using bottled lemon juice. It’s not natural and won’t be as effective as fresh lemon juice.
- Children and teenagers should seek adult assistance.
- Be patient! It takes multiple applications to see noticeable results.
