Beauty DIY: Natural Hair Highlighters

I’m pretty low maintenance when it comes to my hair color. While I do love indulging in weekly manicures and regular massages, monthly trips to a colorist just aren’t for me (especially since my hair grows out so fast). However, I do still like to keep my natural blonde looking bright, which is why I’ve experimented with several all-natural color enhancers over the years. Whether your hair is naturally blond or colored at a salon, these common kitchen ingredients can boost your color and keep your mane looking shiny. And when used in moderation, they are also typically less damaging to your strands than salon treatments.

Here’s how to get sun-streaked tresses without spending hours or hundreds of dollars in a salon…

Lemon Juice

I remember my mom spraying lemon juice on my hair before we would head to the beach when I was a kid. This natural beauty remedy has been around for forever, which is a testament to the fact that it actually works! According to Livestrong, when the citric acid in lemon juice heats up in the sun, it opens hair cuticles and lifts out the pigment. Just squeeze some lemon juice into a spray bottle, dilute with water (3 times the amount of  lemon juice), and then spritz into your hair before you head outside. (P.S. If you’ve ever used lemon juice to keep a cut apple from browning, you’ve already witnessed its amazing bleaching properties!)

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile is another natural hair lightener, said to be more gradual than lemon juice and therefore better for brunettes. Just brew a batch of chamomile tea, let it cool, and then rinse your hair with the tea following your shampoo and conditioner in the shower.

Honey

I’ve never tried this one myself, but if anything I’m sure that honey would be deeply conditioning. As Livestrong explains, honey contains the enzyme peroxide, which is an effective lightener when mixed with distilled water to activate it. Plus, your hair will smell yummy and feel soft post-honey treatment.

Beer

Yes, beer. Beer is another method that I’ve never tried, but I have several friends who have experimented with beer hair rinses at one time or another, and raved about its lightening properties (Refinery29). Use a light beer of course, and just keep in mind that you might not want to try this method right before you go to a party or get-together. You don’t want to show up smelling of booze and have everyone thinking you’ve been doing some heavy day drinking! Bonus: The B vitamins and proteins in beer will repair damaged stands too.

If you’re not a natural blonde, none of these methods are a true replacement for salon highlights of course. But if you’re just looking to add a little extra brightness to your already blonde or light brown mane, these all-natural methods are pretty impressive considering the ease, availability, and low cost. Also, keep in mind that you may not see dramatic results immediately. I recommend repeating these DIY beauty treatments frequently to gradually lighten your locks over time.

Have you ever tried any of these DIY hair highlighters?

Share your experience below.

xo Ilana
Team LC

Photo: Barefoot Blonde