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Home : Beauty tips : Hair : Lightening hair : Lightening your hair at home!
Hair lightener. Make your own hair lightener
Submitted by Kate
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups chamomile tea
- 1 tablespoon of parsley
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
Boil all the ingredients and let it simmer for 15 mins. Strain out the tea bags and parsley (make sure to remove all of the parsley) and let it sit till room temperature. Poor on to hair over a sink and rinse two or three times. Your hair should be smelling nice and looking lighter!
The following was sent in by Answers
Before I answer the questions that have been asked 20X, first you need to
understand how hair lightening works. When you lighten your hair, this is not
something that will "fade" or can be undone. It's something that is permanent
(except for covering it with darker dye).
When you go to a salon to have you hair professional chemically lightened, this
is a two-step process. Or if you buy hair lightener in a box - same thing. The
"developer" (usually a mixture of peroxide and ammonia = very harsh) opens the
hair shaft and strips it of its natural color. Then the (blonde) dye is added to
achieve the new shade. Results are different on each person, depending on the
natural color of your hair.
This chamomile/lemon mixture acts in the exact same manner - except it is a
"natural" method and not chemical. The lemon juice is the natural "developer"
and the chamomile adds the warm blonde tones (unique to each person depending on
the natural color of your hair.
If you've previously dyed your hair darker than its natural color (i.e. dyed it
black), then your hair has not been stripped of its real color. The shaft has
been opened and a darker pigment has been added. This will fade over time if you
stop dying it black.
NOW THE ANSWERS:
Q: Will it work on naturally jet black hair?
A: No.
Q: Will it work on hair that is dyed black?
A: No. Not until the black dye fades or grows out.
Q: Can I use lime juice instead?
A: No. Lemon juice is a natural developer.
Q: Can it be bottled lemon juice?
A: Yes.
Q: Do I have to sit in the sun?
A: No. But if you don't then you need to use a hair dryer because it is the HEAT
that makes the lemon juice work. 20 minutes with a hair dryer is as effective as
3 hours in the sun.
Q: Can I use a different tea?
A: No. The chamomile tea is what gives it the natural looking blonde tones.
Q: Can I just use lemon juice and nothing else?
A: Yes. The lemon juice is primarily what lightens the hair via a natural
"chemical reaction." BUT it will look more bleach-blondy and harsh without the
tea's tones.
Q: Will it work on brown (even dark brown) hair?
A: Yes. Not as effectively, but yes. You'll need to use more lemon, more heat,
etc.
Q: Will it fade?
A: No. You've permanently lightened the hair.
Q: Should I wash my hair afterward?
A: Yes. After you have HEATED it with sun or blow dryer, wash it because the
lemon will continue to dry out your hair.
Q: Do I need parsley?
A: No. Parsley promotes shine and hair growth. In this mixture it acts as the
conditioner. It does nothing to contribute to lightening it. You can just use
conditioner when you're done lightening instead.
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