DIY Ways To Naturally Lighten Blonde Hair

Who else spent their summers as a teen, lounging by the neighborhood pool, squeezing lemon juice onto their hair? You know, just trying to achieve that perfect golden hue that only the most popular girl in class was actually genetically blessed with?

Naturally lightening your hair is a trend as old as Bonnybell chapstick but one most of us outgrew, opting instead for the traditional salon treatments as we got older. But honestly, our teenaged instincts to go the natural route was actually quite sound and is worth trying out again!

If the idea of dousing your scalp in a bucket full of chemicals sounds like a less-than-appealing way to achieve the lighter locks you’re currently coveting, there are a variety of safer easier - and way more affordable! - ways to do it, we promise.

# Lemon Juice & Water to Lighten Your Locks

Ingredients

Juice of one lemon
1/4 cup water

Method

Just put the mixture into a spray bottle and spray onto wet hair.
Let it dry in the sun, rinse and condition (no shampoo!).

# Swim in the Ocean

Sun and saltwater is a powerful combination when it comes to getting naturally lightened hair; both help to naturally “lift” the color from your hair essentially bleaching it sans chemicals.

# Salt, Oil & Sun

Ingredients

2 tbs sea salt
2 cups of water
1 tbs coconut oil
Lots of sun

Method

Put water and sea salt together in a saucepan on the stove and heat until salt is fully dissolved.
Shampoo your hair (no conditioner!) and saturate it with the sea salt water; do not rinse.
Rub the coconut oil from mid-shaft to your ends; not only does it help moisturize the hair, but the oil also attracts sunlight.
Next, just take yourself outside in the sun and stay as long as possible; make sure to keep your hair down and that your entire head is getting the same amount of sunlight.
You can continue to layer on the sea saltwater after your hair dries until you get to your desired color.

# Natural Hair Lightening Spray

Ingredients

1 cup chamomile tea
1 tbs lemon juice
1 tbs vodka

Method

Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle; spray on damp hair every morning and style as usual. Your hair will gradually lighten as it is exposed to the sun each day.

# Beer

If hard liquor isn’t your speed, you should try beer! Girls Gone Sporty suggests simply rinsing your hair with your beer of choice after shampooing and head out into the sun. The rays will activate the acids in the beer and help lift the color naturally. It’s best to use flat beer if you want to avoid the boozy smell.

# Honey

Ingredients

1 tbs honey
1 cup of water

Method

Combine the honey and water and a bowl and distribute evenly on your hair.
Let sit for an hour and rinse.

# Cinnamon, Honey and Olive Oil

Ingredients

Olive Oil
Honey
1 tbs cinnamon
Splash water

Method

Mix an equal amount of the first two ingredients in a bowl.
The measurements don’t have to be exact, just make sure you have enough to evenly coat your head!
Add the cinnamon and a splash of water to help make the mixture less vicious.
Let the mixture develop for about 15 minutes before distributing it evenly over your entire head.
Let sit for 40 minutes.
Repeat the process often for more noticeable results.