How To Lighten Dark Brown Hair Without Bleach

Changing your hair color is always fun, and there are many options you can try with. However, bleaches contain metallic and harsh chemicals like ammonia peroxide and hydrogen peroxide that may harm hair. So, how to lighten dark brown hair without bleach? It is known that bleaches can make your hair dry and brittle and give it a dull, lifeless look. Hence, we present certain natural alternatives to lighten your dark brown tresses. This article explores how you can use organic ingredients to lighten your dark brown hair, whether it’s natural or after using some dark brown hair dye. Take a look.

Fun Fact

Horse urine was used as a hair-lightening ingredient in medieval times.

Lightening Dark Hair At Home

You cannot dye dark hair blonde or gray without lifting the color first.

The natural remedies to lighten dark hair require constant use until the desired lightness is achieved.

Can black hair be lightened without using bleach? Yes. Check out the following section to know how.

How To Lighten Black Hair To Brown Without Bleach

It is difficult to lighten black hair without any bleaching agents.

Natural remedies like green tea, coffee, and other organic lighteners have to be used regularly. You can also try swimming and stay under the sun to lighten your hair naturally.

Another option to lighten black hair is by using henna and pair it with a lighter shade. You can also buy lighter dye-at-home kits like blonde or ginger to lighten black hair. But these kits might contain oxidizing agents like hydrogen peroxide. It is best to take professional help as salon stylists can help achieve the right shade.

Dark brown hair might be difficult to lighten naturally at home. But you can opt for homemade sprays and masks with organic ingredients like honey, coffee, chamomile, mulberry, and olive oil. These elements are well-known skin lightening agents, and anecdotal evidence supports using these ingredients to lighten the hair at home.

Trivia

The Romans were among the first people to introduce the concept of hair lightening.

How To Lighten Dark Brown Hair At Home Without Bleach

Krysta Biancone, a hair stylist, says, “To lighten dark brown hair without bleach or damaging your hair, you can use a variety of natural methods. Castor oil can be used as a lightening agent for dark brown hair and can be applied directly to the scalp and/or strands. Chamomile tea is also an effective lightening agent, but will require more frequent applications to achieve desired results. However, both of these methods are much gentler than bleach and do not damage the hair.”

She adds, “It is important to remember that these natural methods will usually only lighten your hair by a few shades, so if you’re looking for dramatic results, it’s best to consult a professional hairstylist before attempting any kind of drastic color change.”

Here are a few ingredients that you can use to lighten your dark brown hair naturally:

• Dye-At-Home Kits: Buy over-the-counter dyes and apply them at home. But the color might not come out the way you expect with these dye-at-home kits. First, opt for deep blonde or light brown hair shades, and then, you can progress to light blonde and ginger shades.
• Chlorine: The chlorine used in swimming pools makes hair color lighter (1). Hence, you can try swimming to lighten your hair without bleach.
• Sunlight: UVA rays increase the production of free radicals and lighten the hair color (2). Hence, the more you spend outside, underneath the sun, the lighter your hair will become.
• Natural Ingredients: Many natural ingredients help lighten your hair from the comfort of your home. But they take time to work and require constant maintenance for any substantial results.
  • Salt: The chloride in salt can help lighten hair color.
  • Baking Soda: Baking soda or toothpaste containing baking soda can help lighten the hair.
  • Cinnamon: Cinnamon contains vitamins A and C, which are used as lightening agents (3), (4). You can mix cinnamon with some conditioner or honey to form a paste. Apply the paste to the hair strands. Cover your hair with a shower cap and leave it on overnight. Regular use may gradually lighten the hair by a shade or two.
  • Honey: Diluted honey contains glucose oxidase, which produces hydrogen peroxide, an oxidizing agent used in bleach (5). This suggests that honey can be used to lighten your hair color.
  • Lemon: Lemon juice acts as a natural hair lightener, which reduces melanin production (6).
  • Vitamin C: Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is used in many hair products like dyes to lighten the hair color.
  • Vinegar: You can use vinegar with honey, lemon, or chamomile to lighten the hair and turn it yellow or blonde (7). You can even mix equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water, use it as a hair rinse, and leave it in for 20-30 minutes before washing it out. While it may not give immediate results, regular use may gradually lighten your hair and boost your overall hair health and shine.

A blogger going by the pseudonym electricube shares her experience with hair lightening after using baking soda (BS) and apple cider vinegar (ACV) in her no-poo hair care routine. She noticed a reddish tinge and a faded appearance in her naturally dark brown hair. She says “For those who wanted to know, the mixture I had been using was the recommended ratio (1T soda : 1C water). I used perhaps 3/4 cup of the mixture in a squeeze-bottle on my roots, every two to three days (i)”.

• • Rhubarb: Rhubarb root contains oxalic acid that turns the hair light brown or blonde (8). It also helps prolong the life of your hair color. Rhubarb with honey and chamomile imparts a golden hue to your hair (9).
  • Chamomile: Chamomile flowers contain an active ingredient called apigeninⁱ  A natural product belonging to the flavone class that helps with muscle relaxation and sedation, depending on the dose. (10). Chamomile imparts a yellow shade to your hair and boosts light reflection.
  • Coffee: Coffee is used in hair masks to make dark hair a shade lighter or two. You can achieve shades like reddish-brown and blackish-brown using coffee (11).
• • Henna: Henna imparts a reddish-brown tint to dark hair. Using henna on dark brown hair can make it a shade lighter. This is the most common and effective lightening treatment.
  • Green Tea: Green tea contains EGCGⁱ  Called epigallocatechin gallate, it belongs to the class of catechins commonly found in green tea and has antioxidant properties. that inhibits tyrosinaseⁱ  A copper-containing enzyme responsible for controlling the production of melanin, which plays a role in skin pigmentation. activity (12). This makes your dark brown hair lighter.
  • Licorice Extract: Licorice root extract contains glabridin that helps reduce melanin pigmentation in the skin (12). Hence, it can also help lighten dark brown hair.
  • Aloe Vera: Aloe vera contains aloesin, which limits melanin production (12). This helps lighten your hair color.
  • Grapeseed: Grapeseed contains proanthocyanidinsⁱ  A class of polyphenols found in plants such as cranberry, blueberry, and grape seeds that exhibit antioxidant properties. and procyanidins that help reduce melanin production (12).

Note:

If you want to try dye-at-home kits, opt for balayage. Lighten your hair at a salon, as professionals will create the exact shade you like without using bleach.

These natural ingredients need to be kept on the hair for a few hours to lighten it. Wondering how to color your hair with these remedies? Here are a few hair tips to achieve it.

Color Options For Darker Hair Shades

• A convenient option for women with dark brown hair is to change the hair tone. Opt for a shade lighter than your natural hair color and gradually reduce the shade with further applications.
• You can also change your hair color to a bright cool-toned shade like blue, purple, or green. These shades are typically produced through bleaching brown hair and then adding in color. Red is the exception and can easily be obtained on dark hair without using bleach.
• Stick to your natural undertone when picking a hair color. Choose a lighter brunette shade as it will look more natural.
• Use henna, which helps lighten dark hair by imparting a reddish tint.
• To make your lightened hair color look natural, try an ombre effect using the balayage technique. Pair your natural hair color with a lighter shade of the same color.

Follow these safety tips while lightening your hair at home.

Is It Safe To Lighten Your Hair At Home?

Yes, lightening your hair at home is safe since bleach is not used. But without proper care, it may cause adverse reactions like burning or itching. Here are a few things to keep in mind while lightening your hair at home:

• Even natural ingredients for dyeing your hair may cause allergic reactions like itching, redness, or swelling. If this happens, avoid further contact with the component and consult a doctor.
• The chemicals in hair dyes may cause a burning sensation on the scalp. Do not use hair dyes if you have any bruising or inflammation on the scalp.
• The major setback of using dyes at home is that you might not achieve the desired results. Visit your hair salon as professional stylists know what can lighten your hair properly without using bleach, and they may even be able to offer advice on other hair treatment options.

If you have decided to try the above-mentioned techniques for lightening your tresses, then let’s also check out some aftercare tips below to ensure your hair maintains its perfect condition post-dyeing as well.

Post-Dye Hair Care Tips

Here are some ways to take care of your hair after dyeing to keep it healthy and vibrant:

• Use a sulfate-free shampoo to prevent color fading and maintain vibrancy.
• Limit heat styling to reduce damage and keep the color intact longer.
• Apply natural oils like coconut or argan oil to nourish and hydrate your hair.
• Protect hair from sun exposure by wearing a cap or using UV protection sprays.
• Use a deep conditioning mask weekly to nourish the tresses.

Infographics: Top 5 Ingredients That Lighten Dark Brown Hair Without Bleach

Bleach contains strong chemicals like ammonia and hydrogen peroxide that can make your hair brittle and dry. Combined with regular hair styling, it can prove to be disastrous for your hair. So, if you are looking for natural ways to lighten your dark brown hair, you have come to the right place. We have compiled a list of affordable ingredients that can bleach your hair without causing further damage. Check out the infographic below to know more!

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Does coconut oil lighten dark brown hair?

No, coconut oil cannot lighten dark brown hair.

Will olive oil lighten dark brown hair?

No, olive oil cannot lighten dark brown hair. But it can remove yellow brassy hues from your hair color.

Does dye without bleach damage hair?

Semi-permanent hair dyes without bleach do not cause damage to your hair because they only deposit pigment. However, any kind of hair coloring, whether permanent or demi-permanent, inflicts some damage to your hair as these still contain small amounts of bleaching agents like hydrogen peroxide.

Can brown hair be lightened without bleach?

Yes. To lighten dark brown hair, you can use natural methods. However, if you want a more effective solution, you should opt for hair dye or bleach. Hair dyeing methods like demi-permanent hair dye, direct/high lift dye, and temporary colorant can also lighten hair without bleaching.

Does color without bleach fade?

Yes, hair color without bleach can fade over time. The length of time your hair color will last depends on many factors, such as the type of dye used, your chosen color, and how frequently you wash your hair and expose it to sunlight. On average, hair color without bleach can last from 6 to 8 weeks, though this varies based on whether or not you’re covering gray hair.

Can you lighten hair without changing its texture?

No. Using bleach in any form can make your hair more porous and brittle over time. However, products like demi-permanent colors won’t damage your hair as much as bleach and will leave you with a beautiful, natural-looking color.

Illustration: How To Dye Dark Brown Hair Without Bleach

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

Learn how to lighten your hair without bleach at home in this video! Follow these simple DIYs and get the perfect blonde shade without damaging your hair.

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Reviewer Expert Author Editor Fact Checker

Tiffany YoungCertified Trichology Practitioner

     

Tiffany Young is the CEO and founder of ThinHairThick and a certified trichology practitioner with 6 years of experience. She is also a recognized expert in the hair and beauty industry with celebrity clientele. Her own personal struggles with hair loss created an opportunity for her to deep-dive into learning all things related to medical conditions and external factors that contribute to hair loss.

Read full bio of Tiffany Young

• 
  Krysta BianconeHair Stylist Krysta Biancone is a hair stylist with over 13 years of experience in blonde highlights, hair extensions, and blonde coloring. She aims to make every client feel their absolute best.
  
  Krysta Biancone is a hair stylist with over 13 years of experience in blonde highlights, hair extensions, and blonde coloring. She aims to make every client feel their absolute best.

Anjali SayeeAssociate Editor

 

Anjali is an associate editor at StyleCraze. She specializes in hairstyles and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these domains. She has 7 years of experience, and her philosophy about hair and skin care is simple: if you love and care for it, it will be healthy.

Read full bio of Anjali Sayee

Ramona SinhaEditor

Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal.

Read full bio of Ramona Sinha

Krati DarakAssociate Commerce Editor

Krati is an associate commerce editor, a certified skin care coach, and a beauty enthusiast. She has a master’s degree in advertising and publishing relations from DAVV University and three years of experience in writing and editing for different niches.

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