You Can Lighten Hair In Sun, But Here's Why You Should Think Twice

Table Of Content

• Christophe Robin Brightening Shampoo with Chamomile
• IGK Mixed Feelings Leave-In Blonde Drops
• The hair-lightening spray will permanently bleach your hair.
• John Frieda Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Lightening Spray
• What Non-Bleach Formulas Should People Look For When Lightening Their Hair?
• Klorane Sun Lightening Spray with Chamomile and Honey
• What Is Hair Lightening Spray?
• Hydrogen peroxide

"Lemon juice does lighten hair, but it can also be dangerous," Friedman says. "It's so acidic it can burn your hair. The best way to use it is by mixing it with conditioner or even with coconut oil, so you get those important hydrating and reparative benefits.”. Black hair is beautiful and striking, but sometimes you want to switch things up and go lighter. Fortunately, even the darkest black hair can be lightened, with or without bleach.

Christophe Robin Brightening Shampoo with Chamomile

Whichever method you choose, remember to go slowly and work carefully to keep your hair in tiptop shape. You know how most beauty products recommend a "patch test" first before you use it all over? Choose a small, inconspicuous part of your hair, apply the hair-lightening product, and then see the results before you go wild with it. If you prefer to use a store-bought product to help the sun lighten your hair, steer clear of those that contain hydrogen peroxide.

IGK Mixed Feelings Leave-In Blonde Drops

Though they’re natural lighteners, lemon juice is acidic and can burn hair if you’re not careful, and salt can be very drying. Whether your hair is dry or a little damp, simply spray the area you’re looking to lighten. You want to ensure you’re being purposeful with spraying, so think about what type of look you’re going for.

The hair-lightening spray will permanently bleach your hair.

Each story in this series tackles a common hair or scalp concern and offers science-backed solutions to care for your strands. For optimal results without a summer-long skin fry, you’ll need to help things along. But keep in mind that there are other summer staples that can also have a lightening effect on your hair. The sun might not give you the perfectly lived-in balayage you pay big bucks for at the salon, but you can score a lighter hue by sitting in the sun.

Top it off with the brand's SHINEFINITY Color Glaze to make hair look extra glossy and healthy. Maybe blame it on Barbie, but that sun-kissed blonde is definitely back in vogue. Sry brunettes, but this hair-lightener is also best for blondes (it's nothing personal...promise). The formula's lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide are combined with purple pigments (to tone brass) and glycerin (to hydrate) for a truly brightening experience. Know that this pick is activated by the sun or heat, so make sure your blow dryer is queued up before you get started.

Sun-Bleached Hair: How to Get It, Steps, Precautions and More - Healthline

Sun-Bleached Hair: How to Get It, Steps, Precautions and More.

Posted: Thu, 20 May 2021 07:00:00 GMT [source]

What Non-Bleach Formulas Should People Look For When Lightening Their Hair?

Perfect for brightening blonde tones that have gone flat or ashy, this conditioner is spiked with two natural hair lighteners (chamomile and lemon extract) aaaand a super hydrator (sunflower seed oil) that all work to keep your hair soft and silky. After shampooing, slather this bb through your strands and let it sit for five minutes. TBH it's hard to find a hair DIY that doesn't involve apple cider vinegar, thanks to the fact that it's loaded with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Along with gently removing product buildup and excess oil from your scalp, ACV can also help lighten your hair (especially if your natural highlights are on the warmer side). Fill a spray bottle with equal parts ACV and water, let it sit on your hair for a few minutes, and then rinse it out.

And remember — if you're looking to go full-on platinum, please, leave it to the experts. This rich caramel shade provides a touch of color without doing too much damage. As Cunningham explains, "Brunette shades are less tricky to get than blondes. It's about getting those deep, rich shades and variations for the 'latte' effect." She goes on to say that when using color to lighten hair, there's a wide range of levels you can use to get it lighter. And, apart from previous dye in your hair, there are other factors to consider. Obviously, if your hair turned bright orange (and that wasn't the effect you were looking for), you'll want to see a pro for help stat.

What Is Hair Lightening Spray?

"It will dry out the hair and scalp, so I do not consider it safe," adds Debski. If you spend hours a day in the sun, it’ll eventually work its magic and lighten your hair. But this could take an entire summer of all-day sun exposure to achieve and potentially lead to sunspots and a higher risk of skin cancer in the process.

For the best results, Bodt recommends looking for a formula with low peroxide. "The higher the volume, the more stress it may leave on your hair," she explains. Additionally, she says to look for a color that has bonding properties to help with hair health. Michael Black likes the Aveda Botanical Repair Hair Strengthening Additive, a professional-only treatment that rebuilds and multiplies bonds in the hair as you lift. And Cisneros recommends Wella's Professional Koleston Perfect, saying that the entire line can lighten hair depending on how you formulate your color.

Keep in mind that you probably won't see immediate results—try repeating this process 2x per week over the course of a month. You’ve probably heard some horror stories about these hair lightening sprays, but rest assured that the sprays of today are not the same as the ones from the past; these products have evolved and been refined to be safer, and less harmful to our hair. That said, as with hair dye and bleach it’s important to do a little bit of homework before trying one out. Not having all of the information and simply buying one and spraying it in your hair could damage your follicles and/or leave it looking brassy, dull and dry which is not something you want.

If you're trying to lighten your hair after a dye job gone wrong, colorist Meri Kate O'Connor suggests loading up with an ultra-clarifying shampoo (something that's spiked with the stripping ingredients you usually avoid, like sulfates). She's a fan of this one from Bumble and Bumble—as well as Prell Shampoo—which should be followed immediately with a super-hydrating treatment to restore some of the inevitable dryness that comes with clarifying. Ahead, the best natural DIYS, shampoos, conditioners, sprays, and more to help lighten your hair at home (without, you know, totally destroying it in the process). Additionally, making your hair lighter from sun exposure can harm your scalp. "Sun bleaching can cause your scalp to dry [up and] flake from the acid in the lemon [and] the UV rays from the sun," says Bennett. Not to mention, any time spent directly in the sun without protection can increase your chances of getting skin cancer.

If you’re generally looking for all of your hair to be lighter, then make sure to gingerly spray your entire head. For those looking for a more subtle look, focus on individual strands or the top or bottom section of your hair. After you’ve applied your spray, head outside so the process can begin — remember, many of these lightening sprays active with sunlight. You can also use a hair dryer to activate the spray’s effects without suffering any quality in your hair’s appearance.

"You were the perfect candidate, because you didn't have a prejudice towards the product. You were also willing to take a chance and try something new." What’s less fun, though, are the horror stories we’ve all heard about bleach. Here's what you need to know before booking your next hair color appointment. Send your Q to for a chance to have it featured in a future installment of Hair Health Hotline. If you have (or want) sun-bleached hair, here's what you should know about UV rays' affects on your strands. Instead of harmful parabens, sulfates and sodium chloride, Oribe’s Lightening Mist is formulated with a blend of nourishing plant-extract, chamomile and concentrated lemon to illuminate your hair, rather than leaving it looking brassy and dull.

When used with honey, or even on its own, chamomile will subtly lift the overall tone of your hair. And if what you’re interested in is natural highlights, you’ll want to try a DIY solution that you can apply to more targeted parts of your hair instead, like the lemon juice-conditioner combo. According to Rachel Bodt, a senior colorist at Cutler/Redken salon, natural lightening really only works if you have fair hair with a fine texture to begin with. "When you are working with darker hair, you are dealing with red and orange undertones, and these will be the first colors to be exposed," she says. Learning how to lighten hair naturally, understandably, is an appealing alternative.

But if you're cool with a warmer hue, it might be worth experimenting. "If you're going for a warm tone and you already have light hair, and if the product is placed on the hair thoughtfully and sparingly, you might find yourself happy with the outcome," Baum says. Other products (like Oribe and Klorane) use lemon and chamomile to achieve the look, but it may take a bit more time to see effects. Hair Health Hotline is your direct access to dermatologists, trichologists, hairstylists, and other beauty pros.

But before you go rushing to your hairdresser or local pharmacy for bleach or hair dye materials, consider hair lightening spray. When used properly, these sprays can naturally lighten your hair in a way that bleaching or coloring your hair can’t. "This bright platinum with a sweet warm undertone is a great trend to try for those looking to connect with their blonde side," says Burns. Since it requires nine levels of lift, Burns recommends adding a purple hair mask to your routine to nourish strands, while preventing any unwanted orange undertones from creeping in. \"This bright platinum with a sweet warm undertone is a great trend to try for those looking to connect with their blonde side,\" says Burns.