Try a honey hair treatment for a subtle and natural way to lighten your curls.
I’m sure that many of you never knew that this method even existed, but the truth is that honey does work as a natural hair lightener according to the forums on LongHairCommunity.
Many people are used to using natural honey on their hair by adding it to their conditioner and shampoo on a daily or weekly basis to condition and moisturize hair in a natural way. The reality is that a honey hair treatment is a subtle, natural lightening process for your curls.
How Does Honey Hair Coloring Work?
This method works due to the natural hydrogen peroxide that is found in honey. We all know the affect that hydrogen peroxide has on hair. The iron that is also found in the honey oxidizes the oxygen free radicals that are released by the hydrogen peroxide.
The amount of lightening that you can achieve through using this method greatly depends on how well your hair absorbs the honey, or how porous it is.
Honey Hair Conditioner Recipe
Honey Hair Lightening Tips
- Add a bit of peroxide for a more dramatic honey hair effect.
- Add ground cardamom, ground cinnamon, coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil for a boost to the natural honey hair color.
- If you have product or oil in your hair, wash it before applying the mixture.
- This method requires zero additional heat. Do not apply heat to your hair with the honey in it.
- Pour 1/3 cup of honey into a bowl.
- Scoop a 1/4 cup of your favorite conditioner and put it in the bowl with the honey.
- Combine the mixture until you have the perfect combination and consistency.
- Apply the mixture to damp hair and cover with the shower cap. After this mixture has been sitting on your hair and scalp for 8 hours, you can take the shower cap off and wash the mixture out with water.
Honey Hair Lightening Method
- Mix honey and distilled water together. Use a 4 to 1 ratio of honey to water to make the mixture work properly.
- Apply the mixture to your hair and scalp and let sit under a shower cap for one hour under no additional heat.
- Completely rinse the mixture out of your hair and shampoo, condition and style as usual.
The overall outcome of this process will have your hair looking and feeling silky, shiny, and healthy. It will also have your hair looking a little bit lighter in a natural, non-dramatic manner.
This method takes time, and if you are using the honey for only lightening purposes, you may have to leave the treatment on longer, or do it multiple times to get your desired outcome.
Want More?
For more information about honey lightening methods, visit the forums on LongHairCommunity.
Final Thoughts
The honey hair lightening treatment definitely works. If you are looking to try out a natural way to lighten your locks so that you can have lighter hair, look no further than your kitchen cabinets!
This entry was posted on Monday, October 10th, 2011 at 8:00 am and is filed under Hair Color. You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a comment. Pinging is currently not allowed.
October 10th, 2011 at 9:48 am
How does prior use of henna affect the honey lightning process? I haven’t used henna in over a year but still have the color, will the honey lighten the henna at all?
January 15th, 2013 at 1:22 pm
I just wanted to commment because this method has worked for me. I have used the 2 methods.
1. half honey/half olive oil mixture (which also has lightening properties), let set (the longer it sets the more active the lightening properties),apply and rinse after 30 mins or so. My hair showed a result after 2 treatments or so from a very dark brown to a chocolate brown.
2.(*THIS NEXT METHOD WORKED SO WELL THAT I WAS SUPRISED AFTER I LET MY HAIR DRY AND REALLY TOOK A LOOK AT IT IN THE SUN* be advised if you have super-sensitive hair this may be a little harsh, I would recommend not attempting treatments too often, but I am 9 months pregnant and it is very safe and it did lighten my hair (not from brown to blonde, but more from a chocolate brown to a chestnut brown. I am sure if I use this 3 or 4 more times over the year my hair will be a light brown)
-I used honey, olive oil and lemon juice (all which have lightening properties) and let the mixture set for 30 mins, applied to my hair, threw a showercap on and rinsed after 40 mins. (the longer you keep on the better it will work) You are going to want to deep condition afterwards just as this is a tad bit drying, but this method is 100% natural and is not drastic, the results are more like a highlight of lightening not 2 coloured hair with roots visible.
I just wanted to comment because this method has worked for me and I wanted to give a heads up to all my nautral curlies that there is a way to add a bit of colour without sacrificing your natural mane.