Understanding the Basics of Hair Bleaching
Hair bleaching is a chemical process by which the natural pigments of your hair are removed. It can be done using bleach, which contains oxidizers and other chemicals to help lighten the hair. Bleaching your hair can have various effects depending on the type of bleach you use and the quality of your hair. It’s important to understand the basics of hair bleaching before you decide to do it.
What is Hair Bleaching?
Bleaching hair is the lightening of one’s natural or artificially and colored hair. It is an effective way of changing natural color to achieve a desired shade. Hair bleaching can create anything from a subtle change to a wild, outrageous color. By breaking down the melanin in the hair and altering its chemical structure, hair can be lightened to various degrees, depending on the product used.
There are generally two types of bleach used when dealing with coloring your hair—oxidative and non-oxidative bleaches. Oxidative bleach works by lifting the pigments in your natural color, while non-oxidative only works when abused with another direct dye such as pre-lightened tones like platinum or blue/violet itself. Depending on what shade you are trying to achieve, the stylist will use either type accordingly but we recommend using an oxidative bleach for all shades because it’s simpler and safer for the hair than non-oxidative dyes.
When it comes to home bleaching kits most contain hydrogen peroxide at varying concentrations as well as ammonia that helps lift pigment from your follicles creating your lighter color. Home kits also contain specific directions which should be followed carefully as they can differ depending on what brand you buy and instructions need to be followed accurately in order to ensure best results when attempting to bleach your own hair safely at home. As far as lightening more than one level that is generally recommended done by professional dyeing service due its complexity of doing this yourself at home versus professional services who have more trained knowledge in this area.
What are the Different Types of Hair Bleaching Agents?
Hair bleaching is a chemical process that lightens the natural pigment of the hair, making it lighter or even white. There are a variety of bleaching agents and processes used to achieve different shades, depending on the desired results. The most common types of bleaching agents are peroxide-based, ammonia-based and bleach-based.
- Peroxide-Based Bleaching Agents: These products use hydrogen peroxide to lighten hair. Peroxide opens the cuticle on the hair shafts and breaks down melanin, which is what gives our hair its color. The higher the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in a product, the more it will lighten hair, but stronger concentrations can damage the hair if used improperly.
- Ammonia-Based Bleaching Agents: These products contain both ammonia and hydrogen peroxide. Ammonia “swells” cuticles in order to let hydrogen peroxide into the cortex of a strand in order to break down melanin faster than with just using hydrogen peroxide alone. However, it can also cause damage to fragile strands if left on too long or used too often since these products tend to have higher levels of pH than other bleaching agents.
- Bleach-Based Bleaching Agents: Bleach is actually a combination of sodium hypochlorite (bleach) and ammonium hydroxide (ammonia) that can be very damaging if used improperly since they open up the cuticles quicker than other products while also dissolving melanin at a faster rate so therefore your strands need extra care after using these types of bleaches in order minimize any damage done to them during this process!
Is it Safe to Use Bleach on Hair?
Bleaching your hair can be a great way to lighten and brighten your hair color. However, using bleach on your hair can cause severe damage if not done properly. So, is it safe to use bleach on hair? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of bleaching your hair to help you decide if it is the right choice for you.
- Pros:
- Cons:
Potential Side Effects of Hair Bleaching
Hair bleaching is a chemical process and, as with any chemical process, carries with it some risks. Although uncommon, side effects after bleaching can occur and can lead to long-term hair damage. Common side effects include irritation of the scalp, dry and brittle hair, and discoloration that may be difficult to remove.
One of the most common side effects of hair bleaching is scalp irritation. The harshness of the chemicals used in bleaching can cause skin irritation such as burning or redness on people with sensitive scalps. Bleached hair can also become dry and brittle over time due to the stripping of natural oils from the strand as well as from combing and styling hair mechanically. If you are wearing a protective style like braids or weaves for long periods of time, it is important to moisturize regularly to reduce these risks.
Another potential issue with bleaching your hair is an uneven color result or discoloration that could be hard or impossible to reverse due to its permanence on certain areas of your scalp or strands. Uneven coloration often happens when a person chooses a higher level bleach concentration than what’s necessary for their desired shade or enhancer results. Additionally, incorrect application after wash treatments might result in visible darker patches on different parts throughout the strand, leaving behind spots which may take multiple processes to correct if ever possible at all. To avoid this issue altogether it’s always recommended to consult an expert stylist before making any big changes regardless of your experience level when working with chemicals.
Tips for Safely Bleaching Hair
For those looking to go from dark to light hair, bleaching may be the best option. However, it is important to follow safety tips and know the potential risks when bleaching your hair at home.
Before starting the process of bleaching hair with bleach, it’s important to read instructions carefully and understand all safety precautions. You should also consider patch-testing products before decided on a full treatment. In addition, it’s always best to use the appropriate product for your hair type and texture.
It’s crucial to wear protective eye wear while bleaching your tresses as chlorine fumes can irritate eyes, nose and lungs if inhalation occurs. It’s also essential that you wear gloves while performing this process. Finally, be sure your work area is well-ventilated by using an open window or fan when working with bleach-based products in order to avoid both irritation and reactions should skin contact occur.
When using bleach on hair, never use more than what’s recommended in directions as too much can cause major breakage (in severe cases scalp burns) or discoloration in color treated hair such as highlights. Additionally, permanent color can cause an over-processed look which is why semi-permanent color formulas are often best for newbies along with someone who dyes their strands regularly or has differences in shade from root to ends. Furthermore moderation is key when deciding how often you should bleach your locks; whether you choose a single processed shade near blonde or highlighted hues, too much exposure or treatments done too frequently will oftentimes lead to brittle tresses that tend break off easily with seemingly no explanation causing uneven locks that eventually lead up needing a stronger levels of conditioning treatments.
How to Bleach Hair at Home
Bleaching hair can give you a totally new look, from lighter streaks to an all-over platinum blonde. If you’re looking to lighten your hair at home, you can use store-bought bleach kits to do the job. However, it’s important to take the necessary precautions to ensure a safe and successful bleaching process.
In this article, we’ll discuss how to bleach hair at home, from preparing your hair and scalp to how to use the bleach kit for optimal results:
- Preparing your hair and scalp.
- Using the bleach kit.
- Caring for bleached hair.
Selecting the Right Bleaching Agent
When it comes to bleaching your hair at home, the most important decision you will make is choosing the right bleaching agent. Generally, any bleaching agent should contain active ingredients like hydrogen peroxide or sodium hydroxide to lift color from your hair. You may find that some formulas include additional ingredients, like oils or baking soda, which act as protectants and help reduce scalp irritation during processing.
When selecting a bleach product, you will want to consider the strength of its active ingredients and how they need to be mixed in order for it to be effective. When it comes to hydrogen peroxide formula, check whether it has single strength (15-20-volume) or double strength (30-40-volume) peroxide: single strength (1 part peroxide mixed with 2 parts of developer/activator) is not strong enough to lighten your natural shade, while double strength can be used as a standalone treatment or as a pre-lightening booster that lifts your existing shade. The stronger the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in your product, the higher risk of scalp irritation and hair dryness; for this reason many professionals recommend gentle bleach products with limited potency for DIY home use. Other types of bleaches include powdered bleach and cream bleaches which require “activating” with additional agents like baking soda or shampoo.
To ensure safety during at home haircoloring process always apply strand test using chosen bleach before starting process for at entire full head application – this will help you anticipate results without risking unexpected outcomes due to lack of knowledge in hair coloring industry standards and best practices. For intermediate level at home hairdressers we strongly suggest consultation with professional colorist prior attempting complex processes such as dimensional full head applications of balayage highlights even if done with professional grade products available on retail market – best practice should always remain use off protective sleepwear while processing hair with any type of chemical compound including but not limited depend regular shampooing agents available over counter markets – also never ingest any type off chemicals used while attempting hair services regardless off brand manufacturer reputation off quality assurance standards implemented by mainstream media outlets such as advertising campaigns used extensively within beauty industry, where outdated information coded by unregulated agencies often leads wrong decisions when selecting wrong type off products required for specific use cases when attempting complex processes without supervision from licensed cosmetology facilities protected legally by international board certification requirements mutual agreement between governing bodies and public citizens in relation needed from health care services organization.
Preparing Your Hair for Bleaching
Bleaching is a chemical process that requires extreme caution to avoid damaging your hair. Before using any harsh chemical on your scalp, you want to make sure that your hair is healthy and strong enough to handle the process. Therefore, it’s important to give your hair a thorough cleanse and prepare it with the right products before getting started with bleaching.
It’s essential to start by shampooing the hair twice with a clarifying shampoo to strip away product build-up, dirt, and oils from the scalp. This helps ensure that there are no residues that get caught in the strands during bleaching. You can also use a deep condition after shampooing and rinsing out the clarifying shampoo for extra nourishment before bleaching.
Once you have washed your strands and scalp thoroughly, you’re ready for the next step of pre-bleach preparation – protein treatments. Protein treatments strengthen every strand in anticipation of what’s coming next – bleach!
And then lastly (but not least) use an anti-dandruff shampoo mixed with apple cider vinegar shortly before you are set to bleach your hair just two minutes before applying any bleach solution directly onto your scalp or any other areas of your skin around the perimeter of the head and ears, leave it on for two minutes more, rinse it off completely one last time with warm water again, until all traces of flaky residue has been removed. This will help accelerate results when prepping for bleaching and prevent itchiness on impact when using bleach products as well as helping prevent allergies if there are any present beforehand on impact later when beginning procedure.
Bleaching Your Hair
Bleaching your hair can sound like a daunting task that requires heavy chemical treatments, but with the right products and precautions, it’s possible to bleach hair at home. It’s important to research proper safety protocols, use protective gloves and clothing, and have a keen understanding of how your hair will react to the bleaching process.
To begin preparing to bleach your hair at home, you will need to select products specifically designed for bleaching hair from a trusted salon or store. The best choice for achieving desired results is a professional-grade color-bleach product, such as one that contains hydrogen peroxide. It is also recommended that you use a clarifying shampoo prior to using bleach in order to rid the hair of any dirt or product build-up that could interfere with the process.
When applying the bleach mixture, always start with small sections at the bottom of your hair, working in an upward motion through all layers until everything is evenly covered. Encourage even product penetration by spacing each section out as much as possible— this will help ensure consistent levels of lightening throughout all areas. Once fully coated and completely dry (a blow dryer can be used on high speed setting if necessary), apply heat by wrapping your head in plastic wrap or a towel which will help activate the bleaching action while disturbing it less often— leaving it wrapped for 45 minutes or longer depending on desired outcome is common practice but always read labels for specific instructions as every product may vary slightly in application cases.
Once complete, rinse all bleach out thoroughly with warm water— avoid harsh shampoos during this step so that you don’t strip away too much coloration during this process—and follow up with a deep conditioning mask or other hydrating treatment if needed. Keeping layer painting techniques under wraps and using gentle care when styling post-processed hair can also help extend the life of your new coloration!
Aftercare Tips
Bleaching your hair can give you a dramatic look that you’ve always wanted, but it’s also important to make sure that you’re taking proper precautions when it comes to aftercare. Bleaching can be extremely damaging to your hair, so it’s important to make sure that you’re taking the steps to make sure you’re taking care of it after you bleach.
In this section, we’ll go over some important aftercare tips:
What to Do After Bleaching Your Hair
Bleaching your hair is a serious process and it’s important to follow the proper aftercare steps to ensure the best possible results. After bleaching your hair, there are several things you should do to ensure your platinum locks stay looking their best.
- Immediately after bleaching, you should rinse your hair with an shampoo made for color-treated hair. This will help protect and seal in moisture and pH balance. You may also want to use a deep conditioning mask immediately following the bleach treatment; look for one that is specifically formulated for color-treated or damaged hair.
- About one week after bleaching, it’s important to trim any split ends that may have occurred during the bleaching process; this helps keep your locks looking healthy and promotes growth. If you notice your hair becoming dry or brittle, use an oil treatment or a leave-in conditioner to restore moisture to your locks.
- Finally, be sure to protect yourself from the sun when out and about! UV rays can damage newly bleached hair so by wearing a hat or using protective products like SPF hairspray/serum, you can help keep your tresses looking glossy and vibrant!
How to Maintain Bleached Hair
Bleaching hair is a chemical process, so it needs special attention afterwards. Whether you have experienced a full or partial bleach, taking the right steps to care for your hair can help you get the most out of your bleaching process. Some simple things you should do include:
- Follow up with a moisturizing treatment After bleaching, it is important to give your hair some extra love by doing a deep conditioning. This will help restore some moisture that was lost during the bleaching process and keep it healthy. Make sure to use shampoos formulated for color-treated hair and follow directions for how often to condition your hair.
- Protect from sun damage The sun’s rays can be damaging to both colored and non-colored hair, but especially when bleached! Whenever possible, make sure you protect your locks from extensive sun exposure with either natural oils or specially formulated UV sprays. These will also help keep any color fading more gradual over time than if you were not protecting at all.
- Rebleach only when necessary Partial rebleaches may be needed in order restore damaged areas of the cuticle layer over time or if you want to change up the color again in the future – but avoid rebleaching too often as otherwise this will damage your strands and take away its natural oils leaving them dry and brittle! It’s best to talk with a professional as they can recommend a plan specific to your needs so that you don’t have any surprises afterward!
- Keep careful coverage on lightened areas It’s common for visibly lighter pieces of hair near the scalp or temples that haven’t been fully bleached yet – take extra care when styling these areas as they may be very fragile! For these parts of your head make sure there is heat protection being used when heat styling – like ironing or curling – and always remember never brush wet (or even slightly damp) strands; let them completely dry before attempting!
When to Seek Professional Help
Although bleaching your hair at home is an easy and relatively cost-effective way to lighten and alter the color of your hair, it can be a risky move. If done improperly, the effects can be much worse than the desired results. If this happens to you, you should seek help from a professional hairdresser immediately.
A trained stylist has the skill and knowledge required to undo or correct any potential damage caused by bleaching.
It is also strongly recommended that aftercare advice should be followed strictly in order to ensure that your hair regains its strength and natural state over time. There are many products on the market designed specifically for keeping dyed or bleached hair healthy- looking, such as:
- Moisturizing conditioners
- Leave-in treatments
- Styling agents containing vitamins and amino acids that help repair the damaged follicles
Additionally, deep-conditioning masks or intensive conditioning treatments should also be used regularly in order to optimize the health of your new look. Lastly, limiting exposure to heat from hair dryers or straighteners can help keep your blond locks in tip-top shape for longer periods of time.