Any experiences lightening hair with lemon essential oil?

[Cherrys]

Hi, all! I've recently got into essential oils as a thing (a friend got me into Doterra), and I'd like to use lemon essential oil instead of lemons for hair lightening, for a stronger effect hopefully and also less mess/waste. I can't really find many people saying that they've done this, what carrier oils/amount of lemon EO/time left on, etc., they've used, etc., so I'd be interested in any experiences you have to share!

Also, I'm going to try to use rosemary EO to promote hair growth if anyone has any tips on that as well.

(I am aware that citrus EOs are photo-toxic, I plan to mindful during application.)

[akurah]

I would start with a recipe like this:
http://essentialoilsanctuary.com/natural-hair-highlights-with-essential-oils-hydrosols-diy-recipes/

Personally I'd just use lemon juice (you can buy it in little lemon bottles in the store), but if you already have the oil... :shrug: might as well.

[lapushka]

Yeah... I'm not sure EOs can lighten. I'm just not sure.

Lemon juice, for sure yes, but you might want to do this in summer time. Spritz your hair with half water half lemon juice (I wouldn't use full strength lemon juice), then sit out in the sun while it dries.

[Nightshade]

Be very, VERY careful doing that. All citrus essential oils can cause photodermatitis and severe burns. It's going to be vital that you make sure none of it remains on your skin, including your scalp.

See for pictures (https://www.buzzfeed.com/caseygueren/essential-oils-and-sun-do-not-mix?utm_term=.wtbr7dgRkV#.dgWEm6lOPK)

[Beeboo123]

I’m not sure that’s going to work... I think you need the acids in lemon juice to help lighten

[akurah]

I’m not sure that’s going to work... I think you need the acids in lemon juice to help lighten

Actually it probably will work, for the very reason citris EOs are wildly phototoxic. If I weren’t busy at work I would probably even go online and research and explain it out for you, but busy and will forget later. :/ but the chemical reaction from phototoxicity is probably the same reaction lemon juice itself has on hair, only severely amplified because EOs are incredibly distilled.

[Nightshade]

Actually it probably will work, for the very reason citris EOs are wildly phototoxic. If I weren’t busy at work I would probably even go online and research and explain it out for you, but busy and will forget later. :/ but the chemical reaction from phototoxicity is probably the same reaction lemon juice itself has on hair, only severely amplified because EOs are incredibly distilled.

Oh it totally works :) Here's a recipe I made for doing this exact thing.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/rrVea4gXUSRIJZFlgOQnoiZJwzi3oxPV6pZbFjRBU5UTBXmiDR Ahz0EUXkVQZY6sFhKLM_G4ayIeqR-Jn9DqHEKRQsxMVY_zBVmUAUrXBR2AA_w-RX_os8_Ii8QUe71V2F3m1-jYPow9OkdqE_LUeqf4I0mcvA1Lc2q0VdPDTyfD9lCIIQBE5SXE ybQ8DsLVJTLAr4dw0hK6V92Smez96T6FxGdbE0-PgYYbkFUAJHb--SEEA2ha_DIV4bPZjLMHC1rPCqV4g0FJhdNgBAPOXvy154hdDGn fnVr0TNWFxftajZVAY4fN0Z3wWllWyi7PoD9wo5c_37QKZwBDt W7yJd_W03y6P4fAT-y9WowMkORGsemrgFuGTRdc1BN9jGfN3RH_XCa2WKF3D253UVJX 9OzAE_Fogax0mozVkDh0oetzZYs9qj7sLB-YHngVLkngYq_4Bw5YVq3RobEu4Ngo78WyszGwPBvuuD_jf4DTb ttHS8T91rs9qo6e7B9xbm333Li-1l07ylx3No-bFGLljnfqsBy_mqDMnIe-GLOZuMaAS4trOyCOJYd9rxs1J-XXX4_wIBTnnftE7i10n8gpT9DmpCFj-PXuQQy0bsTpqvE=w655-h872-no

[Beeboo123]

akurah, Nightshade, that’s so interesting! I had read that it’s the citric acid in lemons that works with UV rays to oxidize the hair and make it lighter.

I was planning to mix essential oils with my hair oils to make them scented, but now I had better read up more to make sure they won’t have lightening effects on my hair. Do you think chamomile EO will lighten hair?

[Nightshade]

akurah, Nightshade, that’s so interesting! I had read that it’s the citric acid in lemons that works with UV rays to oxidize the hair and make it lighter.

I was planning to mix essential oils with my hair oils to make them scented, but now I had better read up more to make sure they won’t have lightening effects on my hair. Do you think chamomile EO will lighten hair?

Nope :) You're fine with chamomile EO, especially proper Blue Chamomile.