Does the sun permanently lighten hair

Sun bleaching hair is a great way to bring out the lighter tone in your locks. It is a natural, effortless process that requires no professional assistance. Instead, you can achieve a beautiful highlight by using sun rays.

Sun bleach alters the level of melanin, a natural pigment in your hair (and skin). The skin comprises living tissues, while hair only consists of dead ones. Hence, any changes in the melanin levels in your hair are permanent. It will not change until the hair grows out. Depending on your preferences, you can sun-bleach your hair to achieve semi-permanent lightened hair.

This article outlines the benefits of sun bleaching, the steps to sun bleach your hair, the side effects of the process, and more. Keep reading to learn more.

In This Article

  • Sun-Bleaching And Its Use In Hair Care
  • How To Do Sun-Bleaching On Your Hair
  • General Know-How For Sun-Bleaching Your Hair
  • Adverse Effects Of Sun-Bleaching Your Hair
  • How To Repair Sun-Bleached Hair
  • Is Sun-Bleaching Hair A Very Long Process?
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Key Takeaways

Sun-Bleaching And Its Use In Hair Care

Woman enjoying natural sun bleaching hair

Shutterstock

Have you ever hung your clothes to dry in the sun and noticed that they turned a lighter shade? This is called photodegradation or sun-bleaching. Sun-bleaching works similarly on hair, as well.

Research has shown that the UV rays of the sun can change the color of hair, especially light-colored hair (1).

The most significant advantage of using the sun to bleach your hair is that you don’t need to spend money on expensive creams and serums. A simple lemon or a tea bag lying in your pantry would be of immense help in gaining that lighter shade in your hair.

Learn how to sun-bleach your hair below!

How To Do Sun-Bleaching On Your Hair

Woman sun bleaching her hair with natural ingredients

Shutterstock

Given below are ways you can practice sun-bleaching your hair.

1. Lemon Juice

The acidic properties of lemon juice are well-known. The citric acid in it helps in breaking down the melanin in the hair. Lemon juice and UV rays work together to lighten your hair (2).

Here are the steps to follow when using lemons to lighten your hair:

  1. Create your hair bleaching solution. Juice a lemon and mix water in the ratio of 2:1 (two parts lemon juice to one part water). Pour the solution into a spray bottle.
  1. Shampoo your hair as usual. Either towel-dry or air-dry it.
  1. Once your hair is almost completely dry, spritz the lemon water solution all over it.
  1. Depending on the hair color look you are going for, tie up your hair. If you want highlights only on the top of your hair, pull it back in a bun. If you want to lighten your whole mane, apply the solution to your entire hair by massaging it in.
  1. Once you are done spraying the solution, let your hair dry. Go out into the sun to soak in the warm rays. Try not to sit in the sun for more than 30 minutes.
  1. Wash off the lemon juice with water and a gentle shampoo. Repeat the process depending on how light you want your hair to get.

2. Chamomile Tea

It is challenging to lighten dark hair naturally. Chamomile tea can help in adding highlights to your dark hair (3):

  1. Soak at least two chamomile tea bags in hot water. Depending on your hair length, you can soak more tea bags.
  1. Pour the tea into a spray bottle and spritz it all over your hair.
  1. Go out and sit in the sun for at least 30 minutes.
  1. Wash off the lemon juice with water and a gentle shampoo.
  1. The effect of chamomile tea is slow to be noticed. You will need to undergo multiple uses of chamomile tea to help lighten your dark hair.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is another ingredient to opt for when going the natural route for bleaching hair. Other than bleaching your hair, it is also said to add luster and shine to dull and damaged hair. The acetic acid in it is claimed to help in keeping the scalp healthy, though there is no scientific evidence to prove the same.

  1. In a spray bottle, mix apple cider vinegar and water in equal quantities.
  1. Spray the mixture directly onto your hair.
  1. Allow your hair to air-dry while you sit in the sun.
  1. Wash off the mixture after 30 minutes.
  1. Using the spray on your hair completely will make reddish highlights come out all over your mane. If you want a more highlighted effect, divide your hair into sections and apply the vinegar solution with a brush, cotton ball, or your fingers.
  1. Depending on the hair color change, you can repeat the process, but leave a few days between applications.

Need more information on sun-bleaching? Read on!

General Know-How For Sun-Bleaching Your Hair

Woman spraying lemon juice on hair

Shutterstock

Here are a few tips to remember when sun-bleaching your hair.

  • The citric acid in lemon helps in stripping the hair of color. However, if too much lemon juice is applied, followed by prolonged exposure to the sun, the cuticles of your hair stay open for longer. This can cause damage to your hair (1).
  • Lemon juice and apple cider vinegar are acidic in nature and quite potent. Ensure that you dilute them with water to prevent damage to your hair cuticles and scalp.
  • When washing these ingredients off your hair, use a mild shampoo that will not damage the hair surface.
    Just like any other kind of bleaching, sun-bleaching too has its own share of side effects. Check them out below.

Adverse Effects Of Sun-Bleaching Your Hair

Woman exepriencing damaged hair due to excessive exposure to sun

Shutterstock

You can try sun-bleaching your hair if you want to change your hair color to a lighter tone or highlight your hair in sections. But, remember that sometimes sun-bleaching can be too much for your hair to handle. Excessive UV rays lead to the degradation of hair follicles and cause damage to the internal makeup of your hair (4). Sometimes, very healthy virgin hair color will not have any change in color at all because the cuticle shaft is so tightly bound that it doesn’t allow penetration.

Moreover, sun-bleaching can harm the luster, softness, and overall health of your hair for a long time (5).

Now, let’s check out how you can repair your sun-bleached hair.

How To Repair Sun-Bleached Hair

Woman visiting salon for re-colouring the hair

Shutterstock

Sun-bleaching is usually done in summers when most of your outings are to the beach or the swimming pool. Too much salt or chlorine build-up causes damage to your already sun-bleached hair. Here are a couple of ways that you can repair this damage:

  • Use an apple cider vinegar rinse to remove this buildup from your hair. Even regular shampooing helps in ridding your hair of salt and chlorine.
  • If sun-bleaching has damaged your hair too much, you can approach a hairstylist about re-coloring your hair to regain the lost color.
  • Sun-bleached hair is dry and needs moisture. You can use DIY moisturizing hair packs with ingredients like aloe vera, avocado, and coconut oil to restore your locks to their former glory.

Confused about whether or not sun-bleaching is a long process? Read on for clarity.

Is Sun-Bleaching Hair A Very Long Process?

Sun-bleaching has its advantages and disadvantages. You need to first apply lightening ingredients like lemon juice, chamomile tea, or apple cider vinegar to your hair. Then, you go out in the sun and let the UV rays work their magic (6).

However, not all natural hair colors bleach at the same time. Blonde hair takes about 20 minutes of intense sunlight to lighten. In contrast, dark hair would need a minimum of 30 minutes before you can see any changes in hair tone. Similarly, fine hair will bleach faster than thick, coarse hair.

Sun bleaching the hair is an effective, effortless, and natural way to bleach your hair without cutting a hole in your pocket. The UV rays help fade your hair color to a lighter shade.

You may use simple ingredients like lemon or teabag to help with sun bleaching. Follow the steps and tips mentioned in the article to sun bleach your hair at home easily. Always do a patch test before trying a new ingredient to avoid any adverse effects.

If your hair gets damaged due to sun bleaching, you may repair it by visiting a hairstylist or using the homemade remedies discussed above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does sun lightening damage hair?

Yes. Sun lightening can damage hair in the long run. This is because the sun rays constantly break down the proteins in your hair, turning it weak, dry, and brittle.

Why does my hair look ginger in the sun?

The oxygen in the air and the UV rays from the sun make the underlying warm tones in your hair pop out. Therefore your hair appears ginger or orange under the sun.

Is the sun good for your hair?

Yes. The sun is a good source of Vitamin D, which boosts follicles and promotes hair growth. So your hair will do good with a bit of the sun each day. However, remember not to overexpose it as too much of the sun can damage your hair.

Does salt water lighten hair without sun?

No. Salt water works in combination with the sun’s rays to lighten the hair. However, without taking protective measures against them, this combination can ruin the condition of your hair.

Key Takeaways

  • Sun bleaching your hair lightens your hair strands without the use of harmful toxins and chemicals.
  • Common household items like lemon, vinegar, and tea can help you get that bleached effect with the right amount of sun exposure.
  • Depending on the type and color of your hair, sun bleaching may take anywhere between 20-40 minutes of sun exposure to show any visible effects.

Sources

Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Check out our editorial policy for further details.

  • Hair color changes and protein damage caused by ultraviolet radiation
    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1011134404000375?via%3Dihub
  • The Hunt for Natural Skin Whitening Agents
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2801997/
  • Types Of Hair Dyes and Their Mechanisms of Action
    http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.692.8678&rep=rep1&type=pdf
  • Photoaggravation of Hair Ageing
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2938585/
  • Effects of solar radiation on hair and photoprotection
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26454659/
  • A study of the photo lightening mechanism of blond hair with visible and ultraviolet light
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15264056/

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Arshiya Syeda is an editor at StyleCraze. Prior to that, she was a content writer and combined her writing and... more

Tiffany Young is the CEO and founder of ThinHairThick. She is also a recognized expert in the hair and beauty... more

Can the sun change your hair color permanently?

Sun bleach alters the level of melanin, a natural pigment in your hair (and skin). The skin comprises living tissues, while hair only consists of dead ones. Hence, any changes in the melanin levels in your hair are permanent. It will not change until the hair grows out.

Does the sun make your hair permanently lighter?

The sun bleaches and destroys the melanin in your hair giving you lighter hair. Since hair is dead, the hair will stay that color until new hair comes in. When sun shines on your skin, it destroys the melanin as well. But since your skin is alive, it can respond to the sun's damage.

How long does it take for the sun to lighten hair?

It depends on your hair, but it can take as little as 30 minutes to an hour. How long would I need to sit outside in the sun for my hair to go light if I'm a brunette? 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.