5 Ways to Lighten Your Hair at Home, According to Experts

If you’re looking for lighter hair but don’t have time to get to the salon, pros say there are several ways to lighten your hair at home. That said, the first thing stylists want you to know is that any big color change—like bleaching your hair or going a few shades lighter in a short amount of time—is something that’s best left to the pros. When you do it yourself, “you risk over-processing your hair, increasing breakage, and making your hair orange," says Angela Soto, hairstylist and owner of Baja Studio salon in New York City.

It’s also important to manage your expectations when it comes to DIY hair lightening. "If you are a natural blonde, DIY treatments can lighten your shade around the face or on the ends," says Steven Picciano, a Goldwell National Artist and owner of Glass Beauty Bar. If you have darker hair, "the best result you can expect is a warmer, softer version of what you have," he explains. Picciano also notes that previously colored hair will not lighten using anything other than bleach.

While Sun-In may have been your go-to for hair lightening as a teen, hair experts say you should steer clear of it. "It can make hair orange and brassy, which is very hard to correct," Soto warns.

Below, experts share ways to lighten your hair at home without damaging it.

When life gives you lemons, lighten and brighten your hair. If you are a brunette, this may not be the best option, as it can create brassy, orange tones in hair, according to pros.

Picciano has a technique for this kitchen staple:

1. Combine two parts water with one part lemon juice in a spray bottle and apply to damp hair. "It can lighten your hair one to two levels, but needs a good day in the sun to work," he says. "The sun's rays help increase the acidity of the citrus fruit to lighten hair."
2. Use a deep conditioner on strands afterward, as lemon juice can be drying.

Combine these two ingredients into a paste to lighten hair one to two shades, suggests Jessica Scott Santo, owner of Jessica Scott Hair in Sciota, Pennsylvania. Before applying the mixture to your whole head, do a strand test, Santo recommends, because hydrogen peroxide may result in hair damage or dryness. If all goes well, here's how to move forward:

1. "Combine one cup of baking soda with three tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide," she advises. Apply the paste to a small section of hair and let it sit. Check the results every 10 to 15 minutes and pay attention to how much time it took to reach your desired level of lightness.
2. "Leave the paste on like a mask for 30 to 60 minutes maximum, depending on how dark your hair is," Santo says. The length of time the solution processes on the hair determines how light the person’s hair will lift.
3. Shampoo out when your hair has reached the desired shade. Follow up with a nourishing conditioner or hair mask to give strands a moisture boost.

Here's how to create a natural highlighted look, per Santo's suggestion:

1. Pour hydrogen peroxide onto a cotton ball and swipe it over vertical sections of hair that are about 1⁄4 inch thick, starting near the roots and moving down to the tips.
2. Wrap each hair section in a piece of foil to keep the peroxide from getting onto the rest of your hair. Repeat this process with multiple sections of your hair for all over highlights, or just do a few sections towards the front of your face for face-framing streaks.
3. Shampoo out after 30 to 60 minutes, depending on how dark your hair is.

This natural sweetener is a true beauty star: It's used in DIY face masks and hair masks to nourish, has antibacterial properties, and can even lighten hair. "Honey contains very small amounts of hydrogen peroxide, which is what is able to lighten hair," Santo explains. Here, she explains a few ways to use honey to brighten strands:

1. Honey + Water or Vinegar: Mix two tablespoons of raw honey (pasteurized, commercial honey will not work) into a cup of water. Apply the mixture to hair so it's evenly spread and let it sit for about 60 minutes, then shampoo. For extra clarifying, try swapping water for two cups of white vinegar: The vinegar will help gently lighten hair and also dissolve oil and residue buildup.
2. Honey + Conditioner: Mix ⅓ cup of raw honey with ¼ cup of conditioner and apply to damp hair. Use a comb to distribute the mixture evenly throughout the hair. Put on a shower cap, go to bed, and shampoo the mixture off in the morning.
3. Honey + Cinnamon + Olive Oil: This is great for strawberry blonde hair, as adding cinnamon to honey will produce a warm blonde hue with reddish undertones. Mix one cup of raw honey to two cups of water. Add one tablespoon of cinnamon and one tablespoon of olive oil and stir all of the ingredients together. Apply the mixture evenly onto wet hair, cover with a shower cap before bed, and shampoo it out in the morning.

Another beauty and wellness hero ingredient, apple cider vinegar can be used to both deep-clean and lighten hair, Santo says. It’s often applied as a rinse after shampooing because it helps remove excess dirt, oil, and build-up from styling products. For lightening purposes:

1. Mix 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup of water.
2. After shampooing and conditioning your hair, apply the apple cider vinegar mixture. Let it sit for about 15 minutes and rinse with water.