LIGHTENING HAIR WITHOUT DYE

Dear Jellybean,

I have dark blonde hair. I really want it to be lighter but REFUSE to dye or highlight it, and dont want it to be sooo obvious,i would like to lighten it over time, or gradually so it looks like it did it naturally!! Anyway... What do you recommend? Lightening Shampoo, or what? and if lightning shampoo what brand?

Thanks a Bunch
EG

Dear EG,

If you want your hair to be lighter, there are really only three ways to achieve it. You can (1) dye or highlight your hair, but you've already decided you're against that. You can (2) use natural methods to try and lighten your hair. Or, you can (3) buy a gradual-lightening product.

If you decide to go the natural route, here's what you need to know. Going the do-it-yourself (no-product) route has benefits, such as being chemical-free (so better for your hair and the environment) and being the cheapest way to highlight. But it also has drawbacks, mainly that it probably won't produce a major change. You might get a little "lift" to your hair color, or gently bring out some natural highlights, but you're unlikely to make your color radically brighter or lighter. However, the DIY way is probably worth a try, since it's easy, cheap and pretty much risk-free.

Lightening Blonde Hair The Natural Way

All you really need to create a lightening rinse for blonde hair at home is a large bottle of spring water (like Evian), 3 chamomile tea bags and one lemon. Here's what you do:

Measure out 3 cups of the spring water and bring it to a boil on the stove. Pour the water into a large bowl and toss in the 3 chamomile tea bags. Add 3 teaspoons of freshly-squeezed lemon juice. Stir, cover and allow to sit for 30 minutes. Then remove tea bags and store in the refrigerator.

To use, shampoo hair and rinse as usual. Squeeze out excess water and pat (don't rub) hair a bit with a towel. Stand in the tub, or put your head over the sink, and generously pour your homemade rinse over your hair until it's well-saturated. Squeeze out the excess and then style as usual (you leave it in - don't wash it out).

The next step is spending time outdoors. When you spend time in the sun, the ingredients in your hair rinse will help to bring out your hair's natural highlights. You can make and use the mixture as many times as you want to try and achieve your desired level of highlighting. (Tip: Be sure to wear sunscreen on exposed skin, including your face, when you're outside trying to catch rays!)

Lightening Blonde Hair With Store-Bought Products

There are lots of fabulous products at the drugstore and hair salons to help you achieve the lightened strands of your dreams, without applying harsh chemicals or dyes. My personal favorites are all from the John Frieda line. Myjellybean.com has no relationship with the company - I just feel, from personal home-highlighting experience, that they make the best products around for going lighter, gradually and naturally. Here are my fave picks from that brand:

John Frieda Beachblonde Sun Streaks

This (along with the John Frieda products below) is one of the best gradual highlighting products, in my opinion. It's a heat-accelerated highlighter that works with your blow-dryer or the heat of the sun to create shimmery blonde highlights. You can play with the product to highlight specific hair sections and create fine, natural-looking highlights, or make bold streaks and chunks. It's quite easy to use.

John Frieda Lemon Lights

Lemon Lights is ideal for gentle, all-over lightening on all shades of blonde hair. Smooth the product all over the surface of your hair to naturally lighten it all-over. Whether you're on the beach or a city street, this fresh lemon "aid" accelerates the sun's natural lightening effects on hair. You can also apply it in streaks to create subtle highlights.

John Freida Sheer Blonde Highlight Activating Shampoo

The Highlight Activating Shampoo is made for those of us who already have blonde hair, but want to brighten it up. It adds shine and glow to hair by removing residues left by styling products and tap water (which are major causes of drab and dull locks). This shampoo also contains natural extracts to help darker blonde tones look more clear and bright. Choose the formula that best suits your hair colour - there's one for honey To caramel Tones, another for platinum To champagne tones.