Hair Lightening Advice: The Best Way to Lighten and Brighten the Hair

This Wednesday’s Q&A covers hair lightening advice: how to lighten and brighten the hair, sent in from a reader whose natural red hair has turned dark and mousey.

Whoop, whoop, happy Hump Day beauty lovers, nail fans and hair aficionados, and welcome to another Wednesday installment of Ask the Pro Stylist where I attempt to clearly answer readers’ questions.

This week Tory wrote in and asked for hair lightening advice, specifically how to naturally lighten her auburn hair.

Hi I hope you can help. I have natural red/ auburn hair, and as I’ve gotten old, it has gotten darker. Is there anything I can do to lighten it without dying it or putting peroxide in it?

Tory

Hi Tory! Thanks for writing in.

Hair color definitely changes as we age from the bright beautiful hues of youth to mousier shades. Spending hours in the sun is the only way to slightly and naturally alter one’s hair color without the use of chemicals, however the UV rays not only damage the skin, with the obvious potential of skin cancer on the body, face and scalp, but also dries out the hair as well.

Straight peroxide is never recommended as it also damages the hair. The only recommendation here is to visit a licensed salon professional. The developer of professional hair dye and the conditioning ingredients within the color create gorgeous shades without harmful effects.

There are also a plethora of professional, in-salon, ammonia-free hair color brands, too vast to list, that deposit beautiful shine and tone without lift, or even lift one to two levels, which may be all that you need to brighten what seems like a great natural hair color. A scant amount of highlights is also a great way to lighten and brighten the hair to add a sun kissed look.

Set up a consultation with your professional hairstylist/colorist and go over your options. I’d be happy to recommend someone for you, depending upon where you live of course. If you are not happy with your initial consult, then visit another salon. It is your hair and you should feel comfortable with whoever alters your appearance.

I do hope my hair lightening advice has helped. Unfortunately, there is no way to lighten the hair without the use of chemicals, which should only be applied by a licensed professional in a salon for the most natural, healthy and optimal result.

If you have a beauty, nails or hair related question similar to the hair lightening advice needed for Tory’s dark hair dilemma, please feel free to email me at DeirdreAHaggerty@gmail.com to be featured in Wednesday’s Q&A.

Happy Styling!