How To Lighten Your Hair Without Bleach At Home & Other Methods

How Does Bleaching Work?

The color of your skin and hair is determined by melanin pigments called eumelanin, pheomelanin, and neuromelanin (1). These pigments decide whether you will have light or dark hair. If you have naturally dark hair, bleaching can make it lighter.

Bleach contains oxidizing agents like hydrogen peroxide that penetrate the hair and break down the melanin granules to lighten the hair color (2). But this damages the protein content of the hair. Chemical processes like bleaching also makes the hair dry and brittle hair.

A 2022 online survey with 783 hairdressers from all German states, out of which 565 were female (with an average age of 40.2 years), revealed that hair-lightening products used by German hairdressers include high-lifting hair color creams (88.8%), dust-free bleaching powders (88.5%), normal hair color creams (58.4%), bleaching creams (41.9%), and non-dust-free bleaching powders (22.1%). The majority of hairdressers (91.7%) prefer lightening hair with powder.

But there is no need to worry, as there are natural ways to bleach your hair without any damage. The process uses natural hair colorants that are gentle and safe on the hair. Let’s take a look what they are in the following section.

Lightening The Hair Naturally At Home

1. Cinnamon: Cinnamon has skin lightening properties (3). Cinnamon contains vitamins A and C, which are used as lightening agents (4). This suggests that it may also help lighten hair color.
2. Salt: Anecdotal evidence suggests that salt can be used to lighten the hair. Sodium chloride can help break the melanin pigments and lighten the hair color.
3. Swimming: Research shows that chlorine can impact hair color, especially in the presence of UV light (5).
4. Sunlight: You have probably noticed that your hair color becomes lighter in the sun. This happens because UV rays boost free radical production in the hair, causing a reduction in melanin production. The more you are outdoors, under the sun, the lighter your hair will become.
5. Honey: Honey contains glucose oxidase, which produces hydrogen peroxide (6). Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizing agent used in bleach. This suggests that honey can be used to lighten the hair.
6. Lemon: Lemon juice acts as a natural hair lightener by reducing melanin pigmentation (7). It is acidic and contains vitamin C, which penetrates the hair and oxidizes the hair color.
7. Vitamin C: Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is used in hair dyes. Ascorbic acid oxidizes the hair pigmentation and lightens the hair color.
8. Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar helps lighten hair color to a yellow or blond shade (8). Anecdotal evidence suggests that using any type of vinegar with honey, lemon, or chamomile can lighten the hair.
9. Rhubarb: Rhubarb root contains oxalic acid, which can make the hair light brown or blonde (9). It can also prolong the life of your colored hair. Rhubarb used with honey and chamomile imparts a golden hue the hair (10).
10. Chamomile:  Chamomile is a commonly used natural hair lightener. It boosts light reflection and leaves the hair with a yellow hue (11).
11. Baking Soda: Anecdotal evidence suggests that using baking soda or toothpaste containing baking soda can help lighten the hair.
12. Green Tea: Green tea contains polyphenolic compounds, including epigallocatechin-3-gallate. EGCG acts as a tyrosinase inhibitor, which affects melanin biosynthesis (12). It also has antioxidant properties that affect melanin production. Thus, green tea can help lighten your hair naturally.
13. Licorice Extract: Glabridin is a compound found in licorice extract that helps reduce melanin pigmentation in the skin (12). Similarly, it may also be effective in lightening hair color. However, there is no scientific backing for this method.
14. Aloe Vera: Aloe vera contains aloesin, which is a bioactive compound. Aloesin inhibits enzyme activity in melanin biosynthesis, which limits melanin production (12).
15. Grapeseed: Grapeseed contains polyphenols like proanthocyanidins and procyanidins that may lighten melanin of the hair.
16. Henna: Henna is a natural hair dye widely used to impart a rich, reddish-brown color to the hair. It not only colors the hair but it also helps reduce breakage and add shine (13). When mixed with other ingredients such as eggs, it can increase the moisture content, repair damaged hair, and improve overall hair texture (14). It is crucial to use pure, high-quality henna for your hair. Also, ensure you conduct a patch test 24 hours before application to check for allergic reactions. If you experience irritation, a burning sensation, or any other reactions, stop using the henna immediately.

Kaila, a YouTuber, shares her experience of lightening her hair without using bleach. The method involves using professional color and developer. After completing the process, she says, “My hair feels really good it feels really healthy. It does not feel like damage or like straw like at all (i).”

Did You Know?

Many pop stars and celebrities, such as Tyga and Taylor Swift, opt for bleaching their hair and embracing a blonde look after parting ways with their partners, symbolizing a fresh start and a new chapter in their lives.

Here’s how you can use different ingredients to lighten your hair at home.

How To Lighten The Hair At Home Without Using Bleach

1. Lemon Juice

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Processing Time: 2 hours

How Often: Once a week 

You Will Need

• Fresh lemon juice – 1 cup
• Warm water for normal hair
• Conditioner for dry hair – 1/4 cup

Procedure

1. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
2. If you have dry hair, opt for the conditioner instead of water.
3. Apply the blend to your hair thoroughly.
4. Sit under the sun for 2 hours.
5. Shampoo and condition your hair.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar And Honey

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Processing Time: Overnight

How Often: Once a week

You Will Need

• Apple cider vinegar – 1 cup
• Honey – 1/2 cup
• Olive oil – 1-2 tablespoons
• A towel

Procedure

1. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl to form a smooth paste.
2. Apply the paste thoroughly to your hair.
3. Wrap your hair with a towel and leave it overnight.
4. Shampoo and condition your hair the next day.

For more DIY hair lightening remedies, check out this article.

The next section lists the ways to lighten your hair without using bleaching agents. Keep scrolling!

What Are The Different Techniques To Lighten The Hair?

• Color Erasers: Color erasers remove unwanted brassiness and help lighten your hair. They do not contain any bleaching agents. Over a period of multiple processes, your hair becomes lighter.
• Natural Remedies: You can use natural remedies like green tea, vinegar, and baking soda to lighten your hair naturally. Use these ingredients over a period for effective results.
• Sun And Swimming: The chlorine in swimming pools and the UV rays lighten your hair color. Exposing your hair to the sun and swimming regularly can lighten your hair gradually.

Trivia

In the 1600s, sulfuric acid was a prevalent method for coloring and lightening hair, while a century later, sunbathing with lye-coated (sodium hydroxide) hair became a practice.

• Hydrogen Peroxide: Adding hydrogen peroxide to your hair products or masks may help lighten your hair. But consult a doctor before using this ingredient as an overdose of hydrogen peroxide may cause adverse effects.

Is It Possible To Lighten The Hair Without Bleach?

Yes. You can lighten your hair without using bleach in many ways, but they are not permanent solutions. The alternatives mentioned above to bleach the hair require regular upkeep. They will not lighten your hair instantly, and you need to use them frequently for substantial results.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I bleach my hair with baking soda without peroxide?

You can use water with baking soda instead of hydrogen peroxide to bleach hair. Just add enough water to baking soda to achieve a medium-thick consistency. Then, gently massage the paste on your hair. Allow the mixture to sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse off.

How does lemon juice in hair actually work?

When exposed to the sun, the citric acid in lemon juice accelerates the bleaching process, giving you lighter tone hair.

Can I go blonde without bleach?

Yes. You can use a high-lift dye or permanent hair dye to get blonde hair color at the salon or use various DIY methods mentioned in the article above.

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Dr. Shruti ChavanMBBS

Dr. Shruti Chavan is a consulting dermatologist at Dr.Sheth's Skin and Hair Clinic since 6 years. She is a co-committee member of CDSI (Cosmetic dermatologist Society of India). She is highly skilled in non-surgical facial skin rejuvenation and face lift by the use of injection treatments and lasers.   Dr. Chavan is well-versed with dermatological and aesthetic procedures. Her special...more

Anjali SayeeAssociate Editor

 

Anjali is an associate editor at StyleCraze. She specializes in hairstyles and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these domains. She has 7 years of experience, and her philosophy about hair and skin care is simple: if you love and care for it, it will be healthy. She has taken it upon herself to show...more

Eshna DasAssociate Editor

Eshna is an associate editor and a certified skin care coach. She has over three years of experience, a triple main bachelor’s degree in psychology, English, and journalism from Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, and a master’s degree in psychology from Sampurna Montfort College, Bengaluru. Her passion for writing and editing and her background in psychology help her create content that...more

Swathi ESenior Beauty & Lifestyle Writer

Swathi has a postgraduate degree in English literature from The English And Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and over two years of experience in writing on health and lifestyle. She also has a diploma in English journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Kottayam, and is a certified skincare coach. She writes on skin care and aims to present well-researched...more