How to Lighten Your Hair in the Sun

Reviewed by Jasmin Todd

Last Updated: March 19, 2025

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Lots of people just love getting light hair and natural highlights. Using lemon juice and sunlight can be a low-cost and all-natural alternative to getting highlights at the salon. Do you want light hair and natural highlights? Well, then this article is just for you!

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Now you're going to squeeze the lemon and the lime in the juicer, till you have approximately one cup of lemon-lime juice.

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How can I lighten my hair naturally?

Gina Almona
Professional Hair Stylist

Unfortunately, the only way to naturally lighten hair is sunlight, which I don’t recommend as a professional. For example, you would need sun exposure for lemon juice to actually lighten and brighten the hair, but just like the skin, hair should be protected from the sun. The mixture of lemon juice and too much sunlight can open the cuticle and oxidize and break down the hair shaft.

wikiHow Editorial Team

There are a few things you can try to lighten your hair naturally, but proceed with caution! Natural methods can be a little unpredictable, so it’s a good idea to visit a hairstylist for the best results. If you’re set on lightning your strands on your own, here are some of the most common natural options:

Lemon juice: Squeeze the juice of one lemon into a spray bottle, then fill the bottle up the rest of the way with water to dilute the juice. Spray the mixture on your hair, then let it dry in the sunlight for about 45 minutes.
Chamomile tea: Brew the tea then let it cool. Next, add the tea to a spray bottle with a teaspoon of honey, and apply it to your hair. Leave the mixture in for about 30 minutes, then rinse it out.
Honey and cinnamon: Mix a few tablespoons of honey with one tablespoon of cinnamon, and add in a bit of olive oil or a small squirt of your conditioner for hydration. Apply the mask to your hair and let it sit for 2-4 hours before rinsing it out.
Apple cider vinegar: Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and water in a spray bottle, then spray it onto wet hair. Leave the mixture on for 5-10 minutes, then rinse it out.

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Question

I have black hair; how many days it will take to lighten hair if I follow this routine daily?

Community Answer

Your hair should be lighter in a week or prior.

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How long will it take for my hair to get lighter if you have dirty blond hair?

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It depends on your hair, but it can take as little as 30 minutes to an hour.

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How long would I need to sit outside in the sun for my hair to go light if I'm a brunette?

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It is a gradual process so just sitting in the sun for hours one day will not make a dramatic difference to the color of your hair. Try it for an hour a week straight and see if you notice any change.

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Tips

Wash your hair thoroughly because if you don't, you hair will be all greasy

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If you want to have your hair more lightened, then you can add more lemon and stay in the sun longer

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If you want it to dry faster, divide your hair in to sections.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Be sure to wash and condition your hair after every session because the acidity of the lemons can dry out your hair. If you can deep condition, I find this works best.
Don't go in a chlorine pool a week after applying the lemon spray, as it can react to your hair and potentially turn it green!
Try to stay in the sun for about 1 to 4 hours. The process of lightening your hair is gradual, so try to be patient.

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Warnings

don't forget to put sunscreen on your skin

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ask for permission otherwise parents might not like it (if you're a teen or something)

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