DIY Hair Lightening Tricks

Spice It Up

If you're new to the DIY life or just don't feel comfortable experimenting with your hair in a big way, this is the easiest –read, safest– way to try something new without going the whole hog.

The fastest way to changing your hair color naturally is with a quick trip to the kitchen. Yep, all you need is an innocuous little ingredient found in all homes: cinnamon.

A cinnamon hair mask is a great step for DIY beginners: the mask will lighten your hair but very minimally so, which means you don't have to worry about facing a whole other person in the mirror later.

The changes are subtle and gradual, so if you're not pleased with the method you can quit any time and that’s that.

All you have to do is dissolve a teaspoon of cinnamon in some water until you reach a paste-like consistency. Begin by wetting your hair in the shower and working a conditioner onto your hair. Once all your hair is coated, spread the cinnamon paste onto your hair, without rinsing the conditioner off. The conditioner gives the mask something to adhere to. Pull on a shower cap and let the mixture sit on your hair for a minimum of six hours. If you're game, leaving it on overnight works best. Once enough time has passed just rinse your hair clean and you’re done!

USP: Richer hair color with yummy-smelling locks. And cinnamon masks help with hair growth!

Babes And Brews

This is possibly one of the oldest natural hair lightening tricks known to beauty enthusiasts the world over. Using a tea brew is a time-tested way of experimenting with hair color naturally.

All you have to do is boil some water, pour it into a mug, add a tea bag and let it steep for around ten minutes. Once the mixture has cooled, slowly pour it over your hair, making sure the rinse coats all your hair.

Let the rinse sit overnight and then simply wash it out the next day.

You can use this technique as many times you like. I do recommend using a chamomile tea because it works wonders on the hair without stripping it off its natural oils. The mix works beautifully on dark hair, giving it a luminous sheen and adding tonality to the tresses.

USP: The chamomile hair rinse has some serious anti-dandruff properties and it works well with dyed hair, so you don't have to worry about ruining your color.

Spirited Ways

Speaking of brews, here's another concoction you can use to lighten your hair naturally at home. This one involves a walk to yet another part of the house: the bar!

Here's how you put this bad boy together: add one part vodka for two parts seltzer into a container and mix it well. For ease of application I recommend storing it in a spray bottle.

Then all you have to do is spray the mix onto your hair, making sure you coat all of it.

And it just gets better from here: step out into the sun and spend some time soaking in the rays. While you relax, the vodkas crystal blue body will work to remove brassy tones from your hair and the combination of the sun’s heat and the alcohol will bring out the hair color pigment. Think of it as a means to amping up your natural hair color and adding some serious dimension to your locks.

USP: Vodka-based hair remedies can be used for tons of concerns, from  hair to dandruff!

When Life Gives You Lemons

All those hours you spent at the beach trying to get those perfect sun-kissed highlights and the secret was right there in your pantry: lemons!

Of all the ways in which you can use lemons for hair, this is my favorite. You can actually add highlights to your hair with a DIY lemon hair mask. It’s as simple as using a lemon wedge and running it over the areas you want to lighten. You know how your stylist will carefully color some sections while leaving the rest untouched?

Just mimic that action with the lemon instead. To start out, use the technique on strands close to the face (this really opens the face up) and the crown because these are the most visible, even in updos and braids.

If you want to lighten all your hair, create a rinse by dissolving 2 tablespoons of lemon juice in a glass of warm water and running the same through your hair. Spend time in the sun, letting the rinse dry. Wash it off and follow up with a replenishing hair treatment because the citric acid can leave your hair feeling slightly parched.

USP: It's really easy to achieve a high degree of control while painting on highlights with lemon slices: none of the box color kit stress here!