Lighten Hair Naturally With Honey

Using dye or bleach to go a few shades lighter can dry out your hair. Honey, on the other hand, has been known for centuries to restore hair's natural moisture and balance while also serving as a lightener. Learn how to lighten your hair with honey and use honey as a conditioner to maintain your lighter look.

Steps

Honey Lightening Treatment

  1. Make the lightening mixture. Since honey is so sticky, it helps to add some water to loosen it up and make it easier to apply to your hair. Mix four parts honey and one part water or apple cider vinegar (which acts as a conditioner) in a bowl until thoroughly combined.
    • If you want a more drastic change, you can add a few capfuls of hydrogen peroxide to the mixture. This reacts with your hair to bleach it several shades lighter. Don't use peroxide if your hair is black or very dark brown, or it may come out orange.
    • For a reddish-blonde hue, add some henna powder, cinnamon or ground coffee to the mixture.[1] Adding hibiscus petals will add a strawberry blonde hue.[2]
  2. Let the mixture sit out for about 30-60 minutes.
  3. Apply the honey mixture to your hair. Drape a towel over your shoulders to protect your clothes, then pour the honey mixture over your head in small doses and use your fingers to massage it in. Continue pouring honey onto your hair and working it in until all of your hair is completely covered in honey.
    • You might want to cover your bathroom floor with a towel or washcloth to protect it from drips, since sticky honey can be annoying to clean up.
    • If you added a reddening powder to the honey, don't wear clothes or use towels that might stain red.
  4. Cover your hair with plastic and let the honey sit. Use a shower cap or a few sheets of plastic wrap to cover your hair. Let the honey sit in your hair for at least 2 hours to achieve a lighter look.
    • If you have long hair that's hard to keep up under the plastic, twist your hair into clips to pin it up while the honey treatment is working, then put the plastic over your clipped up hair.
    • If you can manage to keep the honey in your hair overnight, you'll get much lighter results. It also acts as as deep conditioning treatment. Put a towel over your pillow and sleep wearing a shower cap.
    • There's no need to use a blow dryer to apply heat. The honey works well at room temperature.
  5. Wash the honey out of your hair. Rinse it out with warm water, then shampoo and condition your hair as usual. Pat your hair dry with a towel and either let it air dry or blow it out. Your hair will now be honey-colored.

Honey Maintenance Conditioner

  1. Mix 1/4 cup honey and 1/2 cup conditioner. You can use any conditioner you like, as long as its scent mixes well with honey. Stir the conditioner and honey in a bowl until they are thoroughly combined.
    • Store extra conditioner in an old conditioner bottle for later use.
    • Use the same ratio of honey to conditioner to make a larger batch.
  2. Use the conditioner after every shampoo. After you shampoo your hair, use the honey conditioner just as you would your normal conditioner. Distribute a small amount through your hair and rinse it out when you're finished.
    • Leave the conditioner in your hair for 5-10 minutes while you finish your shower for a greater lightening effect.
    • If your hair feels sticky after rinsing, decrease the amount of honey you use and increase the amount of conditioner.



Tips

  • If you don't have a shower cap you can use a plastic grocery bag and tie it around your head, it's not the most attractive look, but it works well!
  • Adding some lemon juice to the mixture can shorten the time it takes to see big changes.
  • Adding cinnamon will give your hair a reddish tint, and lemon juice will give your hair a lighter color faster.
  • Do not be discouraged if you don't see result the first time; it may take a couple of applications.
  • Honey will not damage your hair like peroxide and bleach but it will take longer to lighten when bleach takes one time honey takes about 10-15 applications.
  • For people with dark hair, it may take some time to get the desired look but as long as you've got the time then you're good to go!
  • The longer you leave the honey in your hair, the lighter it will become.
  • There are other natural products you could add to the honey to increase the color lift. Two of these items are lemon juice and common household cinnamon. (Word of caution: Cinnamon may create a "hot" or "burning" sensation on your scalp. It will not cause burns to the scalp, but it can be very uncomfortable for some.).
  • Applying honey to your hair may not show results the first time for many people.
  • Multiple applications are required before results are evident, but this all-natural remedy is safe for multiple applications, unlike bleaches or dyes.
  • Make sure you wash the honey out thoroughly.
  • You can also add Vitamin C to the mixture to help the process go more quickly.
  • Apply and repeat process as many times as necessary until reached desired shade.
  • Honey works best with brown or blonde hair.
  • If you don't want to use a towel on the floor and get it all sticky you can use an unfolded trash bag and drape it on the area you are using.

Warnings

  • Don't use lemon juice if you're a brunette because it will turn it orange. (Unless that is what you want, then by all means.)

Things You'll Need

Honey Lightening Treatment

  • Honey
  • Water or apple cider vinegar
  • Plastic shower cap or plastic wrap
  • Hair clips

Honey Maintenance Conditioner

  • Honey
  • Conditioner

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/hair_color/honey-hair-lightening-fact-or-fiction
  2. ↑ http://wellnessmama.com/5112/herbal-hair-color-recipes/
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