CHEAP AND NATURAL WAYS TO LIGHTEN HAIR
Learn Cheap and Natural Ways to Lighten Hair on A Budget
 | | The so-called “hemline index” is one a way of measuring the economy’s effect on fashion and style. When times are good the skirts are short and we show off our gorgeous gams in minis and booty shorts. When times are bad, we go ankle-length and haul out the prairie skirts and maxis. | |
There is another, newer way to measure the financial fallout on our looks: when the economy hits a rough patch, the collective hair color of the United States gets darker. It’s hard to keep up with pricy highlights if you’ve lost your job or are working two.
HOW TO AFFORDABLY AND NATURALLY LIGHTEN YOUR HAIR
There is no need to give up your addiction to blonde just because times are tight and your wallet is thin. There are plenty of cheap, natural ways to lighten hair that women have been taking advantage of for a long time.
These methods will work best for those with dirty blonde or light brown hair who just want to go up a notch or two. Some tips are natural, some are inexpensive, and some are both- but all will result in a blonder you.
Anytime you lighten your hair, it will dry out, so be sure to use a good conditioner or perhaps a stay-in treatment to counteract the stresses that bleaching causes your silky strands.
- Sunshine bleaches hair just like it bleaches out fabric. There is a reason why surfer guys and girls tend to have platinum stripes in their hair- because they live in the sun. Spend some time outdoors and you will notice a lighter hair tone.
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- Lemon juice is highly acidic and can also lighten hair, particularly when combined with sunlight. If squirting a lemon on your head, be sure not to let the juice drip into your eyes. Ouch!
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- Apple cider vinegar is another cheap acid that can be used to lighten hair. It also works well when combined with sunshine, as the heat activates the lightening agents in the vinegar.
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- Shampoo! Clean hair is lighter than dirty hair, as oils and dirt darken strands. Keep it clean and your hair will be lighter.
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- Beauty schools often offer deeply discounted haircuts and colors to lighten hair; it’s a little risky but rest assured, your hair will always grow out.
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- Have a friend who does hair? Or a friend of a friend? You probably do. Barter services for a home dye-job and trade your skills for hers to lighten your hair.
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- Swim in salt or chlorinated water and then let your hair dry in the sun to lighten it. Sea salt and the chemical chlorine both serve to bleach hair, and sunshine is the cherry on top.
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- Hydrogen peroxide has been used to lighten hair for decades, and when combined with ammonia it can even bleach darker shades of hair. If you go this route, be sure to test out a small portion of your hair first, as these chemicals have a different effect with every person. Never use bleach on your hair.
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- Tea can also be used to lighten hair; let several bags steep until cool and test it out, as some teas will darken your hair and some will lighten it. A chamomile rinse on clean hair several times a week should give noticeable results.
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- Honey contains natural peroxide and bleaches and lightens hair as well. Mix equal parts honey and conditioner, massage through damp hair, and then leave on under a shower cap for about eight hours.
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- Home box kits are cheap for sure, but the chemicals are harsh and the results can be iffy- if you go this route, enlist a trusted friend with an honest opinion to help you!
Read More Hair Tips
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Shilo Urban is a freelance writer who has just relocated to Los Angeles after her previous homes of Seattle, New Zealand, Paris, Maine, and Austin. She is an active member of the West Coast electronic music community and lives to promote the art that she loves and the people who create it.
