Your Hair Will Love Lemon Juice
Fresh lemon juice doesn't damage, leave residue, or dry out your hair! On the contrary, it is extremely beneficial for improving your scalp and hair health. Most of the benefits from lemon juice come from its high amounts of natural citric acid and vitamin C. The citric acid naturally found in it plays a huge role in scalp/hair health for many different reasons:
- Citric acid can help break down the fungus that causes dandruff
- Normalizes the pH of your hair (for shinier hair)
- Improves the health of your hair follicles (encouraging hair growth)
- Absorbs excess oils
- Soothes an itchy scalp
Lemon juice contains more citric acid than most citrus fruits which is why it's so sour! Natural citric acid is clearly impressive, so now let's take a look at vitamin C and how it can benefit your hair & scalp.
- Vitamin C helps your scalp to absorb iron, which leads to hair growth
- Prevents hair from greying prematurely
- Re-stimulates dormant hair follicles
Together, citric acid and vitamin C work together to make lemon juice extremely beneficial for your hair & scalp. However, if you use lemon juice directly on your hair, do not let it sit in your hair for hours. Rinse it out well using natural soap!
Lightens Hair
Lemon juice can have a slight lightening effect when partnered with the sun. If you are planning on using it directly in your hair, make sure you are aware of this. For everyone that wants their hair to have a lighter tone, here is a step-by-step routine on how to use lemon juice to lighten your hair:
1. Create a Lemon Mixture (4 tablespoons of fresh-squeezed lemon juice, 1 cup of water)
2. Spray mixture through hair
3. Apply 100% aloe vera gel throughout hair
4. Sunbathe hair (sit in the sun) for 15 mins
5. Wash hair with our Cool Lemon bar
6. Sun/Air dry hair
If you repeat this routine every time you wash your hair, over time you should notice a change in your hair color (may vary depending on your hair's natural color).
Lemon Juice For Face & Skin
Lemon juice should only be applied directly to your skin as a spot treatment. It can be harsh and lead to skin irritations when used in high amounts. It is beneficial to your skin when used responsibly as an ingredient in a natural product. Lemon juice contains high amounts of antioxidants and is antibacterial which can help to fight acne. It can detoxify and strengthen your facial skin which leads to softer, smoother, and brighter skin.
The History of... Lemons
Throughout history, lemon trees have been traded and were even carried along the Silk Road! In 1289, fifteen lemons were delivered from Spain to England and slowly began to become more well known. During the middle-ages, these "golden apples" were known for their healing properties. Christopher Columbus introduced lemon seeds to Hispaniola about 70 years before the first lemon trees (in the United States) were growing in South Carolina and Florida in 1565. About 200 years later, California started growing lemons and eventually became the leader in lemon production in the Western Hemisphere. In the past two decades, Guatemala and Southern Mexico became major growers of lemons, mainly using their peels for essential oil. From a global perspective, the Eastern Hemisphere still produces the majority of lemons, with India being the world leader in lemon production. The health benefits of lemons were recognized all throughout history and they are still appreciated amongst herbalists!