Dreaming of those natural, sun-kissed highlights but dreading the hefty salon prices? You’re in luck! This guide will show you how to achieve subtle, beautiful highlights at home using the power of lemon juice and sunshine. It’s a simple, cost-effective DIY method that can brighten your hair without harsh chemicals.
How Lemon Juice Lightens Hair: The Science Behind It
Lemon juice contains citric acid, a natural bleaching agent. When combined with sun exposure, this citric acid works wonders to lighten your hair. The sun’s rays naturally alter the melanin in your hair, and lemon juice intensifies this effect. The citric acid opens the hair cuticles, stripping away a layer of color and resulting in a lighter tone.
Important Note: This method works best for those with blonde to dark blonde hair. If you have dark hair, you might not see a significant change, or your hair could turn slightly orange.
What You’ll Need
Before you start your DIY hair highlighting journey, gather these simple supplies:
- Lemons: The star of the show! You’ll need a few fresh lemons to extract the juice.
- Warm Water: To dilute the lemon juice.
- Spray Bottle: For easy application.
- Cotton bud: To apply the mixture
- Paper
- Knife
- Heat source: Lamp or hairdryer
- Towel: To protect your clothes.
- Sunscreen: To protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
Step-by-Step Guide to Highlighting Your Hair with Lemon Juice
Follow these steps to get those natural-looking highlights you’ve always wanted:
- Mix the Lemon Juice Solution: Squeeze the juice from the lemons into the spray bottle. A general guideline is to mix two parts water with one part lemon juice.
- Prepare Your Hair: Wet your hair slightly before applying the lemon juice mixture. This helps the solution distribute evenly.
- Apply the Lemon Juice:
- Sunshine Time: To activate the lemon juice, sit in the sun for 1 to 2 hours. Remember to apply sunscreen to protect your skin!.
- Rinse and Condition: After sun exposure, wash the lemon juice out of your hair thoroughly. Apply a good conditioner to replenish moisture, as lemon juice can be drying.
- All-Over Lightening for Parted Hair: Drop lemon juice along the right side of your part and comb it away from the part. Repeat on the left side.
- Streaky Highlights for Parted Hair: Apply lemon juice in a zigzag pattern across your part. Comb both sides of your hair away from the part.
- All-Over Lightening for Pulled-Back Hair: Starting near the center of your forehead, apply lemon juice just inside your hairline, moving towards your right ear. Repeat on the left side. Brush your hair back from your forehead.
- Streaky Highlights for Pulled-Back Hair: Starting near the center of your forehead, apply lemon juice in short lines away from your hairline. Move from the center to your ear, alternating sides. Brush your hair back from your forehead.
- For longer hair: Drip some lemon juice on your palm, rubbing your hands together, then running your hands through your hair, especially the ends.
Tips for the Best Results
- Start Slow: Lemon juice lightening is a gradual process. Don’t expect drastic changes after one application. Repeat the process a few times, with a few days in between, until you achieve your desired level of lightness.
- Mix It Up: Feel free to experiment with different application techniques. Try applying lemon juice to specific sections for a more customized look.
- Deep Condition: Lemon juice can dry out your hair, so deep condition regularly to keep your locks healthy and hydrated.
- Cold Tea Water: Mix two-parts cold tea water to one-part lemon juice and put it in a spritz bottle. Saturate hair generously so it’s damp.
- Be Patient: Natural highlighting takes time. Be patient and enjoy the process!
Alternative Method: Invisible Message
- Cut the lemon: Cut the lemon in half and squeeze to extract the lemon juice.
- Dip the cotton bud: Dip the end of the cotton bud in the lemon juice.
- Write or draw: Write or draw your message on the paper using the lemon juice soaked cotton bud.
- Let the paper dry: Let the paper dry.
- Heat the paper: Carefully hold the paper above a lamp or hairdryer to heat the paper and lemon juice.
- Watch your secret message be revealed: The carbon oxidises when it meets the air and turns brown, making your invisible message visible when heated.
A Word of Caution
While lemon juice is a natural alternative to chemical dyes, it’s essential to use it with care:
- Dryness: Lemon juice can be drying, so don’t overdo it. Limit applications to once or twice a week.
- Sun Protection: Protect your skin from the sun while highlighting your hair.
- Patch Test: Before applying lemon juice to your entire head, test it on a small section of hair to see how it reacts.
Embrace Your Natural Highlights
Highlighting your hair with lemon juice is a fun, natural way to add some sunshine to your look. With a little patience and the right technique, you can achieve beautiful, sun-kissed highlights without ever stepping into a salon. So, grab some lemons, head outside, and let the sun work its magic!