Bodies

Natural Hair Lightening Tonic Recipe

Words by Louise Miller

Photography by Lauren Leggatt

Summer is a great time to lighten your hair without booking a trip to the salon, so we wanted to create a natural alternative to the drugstore options out there. The tonic itself is super simple to make (the ingredients are most likely in your kitchen already) and you can believe it smells a whole lot better than whatever you’ve used in the past.

For this particular recipe, we combined Peppermint, Lemongrass, and Spruce essential oils for a fresh, warm, outdoorsy vibe. The lemon juice helps naturally control oil production on the scalp, which can be more intense in the summer. We love to apply it after a quick dip in the ocean and let the sun work its magic.

LIGHTENING HAIR TONIC

1/4 cup freshly-squeezed lemon juice

3/4 cup water

2 tablespoons honey

3 drops Lemongrass Essential Oil

3 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

3 drops Spruce Essential Oil

How to use it

  1. Add all the components into a spray bottle.
  2. Shake well to combine and help the honey dissipate throughout the mixture.
  3. To apply, spray the mixture on your hair. Leave it in for 30 to 90 minutes and spend sometime outside in the sunshine. To remove, rinse the mixture out with a natural homemade shampoo or just plain water, and allow the hair to air dry. For best results, we recommend using it once a week or twice a month.
  4. Take a selfie—you look great.