How Can I Lighten My Blonde Highlights at Home?

Are you considering trying a lighter shade of blonde, but don’t have the funds for salon treatments? No problem – natural lightening can easily be done from home with various DIY methods. Before reaching for that lemon juice spray, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

1. Avoid bleaching at all costs: Bleaching is more intense than a color treatment and completely strips away your hair’s natural pigments, leading to shades that are too dark or uneven. Plus, it may cause your scalp to burn or break, so colorist Rachel Davis of Cutler/Redken salon advises against it for most DIYers.

2. Instead, try using a chamomile and honey lightening mist: This spray gently brightens blondes and highlights by penetrating the cuticle, dissolving previous color buildup, and stimulating healthy regrowth. You’ll have to saturate your locks with this stuff (we suggest using it every day for three to four weeks) then go outside in some sunshine to see results – the effort is well worth it!

3. Create a DIY bleach-less highlight at Home:

For light brown bases, balayage highlights may be the way to go. Though less intense than bleaching, this technique requires precision and can be difficult for DIYers to get right. If unsure whether this approach is suitable for you, consult with a colorist first, suggests Wella Master Color Expert Elissa Luomala.

4. Create a DIY lemon juice spray:

For light-colored hair, stylist Laurent de la Tour suggests trying this at-home method of brightening with lemon juice spray. However, be sure to dilute the acidity of the citrus with water and add conditioner or coconut oil for moisture. After leaving on for around 15 minutes, rinse out the mist thoroughly.

5. Add Vitamin C to Your DIY:

This DIY recipe from celebrity colorist James Carhart uses Vitamin C in combination with other ingredients to remove existing artificial color buildup that may create uneven or brassy highlights. Plus, its lightening properties help brighten up any strands that need shorn a bit.

6. Give Your Strands a Dimensional Lift with a Blonding Kit:

At-home kits offer the advantage of being easy to match to current color schemes and are usually affordable. However, be warned: These one-size-fits all products may lead to brassy tones or uneven highlights, according to Wella Master Color Expert Elisa Luomala.

7. Consider investing in an at-home highlighting and balayage kit:

If you’re not sure how to add golden tones to your hair, consult a professional colorist for assistance. They know how to work with existing shades as well as how to utilize a highlighting and balayage kit for an eye-catching result.