Lemon juice can be used to: naturally lighten hair, especially lighter hair colors. create shinier hair. reduce oil and dandruff.
While lemon juice is more gentle than some hair dyes and hair bleach, it's still acidic. This means there's a risk of the juice drying out your hair and scalp. This can cause dry, frizzy locks and hair breakage, as well as scalp irritation.
In terms of timing, Monahan says that it typically takes three to four applications for noticeable lightening from lemon juice. While that may not seem like much, keep in mind that the more you expose your hair to citric acid, the more you're deteriorating it over time. More on that below.
Here's how to do it:
Add in warm water, estimating at two parts water, one part lemon juice. Mix together and pour into your empty spray bottle. Spritz through damp hair, focusing on the areas you want to lighten. Sit out with your hair in the sun for 1-2 hours (wearing sun cream, of course!)
The citric acid in lemon is a mild bleaching agent.
When applied, it oxidizes the melanin in your hair and lightens your natural hair color. However, it may not work effectively for those with dark hair, while those with light brown and blonde hair can certainly bank on lemon juice to get those sun-kissed highlights.
Packed with vitamin C, vital nutrients and antifungal properties, lemon juice will improve hair quality along with refining its growth.
As mentioned earlier, lemon is rich in Vitamin C which helps in the production of collagen and boosts hair growth. It also stimulates hair follicles, which encourages hair growth and can aid in controlling hair loss.
Applying lemon juice on the scalp causes the hair to lose its minerals and colour. It is confirmed that lemon juice lightens or highlights the hair colour because the citric acid in lemon juice is a natural bleach, or oxidizing agent. For this reason, it discolours hair by chemically reducing the hair's melanin.
Mix ¾ lemon juice to ¼ conditioner. Apply the mixture to your hair, combing it through from root to tip. Leave on for at least 1½ hours or overnight (if leaving on overnight, be sure to wrap your hair in a shower cap or something of the like). Rinse with warm water, followed by a deep conditioner to restore moisture.
“Lemon juice contains 5 percent citric acid, which is a very weak oxidizing agent that absorbs into the hair cortex.” The acid works in tandem with sunlight's UV rays to activate and accelerate the brightening process. The oxidizing process chemically attacks and reduces the melanin (a.k.a. your hair's color pigment).
Lemon can do some funny things.
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.
However, regular usage of lemon to manage dandruff might cause your hair to become dry. Instead, you can use lemon juice on your hair and scalp up to two times a week. Aside from that, avoid using lemon on your hair and scalp skin excessively. Excessive usage might cause hair damage.
The oxidizing process chemically attacks and reduces the melanin (a.k.a. your hair's color pigment). Therefore, the color visibly lightens. Once this happens and the hair is lightened, the results are permanent. Hair will not fade or darken unless it's color treated, or in my case, naturally darker roots grow out.
Lemons do not like the sun.
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.
It is not wise to leave lemon juice in hair overnight as it may cause an itchy scalp.
According to hair care professionals, the vitamin C in lemon juice can actually work to naturally lighten hair, sans chemicals. However, this tip will work best to lighten hair that is naturally blonde or a lighter shade to begin with.
If you are dealing with an itchy scalp, you can just add lemon juice to your shampoo. Each time you shampoo your hair, you can massage it well on the scalp and then condition your hair and rinse it off with cold water. This will assure you a clean and healthy scalp.
However, regular usage of lemon to manage dandruff might cause your hair to become dry. Instead, you can use lemon juice on your hair and scalp up to two times a week. Aside from that, avoid using lemon on your hair and scalp skin excessively. Excessive usage might cause hair damage.
Lemon juice is a natural bleaching agent that can lighten blond or light brown hair. It may turn dark brown hair a caramel color, but it does not work well on black 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. Rinse your hair in a solution of warm water and one or more of these lightening agents, then sit in the sun to dry.
Mix ¾ lemon juice to ¼ conditioner. Apply the mixture to your hair, combing it through from root to tip. Leave on for at least 1½ hours or overnight (if leaving on overnight, be sure to wrap your hair in a shower cap or something of the like). Rinse with warm water, followed by a deep conditioner to restore moisture.
Promotes hair growth
Lemons are high in vitamin C, which can help to boost collagen production. As a consequence, hair growth is assured. Furthermore, the acidic nature of lemon unclogs and activates dormant hair follicles. Overall, lemon juice may be useful in preventing hair loss.
Can toothpaste bleach your hair? Yes, leaving toothpaste on your hair long enough may bleach your hair, but that doesn't mean you should try it. Even if whitening toothpaste can “bleach” or lighten hair on your skin and on your body, the result will be somewhat unpredictable.
Hydrogen peroxide and dyes containing it are a safe way to lighten your hair. However, it's best used in a salon to minimize hair damage and ensure you get the right color.