Product Review: Sun In Hair Lightener

Sun In Hair Lightener has two snazzy new bottles. Gone is the plain rounded white pump spray bottle in favor of funky blended shades of pink and orange for the Original formula and yellow with soft green for the Lemon product. The bottles new slender oblong shape makes it easier to hold, store in the medicine cabinet or pack in a beach bag. Gone is the little plastic pump spray cover that almost always seemed to come off and get lost. The new look sports a flip-down lever which I thought was very clever. Unfortunately the gizmo popped off the first time I flipped it down. Not a problem, the unique design will prevent any accidental spraying that sometimes happens with standard pump spray products.

As the name implies, Sun In Hair Lightener is a product that lightens your hair. It is easy to use. Simply spray on damp hair and comb through. If you want a streaked look, select and spray strands of your hair. You might want to select a strand about as thick as your pinky at the front of your do, spay and combing only that stand. Or add a blonde streak to frame both sides of your face. The summer of my shag haircut I only highlighted the wispy hairs at the nape of my neck for a different look. Sun In Hair Lightener is heat activated, and the lightening action only works while your hair is damp. Not a problem. You can fill an old spray bottle with water to rewet the hair. Also, you are bound to get your hair wet when spending a day at the beach. You can use Sun In to lighten your hair in the winter, by using your blow dryer's heat to start the process.

Using Sun In will give you natural sun-bleached hair without having to spend days in the sun to get it. Frequent use and you will look like a beach bum in no time. Sun In Hair Lightener contains no alcohol, and no metallic dyes. Containing botanicals such as aloe, marigold, chamomile and flaxseed it is safe for most everyone to use. The Lemon formula contains real lemon juice which gives it that fresh, lemony scent. The label mentions "special illuminators" that give extra shine to your lightened hair. It also claims using the product will pamper your hair. Refuse to tell you how many years I have been using Sun In and claiming the highlights were all natural, but will tell you it has never caused any damage.

Sun In is distributed from Chattem, Inc, a respected health and beauty product manufacturer. The company started in 1879 as The Chattem Medicine Company. Bullfrog Sunblock, Balmex diaper rash ointment, Pamprin and Icy Hot are some of their other products. Chattem has had some ownership changes through the years. Its longlivity and the staying power of its products, speak well for the quality. I did mention how many years I have used it, right? You can purchase Sun In at most major drugstores such as Walgreens or RiteAid. It is also available at grocers such as Albertsons or Krogers and mass merchandisers like Walmart. Visit Chattem's website and use the "Where to Buy" feature at the top of the site for a full listing.

If you have modeling aspirations you might want to visit Sun In's website for details of their "Glow in the Sun" contest. By clicking on one of the bottles at Sun In's website and using the "Buy Now" link, you will also find locations that sell the product. Though Sun In is usually found in the Hair Coloring section of the stores, with the arrival of spring it is often on display with summer skin care products. It retails for about $4.99. Watch for a sale to save money. Sun In lasts a long time. Unused product will work just as well next summer, making it value priced. As mentioned I have been using it for a few years. OK, a little more than a few. The only time I finished one of the 4.7 fl oz bottles in one season was the year my 3 year son and husband's hair suddenly became almost completely blonde. Guess who used up the entire bottle in one spraying and it was not the 3 year old.

One final comment on Sun In Hair Lightener: the label says it is recommended for light or medium brown and blonde hair. It may cause dark brown hair to get reddish highlights. My hair is a naturally dark mousey brown shade. It is true that sometimes the blonde streaks had reddish highlights the few times I used. However, the overall effect is sunlightened blonde. I recommend Sun In Hair Lightener to anyone desiring to highlight there hair without all the fuss and bother of traditional hair coloring products or a trip to the salon. PS: after I lied and said, "the sun did it", I immediately confessed attributing my admired not so mousey hair to Sun In Hair Lightener. Unlike my ex-husband who swore he had no idea why my bottle of Sun In was empty.