Lightening your hair with a bleaching product risks making it dry, brittle and damaged. Cinnamon, on the other hand, allows us to lighten our hair in a gentle and natural way. Read on and experiment with the use of this lightening mask: you will be amazed by its moisturizing properties and its delicious scent.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Preparation
Step 1. Gather all the necessary ingredients
Before you go to the supermarket, check the ingredients available in your pantry. You may find that you already have everything you need on hand.
- Cinnamon. You can use cinnamon powder or sticks. The important thing is to have them in large quantities.
- Honey. Raw honey is the best choice; if you don't have the option to use raw honey, opt for a product that is as pure as possible.
- Balm. Any type of conditioner will do; its function is to promote the absorption of chemicals by the hair.
- Lemon juice. Buy a lemon and squeeze it yourself to extract the juice.
- Shower cap. If you don't want to buy one, you can use a regular plastic bag or cling film.
Step 2. Make the blend
Pour all the ingredients into a bowl and mix them evenly.
- 240 ml of honey.
- 240 ml of conditioner.
- 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.
- 2 tablespoons of cinnamon.
- Let the mixture sit for at least half an hour. Honey contains hydrogen peroxide, which is activated by the addition of cinnamon. Leaving the mixture to rest will allow the development of this element, or the substance suitable for lightening the hair.
Step 3. Brush your hair
While you wait for the blend to achieve the desired lightening power, brush your hair carefully.
- Eliminate all knots to facilitate even distribution of the mixture.
- This treatment can be performed indifferently on both clean and dirty hair.
Step 4. Decide what result you want to achieve
Lightening your hair with this cinnamon blend is not the same as using pure hydrogen peroxide.
- Blond hair: golden and reddish reflections.
- Black hair: brown and auburn reflections (after several applications).
- Red hair: auburn and brown highlights.
- Light brown hair: golden and coppery reflections.
- Dark brown hair: light brown and auburn highlights.
Method 2 of 3: Apply the Cinnamon Blend
Step 1. Moisten your hair
For a correct application, the hair must be wet, but not soaked.
- Use a spray bottle. As an alternative to the normal shower, you can moisten your hair using a spray bottle filled with water.
- Wet the brush too. Run the damp brush through your hair. The use of the brush will favor an even distribution of the lightening mixture.
Step 2. Test your treatment
Before applying it all over your hair, test a small amount of the mixture on your hand. If you have a skin reaction, do not apply it to your hair.
- Some people are allergic to cinnamon. To make sure you are not among them, rub a small amount of the mixture on the back of your hand and wait 5-10 minutes before rinsing.
- Cinnamon causes a slight tingle, but it shouldn't cause burning. This treatment is not recommended for people with sensitive scalp.
- If you feel it sting, rinse the part immediately!
Step 3. Apply the mixture to your hair
For a result that is as tidy and uniform as possible, ask a friend to help you.
- Pour the mixture into the palm of your hand.
- Apply a generous amount to each strand, from roots to ends.
- If the mixture feels too thick, dilute it with 60ml of water.
- If you have thick hair, divide it into several sections before proceeding with the application.
- Be careful not to apply the mixture to the skin of the neck and ears, otherwise it could become irritated.
Step 4. Let the mixture act
Sit back and relax to give the mixture time to act.
- Gather your hair in a bun and cover it with a shower cap.
- Let the mixture sit for at least 2-4 hours - preferably overnight.
- Protect the pillow case with a towel. Even if you are wearing a shower cap, moving around in bed during the night could risk dirtying the pillow, so protect it with a towel.
Step 5. Wash your hair
Be patient. Despite the stickiness of honey, cinnamon will create the greatest difficulties during rinsing.
- Start with a careful rinse. Before washing, you will need to patiently remove all traces of the mixture from your hair.
- Shampoo. After doing your best to rinse your hair, wash it with shampoo by applying it to both the roots and the lengths.
- To be able to remove all traces of cinnamon you may need to do a second shampoo.
Step 6. Repeat the treatment according to your needs
Unlike normal lightening products, this mask will not give striking results. Having beneficial properties, however, it can be applied as many times as you want, without damaging the hair in any way. Repeat the applications until the desired shade is obtained.
- Lightening your hair with cinnamon is a gradual process. With each application you will only notice a slight change in color.
- For the hair to appear visibly lighter, 3-4 applications may be required.
Method 3 of 3: Possible Changes to the Base Blend
Step 1. Try replacing the conditioner with olive oil
If you prefer a completely natural lightening treatment, you can replace the conditioner with olive oil.
- Olive oil is a great natural moisturizer, but it is not suitable for use on oily hair. Also remember that, compared to conditioner, olive oil requires much more thorough rinsing and washing.
- Being an excellent natural moisturizer, olive oil is particularly recommended for curly hair. If your curls look dull and dehydrated, olive oil will nourish them deeply.
Step 2. Use cardamom
Like cinnamon, cardamom is a spice capable of activating hydrogen peroxide, which is why it boasts similar lightening properties.
- Substituting cinnamon for cardamom will give you very similar results.
- In case of an allergy to cinnamon, cardamom will prove to be an excellent ally.
Step 3. Add some vitamin C
Vitamin C is one of the most effective nutrients. If you want to strengthen your hair and promote healthy growth, add it to your lightening blend.
- Crumble a couple of chewable vitamin C tablets and mix them into the mixture.
- Vitamin C will keep hair healthy and help lighten it.
Advice
- To make sure you distribute the mixture evenly, divide your hair into three sections and apply twice.
- To intensify the lightening properties of the treatment, wash your hair with a chamomile shampoo or perform the last rinse with a chamomile infusion.
- To make sure the result is as even as possible, ask a friend to help you apply the mixture to the back of your head.
Warnings
- Skin burning is a common symptom of cinnamon allergy - rinse the part immediately!
- Be careful if your hair is already blond, you will most likely get some reddish undertones.
