Have you ever thought to yourself, “Wow, I really want to bleach my hair, but I don’t want the hassle of running to the store for a bleach kit?” Then you might wonder if you can bleach your hair at home using household products. Baby, you can.
While it might seem shocking, there are so many household products that can successfully bleach your locks. Sure, you might not get Paris Hilton platinum blonde strands (unless you start with already light blonde locks), but you can seriously lighten those strands from home, hon.
Are you thinking about lightening your mane but don’t want to go to the store or ask a stylist for help? Then just ask me, Michelle, your bleaching enthusiast, to share the best ways to bleach hair at home with household products.
Come on, future blonde bombshells – let’s get to bleachin’!
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Bleaching at Home With Household Products – Does it Work?
Alright, let’s get one thing out of the way first. Yes, using household products can lighten your locks. But how light your hair gets depends largely on the hair color you’re starting with.
For instance, someone with very dark, chocolate brown strands won’t be able to reach a bright blonde hue solely using household products. Yet, someone who already has blonde hair but wants to go a shade or two lighter will be able to do so.
That said, don’t think you’ll walk out of your bathroom with a salon-quality bleach job. However, do expect to step out with lighter locks that you will absolutely love.
How to Bleach Hair at Home With Household Products – Five Ways
There are five different ways to bleach hair at home with household products? You bet, sugar! So, whether you want to stick with the classic lemon and sun combo or want to try something more unique, you can find the proper technique to suit your wants and needs below.
1. Lemon Juice, Water, and Sunshine
One tried-and-true way to significantly lighten your hair is to use lemon juice and water!
All you need to do is mix one cup of lemon juice with ¼ cup of water. You can place it in a spray bottle or simply mix it into a cup and pour it onto your mane.
Then, sit outside under direct sunlight for about an hour. (Psst, don’t forget your sunblock, especially if you’re someone like me who burns quickly).
You may need to repeat this application once or twice before you achieve your desired results. Just make sure you space the treatments out (once per week) and always wash and conditioner your strands afterward. Lemon can be quite drying!
2. Apple Cider Vinegar and Water
Don’t have any lemons on hand? I’ll bet you have apple cider vinegar. (And if you don’t, you’re missing out – I have tried so many amazing recipes and beauty treatments using apple cider vinegar. And it’s so cost-effective, too!)
Using apple cider vinegar is relatively the same as using lemons. All you need to do is mix one cup of ACV with half a cup of water. Again, you can use a spray bottle for a cleaner application or simply stir it in a cup and pour it onto your mane.
Lather the ACV so that it is thoroughly incorporated into your strands. Allow the mixture to sit undisturbed for around 30 minutes before rinsing it.
Like the lemon and water technique, you might need to re-do this application once or twice.
If you notice that the ACV left you with some orange undertones, don’t panic. This is relatively common. Use a little blue shampoo to remedy the situation.
3. Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide
If you don’t have baking soda in your house, are you even alive? Ok, yes, I am being overly dramatic. But what I’m saying is – everyone (typically) has baking soda on hand. It’s one of the most versatile ingredients on this planet. And it can be used to bleach your hair.
To bleach hair using baking soda, mix one cup of baking soda with a few tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide or water. Hydrogen peroxide will lighten your hair better, but it can also be somewhat damaging – so it’s entirely up to you which ingredient to use. Add more baking soda, if necessary, to create a thick mixture.
Once your paste has formed, simply lather it on your mane, ensuring every strand is coated. Allow the paste to sit on your hair for up to 45 minutes. Then, rinse and apply a conditioner to combat any potential damage caused by lightning your hair.
4. Salt, Water, and Sunshine
Salt? Yup. Who knew your gateway to beautifully blonde locks was just a single ingredient away?
Lightening hair with salt is surprisingly simple – and is also remarkably effective.
To bleach hair using salt, add a tablespoon of salt to a half cup of water and stir until the salt is dissolved. Then, apply it to your mane, coating all of your hair strands. Step outside and sit for about 15 minutes (wear sunscreen if you need to!).
When you come back inside, go ahead and wash and condition as usual. Notice that your hair looks lighter and brighter than ever before. If it’s not exactly where you want it, perform another treatment the following week!
5. Honey, Olive Oil, and Sunshine
It’s funny that I added honey and olive oil to this list. Why? Because when I think of these ingredients, I think of an amazing hair mask that will make my hair look and feel incredible.
But it also doubles as an interesting and successful way to lighten the hair.
This bleaching method is a cinch. Just mix ¼ cup of honey with ¼ cup of olive oil. Then, step outside and relax under the sun for about an hour (not forgetting your must-have sunblock if you burn easily, as I do!).
Come back in, wash and conditioner. So simple, right?
Not only does this combo work like a charm, but the addition of olive oil ensures your strands stay moisturized throughout the process. I don’t know how you feel about this, but I love when my hair feels undeniably smooth and succulent.
FAQs
See? Bleaching your hair at home with household products is easy, and it requires ingredients you likely already have on hand. Want to learn more? Good! Because I’ve added some top-notch frequently asked questions you won’t want to miss.
Can you bleach your hair with household bleach?
Although it might seem like you can use household bleach to bleach your hair (hello, they share the same name), you should never use household bleach to bleach your hair. This can cause a slew of problems, including itching and burning and hair that’s falling out.
Will household peroxide bleach hair?
Yup, household peroxide can bleach your hair! The best way to do it is to mix it with some baking soda and form a paste that can be slathered onto your locks. It’s super easy and cheap – look above for the full directions!
Does Toothpaste can bleach hair?
Some people have had success with using whitening toothpaste to bleach their hair. Does it work? Maybe. Should you try it? Probably not. While it will likely not harm your hair, the results are unpredictable. Why waste the time and effort?
Final Thoughts
Whether you want to make a fun mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide or simply want to toss some salt and water on your strands, you can successfully lighten your hair using household products. Just keep in mind that results will vary, and you may need more than one treatment!
Have you ever bleached your hair at home using household products? What did you use? Share in the comment section!
