How to Lighten Hair Naturally with Lemon Juice and Honey

Most of us look forward to the warm weather seasons. You can’t wait to lighten your hair naturally and avoid the damaging ammonia found in dyes. You’ll likely be out in the sun as much as possible. Believe it or not, you will need the assistance of the sun’s rays to lighten your hair’s color.

The sun will help to bring out the natural color of the hair. The process happens over a period of time, so don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t take place overnight. You probably already knew that the sun changes your hair color, but maybe you didn’t know how to use it to your advantage.

If you currently have (dark) brown hair and want light brown hair, you can use lemon juice to lighten it. It won’t come out to be blonde, however.  Light brown hair seems to enjoy the best results with a lemon juice and honey combination.

With that said, if you currently have blonde hair, using lemon juice will make your hair a dirty-blonde. If you have black hair, it’s likely you’ll get red highlights after applying the lemon juice.

Lightening the Hair with Lemon Juice and Honey

By far, pure honey is the best because of the humectant. Because of this, the hair retains its moisture.

Honey is one of the best ways to lighten your hair. It will clean the hair on its own, but when other ingredients like olive oil, chamomile tea, coconut oil, baking soda, and cinnamon are added, it works even better. They help to smooth any potential harm that’s been done to the tresses.

Also, these ingredients will speed along the hair-lightening process. However, for this recipe, only honey and lemon juice are used.

1. Combine the lemon juice from one lemon and ¼ teaspoon of raw honey together for a sheen and color you won’t believe. You can apply it to dry hair or to wet hair.  It works fine either way. Dilute the components with warm water to avoid doing damage to your hair.
2. When you’re ready to lighten your hair, apply the mixture of lemon juice and honey [plus the other ingredients if you added them] solely to the area you want to be lightened. Comb through if you desire to spread the mixture.
3. Set your timer so that you don’t forget. Sit outside, read a blog or two, plant some flowers or build a sandcastle while basking in the sunlight.  Allow the lemon juice and honey absorb into your hair.
4. When the buzzer sounds, rinse thoroughly but remember to use cool water. Oh, in case you’re wondering how long does it take to lighten hair with honey, you should see a change after six hours.

How Does Lemon Juice Lighten Hair?

It’s good you want to stay away from the chemicals to lighten your hair. There are other ways… natural ways in which to get the desired color not to mention inexpensive treatments. One method is pure lemon juice. It’s so gentle that you can try it on your teen’s hair. Now, you should know this is not an overnight change. It may take several applications, but in the end, it’s so worth it.

Similar to over-the-counter brands, it’s best not to apply the lemon juice to freshly washed hair. With this in mind, keep scrolling for instructions.

How to Lighten Normal Hair

1. Mix either one cup of pure lemon juice in the bottle or the juice from four freshly squeezed lemons and a ¼ cup of warm water together. Pour into a plastic spray bottle. Spray on your hair making sure the hair is damp in the areas you want the highlights. If you want, apply it all over your hair for a seamless look.
2. When you are done, set out for a day in the sun. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen as you want to spend at least a half hour outside. However, you can go as long as two hours. You can, of course, set a timer to remind you of the time.
3. When time is up, jump in the shower and wash the lemon juice out. Use a deep conditioning treatment. Both the sun and the lemon juice (citric acid) will dry your hair. Spending too much time in the sun can cause a dry scalp.
4. Repeat until you’re satisfied with the results. By the way, it’s okay to repeat the regime twice in a day for a couple of days or weekly. You don’t have to rush the process. It may be best so you can judge the results.

How to Lighten Dry Hair

1. You’ll need one cup of bottled lemon juice or the juice from four lemons and a quarter cup of conditioner.
2. Combine these ingredients in a small mixing bowl and whisk together.
3. Gather a dry towel and place around your shoulders.
4. Scoop out the mixture and massage it into your hair.
5. Take a wide tooth comb and spread the conditioner and lemon juice through your locks.
6. Sit out in the sun or go shopping or whatever you usually do that will take up an hour or two. Please, don’t forget to apply sunscreen. You don’t want to get burned beautifying your hair.
7. When the time is up,  you should shampoo and condition as usual. Repeat weekly until you get the desired results.

Can You Lighten Your Hair With Lemon Juice without the Sun?

Don’t you just hate it when a natural blonde gets even more beautiful hair by sitting out in the sun? Why should they be so lucky? Oh, well… you can have highlights without much effort.

How do I lighten my hair naturally? One popular method is, of course, using lemon juice but did you know you can use olive oil and get the same results? The results may even be better and faster. It’s possible to lighten hair without the sun and without using store brands.

If you want a natural solution, you’ve come to the right place. What color is your hair now? It will depend on the color you end up with, did you know that? Don’t expect to be a blonde overnight especially if your hair is a dark brown.

You’re going to need a couple of applications before you start to see a color change. Let’s find an application that will work for you and one you’ll be happy using.

How to Lighten the Hair Without the Sun

1] Chamomile

This herb will also change the color of your hair. This is a gradual change, but it works.

Brew the tea bag and apply the tea to your hair after you have washed and conditioned it. You don’t have to rinse out, just style like any other time. While it’s true the sun will speed things along, it is not necessary for chamomile to lighten hair.

2] Beer

To bring out the natural highlights, use a light beer as a rinse, so don’t throw away that half-empty bottle or can of beer. Some believe beer makes the hair stronger because of the vitamins and proteins in it.

3] Honey

It may be sweet and sticky, but it will make your hair soft and beautiful. Mix four parts of raw honey to one part of distilled water together and place in a spray bottle. You can add your best conditioner to the mixture for extra nourishment.

Spray the mix in your hair. Make sure it covers the entire area where you want to lighten and cover using a shower cap. You can either leave on for 8 hours, 12 hours or even overnight. Most people prefer to leave it in overnight to get the best results.

When you’re ready to wash out, do so with warm water. You’re going to love how your hair feels and looks. Style as you usually would or create a new look.  It’s entirely up to you.

4] Citrus Juice

Vitamin C is excellent for the body and hair. It will also help to change the color of your hair. You’ll be using two dozen of vitamin C tablets for this recipe. Crush the tabs and you’ll be able to make a paste.

Mix them together with a tablespoon of your favorite shampoo that reduces dandruff and comb through. Place a shower cap on your hair and leave in for one or two hours. Of course, rinse out and style your hair.

5] Cinnamon

If you’re a redhead or brunette, then cinnamon is for you. It lightens darker hair colors without it looking brassy. You should have wet hair for this application.

Apply conditioner to your hair first and then using a cinnamon/water paste, apply to the strands of your hair. It’s okay to leave in for more extended periods, at least six hours and even overnight.

If you want to lighten hair fast without bleach, leave it in while you sleep. Be sure to cover your hair well, so the paste doesn’t end up on your pillowcase. There are also ways to add color to the hair without bleach.

6] Hydrogen Peroxide and Lemon Juice

There’s another little tip you should know about when it comes to lightening the hair without having to sit out in the sun. It’s hydrogen peroxide. Yes, it’s so much simpler but just as effective.

Lemon juice does work. It can be enjoyable to sit out in the sun, but not everyone has that luxury. Therefore, stylists suggest using a solution involving hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice.

How do I lighten hair without sun or dye? Take equal parts and fill a bottle with the two ingredients and spray on wet hair. Comb it through your strands and let dry. There’s nothing else to think about or do. If you didn’t know, hydrogen peroxide is in honey as well.

Highlighting hair using lemon juice and honey is not a new trend. It’s been popular for ages because it’s natural, inexpensive and to do. A woman could dye her hair, start a tan and take advantage of the vitamins from the sun if she didn’t stay too long. It was a win-win scenario. The fact that it works for just about any hair color is a plus. By using lemon juice and honey you can have beautiful, soft, and manageable locks.