Are you ready to have a change of mane color? Changing your hair color is a big deal as it affects how you look and directly impacts the growth and health of your strands. You have been pondering over a fresh new look for weeks now, and you feel the stars have indeed aligned to get you popping and fun.
Well, search no more as we talked to top colorists and put together this comprehensive guide on bleaching your hair at home. But first, are you sure you want to whiten your hair entirely or lighten it a shade or two? What does it mean to lighten, bleach or color treat your hair?
Here is a breakdown of everything you need to know before bleaching your hair!
What is hair bleaching?
Hair Bleaching removes some of the dye from already colored treated hair from a darker to a lighter shade.
It is prudent to have someone to help you apply bleaching to your hair, helping you reach every last strand quickly if you want salon-quality results at home. But since you are reading this, you probably already looked up the solutions and are determined to bleach your hair at home anyway.
Hair Bleach vs Lightening Kits?
Hair lightening artificially reduces the pigment in your natural hair to arrive at a lighter shade. Lightening creams and powders also use bleaching action on your natural coloring and can lift your hair lightness by up to 8 tones at a go.
However, the two processes are similar in action as they produce permanent results. We recommend using bond protective additives such as Olapex in the bleach solution because bleaching action is detrimental to hair bonds.
Can I Use Color to Lighten My Hair?
Hair Coloring treatments simultaneously bleach and add color pigment to hair. A hair is bleached and a new color applied in a two-step action, i.e., the natural hair pigment is removed in the first stage and replaced with artificially generated pigments in the second. Please note that one color can’t remove another! This means that you cannot get a lighter shade than the current one if you use this method because dyes do not lighten colors.
When compared to hair bleaching products, hair color can reach any hue but can only be changed by the tone by 3-4 levels except for unique high-lift hair colors.
Steps To Safely Bleach Your Hair at Home
1. Assess your hair health
Like a patient ready to go under, you have to prepare your hair and make sure it can pull through after the harsh treatment of bleaching action. Pros do an elasticity test using a few hair strands to see if the hair is too stretchy. You can achieve this at home by spraying your strands with water and gently stretching it out. If it does not break or turn gummy, you should be good to go. We also recommend doing a patch test to see your end results before applying them to the rest of your hair. It matters if you have done any prior treatments and so on.
2. Assemble your tools and aid
You will need quite a few tools and someone to help you through the process unless you are handy with multitasking and have fast hands. You might need some things on your checklist, depending on the kit you choose.
- Developer
- Lightener
- Purple shampoo
- Toner
- Plastic bag /shower cape
- Color lightener tub
- Applicator
- Some old clothes or towels
- Timer
3. Prepare your hair
Get your hair ready according to the instructions on your package. As a rule of thumb, you want your hair to be hydrated, and things like coconut oil will do the trick. Let it sit for an hour or more to properly absorb the hair.
4. Mixing the product- Don’t wing it–proper portion sizes are crucial, so measure carefully!
You should read the instructions ahead of time and have all the necessary steps at your fingertips. Pay attention to the exposure times. You might wonder why dying, bleaching and pretty much every job at the salon involving color is a two or three-woman job as opposed to just the one for jobs like braiding. Hair colorists need assistants to run the process in a timely and fast-paced manner because exposure is the ultimate determinant of the final product.
5. Apply the Mixture – point of no return!
It is best to divide your hair into at least four sections to work through it faster as time is of the essence with minimal room for error. All strands need to be covered in the solution, but it varies with the product type. Some products go near the roots, and those are applied at least two inches and up.
6. Expose, then wash it off –be gentle but thorough!
When you are done applying the mixture, you have to wait the specified time. Usually, the time will affect the intensity of the change. There is typically a chart to help you determine how long you want to expose for desired results.
When the timer is off, it’s time to wash out the solution with lukewarm water. Lukewarm is essential because your hair is already in shock, and you do not want to worsen the impact.
7. Use Toner –get rid of the brassiness
If you are yet to find an application for the color wheel in elementary school in your life, then this is it! Using the correct Toner will help eliminate unwanted yellow hues that linger on your tips after bleaching. There are instructions for using the product you choose for this step, and you should follow them keenly. Afterwards, it will say to rinse your hair once more, then wash and shampoo. You can then add conditioner to your hair as desired.
8. Show off your new look- maintain and repair
Now that you have successfully bleached your hair, you might want to invest in purple shampoo to neutralize the orange and yellowish hues that might keep reappearing in your hair. Finally, you need to give your hair some love after the rather harsh treatment of the bleaching action. There are plenty of repair hair mask products you can choose from for application at least twice a week for the first few weeks.
FAQs
What Do You Need To Bleach Your Hair?
Items you need for your kit vary slightly, but you will generally need; Blonde powder bleach, Crème developer (20, 30, or 40 volume), Red gold corrector, Toner (optional), Neutral protein filler, Plastic bowl, Gloves and a tinting brush.
What Is The Healthiest Way To Bleach Hair?
Bleaching is inevitably harmful to hair, but hair can withstand bleaching and recover with the proper application while strictly following instructions on quantities and time.
Can You Use Normal Bleach On Hair?
Using regular household bleach on hair is dangerous as it can severely damage hair. It can be safely applied for darker hair colors but is not recommended for shades lighter than light brown. Do this at your own peril!
How Long Should I Bleach My Hair?
Typical bleaching products should not be left on hair longer than 30 minutes. Leaving bleach on hair too long could cause severe damage to brittle strands.
Does Bleaching Your Hair Damage It Forever?
Bleaching results are permanent. Like many other hair treatments, it harms strands, but hair can usually recover when done well.
How Do You Bleach Just Roots?
To bleach only roots, you will need to get an appropriate, safe developer for your skin and apply it to the roots.
Can You Bleach And Dye Your Hair On The Same Day?
We do not offer advice that you bleach and dye your hair simultaneously because it increases the amount of damage.
How long after bleaching can I dye my hair?
Wait several days to let the strands recover from bleaching before you dye your hair. It can still be done on the same day, but it depends on your current hair condition.