How to Lighten Your Hair

Co-authored by Christine George and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: June 28, 2021 References Approved

Lightening your hair is a great way to spice up your style and give yourself a new look. If you already have blonde or light brown hair, you can use natural products to lighten your locks in no time. If your hair is dark brown or black, you might need to use bleach to fully lift the color out. Whichever method you choose, remember to go slowly and work carefully to keep your hair in tiptop shape.

Question 1

Question 1 of 6:
How can I lighten my hair without bleaching it?

1
Try lemon juice. Mix equal parts of lemon juice and water in a small bowl. Use a clean spoolie or mascara wand to swipe the mixture onto your hair to give yourself highlights. If you want an overall lift, pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spritz it all over your hair. Wait 15 to 30 minutes, then wash your hair with cool water and shampoo. Lemon juice can be a little drying, so use a conditioning treatment or hair mask afterwards to keep your ends healthy.^{[1]
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- If swiping the mixture onto your hair is too difficult, combine your ingredients in a spray bottle and spritz it onto your damp hair.
- Lemon juice might only lift your hair a shade or two, and that’s if you start off a light brown or blonde already. If you notice any yellow or brassy tones, use purple shampoo to even out your color.
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Question 2

Question 2 of 6:
How do I bleach my hair at home?

1
Split your hair into small sections. Brush your hair and make sure it’s tangle free, then gather your hair into 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) vertical sections. Use clips or hair ties to keep each section in its place, and take them down one at a time to apply your bleach.^{[2]
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2
Apply bleach from your ends to your roots. Mix 1 parts bleach to 2 parts developer in a plastic hair dye bowl. The developer you use depends on your color and hair type, but 20 volume is usually the safest to use at home. Use a hair dye brush to gently brush the bleach onto a 1 in (2.5 cm) section of your hair. Apply the bleach to your entire head, but leave a 1 in (2.5 cm) gap from the bleach to your scalp to leave your roots. After you’ve applied bleach to your entire head, go back and put bleach on your roots.^{[3]
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3
Let the bleach sit, then rinse it out. Check the back of the box to see how long you should let the bleach sit on your hair. Keep it in your hair for 20 to 45 minutes, then head to the shower and use cool water to rinse it out. Bleach is fairly damaging, so use a deep conditioner or a hair mask on your hair to add some hydration.^{[4]
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4
Use toner to even out your color. When you bleach your hair, it may end up a little yellow or brassy looking, which is normal. To combat that, purchase a purple or blue hair toner and mix it with a developer in a hair dye bowl. Apply the toner to your hair with a hair dye brush, then let it sit for about 20 minutes before rinsing it out.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.}

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Question 3

Question 3 of 6:
Can you lighten your hair with apple cider vinegar?

1
Yes, if you mix it with water. In a small bowl, combine 1 c (240 mL) of apple cider vinegar with 1 c (240 mL) of water. Shampoo and condition your hair, then pour the mixture on your hair in the shower for an overall lift. Let it sit for about 15 minutes before rinsing it out.^{[6]
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- Apple cider vinegar is also a natural way to remove dirt and product buildup from your hair.
- Your hair will probably only lighten a shade or two with apple cider vinegar. If you notice any brassiness in your hair, try using purple shampoo to get it out.

Question 4

Question 4 of 6:
Can you lighten your hair with hydrogen peroxide?

1
Yes, and it’s less damaging than bleach. Rinse your hair in the shower and pat it dry so that it’s still slightly damp. Pour hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle, then spritz it onto your hair where you’d like to lighten it. For highlights, use a cotton ball instead and swipe it onto 1 in (2.5 cm) sections of hair. Leave the hydrogen peroxide in for 30 minutes, then rinse your hair with cool water.^{[7]
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- Hydrogen peroxide can be slightly drying, so use a deep conditioner or hair mask afterwards.
- Hydrogen peroxide will only lighten your hair 1 to 2 shades. If your hair turns yellow or brassy, use purple shampoo to even out your color.
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Question 5

Question 5 of 6:
How do you lighten your hair with honey?

1
Mix the honey with some water. Raw honey contains trace amounts of hydrogen peroxide, so it can gently lighten your hair. To make a natural hair lightening solution, mix 4 tbsp (86 g) of raw honey into ¹⁄₄ c (59 mL) of water until well blended. If you’re worried about drying out your hair, add 1 to 2 tsp (4.9 to 9.9 mL) of olive oil or coconut oil for extra hydration.^{[8]
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2
Massage the mixture into your hair. Starting on clean, dry hair, gently massage your mixture onto your locks, starting at the ends. You can apply it all over your head, or you can target specific areas where you want to add highlights, like the ends. If you have thick hair, divide your hair into upper and lower sections to ensure your mixture is evenly distributed.^{[9]
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Let the mixture sit for 2 to 3 hours. The longer you leave the honey on your hair, the lighter it will get. Cover your hair with a shower cap and let it sit for at least 2 hours, or even overnight! Rinse the mixture out completely with cool water, then use conditioner on your hair if it feels dry.^{[10]
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- Honey will only lighten your hair 1 to 2 shades, so it won’t be a drastic change.
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Question 6

Question 6 of 6:
How can I lighten my blonde hair naturally?

1
Try chamomile tea to lighten it 1 to 2 shades. Brew a strong pot of chamomile tea, then let it cool down to room temperature. Pour the tea over your hair in the shower for an all over lift, and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes as you do the rest of your shower routine. Wash the tea out with shampoo, then use conditioner to hydrate and moisturize your ends.^{[11]
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2
Use lemon juice, honey, or apple cider vinegar for a subtle change. Mix your product of choice in a 1:1 ratio with some water. Spritz the mixture onto your hair for an overall lighter shade, or use a clean mascara wand to swipe it onto your hair for highlights. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes to 1 hour, then rinse your hair out well.^{[12]
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3
Sit in the sun to lighten your hair a shade or two. UV rays naturally lighten your hair, especially if you’re already blonde. If you want to add a few highlights or lighten your hair just a little, head out to the beach and leave your hair down. Over time, your hair will naturally start to lighten up.^{[13]
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Community Q&A
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Question

What tea makes your hair lighter?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

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Chamomile tea can lighten your hair. Black tea can actually stain it darker.
Question

Can you lighten your hair with vinegar?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

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Vinegar may lighten your hair slightly over time. It tends to produce subtle warmth instead of strong brightness.
Question

Can lemon juice ruin your hair?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

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Lemon juice can cause dryness, but it isn't damaging. You can follow it with a rich conditioner to make sure your hair stays shiny and moisturized.
Question

What can you use to lighten your hair?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

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Chamomile, honey, and lemon are great natural lighteners. You can also lighten hair with hydrogen peroxide.
Question

I've mixed cinnamon with conditioner, olive oil, and salt and I've slept with it on overnight and my hair looks the exact same! Why is this?

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Your hair might be too dark to lighten with natural products. If your hair isn't blonde or light brown, it will be very hard to lighten it without bleach.
Question

I used the method with the hydrogen peroxide and it worked, but it dried my hair out. How do I fix it?

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Apply a deep conditioner and let it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing it out. You could also use a hair mask and let it sit in the shower as you do your normal routine. Keep using products like these once or twice a week until your hair feels healthy again.
Question

When you put the lemon and water in your hair do you have to go outside in the sun?

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You don't have to, but it helps! Adding natural UV rays when you have lemon juice in your hair can help you hair lighten faster. Just be careful, though, as sitting in the sun for too long with lemon juice in your hair can really dry out your locks.
Question

Can I use toothpaste for lightening my hair?

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Toothpaste isn't a great option for lightening your hair, since it's clumpy, sticky, and fairly drying. If you want to use a product you already have at home, try lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, honey, or chamomile tea.
Question

Can I use baking soda on my hair every day to lighten it?

Community Answer

Yes, you can. Try also adding hydrogen peroxide or lemon juice. If using lemon juice, make sure you expose your hair to the sun for at least fifteen minutes.
Question

Will hydrogen peroxide cause any damage to the hair? Is it permanent?

Community Answer

If you spray too much then it will dry your hair a little, but make sure to just condition it after you rinse it out with cold water.

Warnings

When leaving lightening mixtures on your hair, do not exceed the recommended time frame because it may damage your hair.^{[15]
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Expert Source

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.}

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