The lightening effects of lemon juice tend to work best for lighter hair colors, such as blonde and light brown. Darker brown and black tones might see some of the effects, but they won't be as noticeable.
Lemon has a naturally antibacterial property making it great for a scalp dealing with an abundance of bacteria. Lemon oil is also reported to stimulate hair growth for scalps that need help with circulation.
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.
Side Effects of Lemon for Hair
2) Overuse of lemon on hair can cause irritation and itchiness on the sensitive scalp due to its acidic nature. 3) Many individuals use lemon right into their scalp to get rid of dandruff. However, in addition to curing your dandruff, lemon might dry up your hair terribly.
Does using lemon juice make hair white/grey? Please help. You should not use lemon juice for hair as it is loaded with citric acid that has a potential to peel off the keratin, a type of protein present in the hair and thus, lighten your hair colour.
Hair lightening
According to these articles, the citric acid in lemon juice is a natural bleach, or oxidizing agent. It whitens hair by chemically reducing your hair's color pigment, or melanin. When exposed to the sun, the citric acid accelerates the bleaching process.
The vitamin C improves the collagen production which in turn makes the hair grow. The citric acid prevents the hair follicles from getting loose, thus reducing hair fall. When used in the scalp, lemons unclog the pores around the follicles which reduces dandruff.
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.
Lemons contain many other nutrients that strengthen the hair follicles and encourage new hair growth. Naturally acidic, lemon juice can deeply cleanse the scalp and hair follicles, restore healthy pH levels, and remove build-up of product, oils, and pollutants.
Massage 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice on to your scalp and hair and let it sit for a minute. Mix one teaspoon of lemon juice into one cup of water and rinse your hair with it. Do this right before your shower daily for best results. Repeat every day until your dandruff looks under control.
If you have dark hair, the combination of lemon juice and sun exposure will cause little (if any) change. Your hair might even become slightly orange in color. Lemon juice as a natural hair lightener works best if you have blond to dark blond hair.
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.
Lightening your hair with lemon juice is permanent (at least until your hair grows out). Think of it as a natural bleach. The lemon juice lifts the pigments from the cuticle of your hair. The only way to get rid of it is to cut it, dye it, or let it grow out.
If you reach the point where your hair actually looks lighter and brighter, you might think that, like a faux tan, the result is fleeting. On the contrary, Monahan says that, since lemon juice breaks up your hair's natural pigment, applying it to your strands can permanently alter the way they look.
Direct application
Rather than using it in place of shampoo or conditioner, apply the lemon juice to the scalp as a pre-shampoo treatment. Leave it on for a few minutes to allow the lemon to penetrate the hair follicles and skin. Afterward, rinse it out with warm water, and wash your hair and scalp with a mild shampoo.
Lemon juice with water:
The acidic nature of lemon will strip the hair dye from your hair and also clear flaky dandruff, so that's a two-in-one treatment for your hair.
If your hair is oily: Try coconut oil and lemon juice
This combo also helps fight dandruff, reduce itchiness and keeps hair feeling soft. Melt one tablespoon of coconut oil before stirring in one tablespoon of lemon juice. (Optional to add tea tree oil for added dandruff-fighting and moisture benefits.)
Coconut oil and lemon are loaded with essential nutrients and vitamins. They are widely used in hair care products, and both the ingredients may help improve your hair health and increase hair growth. Coconut oil and lemon can help maintain scalp health and stimulate blood circulation to improve hair growth.
To make and apply a lemon and honey hair mask, a person can: Mix 1 tablespoon of lemon juice with 3 tablespoons of honey. Apply the mixture to the scalp and leave it on for 20 minutes. Rinse the hair with a mild shampoo.
Spritz the lemon juice mixture into your hair, then go outside in the sun for 1-2 hours to activate the citric acid in the lemon juice and lighten your hair.
Apple cider vinegar or distilled white vinegar are easy and cheap options for lightening your hair. Rinse your hair in vinegar and then rinse it again in cold water to lift color and revitalize dull strands. Top with a gloss or conditioner to seal in moisture—this is crucial if you've had a bleach mishap before.
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.