17 Best Hair Lightening Products, According To A Hairstylist (2024)
Lighten dark hair or remove an unwanted hair color mishap effectively with these formulas.
Alexandro Vasquez has been a hairdresser since 1997 and has worked in various countries, including Brazil, Spain, Ireland, Indonesia, Singapore, and UAE. His experience spans salon brands such as Toni&Guy, Aveda, and Leekaja. He specializes in traveling and training hair salon staff around the world.
Read full bio of Alexandro Vasquez
Experience: 4 yearsShiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with four years of experience. As a commerce editor, she guides her team members on the best practices to create crisp and authentic content.
Read full bio of Shiboli Chakraborti
Experience: 5 yearsAditi Naskar has a postgraduate degree in English literature from Presidency University, Kolkata, a bachelor’s degree in education from WBUTTEPA, Kolkata, and a diploma in health and wellness. She is an associate commerce editor with 5 years of experience and specializes in reviewing fitness and health products.
Read full bio of Aditi Naskar
Experience: 11 yearsRamona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal.
Read full bio of Ramona Sinha
Image: StyleCraze Design Team
Newly dyed hair or color-treated hair looks stylish and elegant. But, over a while, they may fade out, especially if you have blonde hair. Thus, the best hair-lightening products come into the picture. Alexandro Vasquez, a Hairdresser says “You got to be careful with the use of bleaching in your hair because if your hair has other chemicals like rebounding you may destroy your hair. Always consult a professional. Lightening shampoos etc is more on the safe side of it, anyway better have a consultation before in certain cases.”
These hair products prevent your colored hair from fading out. They remove the brassy tones. In addition, these products help to maintain the color and vibrancy of blonde hair without losing out the originality. In this article, you can check out the 17 best hair-lightening products below! All these products are selected after analyzing the reviews left by users on various e-commerce websites.
In This Article
17 Best Hair Lightening Products
1. Best Natural Treatment:Camomila Intea Natural Blond Hair Solution
The Camomila Intea Natural Blond Hair Solution is a permanent hair lightening spray for achieving the desired blonde shades. It is formulated with lightening agents like chamomile flower extract that lightens brown and dark blonde hair.
This product boosts the highlight color and restores the natural blonde hair tone. It lightens brown hair up to three shades. The product is also clinically tested to neutralize violet pigments from the hair. It also protects hair strands and imparts shine. This product is pharmaceutically developed and tested and does not leave stains or unpleasant odors. It is free of silicone, parabens, and ammonia.
Pros
- Silicone-free
- Paraben-free
- Ammonia-free
- Pharmaceutically developed and tested
- Non-damaging
- Non-staining
Cons
- Might cause hair fall
Pro Tip2. Best For Minimal Hair Breakage:Schwarzkopf BlondMe Bond Enforcing Premium Lightener 9+ Dust Free Powder
The Schwarzkopf BlondMe Bond Enforcing Premium Lightener 9+ Dust Free Powder uses integrated lift technology that gives your hair up to 9 levels of lift. The soft-to-solid formula and easy-to-use consistency enable a smooth application. Moreover, it also neutralizes warm yellow brassy undertones, making your hair fresh and seem freshly-colored. It also protects the hair during development to prevent hair breakage. Watch this video of the product with more than 1,800 reviews on Amazon.
Pros
- 9 levels of lift
- Easy to use consistency
- Neutralizes brassy tones
Cons
- None
3. Best Pleasant Fragrance:Sun Bum Blonde Hair Lightener
The Sun Bum Blonde Hair Lightener is formulated with Hawaiian Lehua honey and lemon. These ingredients brighten the hair color by amplifying the natural effects of sun rays to create subtle tones and highlights. This lightener also contains nutrient-rich ingredients like Costa Rican pineapple and meyer lemon that make the hair healthy.
It protects the hair from frizz and humidity. This hair dye also prevents oxidizing the hair from UV rays. The color-rich regimen treats hair dullness. You can use it with a hair dryer to enhance the lightening process. It is vegan and is not tested on animals. The hair lightener is also gluten- and paraben-free. Go through this video review featuring a tester’s experience of using this vegan formula for a detailed understanding of it.
Pros
- Natural-looking results
- Gluten-free
- Cruelty-free
- Paraben-free
- Vegan
- Prevents UV oxidizing
- Provides frizz and humidity control
Cons
- Contains hydrogen peroxide
Quick Tip
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
This product is so liked by shoppers that it has gained over 10,067 great reviews on Amazon.
| Attribute | Best Natural Treatment  | Best For Minimal Hair Breakage  | Best Pleasant Fragrance  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product Name | Camomila Intea Natural Blond Hair Solution | Schwarzkopf BlondMe Bond Enforcing Premium Lightener 9+ Dust Free Powder | Sun Bum Blonde Hair Lightener |
| Key Ingredients | Chamomile flower extracts and hydrogen peroxide | Potassium persulfate and magnesium carbonate hydroxide | Hydrogen peroxide, lemon extracts, and pineapple extracts |
| Application Type | Leave-in spray or rinse-out | Dust-free powder to be mixed with developer | Leave-in spray |
| Best For | Lighter hair colors | All hair colors | Lighter hair colors |
| Development Time | Longer time required | Quick results | Varies depending on hair color |
| Fragrance | Floral chamomile scent | Chemical-like scent with hints of ammonia | Tropical scent |
| Amazon Rating | 4.2 | 4.7 | 4.4 |
| Amazon Review | 3,698 | 6,275 | 11,274 |
| Buy Now | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
4. Best High-Quality Ingredients:Wella Blondor Multi Blonde Dust-free Powder Lightener
The Wella Blondor Multi Blonde Dust-free Powder Lightener with Tri-lightening complex provides an intense and vibrant color effect. It is formulated with high-quality ingredients that lighten the hair without damage. This hair lightening product is a bestseller with over 4,600 reviews on Amazon. Check out this video for a detailed review of the product.
Pros
- Easy to apply
- Mild formula
Cons
- Might stain the hair with orange tones
5. Best Ammonia-Free:John Frieda Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Lightening Spray
The John Frieda Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Lightening Spray makes blonde hair up to two shades lighter without any damage. It is formulated with a blend of citrus and chamomile that provide thermal protection to the hair and prevent heat damage. With over 12,900 reviews on Amazon, this product is a crowd-favorite bestseller.
The patent-pending technology blends fixative and conditioning polymers to retain hydrogen peroxide, enabling lightening control. This heat-activated spray is suitable for natural, color-treated, or highlighted hair. For best results, use this lightening spray on wet hair with a curling wand or flat iron.
Note: Do not use this product on naturally dark or intensely bleached hair. Also, do not use it more than 10 times in between color treatments.
Pros
- Provides thermal protection
- Suitable for natural, color-treated, or highlighted hair
Cons
- May cause hair breakage
Quick TipWhy We Think It's Worth Buying
With 1,562 positive reviews on Amazon, this product has become a bestseller.
6. Best To Lock-In Moisture:Wella Color Charm Powder Lightener
The Wella Color Charm Powder Lightener has over 1,900 rave reviews and provides up to seven levels of lifted color. It locks the moisture in the hair cuticles and enhances its effectiveness on the hair by protecting the oil system. This safe and effective lightener is ideal for on and off scalp application techniques. It is suitable for enhancing your hair highlights and can be used for full hair lightening, regrowth application, and color correction. You can use this product with foils or balayage techniques.
Pros
- 7 levels of lightening
- Moisturizes the hair
Cons
- Insufficient quantity
7. Best Creamy Consistency:Blond Forte Perfect Blond Extra Strength Hair Lightener
The Blond Forte Perfect Blond Extra Strength Hair Lightener contains a high-performance bleaching formula with a quad lightening complex. This complex ensures quick and bright hair lightening.
This lightener also contains anti-yellow molecules that prevent brassiness in blonde hair. It can be used for on and off scalp applications. This dust-free and non-dripping product lightens the hair up to seven levels. It locks in moisture to leave your hair conditioned, healthy, shiny, and strong. Furthermore, countless reviewers have vouched for its quality and positive results, so you can surely trust this cream hair bleach!
Pros
- Non-dripping
- Dust-free
- Provides 7 levels of lightening
- Pleasant fragrance
Cons
- Might cause a burning sensation
8. Best No-Rinse Formula:Manzanilla Grisi Gold Hair Lotion
The Manzanilla Grisi Gold Hair Lotion is a 2-in-1 hair product that lightens and detangles the hair. It is formulated with natural extracts of chamomile, which adds golden sparkles to the hair. This hair lotion removes knots and makes the hair manageable. Still not quite convinced, then explore it further on Amazon and witness numerous honest reviews boasting of its quality!
Pros
- Detangles the hair
- Adds golden sparkles
Cons
- Sticky
- Might weigh the hair down
9. Best Permanent Bleach:Schwarzkopf Got 2B Be En-lightened Permanent Lightener
The Schwarzkopf Got2B Be En-lightened Permanent Lightener lightens blonde hair by up to eight levels. It has an anti-yellowing agent that prevents blonde hair from turning brassy. This product comes with a developer lotion in an applicator bottle, a booster sachet, a color-after-treatment sachet, a pair of gloves, and an application tip.
Pros
- Provides eight levels of lightening
- Comes with an applicator
Cons
- Contains SLS, parabens, and alcohol
10. Best For Highlights:Clairol Professional BW2 Hair Powder Lightener
The Clairol Professional BW2 Powder Lightener offers balanced lightening to create highlights easily. It can be used with foils, balayage technique, and on or off scalp applications. This lightener is dust-free, which minimizes the powder flyaway. As stated by numerous reviewers, the creamy texture of the product allows you to apply it easily to the hair.
Pros
- Dust-free
- Professional-grade
- Prevents flyaways
- Easy to apply
Cons
- May cause a burning sensation
11. Best For Healthy Shiny:L’Oreal Super Blue Creme Oil Lightener
The L’Oreal Super Blue Creme Oil Lightener is made with an extra-lightening formula for full-head blonding. It lightens the hair by removing any natural or artificial pigments. During application, the lightener sticks onto the hair easily to prevent overlapping.
This on-the-scalp lightener comes with a built-in dabber to prevent brassiness. It remains moist throughout the application process and is easy to rinse off. This dust-free product makes your hair shiny and healthy.
Pros
- Dust-free
- Adds shine
- Easy to rinse off
Cons
- Might dry out the hair
12. Best For Beachy Hair:Gnarly Head Beach Blonde Gentle Lightening Spray Conditioner
The Gnarly Head Beach Blonde Gentle Lightening Spray Conditioner contains natural lemon juice and chamomile extract. Lemon juice lightens the hair without any damage, while chamomile protects and nourishes the hair. This lightener detangles the hair and can be used in or out of the sun. It can either be left on the hair or rinsed off. This gentle formula is vegan and gluten-free and provides you with beachy hair.
Pros
- Gluten-free
- Vegan
- Gentle formula
- Detangles the hair
- Biodegradable
- Eco-friendly
Cons
- Might make the hair heavy
13. Best For Mess-Free:L’Oreal Paris Summer Lights Hair Lightening Geleé
The L’Oreal Paris Summer Lights Hair Lightening Geleé imparts a natural sun-kissed radiance to the hair. The natural lightening effect of this formula looks stunning on various hair colors. This leave-in hair lightening treatment can be used for highlighting the hair or full head coloring. The gel formula ensures a mess-free application. This hair lightener requires heat activation from hair dryers or sun rays. It is also free of silicone.
Note: Do not use this product on color-treated, gray, or dark hair.
Pros
- Silicone -free
- Adds shine
- Easy to apply
Cons
- Might dry out the hair
14. Best For All Hair Types:ion Color brilliance Creme Oil Lightener
The ion Color Brilliance Creme Oil Lightener is formulated with nutrient-rich wheat protein and argan oil. It offers the highest degree of lightness without any damage so that the color shade can be customized easily. This lightener retains hair moisture and can be used for on and off scalp applications. It is easy to apply and suitable for all hair types.
Pros
- Suitable for all hair types
- Easy to apply
Cons
- None
15. Best For Vibrant Color Effect:John Frieda Beach Blonde Sun Streaks Lightening Spray
The John Frieda Beach Blonde Sun Streaks Lightening Spray leaves your hair with beachy, sun-kissed highlights. It creates subtle and permanent highlights. This lightening spray is formulated with natural lemon that lightens the hair without any irritation or damage. It is easy to apply and free of silicone.
Pros
- Silicone-free
- Easy to apply
Cons
- May not be suitable for dry scalp
16. Best For Natural Shine:Pravana Pure Light Power Lightener
The Pravana Pure Light Power Lightener lifts and lightens natural hair color without any damage like puffing or swelling. It contains hydrolyzed keratin which has proven efficacy in fortifying the hair, making it strong, smooth, and shiny.
This damage-free lightener contains a violet-based, specialized time-released formula with high-quality ingredients. It lightens the hair up to seven levels without any brassy tones. You can use it with other hair color products to achieve the desired shade. This gentle formula does not contain parabens, phthalates, cocamide DEA, formaldehyde, or sulfates.
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Phthalate-free
- Cocamide DEA-free
- Formaldehyde-free
- Sulfate-free
- Gentle formula
Cons
- None
17. Best For Medium Brown:Clairol Professional Violet Kaleidocolors Tonal Powder Lightener
The Clairol Professional Violet Kaleidocolors Tonal Powder Lightener offers hair lightening up to four levels. It adds iridescent cool tones to the color for a multidimensional look and prevents brassy hues. This hair lightener is formulated with highly moisturizing aloe vera that hydrates the scalp and leaves you with brighter hair. It is ideal for medium brown to light blond hair.
Pros
- Easy to apply
- Hydrating formula
- Provides four levels of lightening
- Non-drying
Cons
- Might leave a purple tint
If you are new to the lightening game, consider these points to nail it correctly.
How To Lighten Your Hair: What To Consider For Beginners
- Skin And Hair Color: Pick a color based on your hair and skin tones. If you are warm-toned, pick a warm-toned color. If you are cool-toned, opt for a lightener with cool undertones.
- Preferred Lightening Method: Apart from a lightener, other options like bleach or natural ingredients like green tea and lemon also help lighten the hair. Choose one that suits you the best.
- Instructions: Follow the directions strictly when using hair lighteners or bleach. Also, have someone to help you if you are new to this, for even application. If left on for long, bleach and some lighteners can damage the hair or cause irritation.
- Maintenance: Lighteners can dry the hair and make it prone to damage. Maintain your hair health with oil or deep conditioning treatments. Use products made specifically for color-treated or bleached hair as they contain nourishing ingredients that replenish and restore the hair. Remember to use a purple shampoo to neutralize the brassy tones and maintain your lightened hair.
Infographic: The Best Ingredients For Hair Lightening Products
Coloring your hair can give a fresh vibe to your look and personality. However, coloring dark hair to a lighter shade comes with a challenge – getting rid of the dark color pigments. This is where you need hair lightening products. The infographic below lists the different ingredients used in these formulas. Take a peek! Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
The Bottom Line
Colored hair looks stylish and attractive whether you dye your hair with natural colors or synthetic dyes. But the color fades away over a while. So you need a hair product that prevents fading of hair color and instead lightens the brassy tones or neutralizes them. The Camomila Intea Natural Blond Hair Solution is great for those who desire a natural blonde look, while the John Frieda Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Lightening Spray makes your blonde hair two shades lighter as well as prevents hair damage. If you are looking for a humidity-resistant, frizz-fighting formula, try the Sun Bum Blonde Hair Lightener. The best hair-lightening product highlights your dye color and neutralizes the yellow tones. Some lightening products can also impart shine and protect your hair from damage. In addition, some provide UV protection and some contain hydrating agents like hyaluronic acid to lock moisture in your hair, making the hair strands appear shiny. However, stay away from the lightening products that dry your scalp or make your hair heavy. Invest in doctor-approved lightening products or consult a professional colorist if you have a sensitive scalp or are often prone to allergic reactions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cream lightener better than powder?
Cream lightener is better than powder because it is gentler and more nourishing for your hair.
What is the difference between hair lightener and bleach?
Hair lightener lightens your natural or artificial hair color. Bleaching is one way of hair lightening.
How long does it take for hydrogen peroxide to lighten hair?
It takes about 30 minutes for hydrogen peroxide to lighten your hair.
Does a hair lightener damage your hair?
Yes, hair lighteners made with harsh chemicals can potentially damage your hair. So, choose formulas made with natural products like apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, honey etc. that will lighten your hair with minimum damage.
Does hair lightener work on brown hair?
Yes, hair lighteners work on dark brown hair. They will just give you warmer hues like amber, gold, etc.
Are the effects of hair lightening permanent?
No, hair lightening is not permanent, it will start to go away as new hair starts to grow.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author, Shiboli Chakraborti, is a certified skin care coach and hair care enthusiast who loves to write comprehensive reviews about beauty products. She has carefully listed these hair-lightening products, selected based on user reviews and feedback available on multiple forums and brand websites. The formulas listed in this post help maintain the color and vibrancy of blonde hair without losing out the originality.
Read full bio of Alexandro Vasquez
Read full bio of Shiboli Chakraborti
Read full bio of Aditi Naskar
Read full bio of Ramona Sinha
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