How to lighten/fade jet black hair?

Mar 13, 2012

Cassandra M.

I've been dying my hair black for about 2 years and I want to dye it a dark brown color. I'm actually going to use this Chestnut Brown color which my mom put over her hair, after she had dyed it jet black, and it gave this beautiful cherry tint to her almost-black hair. I've dyed my hair over so many times, I want to lighten/fade the black color so that the red tint will show up.

I've read many methods of how to fade hair - including dish soap, dandruff shampoos, etc. Does anybody know methods that actually work and will somewhat fade the black dye? P.S. I haven't put any dye on my hair in over 2-3 months, so it's naturally a bit faded already.

Mar 13, 2012

Gabriella N.

Any shampoo that doesn't protect color should strip it

Mar 13, 2012

Yolanda N.

They say lemon and chamomile are good to lighten

Mar 13, 2012

Jessica G.

What I did to lighten my black hair was:
1) Do conditioning treatments that contain honey, cinnamon, lemon, etc. These products I have used and do work!
2) Make sure you use a clarifying shampoo. You can buy one from shoppers/walmart in the hair section (Netrogena anti residue shampoo). Use this shampoo only once a week because it is very harsh.
3) First, when hair is wet, spray your entire hair with lemon juice (freshly squeezed is the best). Once your hair is dry, spray it again with the lemon juice, and go out into the sun for a few hours. Make sure to spray your hair with the lemon juice often when you are sitting out in the sun. This works best in the summer.

You have to have patience if you do not want to bleach your hair. It will take probably a few months for all of this to work. I would recommend doing the conditioning treatments at least once a week using all the products listed above, as well as leaving the treatment in for at least an hour (Over night is recommended) . I would also recommend going outside with the lemon juice at least 3 times a week. Again, this will take time so do not get discouraged if you do not notice results the first time. You can also buy "Sun In" hair spray from walmart or target. This basically works in the same way that the lemon juice does, but is less drying to your hair.  

Mar 13, 2012

Jennie A.

Sun in is what i used and you dont have to go out in the sun with it you can just use the heat from your dryer and to doesnt take as long!!!! 

Mar 15, 2012

Lizz N.

hot oil is a colors' worst enemy... SO if you use a hot oil treatment once a week that will help too!! take some olive oil, heat it in the microwave for a 30 seconds, ta-da! instant hot oil treatment :-)

Mar 15, 2012

Wingi H.

Anti dangrif shampoo mixed with vitamin c powder leave it in for 45min then wash an it wil l get lighter every time u do it an its safe for your hair an makes it super soft 

Mar 16, 2012

Erica B.

Mix baking soda in with your shampoo & then condition the shit out of it-it will dry it out after 1 use but it does lighten color. Be careful using products like Sun-in, you don't know how that will react with the color you'll be applying. 

Mar 16, 2012

Al K.

i heard that either soaking the hair in lemon juice+leave-in conditioner or green tea would really help. maybe try both :) it doesn't hurt your hair either.  

Mar 19, 2012

Bee K.

Honey and lemon! 

Mar 20, 2012

Myrna P.

This is to lighten the hair naturally? I have heard of lemon (Sun in). I used it and it did wonders. Remember though, I have short hair and cut it every two to three weeks. 

Mar 20, 2012

Farrah A.

Neutrogena T-Gel will pull the color out. Use it regularly (with a good conditioner) and it should pull quite a bit in a couple of weeks. How much it fades will also depend on your natural haircolor.

Mar 21, 2012

Rosa K.

Lemon juice should work, Also if you want to get a color stripper and don't leave it on as long as it recommends. I used to have jet black hair for about a year and it took a long time back in the day for me to figure out how to lighten it. I bleached it three times to make it lighter. Don't do that lol. Just get lemon juice and actually have it bake in the sun. My friend did that to lighten her hair a bit. Or again, use the color stripper and leave it in for less time then supposed too. Hope this helps!

Sep 28, 2015

Caitlyn T.

Hydrogen peroxide will fade it to an orange color. I have a friend that fades hers a shade lighter every day by adding a little bit of hydrogen peroxide on her hair.

Jun 2, 2017

Adelya F.

I had black dye hair,my old profile picture:)And now its brown.I want to grow my natural hair and fed up of colors(I was platinum blond,red,ginger,blue,black)cocnut oil is the best for me,I use it once a week addition to oil I started to make homemade cinnamon hair mask(honey,cinnamon,lemon juice,hair conditioner you need to keep it more then 4hrs)once per week plain low fat fresh yougurt.It worked great for me in less then a month I have shiny brown hair:)