Does Coconut Oil Lighten Hair | Natural Ways To Lighten Hair

Does coconut oil lighten hair? Learn how you can use coconut oil in combination with other natural ingredients to lighten your hair at home!

Pollution is known to affect our environment and our health, but did you know that it can cause severe damage to our hair. Pollution can make the hair dry, brittle, and dull as it causes inflammation in the scalp. Coconut oil is considered one of the natural ingredients to protect hair from dryness and dullness as it moisturizes the scalp and provides nourishment. But does coconut oil lighten hair? If you add coconut oil with other homemade ingredients, it might even help in lightening the hair. Coconut oil is added with these ingredients so that hair does not dry out and the moisture in the follicle remains. If you use hair-lightening ingredients alone, they might leave the hair dry and frizzy. But with coconut oil, your hair will get ample moisturization and nourishment.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a by-product of coconuts and is fatty and edible. It is widely infamous for skin and hair care, including most hair shampoos, conditioners, moisturizing products, and hair serums for richness and nourishment. It is an age-old remedy that applies to date and is sometimes referred to as the magic potion for skin and hair care. Coconut oil is not only convenient but an economical home ingredient too. 

Benefits of Coconut Oil for Hair

Coconut Oil has considerable benefits for hair. It has been effective in treating the dryness and dullness of the hair. Below are some of the benefits of coconut oil that will compel you to add this magic ingredient to your hair care!

1. Longer and Thicker Hair

Coconut Oil stimulates hair growth by penetrating the cuticle of the hair. The fatty acids and vitamins of coconut oil can remove the sebum buildup from the hair follicles and, therefore, nourish the scalp. This, in turn, promotes hair growth.

2. Nourishes Dry, Lifeless Hair

Coconut oil, if applied pre-wash, can prevent shampoos from stripping the natural oils from the hair. Massaging coconut oil from root to tip can balance sebum production, which will hydrate your hair and leave them luscious.

3. Removes Split-Ends and Frizzy Hair

Coconut oil helps smoothen the cuticles on your split ends, control frizziness in the hair, and replenish moisture in the hair. All of this constitutes promoting good hair health and volume.

4. Lessens Dandruff

If one applies coconut oil on the scalp at least twice a week, they can see considerable changes in dandruff and flake on their scalp. For best effects, let the coconut oil sit for about twenty to thirty minutes and then shampoo your hair.

5. Detangling The Hair

Detangling wet hair can cause more breakage than expected. Apply some coconut oil before combing your hair as it will make detangling the hair much more effortless and reduce breakage considerably.

6. Results in Shiny Hair

Lack of moisture and nourishment is the leading cause of dull-looking hair. An easy way of bringing shine to your hair is by using coconut oil. Apply a light hand all over the hair so that the hair does not look oily. 

Does Coconut Oil Lighten Hair? 

Coconut oil alone may not lighten your hair, but if used with other ingredients, it can help in lightening the hair while preventing them to dry out. It helps to keep your hair shiny and nourished so that you can get the desired locks. However, coconut oil can be used with many other natural hair-lightening ingredients, such as lemon oil, to keep the moisturization of the hair intact. 

Other Home Ingredients To Lighten Hair?

1. Lemon 

Lemon juice has the potential to lighten the hair. However, you must use it carefully as it may also be dangerous. It has acidic properties that can harm our hair; hence lemon juice should be accompanied by a conditioner. You can mix lemon juice with coconut oil and apply it to the hair before shampooing it. This remedy might not show instant results but in the long run, your hair will eventually become light.

2. Cinnamon

Take cinnamon and combine it with natural coconut oil. This will work as an overnight lightening hair mask. Apply the mixture thoroughly all over your hair. Cover the hair with a shower cap and leave it overnight. Wash and shampoo your hair in the morning for better and lightened locks.

3. Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea has a brightening effect on the hair. All you need to do is put several bags of chamomile tea in water. Apply it to dry hair and sit under the sun for thirty to forty-five minutes. The sun will help to dry the hair and boost the effects of chamomile tea.

4. Applying Vitamin C

Vitamin C, due to its citrus acid, is an effective hair-lightening agent. Take a few pills of Vitamin C and crush it. Add this powder to a spray bottle and apply it to your hair. This will help in brightening the hair.

5. Saltwater Solution

Sun and saltwater solutions can also help lighten the hair. All you need to do is to mix water with a bit of salt. Spray your hair with this solution and expose it to the sun. This will help open the hair cuticles, and exposure to the sun will naturally lighten the hair. 

6. Honey

A small amount of hydrogen peroxide is present in the honey, which can strip the natural color from the hair. Honey mixed with vinegar and olive oil can help retain the lost moisture. Use this solution with the brush on the hair where you want the highlights to appear. It is highly recommended that this solution is left on the hair overnight for best results.

7. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is considered to be an excellent home remedy to help gently lighten the hair. It has properties that can help to dissolve the oil and residue buildup in the hair and on the scalp. It is also considered to be effective in detangling the hair and remove frizziness. 

8. Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide

Make a paste using baking soda and hydrogen peroxide by taking one cup of baking soda with three tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide. Mix the ingredients thoroughly and apply them to your hair. Leave the paste for 30-60 minutes, and you will notice that your hair will turn out 1-2 shades lighter.

9. Rhubarb

Take some rhubarb and put it in two cups of boiling water. Make sure you chop them before putting them in the boiling water. Strain the juice and allow it to cool for a few minutes. Now apply this juice to your hair and then wash it out thoroughly. Do not leave it for too long as your hair may get too sticky.

10. Vodka

You can also use vodka to brighten the hair. You need to add some fine salt to the vodka and apply it to your hair. Allow this mixture to sit and Vodka will give you natural sun-kissed highlights to flaunt. Make sure you are careful while using vodka on hair, as it can be risky to work with.

11. Heena

Put the henna powder in half a cup of warm water. You may also add egg or coconut oil to this mixture to moisturize your hair. Let it sit for 12 hours or overnight, and then apply it to your hair. Be patient for 2-3 hours before washing it out well, and you will have a natural glow. This works well only with darker shades like black or dark brown.

Why Avoid Chemical Treatments for Hair Lightening?

Chemical Treatments for hair lightening are very harmful to our hair as they can cause irrevocable damage. Hair strands are disrupted and weakened during the chemical processes of hair lightening. Many hair colors contain harmful chemicals like ammonia, DMDM hydantoin, lead acetate, resorcinol, diaminobenzene, etc. These chemicals are toxic as they can irritate the scalp. They can also result in lung deformity, neurological problems, and hormonal imbalances affecting the endocrine system.

The chemical treatments for hair lightening can result in the following: 

• Increased hair fall – Chemical treatments can increase hair shedding as it loosens the scalp’s grip of the hair roots.
• Brittle and dry hair – Chemical treatments can result in brittle and dry hair, which can easily break. Chemicals can strip the hair of its natural moisturizer.
• Itchy scalp – Chemicals can give rise to an itchy and flaky scalp which may irritate. It may also result in sore, bleeding areas in the scalp. 
• Lack of lustre and natural shine – Since chemical treatments strip the hair of its natural moisture, it will result in dry and dull hair that lacks shine that may naturally be otherwise present in the hair.
• Split ends – chemical treatments may result in split ends on the hair and further damage it. 

We hope you know more about coconut oil for lightening hair than you did before reading this article. Opt for any of the above hair-lightening hacks in combination with coconut oil to avoid the hazards of chemical treatments!