Sun-In for Dark Hair

You must have heard about the sun bleaching your hair naturally while you are soaking up in the sun casually. But this natural hair lightening technique has its own disadvantages as the heat from the sun makes your hair dry and brittle. 

sun-in hair lightener

What is Sun-In?


To mimic the bleaching effects of the sun, a spray-in hair lightener called Sun-In was launched about 30 years ago. It works wonders on our hair with its two lightening agents, namely, Hydrogen Peroxide and Lemon Juice. Sun-In has an edge over the natural method as it comes with loads of natural ingredients providing moisture to your hair. Juice of Aloe Vera leaf and extract from Chamomile flower provides the necessary hydration to your roots and makes them super soft and shiny while providing light highlights to them.



Sun-In Variants


The spray comes in two variants, namely, Tropical Breeze and Lemon Fresh. Both show the same lightening results with the difference only in their fragrance. The pink bottled Tropical Breeze has a nice flowery fragrance while the yellow bottled Lemon Fresh comes with a lemony smell. You can choose the variant that smells better to you.



Sun-In for dark hair


The lightening spray is suitable for you if you are aiming to get a color up to two shades lighter than your natural one. It is also useful when you are planning to get some natural-looking highlights to your lustrous locks. So, if your natural hair color is dark brown, you will get a light brown, honey, or amber shade. Working with the black hair, you will achieve shades of brown. And, if you have red hair, you will see yourself in lighter shades of red. 


Sun-in works best with light-toned hair. Medium to dark blonde hair would be a perfect fit for getting the bleaching effect. It does work wonders on dark hair too but takes a little longer to show up the results.



How to use Sun-In for dark hair?


You just need to spray it generously on your hair and soak in some sun for a few hours to see the results. After a few sessions, you will be able to see the difference in your hair color.


If you just want to add some highlights to your hair, you can do it in two ways. If it is possible to tie the hair you don’t want to color, tie them and spray the remaining hair with Sun-In. If it is not possible to do it with the aforementioned method, you can open the lid of the spray bottle completely and apply the Sun-In liquid on the hair you want to highlight with the help of a hairbrush. This is the easiest method for at-home hair lightening treatment.


Due to our busy schedules, sometimes we don’t have enough time to spend hours in the sun. In such a situation, you can dry your hair with a hairdryer after spraying them with the Sun-In lightener. It will give you the same effect as that of the sun, as Sun-In is made in a way to function with heat application. Just like in the case of sunny sessions, you will require a few of these hair dryer sessions too to observe changes in your hair color. This method is generally more preferable due to cancer-causing properties of UV rays produced by the sun.



Side-effects of using Sun-In  


When it was first introduced, people started using Sun-In in any random manner they liked without modifying their hair care routine. People complained of having orange or brassy hair after its application. From the experiences of its decade-old users, it has been found out that the hair turns out brassy if you have dyed your hair to a darker tone earlier. Other than that, there are no known side-effects of using Sun-In and include it in your hair lightening routine.



Useful Tips for Sun-In application


Avoid skin contact


As Sun-In contains Hydrogen Peroxide, it is advised not to apply it on your skin directly. Spray it away from your scalp and avoid contact with the facial skin. Though it is a disinfectant and skin lightener if used in diluted form, the dissolution varies with the function Hydrogen Peroxide is required to perform. Since Sun-In is made only for hair, which is dead structures, it is not recommended to apply it to your skin cells. 


It might cause itchiness, bruises, swelling, burning sensations, redness, blistering, stinging, ulcers, or pain. You must wash it immediately if an accidental application happens and consult the skin specialist if the problem prevails.


Damp your hair before use


Many people apply the Sun-In spray on dry hair but its decade-old users have reported that it works best on damp hair. Towel-dry your hair after a good rinse and let them dry naturally until damp. Apply Sun-In on the parts of hair you wish to highlight and work the comb through them while blow-drying them. Your dream color will start to show-up within few days.


Restore moisture


Once your hair is completely dry after your hair lightening session with Sun-In, lock-in moisture with a hair serum or an oil of your choice. This is crucial to prevent dry and itchy scalp which can lead to brittle hair.


Don’t over-do


Some of you might be in a hurry to get those lighter shade locks for a special event or a weekend trip. But, experts advise against using the hair lightening products on a daily basis, however safe they are. Wait for at least 3 to 4 days in between your lightning sessions to let your hair follicles produce their natural moisture. It will prevent your hair from getting dry and lifeless. 



Final Words


Sun-In is a very good alternative to expensive and time-consuming hair lightening treatment. It does demand your time that you can spare at your own convenience and do not require to stick to the appointment time given by a professional. It is also very cost-effective as by shelling out just a few bucks, you can get your dream highlights while at the comfort of your home!

Efforts have been made to get the information as accurate and updated as possible. If you found any incorrect information with credible source, please send it via the contact us form
Sky Hoon
Hair Lover, Idea Starter. He started HairQueenie, which is ranked #27 in the FeedSpot Top 40 Hair Care Blogs and mentions in ManeAddicts and Tempest. Hair is not everything but something. He started Hairqueenie to share great hair products. Over time, he found there are more value to share answers to hair problems that cannot be found easily.
Back to blog