How to Lighten Your Hair Without Bleach (Only Home Ingredients)

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You can lighten your hair without using bleach. This is great news for those of you who are afraid to use harsh chemicals on your hair and are on a budget. Hair is one of the most important features of your body, so it’s important to find a way to get the color that you want without spending a ton of money or using toxic chemicals.

In this post, I want to share some techniques of how to lighten your hair without bleach. The recipes that I’ve put together here contains natural ingredients, so you can enjoy the perks of having lighter hair and not worry about any damage to your locks from harsh chemicals. Continue reading

Bleach is used in highlighting because it opens up your cuticles, allowing the color to penetrate into the cortex of your hair shaft.

When you bleach your hair, you’re actually opening up the cuticle layer of your hair shaft. This allows for more light to reach the cortex of your hair and highlight it.

The bleach also lifts your natural pigment, which makes the new color stand out.

Why Would Someone Consider Lightening Their Hair Without Bleach?

There are many reasons why someone would want to lighten their hair without bleach. For some, it’s a matter of convenience or money. For others, it’s about avoiding harsh chemicals or an unnatural look. Here are the most common reasons people choose to use only natural hair lightening products:

  • Convenience: If you’re going for a temporary color change, or if you have naturally dark hair and just want to brighten it up a bit, then you might not need bleach at all.
  • Money: Bleaching your hair can be expensive and time consuming if you’re doing it yourself at home. Professional bleaching treatments start at around $100 each visit — which adds up quickly if you need multiple treatments to achieve the desired result. If you’re looking for something more affordable, try natural methods like tea or lemon juice which can also lighten your hair but won’t break the bank (or damage your strands).
  • No more damage: When you use a bleach kit, you can damage your hair, leaving it dry and brittle. This can lead to split ends and breakage. Using an all-natural alternative will help keep your hair healthy and shiny.
  • Healthy alternatives: The main reason people are choosing natural methods instead of chemical ones is because they don’t want their bodies exposed to harsh chemicals like peroxide. Many people have sensitive skin and this can cause irritation when using peroxide-based bleaches. Natural products do not contain these harsh chemicals, making them more gentle on the skin and less likely to cause irritation or allergic reactions.

How to lighten your hair without bleach?

Lighten your hair with the ingredients available in the kitchen

It doesn’t take much effort to lighten hair naturally and safely. You just have to know what to use and how to use it. In fact, these homemade hair lightening methods can sometimes produce better results than the store-bought products that contain harsh chemicals. So let’s find out.

1) Wash your hair with saffron

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Saffron has been used for centuries as a dye for fabrics and food coloring. It also makes a great natural hair lightener.

Saffron contains crocin which is a carotenoid pigment that gives it its beautiful yellow color. When applied to hair, crocin helps lift the cuticle up from the cortex so the natural pigment can be seen underneath. This works best on those with dark brown or black hair.

Mix 1 teaspoon of saffron with 5 tablespoons of boiling water (not hot) and let it sit for 5 minutes before applying it.

Use this mixture as a conditioner after washing your hair with shampoo. Leave the mixture on your scalp for 15 minutes before rinsing it off.

You can do this process 2 or 3 times a week for the best results.

2) Use lemon juice to lighten your hair

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Lemon juice is a wonderful natural lightener. It contains citric acid and vitamin C, both of which are great for bleaching hair. It also has anti-dandruff properties.

Step 1: Cut the lemon in half and squeeze out all of the juice into a sprey bottle. You can use regular lemons (not the ones that have been sitting in the refrigerator), but they should be organic so there aren’t any chemicals or waxes added.

Step 2: Add equal parts water to the bottle.

Step 3: Shake well and spritz onto your hair after it has been washed and conditioned. Let it sit for 30 to 35 minutes before washing it out with shampoo and conditioning your hair as usual.

3) Honey to lighten your hair

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Honey has been used for centuries as a natural hair dye. It’s a natural conditioner, so it won’t damage your hair. You can use it to lighten your hair or cover up gray hair. The color will last longer than other natural dyes because honey conditions your hair while it colors it.

Mix one part honey with two parts water to make a paste. Apply this mixture to your hair and let it sit for 40 to 50 minutes before rinsing out completely.

The longer you wait between applications, the lighter your hair will become as you continue applying this mixture over time.

Once you’ve achieved your desired shade of blonde, simply stop using this mixture once every three weeks or so to maintain it throughout the year until next summer when you’ll want to repeat this process again.

4) Try chamomile tea to lighten hair 

Chamomile tea is a soothing herb that can help promote relaxation, ease anxiety and insomnia, and soothe an upset stomach. It’s also a natural lightener that can help blonde hair appear brighter and give brunettes more dimension.

Step 1: Brew a cup of chamomile tea using 2 tablespoons of dried flowers per 1/2 cup of water. Steep for 10 minutes, then strain out the flowers and let cool completely.

Step 2: Pour the cooled tea into a spray bottle and shake well before using on damp or dry hair. Spray onto the roots of your hair first, then distribute throughout your entire head until all your hair is covered with the chamomile solution.

Step 3: Let sit for 30 minutes before rinsing out with warm water in the shower or sink; a towel wrapped around your head will help absorb excess moisture while leaving it in place longer than if you simply rinse it out immediately after applying it to your hair.

5) Wash your hair with apple cider vinegar

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Apple cider vinegar is a natural lightener that can be used to achieve the light hair color you are looking for. It also helps smooth out the cuticles of your hair and add shine.

Step 1: Wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner before

Step 2: Mix one part apple cider vinegar with four parts water and apply this misture to your hair.

Step 3: Let it sit on your hair for 20 minutes before rinsing off with cool water.

6) Try cinnamon and honey mask

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Cinnamon and honey are both natural colors so they will not damage your hair. This recipe uses cinnamon which has been shown to lighten dark hair. Honey also adds shine and makes your hair feel soft.

Step 1: Mix 1 tsp cinnamon powder and 1 tbsp honey together until it forms a paste.

Step 2: Apply the paste to your hair, starting at the roots and working your way down to the ends. Leave on for 20 minutes then shampoo out.

7) Try saltwater as a lightner

You can use salt to lighten your hair. Salt water is a natural lightener, and it’s easy to do at home.

Salt makes a good lightener because it has an alkalinity that helps remove the natural oils in hair. It also contains minerals like copper and iron that help lift the color out of the hair shaft.

The process is simple: Just mix 1 cup of salt into 2 cups of warm water until dissolved, then soak your hair in it for 30 minutes or longer if you want more dramatic results, says makeup artist Bethany Townsend.

You can also use this mixture as a rinse after shampooing — just leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing out with warm water, she says.

You may need to do this treatment several times before seeing results because it will take some time for the color to lift from your hair shafts.”

8) Use baking soda as a lightning ingredient

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If you want to use baking soda to lighten your hair, it’s important to know that it will only work on natural hair, not chemically treated hair. If you have dyed or bleached your hair recently, then this is not the right method for you.

Baking soda is an alkaline substance that can help remove the yellow tone from your hair. It’s a scent-free and colorless powder and can be found in most kitchens. It has been used for centuries as a natural cleanser and deodorizer.

The process of using baking soda on your hair is simple:

Mix one cup of water with 1/2 cup of baking soda and apply the mixture directly onto dry or wet hair starting at the roots and working down toward the ends (but not near scalp). Let sit for up to 10 minutes depending on how intense you want the color change to be. Rinse thoroughly with cold water until all traces of the mixture are gone from your hair.

9) Use olive oil to lighten your hair

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Olive oil is a great way to lighten your hair naturally. It’s inexpensive and easy to use, and the results can be amazing. The process works best on lighter hair, so if you have dark or black hair, it might not work as well for you.

To lighten your hair, apply olive oil on your hair. Leave it for about 30 minutes. Then, you can wash your hair with shampoo and water. This method is very effective for lightening your hair naturally.

Some other effective ways to lighten hair without bleach

1) Use sunlight to lighten your naturally

Sunlight naturally lightens your hair over time. If you have dark brown or black hair, it may take up to two weeks before you see results. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see any results right away; just be patient and keep on exposing your head to the sun each day until you see a change in color.

2) Add Some Highlight-Enhancing Shampoo to Your Routine

The easiest way to brighten up your hair is with a highlight-enhancing shampoo. There are many brands on the market that offer this type of product.

They’re generally made with vitamins, minerals and other ingredients that help lift the color in your hair without it being damaged by harsh chemicals.

 Using a highlight-enhancing shampoo is just like using any other shampoo except that it has a lighter color than most shampoos do. The added pigments will help lift your natural color so it appears brighter than it actually is.

3) Use vitamin C to lighten your hair

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Vitamin C is one of the most effective ingredients for lightening hair. It’s also very easy to use at home. You can use vitamin C to lighten your hair without bleach or peroxide, and it won’t damage your hair. the process will take some time, but it is worth it.

Take 15-20 vitamin C tablets and crush them well in a bowl.

Next, mix your crushed vitamin C tablets with a small amount of shampoo or conditioner in the same bowl. You will want to make sure that the mixture is thick enough to stay on your head when you apply it but not so thick that it will not wash off easily with water afterward.

Then apply this mixture to your hair and leave it for 1 hour, then wash your hair with warm water.

Conclusion

Overall, you can lighten your hair without using bleach if you really want to, but as a result of the high level of commitment and dedication necessary, this is not recommended for impulsive individuals. Instead, serious individuals who are committed to creating a new look will benefit most from such a rollout plan. However, none of the methods we discussed have any long-term damage to your hair, so enjoy the journey and stay tuned for more hair highlighting ideas in the future.

Abhijit Sarkar

Abhijit Sarkar

Abhijit Sarkar is a passionate automobile engineer and part-time content writer. With his deep interest in skincare and hair care, he brings a unique perspective to the world of beauty. Abhijit's expertise lies in dissecting the science behind various hair and skin problems, providing effective solutions, and sharing practical tips for a healthy and radiant appearance. As a meticulous researcher, he delves into the intricacies of beneficial and harmful ingredients, empowering readers to make informed choices. Through his engaging articles, Abhijit aims to simplify the complexities of hair and skincare, helping readers unlock their true beauty potential.

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