The benefits and contraindications of lemon hair lightening at home. Ways of using citrus, recipes for masks. Results and real feedback.
Lightening your hair with lemon is a common procedure and is a great alternative to chemically changing the color of your hair. The use of citrus not only brightens the strands, but also saturates them with a large amount of vitamins and nutrients. Nourishing masks can also be prepared from this fruit.
What is lemon hair lightening?
In the photo, lemon for lightening hair
Lemon is a citrus found in almost every home. Thanks to the presence of citric acid, it has found its use in lightening hair: it is this substance that helps to make curls a tone lighter.
Every person's hair contains a pigment called melanin. Depending on the quantity, he determines the color of the curls. Brunettes have much more of it than blondes. During the procedure for lightening the hair, citric acid partially destroys melanin, without changing the very structure of the hair. As a result, its amount decreases, and the color of the strands becomes lighter in tone.
Lightening hair with lemon gives temporary results. After a certain period of time (for each individual), melanin is completely restored, and therefore the original color of the hair returns.
It will not be possible to achieve intense clarification in one go. After each use of lemon, the hair will only lighten one tone. To achieve the desired result, the manipulation will need to be repeated, and the curls must be properly looked after.
Lightening hair with lemon is a very useful procedure. In addition to changing the image, it brings a lot of benefits to the hair. Citrus contains vitamins of groups A, B and C, as well as minerals necessary for hair: calcium, potassium, magnesium, copper, zinc and phosphorus.
The main benefits of using lemon for hair:
- Elimination of excessive oily hair … Citric acid has an excellent drying effect, so that owners of oily hair can temporarily get rid of their problem. This is possible due to the fact that citrus significantly reduces the intensity of sebum (sebum) production.
- Reducing dandruff … This effect is achieved, again, by suppressing the work of the sebaceous glands, normalizing the oiliness of the scalp and cleansing it more thoroughly with lemon juice.
- Strengthening the roots … Lemon, due to its beneficial composition, strengthens the hair roots. Thanks to this, their loss is significantly reduced, and the hairstyle itself looks healthier and thicker.
- Preservation of hair structure … Citric acid, unlike ammonia paints and brighteners, which are used in salons, does not penetrate into the hair and does not destroy it.
- The appearance of a natural shine … After applying lemon juice, hair will look silky, smoother and shinier, especially with proper follow-up care.
However, lightening hair with lemon juice has several negative sides:
- Overdrying hair … Most often this happens with frequent repetition of the procedure. It is not particularly suitable for owners of dry brittle hair, because it dries out even more.
- Difficult flushing … When applying lemon juice or masks, which include it, it is quite difficult to wash the hair. If you rinse your head badly, then after the procedure, the curls can become tough.
- Possibility of an allergic reaction … Citrus is a potential allergen. If the girl has never used lemon for her hair before, it is necessary to conduct a sensitivity test to avoid allergies.
- Short-term effect … As already mentioned, the hair returns to its natural color over time, and therefore the lightening must be repeated.
Note! The use of lemon for lightening hair is allowed even during pregnancy and breastfeeding, in contrast to salon procedures.
Contraindications for lightening hair with lemon
Lightening hair with lemon is allowed in almost all cases. The main contraindication is individual citrus intolerance. To detect possible allergies, apply a small amount of lemon juice to the inner side of the forearm and observe the reaction for 30 minutes. If there is no redness, itching and rashes, then you can safely proceed to lightening.
You should not use lemon if there are fresh wounds, scratches on the head, as well as dermatological diseases (dermatitis, psoriasis, seborrhea). Otherwise, there will be strong pain and deterioration of the condition of the scalp.
Lightening colored hair with lemon is not recommended. Before such manipulation, it is better to consult with a hairdresser, because different dyes in combination with citrus can give an unpredictable color.
Preparation for lightening hair with lemon
Lightening is an easy-to-carry procedure that every girl can do on her own at home.
Beforehand, you need to do a little preparation. Before changing the color of the hair, they must not be washed for a day and in no case should they be wetted before the lightening itself. If the hair is naturally thick, tough and prone to dryness, then it is recommended to make a nourishing and softening mask the night before.
To lighten hair with lemon you will need:
- Any non-metallic container;
- Wooden spatula for stirring the mixture;
- Spray bottle or cotton swabs.
Ways to lighten hair with lemon
Hair can be lightened with pure lemon and with the help of various masks. Let's take a closer look at how to do this.
How to lighten hair with pure lemon?
The clarification procedure can be repeated no more than once a week. Otherwise, the hair will become dry, split and brittle.
How to use lemon to lighten hair without other ingredients:
- Lemon juice … Lightening hair with lemon juice is the safest and mildest method. It is necessary to squeeze out the juice from 4 citrus fruits and strain it to get rid of large particles of pulp. In the event that the hair is too dry and unruly, it is recommended to mix the juice with 2 tbsp. l. emollient balm. The resulting mixture must be evenly applied to dry unwashed curls using a spray bottle, evenly distributing the juice over the entire surface of the hair, not forgetting about the roots. On dark hair, especially those prone to fat content, you can leave the product for 12 hours (best overnight). If your hair is thin and dry, lemon juice should be kept for no longer than 2 hours. Do not wrap your head up. After the lapse of time, you should thoroughly rinse your head with shampoo and apply balm to the ends.
- Lemon acid … It is very concentrated, and the effect of its application is much more noticeable. However, the acid dries out the hair significantly. To avoid this, it is necessary to dilute 1 tbsp. l. citric acid in 2 liters of clean warm water. With the resulting solution, you need to wash your hair and do not wrap it up with anything. The residence time of the mixture is the same as when using lemon juice. Next, you need to thoroughly wash your head with shampoo and be sure to use a balm.
- Essential oil … Lemon essential oil can be purchased ready-made. It is even stronger in its action than acid, but it also has a more intense drying effect. Before lightening, the head should be well washed and dried. It is necessary to evenly distribute 3 drops of lemon essential oil over the comb, and then comb the previously prepared hair with it. After that, you do not need to rinse them. There is a second option for such a procedure: in 10 ml of shampoo or hair balm, you need to add 5 drops of essential oil and wash your hair with it.
If the goal is to lighten all hair completely, it is advisable to use a spray bottle. If a girl wants to change the color of only certain strands, a cotton swab is well suited. It is also important to remember that the best lightening effect is achieved when the lemon-treated hair dries in the sun.
Lemon masks for lightening hair
Lemon for changing the color of hair can be used in combination with other means, preparing various masks. Consider the most popular recipes for lemon-based hair lightening masks:
- Lemon and cinnamon … One of the most effective remedies that not only brightens the hair, but also makes it silky and soft. To prepare it, you need to mix the juice squeezed from one lemon, 3 tbsp. l. cinnamon and 6 tbsp. l. olive oil. It is the oil that will give your hair a healthy shine. All ingredients must be thoroughly mixed until a homogeneous mass is obtained. Apply to the entire length of the hair and cover the head with a special cap or towel. On healthy strong hair, it can stay for 3 hours, and on dry and damaged hair - no more than 1 hour. After this time, the hair should be thoroughly rinsed with warm water.
- Lemon and honey … This mask is ideal for dry hair. It moisturizes the scalp well and moderately stimulates the sebaceous glands. It is necessary to mix the juice of one lemon, 2 tbsp. l. honey and 5 tbsp. l. olive oil. It is important to use ceramic or plastic dishes, because metal combined with honey can give hair a greenish color. The honey-lemon mask must be evenly distributed over the entire length of the hair, then wrap your head in a towel for 4 hours. After that, you should thoroughly rinse your hair several times, since the mask may not be washed off the first time, but at the end apply balm to the ends.
- Lemon and kefir … Lemon-kefir mask perfectly strengthens weak and thin hair. To prepare it, you will need 4 tbsp. l. kefir, juice from 1 lemon, 1 egg, 2 tbsp. l. vodka and 10 ml of shampoo. All components must be mixed until a homogeneous consistency is obtained. The mask is applied to the hair along its entire length. After application, the head should be wrapped in a plastic cap and left for 8 hours. Then rinse your hair thoroughly with warm water.
- Lemon and chamomile … Chamomile gives hair not only a lighter tone, but also an unusual shine. Lemon-bleached dark hair when using chamomile will have a copper tint, and light brown hair will have a golden tint. To prepare such a mask, you need to pour boiling water over 2 tbsp. l. chamomile flowers and leave them for 30 minutes. After half an hour, squeeze the juice from 1 lemon into the infusion and mix. Since the mask is liquid, it is recommended to apply it with a spray bottle to the entire length of the hair. If the hair is thick and healthy, then the mass can be left for 12 hours, if the hair is damaged - no longer than 2 hours.
- Lemon and hydrogen peroxide … This is a very powerful mask. Hydrogen peroxide increases the brightening effect of lemon and dries curls a lot. The mask is not recommended to be applied to dry brittle hair. To prepare it, you need to mix 50 ml of peroxide and 50 ml of lemon juice. The mixture is applied for a short time, but not more than 30 minutes. Every 5 minutes it is necessary to check whether the hair has become coarse. If they become, then the mask should be washed off immediately.
Lemon hair lightening results
After the procedure, carried out correctly, the hair becomes lighter in tone. Lightening blond hair with lemon will make them light blond, light brown-haired women will turn into golden blondes, dark brown-haired women - into light ones. Brunettes will have a coppery hue. Red-haired girls will become light-haired. To assess how much the procedure helped, you can compare the photos before and after lightening your hair with lemon.
After the lightening, the curls must be carefully looked after. At the end of each wash, be sure to apply a moisturizing balm. You should also regularly do nourishing and moisturizing masks and dry your hair only naturally.
Real reviews of lemon hair lightening
Lemon is the safest and most beneficial way to change your image. It improves the condition of the hair without destroying it. Below are real reviews of lemon hair lightening.
Inna, 23 years old
I am the owner of dark blond hair. I always wanted a lighter tone, but was afraid to ruin my hair with standard lightening. I decided to use a lemon and chamomile mask for this. The result paid off. The hair lightened and began to give off a beautiful golden tint, while becoming a little softer. I plan to repeat this clarification.
Irina, 31 years old
I am naturally brown-haired. I have rather oily and thin hair, and therefore did not want to go to the salon. Recently I learned about clarification with lemon juice and tried it on myself. Hair not only lightened noticeably, but also stopped getting greasy so quickly. With one procedure, I solved 2 problems at once.
Alina, 18 years old
Due to my age, I have never dyed my hair. I wanted to change - to stop being a brunette. I tried a honey and lemon mask on myself. I have long, soft but very fine hair. After the honey mask, they became copper-red and visually thicker. I am happy with the result and recommend everyone to use a natural clarifier - lemon.
How to lighten hair with lemon - watch the video:
Lemon is a great way to change your look easily and safely. It practically does not harm the hair. You can use it without any difficulty at home. Reviews of hair after lightening with lemon are mostly positive. The main thing is compliance with all recommendations and proper care for the curls after the procedure.
