How to Use Lemon Juice to Rinse and Lighten Hair and Treat Dandruff

Silver Q loves doing research about anything she finds interesting. She hates talking in the third person.

I love the smell of lemon! It smells so clean and tastes even better. Ever since I stopped wasting money on chemical shampoo in a plastic bottle and began using the "no 'poo" method of washing my hair, I've been trying different natural things to get my hair clean and smelling good.

My latest find is lemon juice. The results: my hair is "squeaky" clean, and my waves have become more defined. The smell is also delicious!

Is Lemon Juice Good for Your Hair?

Lemon can make your hair shiny, strong, thick, and dandruff-free. It is also useful in hair loss prevention and is popular for lightening hair color. Lemons also help restore your hair's natural pH balance, which is very important if you want your hair to stay healthy.

Lemon juice is also an excellent degreaser, so it is perfect for washing hair, especially if your scalp is on the oily side.

I particularly like to use lemon juice on my hair because it makes my hair feel super clean, and it leaves a wonderful smell.

How to Use Lemon Juice as a Hair Rinse

Lemon juice can be used in a variety of ways, but my preferred method is using it as a rinse. Here's how to do it.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup of warm water

Directions

1. Mix the two together.
2. Apply to hair after shampoo.
3. Leave it on for 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Rinse.

I wash my hair with baking soda once a week. During the rest of the week, I use the lemon juice rinse to keep my hair clean and smelling good. However, keep in mind that you should only use this rinse twice a week. Applying too much lemon to hair can dry it out. Also, prolonged use of lemon juice can lighten your hair color. If that is not what you want to do, skip the lemon juice rinse. I personally love it because it gives me natural highlights (scroll down for tips on using lemon to lighten your hair).

There are some people like me doing the "no 'poo" hair-washing method with an apple cider vinegar rinse. You can add lemon juice to this rinse to make the smell less strong.

• 1 tsp concentrated lemon juice (or the juice of one lemon)
• 1 tbs Apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup of warm water

As above, mix the two together, apply to hair after shampoo, leave it on for 3 to 5 minutes, and rinse.

The results of adding lemon to the apple cider vinegar rinse are wonderful. Hair feels cleaner and the vinegar smell is significantly reduced.

Lemon Juice for Lightening Hair Color

A natural way to make your hair color lighter and add natural highlights is by using lemon juice. There are many different methods and recipes but I've tried two: in addition to the lemon juice rinse I mentioned above, I've also tried a mixture of lemon juice with chamomile tea, which is also known for its natural bleaching properties.

Lemon and Chamomile Natural Hair Bleach

Directions

• Mix 1 tsp concentrated lemon juice (or the juice from one lemon) in 1 cup of chamomile tea and use as a rinse or place in a spray bottle and spray it all over your hair before going out in the sun for about an hour.

Depending on the color and texture of your hair, if you do this once or twice a week, you should start seeing results in a couple of months.

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Treat Dandruff Naturally With Lemon Juice

If you have persistent dandruff problems, lemons are an excellent home remedy. Use the lemon juice rinse recipe mentioned above or simply add some lemon juice to your shampoo right before washing your hair.

When you have shampoo in the palm of your hand, add a tablespoon from the bottle of concentrated lemon juice or the juice of one lemon and apply to hair.

You may also want to try a lemon juice hair mask to nourish your scalp and get rid of dandruff. Here's how to do it.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup of olive oil
• 1/2 cup of honey
• 1 lemon

Directions

1. Mix the olive oil, honey, and the juice of 1 lemon.
2. Massage the mixture on the scalp
3. Cover with a shower cap and a towel and leave on for 15 minutes.

Another Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 tbs concentrated lemon juice (or the juice of one lemon)
• 1/2 cup of olive oil
• 1/2 cup of coconut oil

Directions

1. Mix the oils and the lemon juice/
2. Massage onto the hair.
3. Cover with shower cap, and leave on for 20 minutes.

What's in a Lemon?

If you're like me, you always look at the ingredients of your beauty products but sometimes, I can't decipher the words. But this isn't a problem when you're using real, natural, whole ingredients like lemon.

Lemon is high in vitamin C, antioxidants, and minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. Lemon also contains alpha-hydroxy acids that exfoliate dead cells and help you maintain a beautiful complexion.

Concentrated Lemon Juice vs. Fresh Squeezed

A note of warning: the lemon juice you buy in a bottle at the store is much more concentrated than the juice you'll squeeze from a lemon yourself. It depends on the size and juiciness of the lemon but since concentrated lemon juice is roughly four to seven times stronger than fresh lemon juice, for these recipes I estimate that one teaspoon of concentrated lemon juice is roughly equal to the juice of one large lemon.

More Natural Tips and Recipes for Healthy, Beautiful Hair

• Nine Tips to Make Hair Grow Fast
  Tips and home recipes using all natural ingredients to make hair grow faster, healthier, and shinier.
• Aloe Vera for Hair - Benefits of Aloe Vera and How to Use It for Beautiful and Strong Hair
  Aloe vera has many properties to make your hair look beautiful, shiny, healthy, and strong. Here are a few aloe vera treatments you can make at home.
• Shea Butter Benefits for Skin and Hair - and Homemade Recipe for a Facial Moisturizer
  Shea butter has many benefits for skin and hair. It can make your skin soft as a baby's bottom. Keep reading to find out how...

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Comments

stressed on May 16, 2016:

I've just tried to dye my hair blond, only the roots took the rest is still black, what can I do - any advise

Silver Q (author) on April 18, 2013:

Hi Rose Anne Karesh! The no 'poo method is basically washing your hair with baking soda and conditioning with apple cider vinegar. For more information, there is a link in this hub that will take you to the no 'poo hub.

Thanks for reading!

Rose Anne Karesh from Virginia on April 16, 2013:

This is really interesting, thanks! What is the "no 'poo" method? Why did you choose it?