How to Lighten Hair Naturally With Honey

Reviewed by Jasmin Todd

Last Updated: December 21, 2022 Approved

Using dye or bleach to go a few shades lighter can dry out your hair. Honey, on the other hand, has been known for centuries to restore hair's natural moisture and balance while also serving as a lightener. Learn how to lighten your hair with honey and use honey as a conditioner to maintain your lighter look.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Using a Honey Lightening Treatment

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1
Make the lightening mixture. Since honey is so sticky, it helps to add some water to loosen it up and make it easier to apply to your hair. Mix four parts honey and one part water or apple cider vinegar (which acts as a conditioner) in a bowl until thoroughly combined.^{[1]
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- If you want a more drastic change, you can add a few capfuls of hydrogen peroxide to the mixture. This reacts with your hair to bleach it several shades lighter. Don't use peroxide if your hair is black or very dark brown, or it may come out orange.
- For a reddish-blonde hue, add some henna powder, cinnamon or ground coffee to the mixture.^{[2]
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  Research source} Adding hibiscus petals will add a strawberry blonde hue.^{[3]
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Apply the honey mixture to your hair. Drape a towel over your shoulders to protect your clothes, then pour the honey mixture over your head in small doses and use your fingers to massage it in. Continue pouring honey onto your hair and working it in until all of your hair is completely covered in honey.
- You might want to cover your bathroom floor with a towel or washcloth to protect it from drips, since sticky honey can be annoying to clean up.
- If you added a reddening powder to the honey, don't wear clothes or use towels that might stain red.
4
Cover your hair with plastic and let the honey sit. Use a shower cap or a few sheets of plastic wrap to cover your hair. Let the honey sit in your hair for at least 2 hours to achieve a lighter look.^{[4]
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- If you have long hair that's hard to keep up under the plastic, twist your hair into clips to pin it up while the honey treatment is working, then put the plastic over your clipped up hair.
- Do not use metal clips if you've added hydrogen peroxide to the honey mixture.
- There's no need to use a blow dryer to apply heat. The honey works well at room temperature.
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Keep the honey in your hair overnight for much lighter results. The honey will also act as a deep conditioning treatment if you leave it in for that long. Make sure you sleep wearing a shower cap, and put a towel over your pillow.^{[5]
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- Do not keep the honey in overnight if you've added hydrogen peroxide to the mixture.
Rinse it out with warm water, then shampoo and condition your hair as usual. Pat your hair dry with a towel and either let it air dry or blow it out. Your hair will now be honey-colored.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Using a Honey Maintenance Conditioner

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1
Mix 1/4 cup honey and 1/2 cup conditioner. You can use any conditioner you like, as long as its scent mixes well with honey. Stir the conditioner and honey in a bowl until they are thoroughly combined.^{[6]
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- Store extra conditioner in an old conditioner bottle for later use.
- Use the same ratio of honey to conditioner to make a larger batch.
2
Use the conditioner after every shampoo. After you shampoo your hair, use the honey conditioner just as you would your normal conditioner. Distribute a small amount through your hair and rinse it out when you're finished.
- Leave the conditioner in your hair for 5-10 minutes while you finish your.
- This method is great for refreshing hair that was previously lightened!
If your hair regularly feels sticky after rinsing, increase the amount of regular conditioner and decrease the amount of honey you use. Make sure to rinse thoroughly before exiting the shower.

Expert Q&A

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Question

What does honey do to your hair?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Honey has an enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide, This lightens your hair by breaking down the natural pigment, much like bleach.

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How long does it take to lighten your hair with honey?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

You may notice a slight lift after a single application. How long it takes to get to your desired shade depends on how many levels you are trying to lift and how dark your hair is start with. You should notice 1-2 levels after 3-4 applications on virgin hair.

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Question

How many times should I use the Honey Conditioner?

Ashley Adams
Professional Hair Stylist
Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

Ashley Adams

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

You should use the honey conditioner as often as needed. It provides a greater lightening effect.

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Tips

If you don't have a shower cap you can use a plastic grocery bag and tie it around your head, it's not the most attractive look, but it works well!

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Adding some lemon juice to the mixture can shorten the time it takes to see big changes.

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Adding cinnamon will give your hair a reddish tint, and lemon juice will give your hair a lighter color faster.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

If you have sensitive skin, do a patch test on your inner arm before applying the honey mixture to your head. Make sure you don't react negatively to it first.
Don't shampoo every day while lightening your hair, as doing that can dry it out. Just rinse with water and apply honey conditioner on non-shampoo days.
Braid your hair or twist it up into clips to keep the mixture from dripping everywhere while it processes. This will make the application much neater.
Mix up a big batch of the honey lightener and store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days. That way, you can reapply without mixing each time.
Wear gloves while applying the mixture if you don't want sticky hands afterward. The honey can be annoying to wash off your skin.
For best results, try to process the mixture in natural sunlight. The sun helps activate the lightening ingredients.

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Warnings

Don't use lemon juice if you're a brunette because it will turn it orange. (Unless that is what you want, then by all means.)

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