You’ve probably heard about this trick before, from your mother or your older sister or your childhood BFF. Lemon spray is a tried and true method of brightening hair in the summer time. The results of this DIY dye job vary from mild to extreme, depending on your hair color and texture. Many people apply lemon juice alone and then go to bask outside, letting the sun do its work. However, the acidity level of lemon juice means that when it is overused it can strip your hair of all it’s natural oils, leading to a very dry and brittle texture. Instead of swapping your hair’s health for a couple golden strands, I suggest creating a little cocktail that will give you the perfect balance of shine while accentuating your hair’s natural highlights.

Lemon juice needs something to balance it out—to give it a moisturizing boost. This comes in the form an oil. You can use almost any oil, I use argan oil (my personal favorite). Add lightening ingredients cinnamon and chamomile tea and you’ll be glowing from your tresses out.

Ingredients

• 3-4 lemons, squeezed and juiced with seeds removed
• 1 cup of brewed chamomile tea
• 1 tablespoon of an oil of your choosing
• optional: a generous pinch of cinnamon

Mix together all the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake vigorously. On a clear sunny day, spray areas you’d like to give a summery touch and then bring a good book outside and relax for about 30 minutes. After, wash and condition hair. Once dry, soak in your new sun-kissed look.

Have you ever tried this natural hair trick? What were the results? Let us know in the comments below.