Highlight Your Hair Naturally

Whether your hair is dark, brown, blonde or red, the process of highlighting brings out its natural bright tones. Spending time in the sun is an easy, effective way to naturally highlight your hair, but if you want to speed the process along, there are other natural ways to boost the golden hues in your hair. Learn how to use a variety of household supplies to achieve a stylish highlighted look.

Steps

Use Lemon Juice

  1. Juice lemons. Cut the lemons in half, and use a juicer or your fingers to squeeze their juice into a bowl.
    • Make sure to strain the seeds, so they don't clog your spray bottle.
    • Avoid using bottled lemon juice. It contains preservatives that aren't good for your hair.
  2. Add water to the bowl. Dilute the lemon juice by adding an equal amount of water. For example, if you have half a cup of juice, add half a cup of water.
  3. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle. You can find a new spray bottles in the drugstore or use an old one you already have at home.
    • If you're using an old spray bottle, make sure it is thoroughly washed before you pour in the lemon juice. Avoid using a bottle that contained toxic chemicals.
    • Shake the lemon juice mixture well.
  4. Spray your hair with the lemon mixture. Concentrate on the parts you want to lighten. You can coat your hair all over or focus on a few strands.
    • If you want a more precise application, dip a cotton ball in the lemon juice mixture and rub it on the strands of hair you wish to highlight.
    • The more lemon juice you apply to your hair, the lighter it will get.
  5. Sit in the sun to let it react with the lemon juice. Allow the sun to dry the mixture in your hair for about 30 minutes. As your hair dries, it will begin to lighten.
    • Make sure you protect your face and body with sunscreen and clothing while sitting in direct sunlight.
    • The longer you stay in the sun, the lighter your hair will get. However, be aware that bleaching your hair with lemon juice can dry out and damage your hair.
  6. Wash and condition your hair. Thoroughly rinse the lemon juice mixture from your hair, then wash and condition it with moisturizing products. When your hair is dry, you'll see the highlights.

Use Chamomile

  1. Brew a pot of chamomile tea. Use either dried chamomile flowers or 3 to 4 teabags to brew a very strong pot of tea. Allow it to cool once it has brewed.
  2. Rinse your hair with the tea. Stand over the sink and pour the tea over your hair if you'd like to lighten your hair all over. Alternatively, apply the chamomile tea to the strands of your hair you wish to highlight.
  3. Sit in the sun to let it react with the tea. Allow the sun to dry the tea in your hair for about 30 minutes. As your hair dries, it will begin to lighten.
  4. Wash and condition your hair. Rinse the tea from your hair and then wash and condition it with moisturizing products. When your hair is dry, you'll see the highlights.
  5. Repeat the process. If you want to achieve a lighter color, use a chamomile treatment once a week.

Use Honey and Olive Oil

  1. Combine 1/4 cup each of honey and olive oil. Whisk the mixture together in a bowl.
  2. Apply the mixture to your hair. Decide whether you want to lighten all of your hair or just a few strands.
    • For total-hair application, pour the honey and olive oil mixture onto your hair. Use your hands to work it into your hair as you would shampoo or conditioner, making sure every strand gets evenly covered.
    • To highlight individual strands, use a cotton ball or a pastry brush to paint the mixture onto the strands you want to lighten.
  3. Let the mixture sit in your hair for 30 to 60 minutes. The longer it sits in your hair, the lighter your hair will get.
  4. Shampoo and condition your hair. When it dries, it should appear lighter in color. Repeat the process for even lighter results.

Use Henna

  1. Massage the henna mixture into your hair. Mix {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} of henna powder with 1/2 cup boiling distilled water. Let the mixture stand for 12 hours at room temperature.
  2. Prepare to apply the henna. Henna stains skin and clothes, so wear an old long-sleeved shirt and gloves for protection. Spread lotion or cream on your neck and hairline to avoid staining these areas with henna.
  3. Massage the henna mixture into your hair.Either cover your entire head with henna or just apply it to the strands you want to lighten. Cover your head with a plastic shower cap to keep the henna from drying out too fast.
  4. Let the mixture sit for 2-3 hours. Remove the shower cap and apply conditioner to your hair. Rise out the henna and conditioner before shampooing and styling your hair as normal.

Use Cinnamon

  1. Mix ground cinnamon with conditioner to make a thick paste. Spread it onto your hair with a pastry brush and cover with aluminum foil (for highlights) or a plastic cap (for all of your hair).
  2. Allow the mixture to sit in your hair. Leave it for at least 3-4 hours, or overnight for brighter results.
  3. Wash and condition your hair. Rinse out the mixture, shampoo and condition your hair, and allow it to dry. Repeat the process for brighter cinnamon highlights.

Use Hydrogen Peroxide

  1. Make a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water. Pour half hydrogen peroxide, half water into a spray bottle.
    • You can find a new spray bottles in the drugstore or use an old one you already have at home.
    • If you're using an old spray bottle, make sure it is thoroughly washed before you pour in the peroxide mixture. Avoid using a bottle that contained toxic chemicals.
  2. Spray your hair with the peroxide mixture. If you'd prefer to lighten specific sections of your hair, apply the peroxide to these sections using a cotton ball.
  3. Allow the peroxide to sit in your hair for 20 minutes. Check to see how light your hair has become, and leave it in longer if you want your hair to be lighter.
    • The longer the peroxide sits, and the more peroxide you use, the lighter your hair will become.
    • Be careful not to use too much peroxide or leave it in for too long, since your hair can be dried out and damaged by this chemical.
  4. Rinse your hair and condition as normal. Make sure all the peroxide is rinsed out, then moisturize it well with conditioner. Allow your hair to air dry, and don't use peroxide again for at least two weeks.



Tips

  • If you're in doubt about how your hair will look after using a natural highlighting technique, do a strand test on just one discreet part of your hair before using the process on your entire head.
  • Wear a towel over your shoulders to keep lemon juice, cinnamon or hydrogen peroxide from touching your skin. These ingredients are known skin irritants, so use caution when using them.
  • Remember that lemon juice does dry out your hair.
  • Do these outside on a sunny day for the best results.
  • Make sure to use lots of moisturizing products, so that your hair won't dry out, because it will look even worse than before.
  • You can also mix cinnamon with honey and make a thick paste. Apply on your hair and leave it to dry.
  • Lemon juice gives brunettes a orange-reddish kind of color, but if you're already blonde, it will give you a lighter colour.
  • For really noticeable color or dark hair, dip a hairbrush or comb in any of the above solutions and comb through once a day for 1 week.
  • Vinegar can help. Use any kind, poured into a spray bottle. Spray on your hair, then sit in the sun for a while. Shampoo and condition as usual.
  • When using hydrogen peroxide, make sure to store it in a dark bottle to keep it fresh, otherwise it will break down in the light and be useless.

Warnings

  • Do not repeat any highlighting method more than once or twice per week. Doing so may cause your hair to become dry and brittle.
  • All of the above methods result in permanently colored hair.
  • Do not stay in the sun longer than 60 minutes at a time with lemon juice in your hair.
  • Always be careful when using peroxide; it's a good idea to only do a little bit at a time. Keep away from your eyes.

Things You'll Need

  • Moisturizing shampoo and conditioner
  • Sunshine
  • Spray bottle or basting brush
  • Towel
  • Lemons, hydrogen peroxide, honey, olive oil, henna or cinnamon

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Sources and Citations

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