How To Bleach Hair At Home
If you prefer a more traditional approach, you can find detailed instructions on bleach hair at home to achieve the perfect shade of blonde below. However, before using any of the below-mentioned methods, always perform a patch test to check for allergic reactions. Use gloves to protect your hands from irritation.
1. Bleach Hair With Lemon Juice
You Will Need
1 cup Fresh Lemon Juice 1/4 cup Warm Water (for normal hair) OR 1/4 cup Conditioner (for dry hair) 1 Spray Bottle
Prep Time
2 minutes
Processing Time
2 hours
Process
How Often?
Once a week until you get the results you desire.
Why This Works
Lemon juice is one of the best natural bleaches for hair. It helps lighten the color of hair as long as there is enough warmth to lift your hair cuticle and allow the lemon juice to penetrate your hair shaft.
2. Bleach Hair With Honey And Vinegar
You Will Need
1 cup Apple Cider Vinegar 1/2 cup Honey 1 tbsp Coconut Oil Towel
Prep Time
2 minutes
Processing Time
Overnight
Process
How Often?
Once a week until you achieve your desired results.
Why This Works
Both honey and vinegar have bleaching properties which help lighten your hair. Using this treatment will lighten your hair by at least one shade.
3. Bleach Hair With Vinegar
You Will Need
1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar 1/2 cup Water Spray Bottle
Prep Time
2 minutes
Processing Time
30 minutes
Process
How Often?
Once a week until you achieve your desired results.
Why This Works
Apple cider vinegar has bleaching properties which will leave your hair with reddish highlights while lightening it. A blogger shared her experience of using apple cider vinegar for hair. She started following a no-poo routine and washed her hair with vinegar once.She noticed that her natural dark brown hair color was starting to lighten. In her blog, she mentioned, “I have noticed a reddish tinge that wasn’t there before, and overall my natural dark brown color looks faded and washed-out (i).”
4. Bleach Hair With Honey And Olive Oil
You Will Need
1/4 cup Honey 1/4 cup Olive Oil
Prep Time
2 minutes
Processing Time
1 hour
Process
How Often?
Twice a week until you achieve your desired results.
Why This Works
Honey is a great emollient as well as a bleaching agent. When used in combination with olive oil, it helps condition your hair while lightening it.
5. Bleach Hair With Chamomile Tea
You Will Need
1 cup Freshly Brewed Chamomile Tea Spray Bottle
Prep Time
10 minutes
Processing Time
30 minutes
Process
How Often?
1-2 times a week until you get your desired results.
Why This Works
Chamomile is a good lightening agent. Saturating your hair with the tea will help lighten your hair and add subtle highlights.
6. Bleach Hair With Cinnamon
You Will Need
1/2 cup Conditioner 1/2 cup Cinnamon
Prep Time
2 minutes
Processing Time
3-4 hours/Overnight
Process
How Often?
Once a week until you get your desired results.
Why This Works
Cinnamon lightens your hair leaving it looking rich and dimensional. It also protects your hair from the Sun and contains antioxidants which prevent hair damage.
7. Bleach Hair With Henna Powder
You Will Need
3 tbsp Henna 1/2 cup Hot Water
Prep Time
12 hours
Processing Time
2-3 hours
Process
How Often?
1-2 times a month.
Why This Works
While henna darkens light hair, it can add reddish highlights to hair that is very dark. This DIY hair bleach helps enrich your hair color and add dimension to the hair.
8. Bleach Hair With Rhubarb
You Will Need
1/4 cup Chopper Rhubarb 2 cups Water
Prep Time
15 minutes
Processing Time
10 minutes
Process
How Often?
Once a week until you get your desired results.
Why This Works
Rhubarb works as a good lightener for blonde or light brown hair. It contains oxalic acid which helps it stay in your hair, making it last longer as a hair rinse.
9. Bleach Hair With Baking Soda
You Will Need
1/2 cup Baking Soda 1/2 cup Warm Water
Prep Time
2 minutes
Processing Time
20 minutes
Process
How Often?
Once a week until you get your desired results.
Why This Works
Baking soda is one of the most versatile ingredients that you can find in your kitchen. It is an effective bleaching agent which helps lighten your hair. It is also used as a mild hair cleanser and as a teeth whitener.
10. Bleach Hair With Salt
You Will Need
1 tbsp Salt 1/2 cup Warm Water Spray Bottle
Prep Time
2 minutes
Processing Time
15 minutes
Process
How Often?
Once a week until you get your desired results.
Why This Works
Have you ever noticed that your hair appears lighter after you go for a dip at the beach? The salt in the seawater, in combination with the heat of the sun, helps lighten your hair. You can get the same results at home with a tablespoon of salt.
11. Bleach Hair With Vitamin C
You Will Need
10-15 Vitamin C Tablets Anti-Dandruff Shampoo Conditioner
Prep Time
2 minutes Crush 8-9 Vitamin C tablets and mix into the amount of shampoo you would normally use on your hair. Shampoo as usual and follow with conditioner.
Processing Time
5 minutes
Process
How Often?
Once a week until you get your desired results.
Why This Works
The citric acid in the vitamin C tablets helps lighten your hair. This treatment also gives your scalp a vitamin C boost, which helps promote hair health.
12. Bleach Hair With Peroxide
You Will Need
1/4 cup Hydrogen Peroxide 3% Solution 1/4 cup Water Spray Bottle Clips For Sectioning
Prep Time
2 minutes
Processing Time
30 minutes-1 hour
Process
How Often?
Once in two weeks until you get your desired results.
Why This Works
While this is not a natural remedy, using peroxide to bleach your hair is much safer than using bleach. This treatment significantly lightens your hair without damaging it as bleach does. If your hair feels too dry after these natural bleaching methods, consider deep conditioning your hair with a natural oil, like coconut or argan, to restore moisture. Also, avoid using ingredients like lemon juice and peroxide if your hair is damaged or overly processed, as they may dry out your hair even more.
Side Effects Of Hair Bleaching
Hair bleaching is a chemical process that lightens your natural hair color to help you achieve your desired hair color. While this technique can give you the hair color of your dreams, it can also lead to the following side effects:
It can strip your hair of its natural moisture, leading to dryness, frizz, and breakage. It can irritate the scalp, causing redness, itching, or burning sensations, especially if you have a sensitive scalp. Bleaching powder contains persulfate salts that may cause wheezing and breathlessness (1).
The only way to avoid these risks is by using natural remedies for hair bleaching. Here we explore how to lighten your hair without bleach with a range of natural alternatives. Learn how to prep your hair for using them in the next section.
How To Prepare Your Hair
If your hair is not in good condition, these methods can dry your hair out. To ensure that this doesn’t happen, start oiling your hair 2-3 times a week from two weeks before when you are to bleach it. It is also advised to use a deep conditioning hair mask at least once a week. You can also use a hydrating serum and oil, like coconut or argan, to protect your strands against the potential drying effects of the bleaching process. On the day you are to bleach your hair, gather all the supplies you will need, such as hair clips, spray bottles, old towels, etc. Also, shampoo your hair well to ensure it is free from dirt and product buildup. Scroll down to find out how to bleach hair properly at home. What do I do after bleaching my hair? Even though these treatments are natural, lightening your hair can affect its health and texture. To ensure that your hair remains healthy follow bleach hair care tips such as deep conditioning, avoiding heat, using heat protectant, and oiling your hair with oils like coconut or argan oil for at least the first two weeks post-bleaching. Is bleaching hair bad? Bleach damages your hair. However, since these treatments are natural, they do not have the same effects on your hair as bleach. With a good hair care routine, your hair will feel like it was never processed at all. How long do I wait in between bleaching sessions? Depending on what method of bleaching you are using, space your bleaching sessions at a week or two apart. How often can I bleach my hair without damaging it? Using these natural treatments will allow you to bleach your hair 2-3 times a month without any harm that can’t be fixed with a deep conditioning or protein treatment. However, if you are using chemical bleach, it may alter porosity and pH balance of the hair strands. Hence it is not recommended to bleach your hair more than 1-2 times a month, depending on your hair texture. Bleaching hair at home has never been easier. With these natural methods, you can lighten your hair a couple of shades or get some subtle highlights with no damage! Have you tried any of these natural bleaching methods? Tell us about your experience in the comments section below. Can you mix baking soda and peroxide to bleach hair? Yes. You can mix baking soda with peroxide to bleach your hair. Applying this mixture evenly throughout your hair and leaving it on for 15 minutes to one hour (depending on how dark your hair is) can give you the desired results. Can you mix lemon juice and peroxide to bleach the hair? Yes. You can mix lemon juice with peroxide to bleach your hair. Lemon juice is also known to lighten hair. Does toothpaste bleach your hair? Anecdotal evidence suggests that applying toothpaste to your hair for an extended period may bleach it. However, limited studies are available to prove this claim. Does Epsom salt bleach your hair? Yes. Epsom salt is safe to use on your hair, and using it with baking soda and water may help lighten your hair. Can you put bleach on wet hair? Yes. You can put bleach on wet hair. In fact, bleach can process faster when applied to wet strands.
Illustration: Homemade DIY Hair Bleach At Home Naturally
Nail DIY-dyeing your hair at home and get the metallic gray look you’re dreaming of! Learn how to bleach your hair with this easy tutorial hassle-free. Check out the video below!
