How to Lighten Dyed Hair with Baking Soda

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: August 16, 2022 References

If you're hoping to lighten your dyed hair with an at-home solution like baking soda, there are several options you can choose from. Add things like hydrogen peroxide, water, lemon juice, or an anti-dandruff shampoo to baking soda before mixing them together. Apply your chosen mixture to your hair, let it sit for a few minutes, and rinse it out to enjoy your newly lightened locks.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Creating a Paste with Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide

1
Combine 1 cup (240 ml) of baking soda with 3 US tbsp (44 ml) of hydrogen peroxide. Measure out the baking soda and pour it into a medium-sized bowl. Add the hydrogen peroxide to the bowl as well—this is what will help create the paste.^{[1]
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Mix the 2 ingredients together until they’re well combined. Use a spoon to stir the hydrogen peroxide into the baking soda. Keep stirring until the lumps are gone and you’ve created a smooth paste with the ingredients.^{[2]
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- If you want the paste to be more liquid-like, add a little bit of water or more hydrogen peroxide. This makes it easier to apply to your hair but slightly less potent.
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3
Apply the mixture to strands of hair you'd like to lighten using your hands. Scoop out the baking soda and hydrogen peroxide mixture, massaging it into your hair evenly. Check to be sure each strand of hair that you’d like to lighten is covered in the mixture by looking in a mirror.^{[3]
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- Place a towel around your neck or wear an old shirt to avoid making a mess.
- Wear disposable gloves over your hands, if desired. Hydrogen peroxide may irritate your skin.
4
Leave the baking soda and peroxide on your hair for 30-60 minutes. Set a timer for 30 minutes so you know when to check your hair in a mirror. If you notice that it’s definitely lighter, rinse it out after just 30 minutes. Otherwise, leave the baking soda and peroxide in your hair for up to 1 hour.^{[4]
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- This amount of time should make your hair turn 1-2 shades lighter.
- Avoid leaving the mixture in your hair for more than 1 hour to keep your hair from drying out or becoming damaged.
5
Rinse the mixture out of your hair and shampoo in the shower. Turn the water temperature to warm or cool, depending on your preferences, and rinse out the baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Shampoo your hair after you’ve rinsed out most of the mixture for a final cleaning.^{[5]
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- Use a deep conditioner on your hair after washing it to help restore moisture, if desired.
- Wait 2 weeks before applying baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to your hair again to keep your hair healthy.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using Anti-Dandruff Shampoo and Baking Soda

1
Combine 1 part anti-dandruff shampoo with 1 part baking soda in a bowl. Measure out the shampoo and baking soda using measuring cups, or estimate the approximate amount by eyeballing it. Pour both ingredients into a medium-sized bowl big enough to hold them easily.
- You might also add 1 part dish soap to the mixture for additional strength.
- It’s okay if these measurements aren’t exact.
- For example, if you have short hair you might use 1 US tbsp (15 ml) of each ingredient, while longer hair might need twice that amount.
2
Stir the baking soda and shampoo together using a spoon. Mix the shampoo and baking soda thoroughly, removing any lumps. Check to be sure the baking soda is evenly distributed throughout the shampoo so your hair will lighten evenly.^{[6]
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Wet your hair using hot water. This opens up your hair follicles to prepare your hair to lighten most efficiently. Dip your hair in the sink or step into the shower for a couple seconds to wet your hair thoroughly.
- Comb through your hair after it’s wet to get rid of any tangles, if needed.
4
Massage the shampoo mixture into your hair evenly. Use your hands to spread the shampoo and baking soda into your hair. Massage the mixture onto the strands evenly, going over each section of hair more than once to be sure it’s completely covered.
5
Let the mixture sit on your hair for 15 minutes before rinsing it out. Set a timer for 15 minutes so you know when to start rinsing. Wash out the shampoo and baking soda in the shower using warm or cool water. Give your hair a final normal shampoo to get rid of any lingering baking soda.^{[7]
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- Do this method twice a week to help lighten your dyed hair.
- Expect your hair to fade 1-2 shades after doing this method once.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Mixing Baking Soda with Warm Water

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Pour 0.5 cups (120 ml) of baking soda into a bowl. Choose a medium-sized bowl and measure out the baking soda using a measuring cup. Empty the baking soda into the bowl carefully.
2
Add warm water slowly while stirring to create a paste of medium thickness. Fill a small cup that’s easy to pour with warm water. Add the water to the baking soda very slowly, using a spoon to mix the 2 ingredients together as you pour. Stop adding water once you create a paste of medium thickness.
- If you think it will be easier to apply the paste to your hair if it’s in more of a liquid form, continue adding warm water until you create your desired consistency.
3
Apply the paste to your hair by massaging the strands using your hands. Scoop out the baking soda and water mixture using your fingers and spread it throughout your hair. Keep scooping out more watered-down baking soda and applying it to your dyed hair until each strand is evenly covered.^{[8]
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- Place a towel around your shoulders to protect your clothing, or just wear an old T-shirt to prevent a mess.
- Use massaging motions when applying the mixture to your hair to spread it more evenly.
4
Wait 15-20 minutes before rinsing out your hair. After the 15-20 minutes are up, step into the shower to wash out the mixture. Use warm or cool water to rinse it out and shampoo your hair to get rid of any extra baking soda.
- Follow up with a conditioner to add moisture back to your hair.
- Set a timer for 15-20 minutes so you don’t forget when to check on your hair.
- Try doing this twice a week to lighten your hair 1-2 shades.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Combining Lemon Juice with Baking Soda

1
Pour equal parts lemon juice and baking soda into a bowl. Use measuring cups for exact proportions, or use your best judgment and approximate the measurements as you pour them. Use a medium-sized bowl to hold both ingredients.^{[9]
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- It’s unlikely that you’ll need more than 0.25 cups (59 ml) of each individual ingredient.
2
Stir them together to create a smooth paste. Use a spoon to mix the baking soda and lemon juice together. Stir until there aren’t any lumps and the baking soda is distributed evenly in the lemon juice.
- Consider adding more lemon juice or a bit of water to create a smoother paste.
3
Spread the paste throughout your hair using your fingers. Gather a palmful of the paste in your hands and spread it over each strand of hair that you’d like to lighten. Continue adding the paste to your hair until all of your hair is covered evenly.^{[10]
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- Place a towel around your neck to keep the paste off of your clothes, or change into an old T-shirt.
4
Wait 15 minutes before shampooing your hair to remove the paste. Set a timer for 15 minutes to be sure you rinse at the right time. Wash the baking soda and lemon juice out of your hair in the shower, massaging your hair to get it out and finishing with a regular shampoo.^{[11]
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- Condition your hair after washing it with shampoo to restore some shine and moisture.
- Repeat this process once a week to lighten your hair 1-2 shades.