There are times when I must use bleach or ammonia to clean?

I have short brown hair and want to highlight it without nasty chemicals. I do not want to go to a hairdresser or use commercial products at the store because they contain bleach and ammonia. Can I use hydrogen peroxide mixed with lemon juice?

• Answer:

  Hydrogen peroxide is a 'nasty chemical' and combining it with another chemical, such as the acids in lemon juice could lead to a nasty surprise. I've had friends try use lemon juice in the past to highlight their hair to no avail - all that really happened was that the overall condition of their hair declined and the hair shafts were weakened. If you want to get it done properly and with best effect on your hair, go for the commercial products as they contain buffering aids to neutralise the active acids or bases present in the solution and other chemicals with properties that can help prevent the damage caused by such caustic chemicals. Using a straight acid such as citric acid won't provide you with the same counterbalancing effect and will only damage your hair.