Dandelion Benefits for Hair: The Natural Way to Lighten Your Locks

Growing up in a rural town, one of my favorite spring memories was looking at the dandelion blooms that covered entire fields. Most people view them as weeds, but I never stopped seeing the beauty in them. On top of their ability to make your wishes come true :) they also have a ton of health and beauty benefits! One of my favorite dandelion uses came from my grandmother. Her sister Rosie would pick the dandelions and they would lighten each others hair with them. I thought that even if it did not work, the experience would just be a ton of fun to do with a friend! So here I listed 5 ways you can use dandelions to lighten your hair this summer!

Flower Time!

Look for a field or a garden with dandelions. A large handful of flowers will be enough for these recipes, although you can use your own judgement on how much you may want!

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Once you have all the flowers, you can gather ingredients from whichever of the five hair-lightening recipes you choose and embrace the benefits of the spring dandelion blooms!

Cleansing Dandelion Rinse

Ingredients:

• A generous handful of dandelion flowers

• Water

Directions:

1. Rinse the dandelion flowers gently under cool water.
   

2. In a pot, bring water to a simmer and add the dandelion flowers. Let them dance in the water for about 15-20 minutes, infusing it in the water.
   

3. Strain the liquid into a bowl and allow it to cool to a comfortable temperature.

Apply the infusion to your hair, focusing on the areas where the sun naturally highlights.

Let your hair dry naturally, preferably under the sun, allowing the dandelion to grant your wish!

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Dandelion and Lemon Juice Rinse

Lemon juice is well-known for its hair-lightening properties, especially when activated by sunlight. By combining it with dandelion infusion, you create a potent mixture that can enhance the lightening effect.

Ingredients:

• Dandelion infusion (as prepared in the original method)

• Fresh lemon juice (~3 tbsp but the amount depends on hair length and desired intensity)

Directions:

1. Mix the dandelion infusion with an equal part of fresh lemon juice. Adjust the amount of lemon juice based on how light you want your hair to become and the length of your hair.
   

2. Apply the mixture to your hair, focusing on areas you want to lighten or applying it all over for a general lightening effect.
   

3. Sit in the sunlight to allow the mixture to activate, for about 30 minutes to an hour.
   

4. Rinse your hair and condition it thoroughly, as lemon juice can be drying.

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Dandelion and Chamomile Tea Blend

Chamomile is another natural ingredient known for its subtle lightening effects on hair. When paired with dandelions, it can gently enhance the lightening process while offering a soothing effect.

Ingredients:

• Dandelion flowers

• Chamomile flowers (or tea bags if fresh flowers aren't available)

• Water
  

Directions:

1. Prepare a strong tea by simmering both the dandelion and chamomile flowers in water for 15-20 minutes.
   

2. Allow the tea to cool, then strain it to remove the flowers.
   

3. Use the tea as a final rinse after washing your hair, leaving it on as a leave-in treatment to maximize the lightening effect.

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Dandelion Hair Mask

For a more conditioning approach, incorporating dandelion flowers into a hair mask can provide nourishing benefits alongside gradual lightening.

Ingredients:

• A handful of fresh dandelion flowers and leaves

• Natural yogurt or coconut oil (for the base of the mask)

• A squeeze of lemon juice (optional for enhanced lightening)

Directions:

1. Blend the dandelion flowers and leaves into a paste. Mix this paste with your choice of natural yogurt or coconut oil to form a mask. Add a squeeze of lemon juice for an extra lightening kick.
   

2. Apply the mask to your hair, focusing on the areas you wish to lighten or applying it all over for overall lightening and conditioning.
   

3. Leave the mask on for at least 30 minutes, then rinse off with cool water and shampoo as usual.
   

A Few Additional Tips:

• Always remember that lemon juice can be drying to your hair, so it's important to follow up with a deep conditioner after rinsing out the mixture.

• The lightening effect is gradual and becomes more noticeable with repeated use. It's also amplified by exposure to sunlight, thanks to the citric acid in lemon juice, which acts as a natural bleaching agent when activated by UV rays.

• For those with very dark or dry hair, consider using less lemon juice initially to see how your hair responds, and adjust accordingly in future applications.
  

Remember, everyone's hair reacts differently to natural lightening methods, so it's wise to start with a small amount and adjust based on the results and how your hair feels. These recipes are not going to give the same drastic results as if you were to do to the salon. Although on the bright side, baby-lights are always a nice touch to any hair color and can add some dimension and light to your hairstyle! A light touch can sometimes be just what you need in your beauty routine.

So next time you pass by the dandelions in your yard and think of them as just a weed, also remember the beauty and benefits that they can hold.