With the arrival of summer, many women choose to dye their lighten hair to make the whole person look fresher and more beautiful.
So what can you do to avoid the health risks associated with commercially available hair dyes and still achieve similar results?
There is a how-to at the end of the article.
The history of dying your hair
Hair coloring is very popular among women and even among some men, especially as they get older and their hair starts to turn gray. According to statistics, 69% of women say that they feel more attractive when they dye their hair.
Another study showed that 50% of women dye their hair regularly.
According to this study, both men and women started coloring their hair around the age of 27.
Just like thickening hair, the idea of people dying their hair has been around for quite some time.
The ancient Egyptians had already started learning how to become experts in hair coloring.
Unfortunately, hair coloring back then was based on lead, and their goal was to dye their hair black, very black
In modern times, hair coloring seems to be the most popular method for young girls who want to tan their hair blonde, usually from a very young age.
But first, let’s understand a little about hair. You have surely heard of keratin, the substance from which our hair is made, and the same substance from which our nails are made.
How does our hair get its color?
Hair starts to grow in the follicles underneath the scalp, and this is where the pigment is added to the keratin.
Our natural hair color comes from two pigments: one is called melanin, which is usually found in dark hair, and the other is called pheomelanin, which makes up the beautiful red hair.
However, blonde hair is simply due to less pigmentation, while gray hair is due to reduced production or complete cessation of pigmentation.
How to make hair lighter?
So, what happens when you decide to change the color of your hair?
Are bleaching and dyeing safe for your hair?
When you learn how to lighten the color of your hair by bleaching it, you are removing the natural pigments from your hair.
Typically, the bleaching agent is hydrogen peroxide*, which causes what is commonly referred to as peroxide hair.
Hydrogen peroxide, also known as hydrogen peroxide, is recognized as a low-toxic substance and is widely used in industrial bleaching and surgical disinfection, but it can still be harmful if used improperly.
But you know that, when you heat hydrogen peroxide to the boiling point, it explodes.
At room temperature, it is used as a disinfectant.
The manufacturers of these products understand this, so they dilute it so it’s safe to use.
It works by entering the hair shaft to release oxygen.
When this happens, the pigment is broken down.
In this way, hair coloring products with color can work with hydrogen peroxide to get the desired hair color.
So in the end, you have to strip the color from your hair with bleach or hydrogen peroxide to prepare it to take on a new color until the new hair grows out.
But is this healthy for your hair? Absolutely not.
It’s also important to note that most commercially available hair products contain dangerous chemicals that can lead to cancer and other health risks when exposed to them.
For example, according to the U.S. OSHA(Occupational Safety and Health Administration), formaldehyde has been found in tons of hair care products, which poses a huge risk.
In addition, hair coloring products may cause allergic reactions when in contact with the skin, such as the itchy scalp, hair breakage, hair loss, redness of the scalp, conjunctivitis, and even headaches.
Interestingly, one study showed that 89% of subjects would continue to dye their hair regardless of the consequences, and many even continued to use hair dyes during pregnancy.
I think this is concerning because numerous studies have shown that toxic chemicals in hair products can be absorbed through the skin of the scalp, which can be a health risk for both the mother and the baby.
6 natural ways to lighten your hair
Now that you have some idea of how hair coloring works and the risks of using chemical dyes, let’s delve into some natural ways to lighten your hair.
A study published in Microbial Biotechnology, which evaluates plant-based hair dyes, has published some startling results.
“Using laccase (a polyphenol oxidase) derived from color-changing bolts of bacteria and phenolic compounds of natural plant origin, they were able to produce a range of color-rich, environmentally friendly dyes.”
This includes a range of colors, ultimately reducing the use of hydrogen peroxide-based colorants, which may contain the carcinogenic substance benzylamine.
This is good news for our health!
Other ways to color your hair naturally.
Roman Chamomile
If you think the health-rich Roman chamomile is just for tea, guess what?
It can also safely lighten your hair color. Boil a cup or two of strong tea and then cool it down.
Once cooled, apply it to your hair (soak) to achieve shiny, lightened hair.
Then leave it in the sun for half an hour and wait for it to dry.
Just wash and maintain your hair as usual.
Fingernail Flowers
It is known that henna usually darkens hair, but it can lighten dark hair by providing some highlights of a slight red color.
You will need about three tablespoons of henna powder and one cup of boiling water.
Then let this mixture sit overnight.
The next morning, apply to your hair and let it stay for about 2 to 3 hours.
Just wash it off with water.
Baking soda
Baking soda will whiten your teeth, but if you want to know how to make your hair lighter, it will help.
Make a paste with a little warm water and about ⅓ teacup of baking soda.
(If you have long hair, add more as needed).
Stir into a paste, apply it to your hair and leave it on for about 15 minutes.
Rinse, shampoo, condition, and style as usual.
Lemon
Lemon juice for hair has probably been the most popular in recent years because of its bleaching properties.
It is effective because lemons contain citric acid, which naturally lightens hair color in the sun.
This method seems to work best on light-colored hair and the amount used does not need to be too much.
To lighten your hair gently, mix one tablespoon of lemon juice with about 2 liters of water, or if you want a stronger bleaching effect, mix three tablespoons of lemon juice with about two cups of water, diluted even less.
If you wish, you can also use lemon essential oil for this purpose by mixing a few drops of lemon essential oil into the water.
Want to add shine to your hair?
You can use apple cider vinegar to shampoo your hair by simply adding two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to the lemonade mixture.
After shampooing your hair with a shampoo, then apply the mixture evenly to your hair and leave it for five minutes or even an hour. To make your hair lighter in color, you can also expose it to the sun.
Afterward, apply the conditioner and rinse the hair.
This process can be repeated for two to three weeks in a row in order to achieve the desired effect.
Raw apple cider vinegar
As mentioned above, vinegar can add shine to your hair and can also help lighten it.
Simply mix ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar with ½ cup of distilled water.
Apply to hair with a cotton ball or brush and leave on for about half an hour, then rinse well.
Sea Salt
When you swim at the beach, the salt in the water can lighten your hair, especially when you are bathed in the sun.
You can use sea salt and warm water to simulate this effect. Simply dissolve a tablespoon of sea salt with half a cup of warm water.
Apply the mixture to your hair, leave it on for 20 minutes, then rinse it out to create a sexy beach look.
Natural Lighten Hair Color Formula
Required ingredients：
- ⅓ cup baking soda
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- 5 drops of Roman chamomile essential oil
- Warm water (to make a paste)
Specific steps for lighten hair
In a small bowl, mix baking soda and sea salt evenly.
Baking soda is a great household standby because it can help remove residue from other products, help remove chlorine (if you swim in the pool a lot), and even promote hair growth!
The natural benefits of sea salt are undeniable.
While prolonged overuse in the ocean and sun can cause hair to become brittle, occasional use of it does provide some benefits.
Sea salt has natural balancing and scalp repairing properties which are good for the hair.
This is because sea salt is rich in healthful minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium.
These minerals are vital to the health of our skin, hair and nails.
Then add Roman Chamomile essential oil.
Roman Chamomile essential oil is amazing because it adds shine and softness to the hair while soothing the scalp.
It is also one of the oils used to tackle dandruff.
Finally, slowly add pure warm water until it forms a thick paste and make sure it is well mixed.
To apply, choose any lock of hair or apply it to your entire hair to get the coloring effect.
Either way, make sure to massage it into the scalp area at the roots of your hair.
Apply evenly and leave on for about half an hour.
For better results, sit in the sun during this time.
After half an hour, rinse your hair thoroughly, blow-dry, and condition your hair as usual.
If you want your hair to be lighter, then repeat the process the next day.
Keep in mind that results may vary as each person’s hair is different in texture and color.
Using purified water can help get better results.
Since some products may cause allergic reactions, if you feel uncomfortable, stop using and rinse thoroughly immediately.