5 Best Hair Lightening Sprays, Specialist-Recommended In 2024

If you are looking for a lighter hue on your locks to rock the perfect summer look, the best hair lightening spray is what you need to buy. It helps you tone down the present shade of your hair without putting in a lot of work or spending much on salon color applications. Simone De Vlaming, a beauty blogger, says, “Hair-lightening sprays contain ingredients such as ammonium persulfate, which remove pigment from hair follicles to create the appearance of lighter hair as if one had spent long hours under the sun. By applying it to your hair before sun exposure, you can achieve a lighter hair color for a significantly lower cost than a visit to a salon.”

So before you head out for permanent color, you can use hair lightening sprays to lighten up your locks temporarily. To help you, we are here with a list of the best hair-lightening sprays to flaunt your favorite hair color whenever you want.

In This Article

5 Best Hair Lightening Sprays To Flaunt Your Color In 2024

1. Best Paraben-Free: Sun Bum Blonde Formula Hair Lightener

worth-buy-icon

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

The 10,067 positive customer reviews on Amazon attest to the product’s quality.

This blonde hair spray brightens your locks with natural ingredients such as lemon and Hawaiian Lehua honey and provides visible results instantly. The paraben-free spray-on hair lightener also enhances the sun’s natural effect by adding subtle highlights and tones. It is ideal for natural and color-treated hair, as it protects against humidity, frizz, dullness, and UV oxidation. Take a look at this review video to learn more about this sun hair-lightening formula.

Item Weight: 5.12 Ounces | Hair Type: Color Treated | Product Dimensions: 1.55 x 1.55 x 6.4 inches
Our Reviewer's Experience

"My love for natural-ingredients-based products motivated me to buy this lightener and I am glad I did! It has enhanced my blonde highlights, and its Hawaiian Lehua Honey content has helped control my frizzy hair too."

protip_icon Quick Tip
Spray the product on the hair and blow dry to expedite the highlighting effect. However, avoid applying too much heat as it can damage the scalp and hair.

2. Best Ammonia-Free:Suntouched Hair Lightener For Dark Hair

star-ratingstar-ratingstar-ratingstar-ratingstar-rating
3.7
Suntouched Hair Lightener For Dark Hair Image: Suntouched

Infused with the goodness of chamomile, pineapple extract, lemon peels, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid, the hair lightening and brightening spray by Suntouched is suitable for all shades of dark hair. This professional-grade product works well on natural and colored hair, and its plant-derived formulation ensures gradual lightening of hair by up to three shades over prolonged use. Additionally, this nutrient-rich lightener spray for hair is free of ammonia, parabens, bleach, alcohol, and metallic salts, making it safe to use.

Hair Type: All
Our Reviewer's Experience

"The spray is not only effective but also prevents the hair from going dry or feeling like straw as the formulation is free of bleach and other nasties. Give it a try."

3. Best Brightening Spray: Sun-In Hair Lightener Spray Lemon Fresh

worth-buy-icon

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

The product boasts 1,454 reviews on Amazon, and many buyers have said they would purchase the product again.

Trusted for its proven efficacy, this is one of the best hair-lightening products, rich in aloe, chamomile, flaxseeds, and marigold, designed to brighten blonde to medium brown color hair. You can achieve natural highlights with this sun-lightening spray that promises lighter hair color using the sun’s heat. Check out this testing video to learn more about this illuminating mist for hair.

IHair Type: light | Product Dimensions: 10 x 6 x 6 inches | Weight: 5.92 Ounces
Our Reviewer's Experience

"After months of use, I have found this product to be a gradual lightener for my hair, providing a natural transition. Just keep in mind not to overuse it or else it could lead to dryness."

protip_icon Do remember
Shake the bottle well before use to ensure the product is thoroughly mixed. Hold it four to six inches away from the hair and spray.
Sun Bum Blonde Formula Hair Lightener
Best Paraben-Free
Suntouched Hair Lightener For Dark Hair
Best Ammonia-Free
Sun-In Hair Lightener Spray Lemon Fresh
Best Brightening Spray
Weight 5.12 Ounces--
Hair Type Color Treated All-
Dimensions 1.55 x 1.55 x 6.4 inches- 10 x 6 x 6 inches
IHair Type-- light
Weight-- 5.92 Ounces
Rating
Reviews10,0671141,454
Price$14.99$36$7.66

4. Best Silicone-Free: Klorane Sun Lightening Spray

The chamomile- and honey-infused natural hair-lightening spray adds brightness to the hair while also lightening the locks. This DIY hair lightening spray free of bleaching agents and high in conditioning ingredients offers a fantastic professional-grade sunny look. The product is silicone-, paraben-, and hydrogen peroxide-free and it instantly gives you smooth and silky strands.

5. Best Conditioning Polymers: John Frieda Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Controlled Lightening Spray

Best Conditioning Polymers
*The prices provided in this article are based on the latest available information. However, they may vary due to changes in pricing by the seller and/or promotional offers.

The heat-activated hair-lightening spray is formulated with a blend of citrus and chamomile, which gradually brightens blonde hair, by up to two shades. It visibly lightens your hair within three to five uses, making it suitable to achieve a celebrity-inspired beach look. It doubles as a highlighting spray and is rich in conditioning polymers that retain hydrogen peroxide for controlled hair lightening.

Hair Type: All Types Of Hair,Colored Hair | Product Dimensions: 6 x 4 x 4 inches | Weight: 10.24 Ounces

Pros

  • Safe to use on natural, color-treated, or highlighted hair
  • Gives a natural-looking finish
  • Contains thermal-protectant
  • Works best with flat iron or curling iron

Cons

  • Might not be suitable to use on naturally dark or bleached hair.
  • Might dry hair out for some
Our Reviewer's Experience

"I loved seeing my hair go from dark brown to a soft blonde, without any hair damage, with the help of this handy spray. It's effortless to apply post-shower, and I have noticed that the result is much better when I blow dry my hair."

How To Choose The Right Hair-Lightening Spray?

We have compiled a list of factors to assist you in selecting the best hair-lightening spray.

  1. Duration of results: If you want a fast outcome, go with an instant result spray. However, if you are not sure what hue you want, go with a progressive spray.
  2. Hair condition: Whether your hair is bleached or dyed, you will need to buy a product that matches your hair’s current state.
  3. Paraben-free formulations: To protect your hair from damage, choose hair lighteners that are free of parabens and chemicals.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does a lightening spray work on dark hair?

Yes, it could work, but it depends on the tone and shade of the hair.

2. Is it safe to use hair-lightening spray on my hair?

While lightening sprays are safe to use, some ingredients may cause allergic reactions or skin irritation in some individuals. Therefore, it is good to choose a hair-lightening spray that does not contain chemicals and allergens.

3. Is lightener the same as bleach?

No, hair lighteners can only lift a small amount of pigment from the hair and lighten the hair by only a few shades. Whereas, bleach is stronger and can drastically lightens dark hair by breaking the hair pigment.

4. How long can lightener stay on hair?

Depending on the formula a hair lightener can last up to two to three weeks and needs reapplication as directed by the manufacturer.

5. Does hair lightening spray work on dye hair?

Not all hair lightening sprays are effective on dyed hair. It is recommended to check the product description to make sure the product works on dyed hair types.

6. Can I use hair lightening spray daily?

No, hair lightening spray is not suitable for daily use, as regular use may damage the hair. They should not be used more than twice a week or as sparingly as possible to limit hair damage.

Why Trust MomJunction?

Taking good care of hair while getting the right blonde tone is quite tricky with changing trends. Therefore, Poulami Nag, the author of this post, has done thorough research based on her vast experience writing product articles on haircare to compile a list of the best hair lightening spray. She also added the product description and a buying guide to help you consider your pick based on duration of results, hair condition, and paraben-free solutions. She also answered some common queries on hair lightening spray products so that you can make a well-informed decision.

The Bottom Line

It is not always possible to go to a salon to get your hair colored. But, you can achieve your dream light-haired look with hair-lightening sprays that are easy to apply and convenient. However, consider the duration, hair type, scalp health, and application process for your convenience. These sprays do not damage your hair and give you a natural lightening effect that lasts long. Also, choose a chemical- and paraben-free product, such as the Sun Bum Blonde Formula Hair Lightener, to avoid irritation and allergies. The Klorane Sun Lightening Spray is another excellent choice for those looking for a nourishing, silicone-free option. We hope our list of the best hair-lightening sprays can help you understand the available options.

Infographic: How To Use Hair Lightening Spray?

It is crucial to read the instructions on the packaging before using hair lightening sprays. The instructions may differ from one product to another, but some steps are standard. This infographic describes an effective way of using a hair lightening spray.

Infographic: How To Use Hair Lightening Spray?

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team


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Simone De Vlaming
Simone De VlamingMakeup & Skincare
Simone de Vlaming is a Dutch-based beauty expert, content creator, beauty blogger, and founder of Beautymone.com. She specializes in makeup, skincare, fragrances, and nails. During her graduation days, Simone decided to start a beauty blog as an outlet for her passion and work as a beauty advisor in a beauty store/perfumery.

Read full bio of Simone De Vlaming
Poulami Nag
Poulami NagMA, PG Dip.
Poulami is an associate editor at MomJunction. She did her MA in English from Miranda House, University of Delhi and has qualified UGC-NET. She also holds a PG diploma in Editing and Publishing from Jadavpur University. Her journey as a content writer began in 2017 and since then, Poulami has garnered diverse interests along the way.

Read full bio of Poulami Nag
Shreya is a gold medalist with a master’s degree in clinical psychology from SGT University, Gurugram. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in applied psychology from Amity University, Gwalior. Her interest in human behavior and extensive years of learning and training in psychology has instilled in her the skills to understand the consumer psyche to optimize the reader's experience.

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Deyasini Biswas
Deyasini BiswasBA English (Hons), Diploma in Advanced Fashion Styling
Deyasini holds a bachelor's honors degree in English Literature from Jadavpur University and a postgraduate diploma in Advanced Fashion Styling from the London College of Style. She has three years of experience in the fashion industry, working as an editorial and product stylist, following which she has chosen to return to her roots in the language arts as a commerce content writer at MomJunction.

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