How to Lighten Hair Color Using Cinnamon Powder

Gather your ingredients. Check your pantry before heading out to buy supplies. You might already have everything needed to create a homemade hair-lightening mixture.

• Cinnamon. You can purchase cinnamon sticks or powder. Be sure to buy enough, as several tablespoons are required for each application.
• Honey. Opt for raw honey if possible. If unavailable, pure honey will also work.
• Conditioner. Any moisturizing conditioner will do. This helps the hair absorb the mixture effectively.
• Lemon juice. If desired, buy a lemon and squeeze fresh juice into the mixture.
• Shower cap. If you don’t have one, plastic wrap or a plastic bag can be used, but handle carefully to avoid contact with your face.

Prepare the mixture. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir thoroughly.

• 1 cup of honey
• 1 cup of deep conditioning hair conditioner
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons of cinnamon powder
• Let the mixture sit for at least 30 minutes. Honey contains hydrogen peroxide, which is activated by cinnamon. Allowing the mixture to rest enables the hydrogen peroxide to form, which is responsible for lightening your hair.

Brush your hair. While waiting for the mixture to develop, brush your hair.

• Ensure your hair is tangle-free. This allows the mixture to coat each strand evenly.
• This mixture works on both clean and dirty hair.

Understand the results you can expect. Lightening hair with a cinnamon mixture differs from using hydrogen peroxide directly.

• Blonde hair turns strawberry blonde with subtle brown highlights
• Black hair becomes light brown with reddish tones (after multiple applications)
• Red hair gains reddish highlights with brown undertones.
• Light brown hair becomes brighter with reddish tones.
• Dark brown hair turns light brown with a reddish hue.

Wet your hair. For this method, your hair needs to be damp but not soaking wet.

• Use a spray bottle. If you prefer not to go to the bathroom, a spray bottle can help dampen your hair.
• Wet your comb. Running a wet comb through your hair ensures the mixture adheres to each strand.

Test the mixture. Before applying the mixture to your hair, test it on your skin. If irritation occurs, avoid using the mixture.

• Some individuals are allergic to cinnamon. Apply the mixture to your palm and leave it for 5-10 minutes to ensure no skin irritation.
• Cinnamon may feel slightly warm but should not burn; if you have a sensitive scalp, this method may not be suitable for you.
• Rinse your hair immediately if your scalp feels a burning sensation!

Apply the mixture. This process can get messy! Enlist a friend’s help if possible. Alternatively, use a specialized comb to apply the mixture instead of your hands to minimize mess.

• Rub the mixture between your palms.
• Spread it evenly from the roots to the tips of your hair. Ensure you apply a generous amount.
• If the mixture is too thick, add ¼ cup of water.
• For thick hair, divide it into smaller sections before application. Use clips to secure each section until you’re ready to apply the mixture.
• Be careful to avoid applying the mixture to your neck, as this area may become irritated.

Leave the mixture on your hair. Sit back and relax while the mixture works to lighten your hair.

• Bun your hair up and cover it. A shower cap can make this step easier.
• Leave the mixture on for at least 2-4 hours. If possible, leave it overnight.
• Place a towel over your pillow. Even with a shower cap, the mixture may stain due to movement during sleep. Use a towel to protect your pillow.

Rinse your hair. Patience is key. While honey can make your hair sticky, cinnamon can make it challenging to rinse out the mixture completely.

• Rinse thoroughly. Before shampooing, ensure all the mixture is washed out.
• Shampoo. Once the mixture is rinsed out, use shampoo to cleanse your hair.
• You may need to shampoo twice to remove all traces of cinnamon.

Repeat the process if needed. Unlike chemical bleach, this mixture won’t produce dramatic results. Since it’s hair-friendly, you can repeat the process multiple times without worrying about damage. Continue until you achieve your desired hair color.

• The cinnamon hair-lightening method doesn’t yield instant results. Each application only slightly alters the hair color.
• You may need 3-4 applications to notice a significant lightening effect.

Try using olive oil instead of conditioner. If you prefer an all-natural mixture, replace conditioner with olive oil.

• Olive oil is excellent for moisturizing but isn’t suitable for oily hair. However, it can be harder to rinse out compared to conditioner.
• It’s a natural conditioner for curly hair. If you have dry, curly hair, olive oil will penetrate and hydrate your strands.

Use cardamom powder. This spice helps increase peroxide levels, making it as effective as cinnamon for lightening hair.

• You can substitute cinnamon with this spice for similar results.
• Opt for cardamom if you’re allergic to cinnamon.

Add vitamin C. This is an easy way to enrich your mixture with nutrients. Vitamin C promotes hair growth and strengthens your hair.

• Crush two vitamin C tablets and mix them into the solution.
• Vitamin C helps lighten hair color while keeping it strong and healthy.

• For better results, divide your hair into three sections and apply the mixture twice to ensure no strand is missed.
• To enhance the lightening effect, rinse your hair with brewed tea bag water or chamomile shampoo.
• Ask a friend to help with the back of your head. They can ensure every section is evenly coated.
• If grinding cinnamon, make sure it’s finely powdered without chunks. Otherwise, the mixture won’t lighten your hair effectively.
• Stir the mixture until it’s smooth and runny.
• Ensure the mixture isn’t clumpy. For better highlights and lightening, leave the mixture on for at least 5 hours.
• If you have dark hair, leave the mixture on overnight for noticeable lightening.

• Blonde hair may develop reddish tones after using this mixture.
• Rinse your hair immediately if the cinnamon mixture causes a burning sensation! This is a common sign of skin irritation.