DIY Options For Lightening Your Hair Without The Damage

Going blond is fun, to be sure, but there's a limit to how often you can safely bleach your hair without risking extensive damage over time. While it's possible to recover your hair from bleach damage, the risk and trade-off of frequent bleaching isn't always worth the process. Thankfully, many people have shared alternative methods of lightening their hair to gain all the aesthetic benefits without facing stringy strands. To reassure the skeptics, Glam reached out to Jennifer Korab, celebrity hairstylist and owner of Renaissance Salon, to find out if you can — or should — rely on common household ingredients to lighten your hair, and the answer is yes, you absolutely can.

"Yes, these natural methods can lighten hair," Korab exclusively tells Glam, "but they're much milder and slower than chemical lighteners, especially on darker hair." According to Korab, ingredients such as lemon juice and honey, among others, contain bleach-like properties that can alter the color of your hair. DIYers have experimented with all sorts of at-home lightening tricks, making use of an array of bleach-free products and easily accessible ingredients, including baking soda and even beet juice. However, not all DIY methods are equal in terms of safety or effectiveness, so if you're determined to go a few shades lighter, Korab recommends the following bleach alternatives. 

One of the most popular DIY methods that people commonly use to lighten their locks is lemon juice, which can, in fact, lighten your hair, albeit less intensely than bleach. "Lemon juice ... can lighten your hair when exposed to sunlight, though it may dry your hair out, so a good conditioner is necessary afterward," Jennifer Korab shares exclusively with Glam. The science behind lemon's lightening effect lies in a key ingredient, the celebrity hairstylist tells us. "It contains citric acid, which acts as a natural bleaching agent. When exposed to sunlight, the citric acid speeds up the bleaching process by opening up the hair cuticle and stripping away some of the pigment, leading to lighter hair over time," she explains. "The UV rays from the sun help to enhance this lightening effect."

Note that sun exposure is a crucial step to this all-natural dyeing process, as the lemon juice doesn't do much on its own. That said, bear in mind that lemon juice is unlikely to brighten your hair from chocolate brunette to platinum blond in a single application, and regular usage can dry out your strands, per Korab. So, if you're hoping for a drastic change in your appearance, it's best to lower your expectations before trying this DIY trick.

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been touted as a miracle product for years. People rely on it for all sorts of alternative remedies, using it to cure acid reflux, increase weight loss, regulate blood sugar, and even relieve menstrual cramps. Research on some of these benefits remains inconclusive, but that hasn't stopped folks from taking their daily shots of ACV before leaving the house. In the last few years, a number of Instagram posts and TikTok videos have also sworn that ACV hair rinses can promote growth, clear build-up, and treat scalp concerns. Now, it looks like we can add hair lightening to its growing list of benefits.

"Apple cider vinegar can enhance natural highlights, but its lightening effect is subtle compared to chemical treatments," Jennifer Korab reveals exclusively to Glam. "Apple cider vinegar is mildly acidic, and it helps to remove buildup from hair products and the environment. By stripping away these residues, it reveals the natural highlights in your hair, giving it a slightly lighter appearance."

To apply ACV to your strands, pour 2 to 4 tablespoons into a spray bottle, and dilute it with 16 ounces of water (via Medical News Today). Spray the ACV solution onto your hair after shampooing, and gently rub it into your strands. Medical News Today recommends only letting it sit for a minute or two prior to cleaning it out of your hair. ACV can dry out your hair, so just remember to condition!

This one might surprise you, but honey does more than sweeten your tea — it can lighten your hair, too. "Honey has small amounts of hydrogen peroxide, a commonly used ingredient in hair lighteners," Jennifer Korab exclusively tells Glam. "When mixed with water, the enzymes in honey activate and produce a small amount of hydrogen peroxide, which can gently lighten hair over time." Honey is more viscous than lemon juice and apple cider vinegar, so it will be trickier to apply. For convenience and even coverage, combine honey and either coconut oil or distilled water, which you can buy at your local pharmacy, in a 4-to-1 ratio and apply to your locks like a hair mask. Apply for a minimum of one hour, and then rinse it out (via Beautycon).

Additionally, this method, along with the others, really will come down to how porous your hair is and how well your strands can absorb the honey. So, if your locks are frayed and damaged from bleach to begin with, you're better off repairing the damage before jumping into any other hair lightening processes, natural or otherwise.

People use apple cider vinegar to target scalp build-up and revive dull strands, but it isn't the only ingredient that boasts numerous hair benefits. A tea rinse is a great idea for pampering your hair — more specifically, a chamomile rinse could help lighten your hair by a few shades. "Chamomile tea, which is known for brightening blond hair, can gradually lighten hair with regular use," hairstylist Jennifer Korab explains exclusively to Glam. "It contains flavonoids like apigenin and quercetin, which can gradually lighten hair when used regularly. These compounds can bind to the hair shaft and enhance natural highlights."

To create a potent spray, brew a strong batch of chamomile tea — both tea bags and loose tea work here — by letting it steep in hot water for several minutes and up to an hour. Better yet, combine chamomile tea with lemon and honey to boost your results. Let your hair dry in direct sunlight for several hours, rinse it off, and then apply conditioner to prevent your locks from drying out (via MedicineNet).

Jennifer Korab also suggests cinnamon as a DIY hair lightener. "Cinnamon contains a compound called cinnamaldehyde, which can react with oxygen and produce a mild bleaching effect," she exclusively tells us. "When applied to hair, cinnamon can enhance and bring out natural highlights over time." Similar to the other all-natural alternatives, you can increase your chances of altering your hair color by combining multiple ingredients and remaining consistent.

In this case, try combining cinnamon with chamomile, honey, and lemon juice to enhance the lightening effect. To do this, mix a quarter cup of honey with half a cup of distilled water, along with one tablespoon of cinnamon and another tablespoon of olive or coconut oil (via MedicineNet). Apply the mixture all over your hair, and if possible, wear it to bed as an overnight mask. If you're unsure which method to try, stick to the method you find works best or is most convenient for you. Wash as usual the following day, repeat several times per week, and cross your fingers to see some all-natural lightening results!