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Many people want to lighten their hair naturally at home. Is Sun In hair lightener bad for your hair? Find out whether this product does what it claims and whether it will damage your hair.
Is Sun In Bad for Your Hair?
Sun In claims to be a safe alternative to chemical bleach. However, it contains hydrogen peroxide, an active ingredient in many commercial-grade hair lighteners.
Sun In can cause hair breakage, scalp irritation, and undesirable hair colors. It is best when used on medium blonde to light brown hair.
Darker hair will give a reddish result. In addition, swimming in chlorinated water or exposing your hair to tap water with minerals could cause strangely colored results.
Sun In permanently changes your hair by removing its natural pigment (melanin). If you don’t like the results, you will need to dye the hair a darker color at home or visit a stylist for expert help.
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Key Ingredients
The key ingredients in Sun In are hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice. The product also contains soothing and conditioning ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile extract, linseed extract, panthenol, and silk amino acids.
Hydrogen peroxide works by opening the cuticle (the outer layer of a strand of hair) and removing the melanin. Bleaching hair with hydrogen peroxide can lead to damaged cuticles, frizz, split ends, and breakage. The stress of bleaching ages hair prematurely.
Sun In Pros and Cons
If you’re considering highlighting your hair with Sun In, here are some pros and cons to consider:
Pros:
- Sun In is affordable compared to salon bleaching.
- Natural lemon juice provides a subtle look to highlights.
- The product contains conditioning ingredients like panthenol and aloe vera, so it is less harsh on hair than bleaching with plain hydrogen peroxide from the drugstore.
- With this product, you can reach a natural-looking light blonde color if you have the right hair color to start.
Cons:
- Hydrogen peroxide damages hair by causing cuticle breakage.
- Peroxide may also cause scalp irritation, especially in people with sensitive skin.
- Using Sun In on darker hair could lead to undesirable reddish colors.
- Sun In could cause scalp damage and, in extreme cases, hair loss.
- Sun In is permanent, and the results are not reversible. You may have to dye your hair darker to cover it up if you don’t like how you look.
How to Safely Use Sun In Hair Lightener
Start with damp or dry hair. If you start with dry hair, it will be easier to see where you spray the product. If you want to highlight strands or sections of your hair, you can put the hair you don’t want to touch in a bun and cover it with plastic wrap. Then you can apply the lightener with a paintbrush.
For long hair, you will probably need two bottles of Sun In. To cover your entire head, spray evenly. If you don’t apply Sun In evenly, you will have an unnatural patchy effect.
Apply heat to your hair next. Sitting outside in the sun may produce the most natural look, but using a blow dryer results in more even coverage. Sit in the sun two days in a row for a light-colored effect, or blow dry for faster results.
Your hair will need extra moisture and care to stay healthy. After using Sun In, you should always use a deep conditioning treatment. Try a hair mask or leave-in conditioner at least once a week.
Safety Information
When you lighten your hair, you must handle Sun In spray with care. Sun In contains strong chemicals. Be sure to keep it out of your eyes, nose, and mouth. Lemon juice is a natural ingredient, but it is another potent preparation. Its active ingredient is citric acid.
Lemon juice can cause eye, scalp, and skin irritation. If you have very sensitive skin, you should consider whether using Sun In is worth it. If you want to highlight your hair, protect your hairline with petroleum jelly and a cotton wrap before spraying on the product.
Frequently Asked Questions
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People often ask questions about Sun In hair lightener and whether it is bad for your hair. Here are some of these questions and our detailed answers.
Is Sun In hair lightener bleach?
Sun In contains hydrogen peroxide, which is considered a non-chlorine bleach. Lemon juice will also bleach hair when you apply sunlight or heat.
Hair bleaches like Sun In can produce a great-looking result if you carefully follow the directions on the package. The trick is caring for the hair so it doesn’t become brittle.
Is Sun In dyeing your hair?
Sun In does not dye your hair. It does the opposite by removing color. It takes the color from the hair by opening the cuticle and exposing the melanin to hydrogen peroxide.
It works similarly to commercial peroxide bleach but is not quite as strong. Even so, you need to handle it carefully and follow the package directions.
How often should you put Sun In in your hair?
If you already have light brown to medium blonde hair, you can use Sun In once or twice a week. Follow up with a deep conditioner. Do not use it daily, or you can severely damage your hair.
If you don’t get the desired results, wait a week before applying the product again. This step will prevent drying the hair too much.
Will Sun In give me unwanted hair colors?
Sun In is best for medium blonde to dark blonde hair. If you try it on medium to dark brown hair, you will get a reddish color. Dark hair may even turn orange.
If you have minerals like iron in your tap water or swim in a chlorinated pool, your highlighted hair may change color unexpectedly. This problem happens because the peroxide in Sun In opens the cuticle and allows the new color molecules to enter.
Iron will turn your hair red, while chlorine will turn it green. If this problem happens, your only solution may be to cut your hair off.
Do not try to re-bleach the hair, or you will experience severe damage. If you use Sun In, make sure there are no staining minerals in your water and avoid swimming in chlorinated pools. If you want to swim in a pool, wear a swim cap.
Is hair lightener bad for your hair?
Yes, a hair lightener is bad for your hair in many cases. Any time you bleach your hair, whether with a product like Sun In or commercial peroxide bleach, you risk seriously damaging your hair.
Any hair-lightening product risks turning your hair brittle, straw-like, and damaged. If you want highlights without the risk of ruining your hair, it may be better to visit a salon.
So, Is Sun In Hair Lightener Bad for Your Hair?
Sun In is okay for some hair colors when used carefully, but it can cause damage in other types and colors. Be sure to ask your hairdresser about the possible permanent consequences before using Sun In.
If you want to lighten your blonde hair, you can achieve excellent results, but if you want to use it on a darker color, be prepared for the possibility of a red or orange hue. Happy coloring!