As a September 2019 editorial in JAMA Dermatology noted, “natural is a marketing term that does not necessarily mean safer or more effective.” Natural products often contain botanical extracts that cause irritation, allergic skin reactions, and reactions in conjunction with sun exposure, the authors wrote. “The compounds in lemon juice are also chemicals,” she says, adding that natural ingredients can cause more issues than synthetic ones. (Always talk to your ob-gyn for specific guidance, though.)Īlso keep in mind, says Liu, that everything has chemicals, and lemon juice doesn’t exactly avoid the issue. In addition, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) points out that a small amount of chemicals in hair dye is absorbed through your scalp, and experts today now give the green light to dyeing your hair during pregnancy. If you’re concerned about the safety of regular hair dye, keep in mind the American Cancer Society's statement that “most studies have not found a strong link between hair dye use and cancer, but more research is needed.” One reason lemon juice may be appealing is the fact that it’s a fruit juice and thus seems like a more natural option. Is Natural Better When It Comes to Hair Color? The combination of lemon juice’s acids and UV rays may mean you’re left with faded, dry, and brittle hair, says Schipani. If your hair is already dyed, UV rays can cause the color to fade - so you may also be doing your hair more harm than good. UV rays also affect the structure of hair, which can cause drying and make hair more breakable, per research. Most likely, you either won’t notice much of a difference or you'll get the brassiness Liu mentions. Schipani agrees: “Naturally light blond is the only starting base that would likely experience the brightening effect that’s desired,” she says. And if your hair is already highlighted and you’re trying to enhance it with lemon juice? You may get a brassy look instead, says Liu. If you have darker hair, lemon juice and sunlight probably won’t deliver your ideal color. In part, the process removes the protective coating on hair to allow a different color to come through.” “Naturally, that’s really how coloring works. “The problem is unpredictable results,” says Dr. With a couple of rare exceptions, lemon juice and UV are generally safe, but you might not get the look you’re going for, and it’s likely not the healthiest practice. There’s no available research on the merits or safety of using lemon juice to lighten your hair. But this is a very inefficient way of lightening hair: It takes a long time and produces mediocre results, she says. Lemon juice acids alone could do that in theory, says Jenny Liu, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. Acids in the lemon break down the hair’s cuticle, allowing the sun's rays to penetrate deeper. “ intensifies the effect that the sun naturally has on the hair,” Schipani explains. If you were ever a towheaded kid, you may remember how sun-bleached your hair became in the summer months.įor maximum effect, what’s needed is sun plus lemon juice. It's more likely to happen if you have lighter locks to begin with. The way hair changes color when exposed to the sun is a result of damage from UV rays, according to research. “Lemon juice can alter the tone of your hair because of the reaction that occurs when it’s exposed to UV rays,” says Meg Schipani, a master hair color expert in Los Angeles and a Colorproof Ambassador. We’ll cover whether or not this works, if it’s a viable alternative to at-home or in-salon color treatments, and how to care for your hair when using lemon juice or traditional dye. Though the lemon juice trick has been around for a while, the resurgence in interest may be due to the fashionable focus on natural solutions for skin and hair care. Wouldn’t it just be easier and cheaper to apply lemon juice to your hair and sit out in the sun for a while? You could even do it while working on your laptop or reading a book. A salon can be expensive, as well as time-consuming. When the weather warms up, you may have the desire to try a lighter hair color.
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