Does citrus lighten hair?

Author: Jacquelyn Collins  |  Last update: Friday, October 24, 2025

Lemon juice contains mostly citric acid, a natural bleaching agent does in fact lighten the hair, but is not exactly harmless. If you want to achieve beautiful golden highlights, lemon juice is far from being the most effective and safest solution.

Does citric acid lighten hair?

Lemon juice is often associated with lightening hair, but it does not actually turn hair white. The citric acid in lemon juice can lighten hair color when exposed to sunlight, which can give a blonde or highlighted effect, especially on lighter hair. However, it does not change the natural pigment of the hair to white.

What does citrus do to your hair?

How Citrus Benefits Hair. Rubbing lemon directly on the scalp is an effective remedy against dandruff and “itchy scalp”. This is because lemons contain citric acid, flavonoid, iron and vitamin C. The fruit also helps balance the scalp's pH, reduce excess oil and strengthen hair follicles.

How long does lemon juice take to lighten hair?

For a lightening effect, spritz lemon juice onto the hair and leave it on for one hour while in direct sunlight. How long does it take for lemon juice to lighten hair? Depending on your natural hair color, it may take three to four, one-hour applications of lemon juice to lighten the hair noticeably.

Why isn't lemon lightening my hair?

Citric acid only works on naturally light hair: light blonde, dark blonde or chestnut. If you have dark hair, the effect will be orange at best... And on coloured hair, the application of lemon juice can tarnish your colour.

How to Use Lemon Juice to Lighten Hair

What is the least damaging way to lighten your hair?

Natural bleaching agents like apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, chamomile tea, or cinnamon and honey can lighten hair gently and naturally with minimal damage.

How to make your hair blonder overnight?

Combine a fourth cup of strong chamomile tea with one fourth cup apple cider vinegar and a squeeze of lemon juice. Spray the mixture to saturate your hair, let dry, and leave in overnight. This hack can also be used in the sun to increase its lightening effects.

What are the disadvantages of applying lemon on hair?

Lemon juice has a low pH level, making it highly acidic. This acidity can be harsh on both the hair and scalp, especially for individuals with sensitive or dry hair. Directly applying lemon juice to the hair can strip away the natural oils, leading to dryness, frizziness, and potential damage.

What does baking soda do for hair?

Summary. Baking soda as part of your hair care routine might allow you to replace commercial shampoos. People report that baking soda dissolved in water can remove excess oil and buildup in hair, restore pH levels, treat dryness and dandruff, and lighten dyed hair.

Does putting coconut oil on your hair help?

Coconut oil can have many benefits for your hair and scalp. It is used to relieve dandruff, restore luster to dry and damaged hair, tame frizz, and protect hair against styling damage. It is safe to use on all hair types.

How do I naturally make my hair lighter?

The easiest way to lighten hair is to use a clarifying shampoo or a mixture of baking soda and lemon juice. These methods are gentle and can gradually lighten the hair over a few washes. For more immediate results, a professional toner or hair lightener can be used.

Does honey lighten hair?

When honey is diluted with water, the enzyme can produce about 1 milimole of peroxide per liter which is about 1,000 times less than the 3% solution required to bleach hair. In simpler terms, this is far too little to have a significant effect on your hair.

What causes hair to get lighter?

Well, the answer is pretty straight forward: sun exposure is the main culprit behind hair lightening over summer. Sunlight contains ultraviolet rays (also known as UV rays), that penetrate the hair shaft and break down the melanin in your tresses.

How to get blonde hair?

In most cases, you'll need to bleach your hair before applying your blonde hair dye. And the darker your starting color, the more bleaching sessions you'll typically need to get your hair light enough to color.

What does citrus do to hair?

Lemon is a citrus fruit high in antioxidants, vitamin C, and minerals that are extremely beneficial for the hair. Lemon juice can help revive dull, dry hair, fight dandruff, promote hair growth, and strengthen your strands.

Is vinegar good for hair?

Professionals highly recommend using apple cider vinegar for home-based skincare and hair care regimens. They also advise including it in our daily hair care regimen. This nutritional and magical product promotes hair growth by removing impurities from the scalp, balancing the hair's pH, and enhancing shine.

Is honey good for your hair?

Honey is good for your hair due to its hydrating, strengthening, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. It has the ability to hydrate and strengthen the hair, boost shine, soothe the scalp, and more.

What lightens hair quickly?

How to Lighten Hair Dyed Too Dark with a DIY Approach
  • Use a paste of Baking Soda and Lemon Juice.
  • Wash your Hair with Apple Cider Vinegar.
  • Take some Vitamin C Tablets.
  • Wash Hair With Clarifying Shampoo.
  • Use Purple or Blue Shampoo for Brassy Tones.
  • Do a Bleach Bath.
  • Bleed the Color Out.
  • Use Hair Lightener or Toner.

How to do your hair at night so it looks good in the morning?

Wearing a high bun to bed helps to lift your roots so they are more voluminous and bouncy in the morning. It's important to keep the bun LOOSE. Securing the bun too tightly can create an opposite effect and result in flat roots. Also, instead of using a hair tie, try securing the bun with a claw clip!

How do salons lighten your hair without bleach?

Lightening hair without resorting to bleaching is possible with super-lightening color treatment: easier and quicker, it makes it possible to become 3 to 5 tones lighter in a single step.

Does apple cider vinegar lighten hair?

Apple cider vinegar, chamomile tea, and lemon: Combining one-fourth of a cup of strongly brewed chamomile tea with one-fourth of a cup of apple cider vinegar and two tablespoons of lemon can help lighten the hair. This may be left on all day, and sun exposure further helps the lightening process.

What should hair never be lightened to?

Hair should never be lightened to the stage of white because it can cause significant damage to the hair. The stages in hair lightening include orange and palest yellow, with white being the most extreme. To maintain healthy hair, it's crucial to avoid over-processing to the point of white or damaging stages.

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