Saturate hair. Leave on as long as all day. Going out in the sun may help speed the lightening process. Rinse and style as usual.
Not only does bleach process faster on wet hair, but the goal is to create a subtle color change. The bleach doesn't need to stay on your hair for a long time.
Blonde hair takes about 20 minutes of intense sunlight to lighten. In contrast, dark hair would need a minimum of 30 minutes before you can see any changes in hair tone. Similarly, fine hair will bleach faster than thick, coarse hair.
Basically, sitting out in the sun for long periods of time can bleach your hair. The sunlight bleaches out the melanin (the pigment that gives skin and hair color) and removes the color in your hair.
The hair of surfers is often damaged and bleached, brought about by frequent exposure to sunlight, humidity and salty water. Blonder or red headed individuals tend to be more affected, given that their pheomelanin is more sensitive.
First, you can try mixing lemon juice and water with a ratio of two tablespoons of lemon juice to one cup of water. Place the mixture in a spray bottle, apply to hair and let dry in the sun. For overnight effects, once your hair is dry, wrap it up and sleep with the solution in your hair overnight.
Instructions for lightening hair with lemon juice
You'll need about two parts water and one part lemon juice. Wet your hair, then spritz the lemon juice mixture over your entire head — or just over the sections you want to lighten. To activate the lemon juice, sit in the sun for 1 to 2 hours.
All the heat does is speed up the lightening process, but it can cause some serious damage along the way by lifting moisture. 1 You're at particular risk if your color isn't appearing light enough—it's easy for a colorist using a little heat to use too much.
If you're applying bleach to wet hair, keep in mind that the color of your strands won't lift as much as it would if applied to dry hair. This is because the water on your hair will dilute the bleach, resulting in softer results. For a subtle color change, your colorist may use bleach on wet hair.
Can you bleach greasy hair? Greasy hair is the recommended hair condition as your hair's natural oils are well equipped to resist the bleach process, protecting the scalp from chemical damage. We recommend bleaching hair at least 72 hours post-hair wash for ultimate protection.
Lemon juice has long been used as a natural hair lightener and can be very effective. After you create your lemon juice solution and apply it to your hair, you have to expose your hair to sunlight, so don't forget your sunscreen!
Cinnamon alone may lighten hair. You'll find this ingredient added to various other DIY hair “bleaching” recipes, but you may try using this ingredient on its own to achieve highlights and overall lightening.
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.
Purple shampoo is for already bleached hair, so if you're hoping to lighten brown hair with purple shampoo, you'll be disappointed. This is all down to the fact that purple shampoo isn't lightening. Instead, it brightens blondes by canceling out yellow tones, which just happen to be opposite purple on the color wheel.
Hydrogen-peroxide-based dyes alone can help take your hair to a light blonde color. These dyes are also often used to turn dark hair a lighter color before adding another color of dye. It can turn dark brown hair red, for example.
When swimming in the ocean, the salt from the sea can lighten your hair, especially since you are out in the sun. You can simulate that effect using sea salt and warm water. Just dissolve one tablespoon of sea salt with about a ½ cup of warm water. Apply it to your hair, leaving on for about 20 minutes.
“Saltwater and chlorine are also culprits for lightening,” Gonzalez says. “They alter the natural keratin in your hair, resulting in lighter shades.” If frolicking in the ocean or a pool every day isn't an option or you don't want to leave it to chance, a salt spray or some lemon juice can help things along.
Most surfers tie up their hair so it stays out of their face when they're out catching waves. Over time, this creates waves or curls in the hair which is a signature part of the surfer look. You can replicate this at home by letting your hair air dry while it's scrunched up.
Realistically, anyone looking to dramatically lighten dark hair is going to need some kind of bleaching product. These applications lighten your hair by up to eight shades whether your natural hair color is medium blonde or light brown.
But, what if you love your dark hair and you don't want to change it – will the sun make your hair lighter regardless of whether you want it to? The answer in short is: Yes, if you spend a lot of time outside in the sun, your hair will likely lighten no matter what shade you are.
Hydrogen peroxide and ammonia are the most commonly used bleaching agents. They are often mixed together, because when used separately, they are unstable and very slow in lightening the hair.