does lemon/lime/lemongrass essential oil lighten hair color?

[Heidi_234]

No.

I have tried all kinds of essential oils for various things, and while I am not an 'expert' I can say that citrus oils do not lighten hair.

They do, however, increase sun sensitivity, as does lemon juice on hair, and in my case this meant horrendous burns. I would stay away from them in sunny climates! That said, citrus oils (and citrus fruits) are a nice pick-me-up if you live in a cold, dark, grey climate as I do...

Having tried everything possible 'natural' to lighten my hair, I gave up and have accepted its color, which is actually much prettier (and lighter) than I ever thought!

Thank you for the input Katze (Kitty in German?). I personally try to lighten my hair, because I want the henna red to show up, my hair seems to be to dark of a color right now.
So I understand it when applied and exposed to the sun it causes sunburns but does nothing to hair. Is that right?

[Katze]

Thank you for the input Katze (Kitty in German?). I personally try to lighten my hair, because I want the henna red to show up, my hair seems to be to dark of a color right now.
So I understand it when applied and exposed to the sun it causes sunburns but does nothing to hair. Is that right?

Yes, Katze is German for cat. My nickname.

I think it will cause sunburns if you are at all sun sensitive (pale like me) and can increase the risk of sun damage overall. Citrus is a photosensitizer, and lemon juice on hair is very damaging and drying (and has not lightened my hair, ever).

Have you tried just washing your hair a lot with non-color-safe products?

Also, there are threads on fading henna here. As a non henna head, I can't help you, but try an advanced search.

[Heidi_234]

Yes, Katze is German for cat. My nickname.

I think it will cause sunburns if you are at all sun sensitive (pale like me) and can increase the risk of sun damage overall. Citrus is a photosensitizer, and lemon juice on hair is very damaging and drying (and has not lightened my hair, ever).

Have you tried just washing your hair a lot with non-color-safe products?

Also, there are threads on fading henna here. As a non henna head, I can't help you, but try an advanced search.

Thanks alot. I'm afraid washing with any products won't help, as henna is very permanent, unless somebody finds a miracle substance to unbind the lawsone molecule I don't think anything is going to help, and even then - my starting color is dark, I need to lighten it one way or another.

[BVU]

Bumping because this is an interesting thread

[Bat]

I know nothing about it lightening but I do like the smell of lemon grass essential oil

[clairenewcastle]

In the 1980's I used fresh lemon juice to lighten my hair. It worked. It also dried my hair out.

However I had a bad experience with lemon essential oil on my skin, my wrists to be specific. I dabbed the oil on my pulse.....and ended up with a bad burn. It put me off using lemon juice on my hair. I would never put any essential oil on my hair, particularly a citrus one.