Lightening up your locks for summer doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. In fact, it can actually cost you next to nothing. If you’re tight on funds and want to avoid a trip to the salon, why not dye your hair at home? It’s easy to do and cheap, we promise! Simply follow these expert tips for a beach blonde ‘do that’s perfectly sun-kissed.
Step 1: Wash your hair with a chamomile shampoo
First, start by shampooing your hair with a chamomile shampoo, like John Frieda’s Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Lightening Shampoo ($6), suggests Corinne Adams, master colorist at the Serge Normant at John Frieda Salon in Los Angeles. Over time, this will give you soft, subtle highlights and will gently, little-by-little dye your strands lighter. For faster results, Corinne recommends letting your hair dry outside in the sun, naturally.
Don’t have a chamomile shampoo? Try chamomile tea. “This method isn’t as harsh as others and will help strengthen and lighten your mane naturally,” notes Megan Franks, aesthetician and operations manager at Paradise Skin Products. “Make a cup of tea before jumping in the shower and then slowly rinse it through your hair, allowing the tea to sit ten to 15 minutes. You can repeat up to six times to increase the effects.”
Step 2: Create your own dye
For more intense results, mix part vodka, part lemon juice to create a lightening liquid, advises Adams. “Apply only to dry hair and on the strands you want to highlight, nowhere else. You can also fill a spray bottle with salt and water and use it in the same way,” she adds. Let the mixture dry naturally or speed up the process and blow-dry hair with a blow dryer.
Step 3: Use a lightening spray
John Frieda’s Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Controlled Lightening Spray ($10) is a great way to disguise root re-growth AND brighten up your entire look. Use it daily when you get out of the shower and spray thoroughly on damp hair. Comb through and blow-dry your tresses immediately afterwards. To obtain even lighter results, run a flat iron through your hair or give it some body by using a curling iron — this will accelerate the lightening process and help you achieve that sun-kissed blonde you’re after even quicker. You should start to notice a change in your hair color after about three to five uses.
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