Does putting lemon in your hair lighten it?

Author: Camryn Eichmann  |  Last update: Sunday, March 30, 2025

Lemon juice contains mostly citric acid, a natural bleaching agent that whitens and therefore lightens 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.

How long does it take for lemon juice to lighten hair?

6. Expose your hair to direct sunlight for 1-2 hours. Head outside for a couple of hours so the sunlight can activate the lemon juice, which creates the lightening effects. As the mixture dries on your hair, it will start to feel hard and a bit crunchy. This is normal!

Does putting lemon in your hair damage it?

Dryness: Lemon juice is acidic and can strip natural oils from your hair, leading to dryness and brittleness if overused.

What happens if we apply lemon directly on hair?

Lemons contain citric acid that helps lighten hair naturally. It also gives a natural shine to the hair. Additionally, lemon can prevent fungal infection and protects the scalp from other infections. However, direct application of lemon on the scalp can have certain side effects.

How to make hair grow quicker?

9 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR HAIR GROW FASTER
  1. Trim your hair. ...
  2. Eat protein-rich foods. ...
  3. Take a hair-boosting supplement. ...
  4. Use a hair growth serum. ...
  5. Use a weekly hair mask. ...
  6. Take care after washing your hair. ...
  7. Always use heat protection. ...
  8. Protect your hair from the elements.

Hydrogen Peroxide Hair Lightening: DIY Spray for Natural, No-Roots Blonde 🌞 Easy Method!

Does lemon remove hair?

Honey and lemon are both natural bleaching agents and are great for removing facial hair. Mix 1 tablespoon of honey with 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice. Apply the mixture to your face and let it dry for 15-20 minutes. Rinse your face with water and pat dry.

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.

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.

What does lemon juice do to gray hair?

Lemon juice is a popular natural lightener. It can help hide gray hair, especially in blonde hair. The citric acid in lemon juice works with sunlight to lighten hair color slowly. It may not remove gray hair completely, but it can help mix them well with the rest of your hair.

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 lemon bleach skin?

Lemon juice is known for its natural bleaching properties, making it a popular choice for skin whitening. When combined with honey, it not only lightens the skin but also nourishes it. Honey has antibacterial properties that help reduce scars and blemishes.

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.

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 does lemon do to your face?

The active ingredient in lemon juice is ascorbic acid, aka vitamin C. Products enriched with vitamin C are great for your skin as they help to reduce acne, soothe inflammation, even out skin tone and so much more!

Is lemon juice better than bleach for hair?

At the end of the day, however, Monahan says that the lighter your hair is naturally, the more effective lemon juice will be as a lightener. “Even with naturally blonde hair, it will still be much more subtle than a salon bleach,” she points out. And, for what it's worth, you don't have to have fully-blonde locks.

How to darken hair naturally?

Henna and Indigo: Henna alone gives a reddish-brown color, but combining it with indigo can give a black color. First, apply henna, then apply indigo for a black tone. Black Tea Rinse: Regular rinses with strong black tea can darken hair over time. It's a gentle method and can also provide some shine.

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.

Does squeezing lemon in your hair make it lighter?

Acids in the lemon break down the hair's cuticle, allowing the sun's rays to penetrate deeper. Lemon juice acids alone could do that in theory, says Jenny Liu, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. But this is a very inefficient way of lightening hair: It takes a long time and produces mediocre results, she says.

Can I apply lemon directly 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.

Does vinegar lighten hair?

Raw honey and vinegar: Plain vinegar and raw honey can lighten the hair. It is believed that results may be seen after using these ingredients even once. You can even apply this solution at night and sleep your way to natural highlights.

What are the disadvantages of applying lemon on hair?

What are the side effects of using lemon on hair?
  • Contact reaction or allergy.
  • Redness and dryness of scalp.
  • Burning and stinging sensation of the scalp.
  • Premature greying.
  • Damaging hair cuticles.

How to remove hair from private parts woman permanently at home?

Best Ways to Remove Pubic Hair For Women
  1. Epilation. Epilation is a root-hair removal method that is done using an epilator. ...
  2. Shaving. Another most-tried-out method for vaginal hair removal is shaving. ...
  3. Waxing. Waxing is one of the most common hair removal methods used for private parts. ...
  4. Hair Removal Creams. ...
  5. Tweezing.

How to get your hair naturally lighter?

6 Easy Ways to Lighten Your Hair at Home Naturally
  1. Use lemon juice to lighten strands.
  2. Make a lightening hydrogen peroxide and baking soda paste.
  3. Swipe on peroxide for highlights.
  4. Create a honey-infused concoction.
  5. Douse hair in apple cider vinegar.
  6. Use at-home hair lightening products.

Previous article
Can I combine vitamin C and glycolic acid?
Next article
What are the side effects of root touch up spray?