Author: Namratha Gopal
Are you running out of time to hit salons to get your hair lightened? Are you looking for budget-friendly hair lightening technique and get it done soon? And then why wait? You might really want to try these ways to bleach/lighten your hair at home with all the kitchen available ingredients. This article covers all the aspects of hair lightening and hair lightening spray recipes that really work for hair lightening. Let’s begin-
WHAT IS HAIR LIGHTENING OR BLEACHING?
Hair bleaching is a chemical dye technique that strips the color of the hair strands. The alkaline agent is the one that opens up the hair cuticle and the oxidative agent penetrates deep into the hair cortex and dissolves the hair’s melanin (hair’s natural color-varies from person to person). The longer you leave this agent, lighter your hair becomes.
HAIR DAMAGE RISKS WITH HAIR LIGHTENING OR BLEACHING
As we know that hair bleaching opens up the cuticle to alter the hair’s melanin in the bleaching process, this strips off hair’s natural oil, fatty acids and protective fibers thus changing the hair’s porosity and elasticity. When the hair is porous, it means hair cuticle tend to open up more eventually resulting in split ends and break off when untreated. On a nutshell, when bleached your hair with harsh chemicals, bleached hair becomes dry, brittle, dull, frizzy, weaker hair strand as the chemicals directly enter hair shafts.
Possible ways to get rid of damaged hair due to hair bleaching
Basically, the colourists are trained to make sure you don’t damage your hair strands. The harsh chemical does damage your hair to get that beautiful color when you leave those oxidative agents for long for sure. So the solution is to treat your hair with regular application of moisturizing oils like argan oil, rosehip oils or to use products that fortify argan, rosehip, almond oils and algae extracts to restore dull and dry damage. And the foremost importance is to try bleaching your hair at home naturally which we will be discussing further.
Things to consider before we begin with natural hair lightening
Before you attempt with hair lightening, you will have to discover and consider what results you expect. Here are few things that you will have to understand to begin with.
- To begin with, natural lightening works if you have light coloured hair with a fine texture.
- Dark hair gets red and orange undertones.
- If you have a blonde hair, it gets blonder.
- The red heads eventually and potentially transforms into strawberry blondes.
- If you have a light brown hair, it ends up in darker blonde peeks.
- If you have a dark brown and black hair, then forget about DIY natural recipes as it will not help you out to lighten hair. Lemon in some cases may work depending on sun exposure.
So having said that, let’s see the natural ways to lighten up hair.
READ MORE: WASH HAIR WITH TEA TO LIGHTEN, DARKEN, FIGHT DANDRUFF ETC. >>>>
Natural ways to lighten hair at home–
Tea
This solution works to lighten hair strands. Can be used alone or can use with honey for better lightening. However chamomile, black and rooibos help in adding the dimension to blond, brunette and red hair colors. You can use this without any second thought as it is completely safe, natural even if the effects are subtle. Also you don’t have to worry with the after effects of bleaching that can expect with typical chemical hair dye treatment.
Method- Brew the chamomile/rooibos/black tea for 5mins. Let it sit to cool completely. Now transfer this solution to spray bottle and use it as a hair mask or can saturate your hair if you want the tip or root to be lightened. Can use honey if needed.
DIY hair lightening spray
This method includes lemon and honey which stands out as a hair lightening ingredients. The high concentration of vitamin C i.e., citric acid in the lemon juice which is a powerful anti-oxidant lightens hair naturally. Lemon is known to be a natural bleaching agent or oxidizing agent as, citric acid accelerates the bleaching process when exposed to sunlight and thus lifts up pigment from hair shaft. Honey’s glucose oxidase enzymes lighten the hair due to the hydrogen peroxide found in honey. The iron that is found in the honey oxidises the free radicals that are released by the hydrogen peroxide. A dark colored spray bottle helps in preventing premature oxidation of the spray.
Method – To make this hair lightening spray, first brew the chamomile tea and pour its solution to a mixing cup once it is cool. Now add a 1 full lemon’s juice, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder, ¼ teaspoon of honey and few drops of coconut oil. Give it a good mix and then pour it to the dark colored spray bottle. Fill the remainder bottle with warm water. Make sure to shake well before spraying on the hair and you will have to spray it over your hair when you when spend time on outdoors in the sunshine. The sun works it magic to lighten the hair naturally.
Cinnamon and honey mask
The traces of hydrogen peroxide in the honey are activated by the cinnamon magically. When this sweet-smelling mixture sits up on the hair for long, will lighten up the hair by 2 shades.
Method – Combine 2 tablespoons of honey and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon powder and 1 tablespoon of olive hair oil (optional- required for extra hydration). Use it as a hair mask or saturate the areas that you want to lighten. Wash off after 2-3 hours.
