A lot of people are looking for natural alternatives to almost everything these days. If you are one of them with gray hair, you’ll be excited to know that you can tint and blend your gray hair into a golden blonde naturally with no harsh chemicals!
There are a couple of natural ways that you can use to turn gray hair to blonde. We will go over the two most popular methods used to turn that gray into gold!
Natural Ways to Turn Your Gray Hair Blonde
Important Color Note: These natural methods add a yellow or golden tint to gray hair. Results can vary depending on your hair’s porosity and the shade of your gray hair. We recommend testing your preferred method first on a hidden section of hair before full application.
Turning Gray Hair to Blonde Using Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is one of the most popular natural hair lighteners. You may have even squeezed some lemon in your hair as a teenager!
It is a pantry staple that many of us have in our home, and some of us are lucky enough to grow it in our own backyard, so it’s also an easy and inexpensive way to tint your gray hair.
The one thing to keep in mind when using lemon juice on gray hair is that it is activated by the sun and acts as a stain on gray hair, not a bleach.
Why Lemon Juice Turns Gray Hair Yellow
Citric acid is a well-known alternative to bleach. It’s found in many citrus fruits, especially lemons.
As mentioned above, lemon juice only stains gray hair. You cannot bleach white or gray hair because it lacks melanin (pigment).
The citric acid and natural sugars in lemon juice react with sunlight to deposit a yellowish stain on the white, porous hair shaft. This yellow stain creates the illusion of a golden blonde.
If your hair is salt and pepper, it will lighten the dark strands while staining the white ones. It will create a blended blonde look.
Steps to Tint Your Gray Hair with Lemon
Step #1: Gather your ingredients
Instead of applying lemon juice directly to the hair, make a mixture that will not only lighten up the hair but also keep it healthy and moisturized.
Lemon juice has a very low pH (around 2), which is highly acidic and can dry out brittle gray hair. The leave-in conditioner will serve as a buffer.
Ingredients:
- Fresh lemons (at least 3, but you may need more if you have a lot of hair)
- Leave-in conditioner (any brand will do; just make sure it’s a liquid consistency)
- Water
- A spray bottle for application
Step #2: Mix it up!
First, make juice with the lemons. Add two parts lemon juice to one part leave-in conditioner. For example, if you use 2 oz of lemon juice, add 1 oz of leave-in conditioner.
If the mixture is too thick, add a small amount of water to help it flow freely from the spray bottle. Shake up the bottle, and you’re ready to apply.
Step #3: Apply
Spray the mixture directly onto hair, making sure to coat all of your strands (if you have thick hair, section it into four quadrants to ensure saturation).
After you are done spraying the lemon mix all over, take a wide-tooth comb or detangling brush and comb the mix through the hair several times.
Pro Tip: If you don’t want an all-over blonde, section out the area you want to lighten and apply the mixture only there. You can use a paintbrush or even Q-tips instead of a spray bottle.
Step #4: Sit in the sunlight
WARNING
Lemon juice contains compounds that react with sunlight to cause severe blistering skin burns (phytophotodermatitis). Ensure the mixture does not touch your scalp, neck, or face. Wear a hat or scarf to cover skin, or wash any skin contact with soap and water before going into the sun.
Step out under the sunlight and check your hair every 15 minutes. If you see your white hair turning a bright or neon yellow, rinse immediately. You want a subtle golden glow, not a heavy stain!
Step #5: Rinse and Repeat
After you’ve been out in the sun, rinse thoroughly. Because lemon juice is highly acidic, follow up with a deep conditioning mask to restore your hair’s moisture barrier.
Repeat these steps several times over the next few weeks to turn your gray hair the blonde you’ve been dreaming of!
Turning Gray Hair to Blonde Using Henna
Henna is a great natural alternative to traditional hair color that has been used for centuries. Normally, when we think of henna, we think of reds and darker hair colors, which are the most commonly used.
However, it is possible to color gray hair blonde with a plant often called Blonde Henna, though it is actually a different species.
What Is Blonde Henna?
Blonde henna is different from traditional henna. It’s actually made from a completely different plant called cassia obovata. It contains golden-yellow molecules.
On dark hair, it won’t show up. But gray or white hair (which lacks pigment) turns warm strawberry-blonde or golden wheat-colored.
Steps to Use Blonde Henna
Step #1: Gather your ingredients
You will need to purchase your blonde henna kit. These are widely available online. Also, make sure you have a few lemons on hand. The acidity of the lemon juice is required to release the golden dye from the plant fibers.
Step #2: Prepare your henna mixture
Follow the instructions in your kit. Most Cassia requires an acidic liquid (like lemon juice or chamomile tea) to release the dye.
The mixture needs to sit out for at least 1 to 4 hours (dye release time depends on temperature), and you have to use it within 24 hours. So plan to mix it up well before you apply it to your hair.
Step #3: Apply the mixture
Using gloved hands, apply the henna to the hair. Section the hair into four quadrants to make it easier to apply. Use your hands to really emulsify the color into the hair for perfect saturation.
This can get messy, so be sure to cover surrounding areas with a towel or some sort of covering. Cover the hair with a plastic shower cap.
Step #4: Process
Leave on for 1 to 4 hours. Gray hair is often “resistant” (low porosity), so you may need to leave it on closer to the 4-hour mark for the yellow pigment to take hold.
Step #5: Rinse and Condition
Rinse the henna out and shampoo and condition it as usual! Be careful because henna does stain easily, so make sure to rinse all the henna down the drain. Blow dry hair to reveal your hair’s new golden hue.
How Long Does Cassia Last?
Unlike red henna, which is permanent, Cassia is semi-permanent. Your golden hue will last about 4 to 6 weeks before fading. This makes it a great low-commitment option for trying out blonde tones.
Traditional hair color does not mix well with hair dyed with henna and can result in damage, so be sure to disclose any use of henna to your hairstylist.
Alternatives That Also Turn Gray Hair to Blonde
If these natural coloring techniques seem tedious or overwhelming, keep in mind that many salons offer low-toxic alternatives to traditional hair color. Ask your hairstylist for ammonia-free hair coloring.
You could also opt for highlights like foils or balayage. These techniques are great ways to blend your gray hair with blonde while limiting your exposure to chemicals.
Key Things to Remember:
- There are natural alternatives to hair color that can be used to turn gray hair blonde.
- Lemon juice works over time to turn gray hair blonde by using the sun to activate the citric acid.
- Blonde henna is a natural hair color that works in several hours to give gray hair a golden glow.
- There are also no ammonia, low tox hair color techniques and dye that can also help you blend gray and make your hair blonder.
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