Q:
I have medium-brown hair that I recently dyed red. I was hoping for a lighter, more strawberry-blonde shade, but it turned out darker and more auburn.
I’d like to lighten it without using another hair dye. I’ve heard that lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide can lighten hair — I have both on hand.
Could you tell me:
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Which method works best and fastest?
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How long it takes to see results?
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How often to repeat it?
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The correct way to apply it?
A:
Once your hair has already been colored, you can’t lighten it safely without using professional color or bleach.
Here’s why:
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Hair color doesn’t lift hair color. Once pigment has been deposited into your hair shaft, applying another lighter shade on top won’t remove it — the molecules are locked in.
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Lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide may slightly lighten virgin (untreated) hair in the sun, but on previously colored hair, they can react unpredictably. The result is usually uneven orange or yellow patches, not a soft strawberry-blonde.
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Both methods also dry and weaken the hair, especially when applied repeatedly or exposed to heat or sunlight afterward.
What Actually Works
If your hair was virgin before coloring, a skilled colorist can use a gentle soap cap (a mix of bleach, shampoo, and developer) to lift out excess pigment and brighten the red safely. But this process requires experience — applied incorrectly, it can lift unevenly or cause breakage.
If cost or timing is an issue, the safest temporary option is to:
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Let the color fade naturally with time and gentle shampooing.
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Use a clarifying shampoo once or twice a week to speed up fading.
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Avoid adding more chemicals or home remedies — they can worsen the uneven tones.
When your color has softened, a professional can re-tone it to the strawberry-blonde shade you want.
Protecting Your Hair During Fading
While you wait, keep your hair hydrated and protected from heat and humidity. A few drops of Sabino Moisture Block on damp hair after washing will:
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Lock in internal moisture while blocking humidity,
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Prevent dryness and frizz from repeated shampooing, and
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Keep your color looking shiny and healthy between salon visits.
Bottom line:
Lemon juice and peroxide aren’t safe or effective on already colored hair. Be patient, let the red fade naturally, and visit a trusted colorist when you’re ready for correction. In the meantime, protect your hair’s strength and moisture with Sabino Moisture Block — it’ll help your hair stay soft and manageable while you wait for your perfect blonde.