Ever wanted natural-looking highlights without dropping mucho dinero for the salon version? This Instructable will show you how to get subtle and natural-looking highlights from lemon juice and sunshine.
Friendly warning: I do mean natural and subtle highlights. Brown or black hair might go red, not blond.
Friendly warning: I do mean natural and subtle highlights. Brown or black hair might go red, not blond.
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The lemon juice acts like an accelerant to the sun's natural hair lightening abilities. It's magnifying the amount of lightening the sun can do, which creates the subtle highlights.
This is permanent.
It may fade with time, but treat it like permanent hair dye. Luckily, the color change is so gradual that it is very easy to control.
This is permanent.
It may fade with time, but treat it like permanent hair dye. Luckily, the color change is so gradual that it is very easy to control.
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However, I would not have posted this if I had not at least tried it myself numerous times, and know others who have done it as well. I tried to include as many warnings and specific instructions as I could in my tutorial.
while chemicals are damaging to your hair, this can be just as if not more harsh, with an uncontrolled outcome.
if you naturally, like the poster, have that all american ashy, gets blonde in the summer sun anyway hair, then yes, this would work for you with maybe just one careful application.
HOWEVER
if your hair is remotely darker, it will suck, and you will be sad, and have to go to a salon to try to correct the main problem, which is, uneven tones that you have created and usually look like cheetah spots... just being honest, seen it happen.
if your hair is naturally:
RED- you will go orange maybe strawberry blonde
MEDIUM BROWN- if it changes at all, it will be brassy, or tawny
DARK BROWN/BLACK- sadness, doubt it will change, if it does it will be a red orange color.
IF YOU HAVE BOX COLOR OR ANY COLOR ON YOUR HEAD, FORGET IT. box color is so unpredictable, some brands plant unseen metallic colors in the hair, such as pink and green (not kidding) and when lightening, is the time they decide to show up. ( this is even a challenge for a stylist)
Stylist tip- Cant afford color? go to a beauty school, they offer very low prices, or find a high end salon in the area, they have an apprentice program, and the prices are unbelievable and your still getting top service from top stylist just applied by a jr. stylist.
if you insist on diy, at least go to sally's and pick up a little better quality color then nasty box color you get at the drugstore. when you decide to change colors one day, you will be thankful. sorry that was a mouthful, hope it helps :)
Diluted vinegar might work, but I don't know anyone who has tried it, so I wouldn't recommend it without serious caution and precautions. I think the scent of the vinegar sitting in my hair for a day would convince me that lemon juice was better, just for the smell.
I wouldn't say blond streaks unless your hair is at least as light as mine in the tut.
This process is repetitive, and extremely subtle in coloring. Neat streaks might be possible if you were VERY meticulous and measured where you applied lemon juice every time.
Brushing the lemon juice through hair helps distribute it more evenly through the shaft.