How to Lighten Red Hair

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Whether you naturally have red hair or you’ve dyed your hair a red color, if you think the color looks too dark, your red hair might not be right for you anymore. Lightening your hair is the first step to achieving your desired look, but what's the best way to do it? You have multiple options to achieving your new look, including using bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or lemon juice. We've broken down each method below to help you lighten your red hair and achieve a color that you love.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Doing a Bleach Wash on Dyed Hair

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    Start with 4 tablespoons (59 mL) of developer and 4 tablespoon (59.1 ml) (56 g) of bleach powder in a plastic bowl. Mix them together with a hair dye brush until they form a smooth paste. [1]
    • You can find bleach powder and developer at most beauty supply stores.
    • Use a different strength developer based on how dark your hair is and how light you want it. For example, if you are starting from deep red and want to move to super light red, choose a 30 or 40 volume developer. If you are wanting to only move 1 to 2 shades lighter, stick with a 10 volume developer.
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    Pick a harsh shampoo that strips your hair of its natural oils to remove the color better, like a clarifying or dandruff shampoo. [2] Pour in some of the shampoo and mix it in with the bleach and developer mixture. [3]
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    Make sure your whole head is fully damp and your hair is wet from roots to ends. Use cold water to protect the health of your hair and close up the cuticles as much as possible. [5]
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    Even though the bleach is diluted, it can still irritate your skin. Use rubber or latex gloves to protect your hands and keep your skin safe. [6]
    • You can pick up gloves at the beauty supply store when you buy your bleach and developer, or look for them at any home goods store.
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    Keep the bowl of your bleach mix near you as you work. Put on gloves to protect your hands and rub the mixture into your hair from the ends up to the roots. Make sure you cover your entire head as best as possible. [7]
    • Bleach can cause skin irritation if you touch it with your bare hands. [8]
    • The roots of your hair get hot from the heat of your scalp, so if you put bleach on them first, they will get lighter than the rest of your hair.
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    You may be able to see your hair lighten as you watch it sit. Keep your hair uncovered so that it doesn’t get too hot and check on it after 10 minutes. If it still isn't light enough, leave it on for another 20 minutes. [9]
    • Using a bleach wash may lighten your hair 1 to 2 shades, depending on how dark it is.
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    Cold water is less damaging for your hair and will close up your cuticles to keep the red color in. Make sure all of the bleach is out, but don’t use any shampoo as you rinse. [10]
    • Use conditioner on your hair after you rinse it to add some moisture back in after drying it out with bleach.

    Tip: If you want to get your hair even lighter, wait at least 2 days to do another bleach wash to give your hair a chance to rest.

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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Mixing Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide for Dyed Hair

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    Put 1 cup (128 g) of baking soda and 3 tablespoons (44 mL) of hydrogen peroxide into a bowl mix them together with a spoon until they form a paste. The mixture may fizz up as you start mixing it, but that’s okay. [11]
    • Hydrogen peroxide is a natural lightener. Mixing it with baking soda forms a paste that can sit on your hair to lighten it.
    • Keep hydrogen peroxide away from your eyes to avoid irritation.
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    Start with the ends of your hair and use a hair dye brush to work up to the roots. Cover your hair as evenly as possible so that it lightens without any patches. [12]
    • You can also use gloves to protect your hands and put their mixture on with your fingers.
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    Do not let the mixture sit on your hair for longer than 1 hour, or it could damage your hair. Check on your hair after 30 minutes to see if it’s light enough. If not, leave it on longer and keep checking it every 10 minutes. [13]

    Tip: Leave your hair uncovered so that you can keep an eye on it.

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    Make sure you remove every bit of the baking soda mixture from your hair so that it stops lightening. Use cold water to close your hair cuticles and protect the lighter red color. [14]
    • Depending on how dark your hair is, this method could lighten it 1 to 2 shades.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Applying Lemon Juice on Natural Red Hair

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    Use a plastic bowl that you can take into the bathroom with you. Mix your ingredients together until the lemon juice is fully incorporated with the conditioner. [15]
    • Lemon juice is acidic so it is a natural lightener. Mixing it with conditioner helps to protect your hair and add moisture back in.
    • You can use store-bought lemon juice or squeeze juice from a lemon for a fresh option.
    • You can also use coconut oil instead of conditioner.
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    Make sure your entire head gets fully soaked and that your hair is wet from the ends to the roots. You can wash your hair with your normal shampoo if you’d like to. [16]
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    Pick up globs of the conditioner and start rubbing them into your hair from the bottom up. Make sure your entire head gets covered, including the back and your roots. [17]
    • Sit outside with the lemon juice in your hair if it’s sunny out. The UV rays will make the lemon juice work faster.

    Tip: You don’t need to protect your hands since lemon juice is so mild.

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    Lemon juice is fairly acidic, so it doesn’t need a long time to work. Use cold water to protect your hair health and smooth down your cuticles. [18]
    • Make sure you rinse out all of the lemon juice so that the acidity doesn’t damage your hair.
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    Try not to use the lemon juice for longer than 2 weeks to prevent damage to your hair. Once your red hair is light enough, you can stop using the lemon juice mixture. [19]
    • Lemon juice can lighten your hair 1 to 2 shades over time.
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      Things You’ll Need

      Doing a Bleach Wash on Dyed Hair

      • 10 volume developer
      • Bleach powder
      • Plastic bowl
      • Hair dye brush
      • Gloves
      • Clarifying shampoo

      Mixing Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide for Dyed Hair

      • Baking soda
      • Hydrogen peroxide
      • Plastic bowl
      • Hair dye brush
      • Gloves

      Applying Lemon Juice on Natural Red Hair

      • Lemon juice
      • Conditioner

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      Warnings

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4L8Jzf9tVk&feature=youtu.be&t=47
      2. ↑ April Ferri. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 8 December 2020.
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2Vaozzksqk&feature=youtu.be&t=163
      4. ↑ April Ferri. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 8 December 2020.
      5. ↑ https://buzzcutguide.com/bleach-bath-hair-home/
      6. ↑ https://buzzcutguide.com/bleach-bath-hair-home/
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2Vaozzksqk&feature=youtu.be&t=219
      8. ↑ April Ferri. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 8 December 2020.
      9. ↑ https://buzzcutguide.com/bleach-bath-hair-home/
      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2Vaozzksqk&feature=youtu.be&t=344
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2Di312dozU&feature=youtu.be&t=16
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70leEwec0ZE&feature=youtu.be&t=303
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2Di312dozU&feature=youtu.be&t=125
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2Di312dozU&feature=youtu.be&t=153
      6. ↑ https://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/can-lemon-juice-lighten-hair-the-science-behind-this-summertime-hack
      7. ↑ https://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/can-lemon-juice-lighten-hair-the-science-behind-this-summertime-hack
      8. ↑ https://www.teenvogue.com/story/how-to-lighten-hair-with-the-sun
      9. ↑ https://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/can-lemon-juice-lighten-hair-the-science-behind-this-summertime-hack
      10. ↑ https://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/can-lemon-juice-lighten-hair-the-science-behind-this-summertime-hack

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