Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Bonnie Burke [1]

Like many brunettes, I spent my Summers squeezing lemon juice onto my hair [2] in hopes of its elusive lightening properties. Since I was a natural hair virgin, it seemed like the only way to go blond. Turns out, I may have been looking in the wrong grocery store aisle. Tea shares many of the same properties as hair dyes, minus the gunky chemicals. From chamomile to English breakfast, there's a flavor out there right for you.

According to this study from The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, brewed green tea creates catechins [3], antioxidants found in henna and many plant dyes. You can create a rinse [4] by brewing three chamomile teabags. Add a tablespoon of rosemary and sage herbs, and let it sit for a day. Then strain the tea and pour it into a spray bottle. After your next shower, spritz your hair with the mixture and towel-dry. Repeat this ritual until you've reached your desired lightness.

If you're a blonde trying to go darker, simply switch to black tea. It contains caffeine, which also promotes hair growth and which has been used successfully in studies to combat baldness [5].

Image Source: E! [6]

Cheers!