How to Lighten Hair Color

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Ngày cập nhật gần nhất: 15/4/2026

Content

Lightening Hair with Lemon Juice

Lightening Hair with Honey

Lightening Hair with Chamomile Tea

Lightening Hair with Hydrogen Peroxide

Lightening Hair with Bleach

Lightening Hair with Lemon Juice

Lightening Hair with Honey

Lightening Hair with Chamomile Tea

Lightening Hair with Hydrogen Peroxide

Bleaching Hair

Lightening your hair color is an excellent way to refresh your look. For those with naturally light hair, such as blonde or light brown, natural products like hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice, honey, and chamomile tea can help brighten your hair. If you have darker hair, you’ll need to use bleach to strip the color. All hair-lightening methods can damage your hair, but bleach is the strongest, so it’s best to visit a professional salon if you plan to bleach your hair.

Steps

Lightening Hair with Lemon Juice

Mix lemon juice and water in equal parts. Lemon is a natural bleaching agent that has been used for hair for a long time. Although it’s a natural ingredient, lemon juice can dry out your hair, so it’s essential to dilute it. Combine 1 part lemon juice with 1 part water to reduce acidity and pour it into a spray bottle.

For the best results, use fresh organic lemons. Bottled lemon juice works too, but it must be pure. You can buy fresh lemons, cut them in half, and squeeze out the juice.
Lemon juice is acidic and can dry out your hair. If your hair is already extremely dry, consider using coconut oil or conditioner instead of water to minimize damage.
You can also use more water than lemon juice if you’re concerned about hair damage.

Spray the lemon juice solution onto your hair. After preparing the lemon juice mixture, decide which areas of your hair you want to lighten—whether it’s the entire head, just the ends, or specific highlights—and apply the solution to those sections.

Use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to ensure the mixture is evenly distributed.

Dry your hair in the sun. Once the lemon juice solution is applied, head outside and sit in the sunlight. The heat will activate the citric acid in the lemon, enhancing its lightening effect, so stay outdoors until your hair is almost completely dry.

To avoid hair damage, limit sun exposure to no more than an hour and a half.
If you’re concerned about hair damage, you can spray the lemon solution on your hair at the start of your shower. Rinse it out and apply conditioner afterward. Repeat this process regularly to gradually lighten your hair.

Rinse out the lemon juice and apply conditioner. Once your hair is nearly dry, take a shower and wash out the lemon juice with your regular shampoo. Use a moisturizing conditioner and let your hair air dry.

For stronger lightening effects, you can leave the lemon juice in your hair overnight and wash it out the next morning.
If you need a deeper conditioning treatment, sit under a hair dryer while applying conditioner and cover your hair with a plastic cap.

Lightening Hair with Honey

Mix honey with a little water. The hydrogen peroxide in fresh honey can gently lighten your hair. Create a lightening solution by combining 1-2 tablespoons (20–40 g) of fresh honey with 1 cup (240 ml) of water and stir well.

For added hair conditioning benefits, you can replace water with olive oil. Olive oil is highly moisturizing and contains mild bleaching properties, making it an excellent pairing with honey.

Apply the mixture to your hair. Once the honey and water are fully combined, use clean hands to gently massage the mixture throughout your hair. You can apply it all over or focus on specific areas where you want to create highlights.

Comb through your hair to ensure the honey mixture is evenly distributed.
If you have thick hair, divide it into four sections: two at the bottom and two at the top. This will make it easier to apply the honey evenly.

Leave the mixture on your hair for about an hour. After applying the honey, wait 30-60 minutes to allow it to work its lightening magic. For better results, cover your hair with a shower cap and leave the honey on overnight.

Leaving honey on overnight acts as a moisturizing hair mask. Your hair will feel much softer the next morning!
If you’re worried about the shower cap slipping off while you sleep, wrap a towel or silk scarf around your head after putting on the cap.

Rinse out the honey and apply conditioner. After thoroughly rinsing the honey from your hair, shampoo as usual, then use conditioner and let your hair air dry.

If your hair feels sticky after rinsing, shampoo again. Always shampoo before conditioning.

Lightening Hair with Chamomile Tea

Brew a strong cup of chamomile tea. To make a strong brew, boil water and steep one chamomile tea bag in a cup for 10-15 minutes to ensure it’s concentrated.

If you have long or thick hair, you’ll need two or more cups of tea. Add an extra tea bag for each cup you prepare.

Wait for the tea to cool completely. Remove the tea bags once the tea has steeped long enough. Let the tea sit on the counter until it reaches room temperature to avoid any risk of burns.

It usually takes 20-30 minutes for the tea to cool completely.

Use the tea before showering. Spray the tea onto your hair at the start of your shower. Allow the tea to sit in your hair while you shower.

Since the tea needs about half an hour to work, it’s best to apply it before stepping into the shower.
You can also pour the cooled tea into a spray bottle, apply it to your hair, and sit in the sun for 30 minutes if you prefer.
Apple cider vinegar can be used similarly to chamomile tea. Simply mix ½ cup (20 ml) of vinegar with 1 cup (240 ml) of water to dilute it.

Rinse out the tea and condition as usual. After your shower, rinse out the tea with your regular shampoo. Moisturize your hair with a good conditioner and let it air dry.

Chamomile tea doesn’t dry out your hair like other products such as hydrogen peroxide or bleach, but it’s still a good idea to shampoo and use a hydrating conditioner.
You can skip shampooing, especially if you’ve added vinegar to your rinse. The tea won’t leave residue, and the vinegar can act as a cleanser to remove oil and buildup.

Lightening Hair with Hydrogen Peroxide

Mix hydrogen peroxide and water in equal parts in a spray bottle. For best results, use 3% hydrogen peroxide, which is available at most pharmacies. Combine 1 part hydrogen peroxide with 1 part water in a spray bottle and shake well to mix.

Higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide can damage your hair.

Section and clip your hair into parts. Use a detangling comb before applying the hydrogen peroxide solution, then divide your hair into sections using clips to ensure even distribution.

Divide your hair into four sections: two on top and two at the bottom.
Split the back of your hair horizontally at ear level, similar to a half-up hairstyle. Then, divide each section vertically, like creating pigtails.

Spray the hydrogen peroxide solution all over your hair. Once your hair is sectioned, spray the solution evenly across your hair for overall lightening. For highlights, use a cotton ball soaked in the solution and apply it to specific strands.

Focus on the ends if you’re aiming for an ombre effect.
Move from one section to the next, repeating the process until all sections are covered.

Leave the solution on for about 30 minutes. After applying the hydrogen peroxide, wait for the desired lightening effect. Thirty minutes is typically enough for a medium lightening result. Leaving it on longer may dry out your hair.

To speed up the process, sit in the sun after applying the solution and rinse when your hair starts to dry.

Rinse out the hydrogen peroxide and apply conditioner. Once your hair reaches the desired shade, rinse the solution with cold water. Use your favorite conditioner to moisturize, then rinse again with cold water. Let your hair air dry.

Opt for a hydrating or moisturizing conditioner, as hydrogen peroxide can dry out your hair.
Avoid using a hair dryer, as heat can further dry your hair. If needed, use a cool or low-heat setting to dry your hair 75-90%, then let it air dry completely.

Lightening Hair with Bleach

Deep condition your hair regularly before bleaching. Bleach is extremely harsh on hair and can cause severe dehydration, so it’s crucial to ensure your hair is well-moisturized beforehand. About two weeks before bleaching, start using a hydrating hair mask to keep your hair adequately nourished.

If your hair is extremely dry, consider deep conditioning three times a week before bleaching.

Mix the bleach with a developer according to the product instructions. You can purchase bleaching powder from beauty supply stores and mix it with a developer before application. Measure the bleach and developer as directed and mix thoroughly in a non-metallic bowl.

Developers come in different volumes. For lightening hair while minimizing damage, opt for a 30-volume developer. If your scalp is sensitive, use a 20-volume developer instead.
If this is your first time bleaching, start with a 10 or 20-volume developer. This will slow down the process and may not achieve your desired color immediately.
While bleach works best on virgin hair, it can also be used on previously dyed hair.
Generally, the darker your hair, the more damage bleaching may cause.

Apply the bleach using a tinting brush. For even application, use a brush specifically designed for hair coloring. Use the pointed end of the brush to part your hair, ensuring the bleach reaches as close to the roots as possible. Carefully apply the mixture all the way to the ends.

Always wear rubber gloves when applying bleach.
If you don’t mind leaving some roots untouched, avoid applying bleach directly to the scalp to minimize damage to the hair follicles.

Leave the bleach on for about 30 minutes. After applying the bleach, let it sit for 30-45 minutes. Check your hair every 15 minutes until it reaches your desired shade—such as golden, blonde, or light brown.

Refer to the instructions provided with the bleach, as processing times vary by brand and hair condition.
Everyone’s hair is different. Your hair may lighten slower or faster than others’. Use the suggested time as a guideline.
Never leave bleach on for more than 45 minutes. If you’re unsatisfied with the results, you can bleach again the next day.

Rinse out the bleach thoroughly. Once the processing time is up, rinse your hair with cool water, then shampoo with your preferred product to ensure all bleach is removed.

Rinse well and avoid using conditioner, as it can interfere with the toner’s effectiveness.
If possible, use a moisturizing or hydrating shampoo. Bleaching can dry out your hair, so this will help restore some softness.

Apply toner evenly and let it process. Bleached hair often has a brassy tone instead of a clean white. To soften the tone, apply toner to damp hair. Toner neutralizes the brassiness and should be left on for 20-30 minutes.

Hair toners are available at beauty supply stores.
You can also use purple shampoo as an alternative. Purple shampoo reduces brassiness and yellow tones without requiring a long processing time like toner.

Rinse out the toner and use a hair mask. After the toner has processed, rinse it out with cool water. Follow up with a deep conditioning hair mask and rinse as directed.

If your hair is very dark, you may need to bleach 2-3 times to achieve a blonde shade. However, give your hair time to recover between sessions. Wait at least two weeks before lightening again.

Tips

Pay attention to your hair’s condition. If it seems damaged after one lightening session, wait until it’s healthier before trying again.
Experiment with different conditioning mixtures—for example, if you used lemon juice and water the first time, try honey and olive oil next, as it’s gentler on hair.
All hair-lightening methods require patience. Take it slow to avoid damage or unwanted colors. Be prepared for multiple sessions to achieve your desired shade.
Don’t expect dramatic results with natural methods. They work gradually and provide subtle lightening. You can’t turn dark brown hair platinum blonde in one go.
Even with natural methods, always do a strand test first. Apply the mixture to a few strands in a less visible area. If satisfied, proceed to lighten your entire head.
Lightening works best on unwashed hair. Natural oils protect your hair from drying out during the process. For best results, avoid washing your hair 24-72 hours before treatment.
The lighter your starting hair color, the more effective the lightening process will be.
For light hair like blonde or light brown, natural methods like lemon juice, honey, chamomile tea, or hydrogen peroxide work well. For darker hair, bleaching is necessary to remove the color.
Wear old clothes when lightening your hair, regardless of the method. Hair-lightening agents can stain fabrics. Lay down an old towel or plastic sheet to protect your floors from spills.

Warnings

Avoid dyeing eyebrows and eyelashes due to the risk of eye injury.
Do not leave lightening mixtures on your hair longer than recommended to prevent damage.