Can I dye over a bad bleach job?

Author: Erich Conroy  |  Last update: Friday, September 12, 2025

Now, we understand you might be a bit nervous to put more dye on your hair after your bleaching disaster. However, dyeing your hair a darker colour is the fastest way to resolve badly bleached hair.

What is the best color to cover badly bleached hair?

Blending With A Darker Hue

Dyeing your hair with a darker shade can help neutralize and counteract the unevenness caused by bleaching.

Can I dye over damaged bleached hair?

Yes, you can dye over bleached hair after a previous color has faded. Here are some tips to consider: Condition of Hair: Ensure your hair is in good condition. Bleached hair can be more porous and prone to damage, so deep conditioning treatments before dyeing can help.

Is it possible to dye over bleach stains?

You can't return color to bleached clothes. In cases where the bleaching process effects the color of fabric dyes (most modern dyes are largely unaffected by bleach), the process is largely irreversible.

Can you dye on top of bleach?

You cannot just use permanent color/dye on top of bleach. That's true no matter whether done in the same day or spaced weeks apart. Bleached hair is seriously fragile and permanent color is only used on virgin hair, that is, hair that has NOT been bleached or colored/dyed in any way.

Hairdresser Reacts To People Bleaching Their Hair 3 Times in 1 Day

Can you dye over a bad bleach job?

Now, we understand you might be a bit nervous to put more dye on your hair after your bleaching disaster. However, dyeing your hair a darker colour is the fastest way to resolve badly bleached hair.

How long should I wait to dye my hair after bleaching?

If you want to dye your hair after bleaching, it's safest to wait two weeks. However, you may not need to wait as long because bleach affects everyone's hair differently. Your stylist might feel comfortable dyeing your hair within a couple days if your hair doesn't feel too damaged after bleaching.

How to fix accidentally bleached clothes?

Rinse with cold water: Flush the stained area with cold water immediately after noticing the bleach stain. This can help dilute the bleach and prevent further damage. Apply vinegar or lemon juice: Mix equal parts white vinegar or lemon juice with water and apply the solution to the bleach stain.

Does white vinegar remove bleach stains?

How to Get Bleach Out of Carpet – Method # 2. Mix 4 cups of warm water with 2 tbsp of white vinegar. Pour this solution over the stained area of your carpet. After letting it soak into the stain for about 5 minutes, rub the stain with a cloth or sponge.

How to fix bleach gone wrong?

How to Fix a Splotchy Bleach Job
  1. Toner for Splotchy Undertones.
  2. Bleach for Uneven Color.
  3. Darker Dye for Total Coverup.
  4. Bleached Hair Care Tips.

Can I use box dye after bleaching?

As long as your hair feels in good condition, you can apply the color directly after bleaching it. The same is true if you plan to use a milder hair dye, such as semi-permanent or semi-permanent hair dye. Keep in mind that this is only if you plan to stay at the same level or switch to dark tones.

What cancels out bleached hair?

If your lousy bleach job has come out more yellow, you'll need a purple toner. Purple shampoo can help neutralize the yellow. If your hair is orange, you'll need a blue toner. Try a blue shampoo to tone the brassiness and get rid of the orange.

How to fix badly bleached hair at home?

8 Ways to Fix Bleach-Damaged Hair
  1. Leave-in Conditioner. Using leave-in conditioner is a great way to bring moisture back into your bleached hair follicles and strengthen the hair shafts. ...
  2. Trimming. ...
  3. Avoid Heat Styling. ...
  4. Protein Treatments. ...
  5. Gentle Hair Care. ...
  6. Regular Hair Masks. ...
  7. Overnight Oil Treatment. ...
  8. Silk or Satin Pillowcases.

Why won't my bleached hair take color?

You would want to replace the pigment that is missing from the hair. If it is white you would want to add a formula with red, copper and yellow as your hairs melanin is missing and it needs a base to stick to.

Can I dye damaged bleached hair?

Dyeing already damaged, bleached hair can potentially cause further damage, as both bleaching and dyeing are chemical processes that utilize Hydrogen Peroxide and high pH which can be harsh on your hair.

Can I dye something I accidentally bleached?

Bleach actually damages fabric, making it very difficult to dye. If you still want to try and dye the garment, you could try using Rit Color Remover on the garment before dyeing.

Can you fix damaged bleached hair?

In some cases, the only way to fix damaged hair is to give it time, about 6 weeks after bleaching to see if your hair starts to recover. In most cases, damaged hair will grow back healthy. There are also many treatments to help bring damaged hair back to life.

How to remove bleach from hair?

While the bleach itself cannot be undone, you can combat these side effects by using a pre-shampoo deep conditioning treatment on a weekly basis. This may help your bleached hair grow out more easily and quickly. Apply your deep conditioner to dry or wet hair and let it sit in for at least 20-30 minutes.

Will dye go over bleach?

After bleaching, your hair strands will be more porous than usual, meaning it will absorb dye more quickly. This can lead to uneven color or an intense hue that's different from what you were expecting. That's why most hairstylists suggest waiting at least 48 hours before dyeing your hair, to ensure the best results.

How do you fix bleached clothes?

Yes, you can reverse bleach stains either by transferring some of the dye from the area surrounding the bleach stain onto the stained area or by re-dying it. Transfer dye using lemon juice or rubbing alcohol, or re-dye the stain using fabric dye or fabric marker pens that match the color of the clothing.

Can I put brown box dye over bleached hair?

Yes, but if you dying it more than 2 levels darker you may need to use a filler. Filler is a color that replaces the underlying pigment in the hair.

What is in color oops?

Part 1: Deionized Water, Sodium Hydrosulfite, Fragrance, Polysorbate-80, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine. Part 2: Deionized Water, Citric Acid, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Xanthan Gum.

How to fix yellow hair after bleaching?

If your bleached hair looks more yellow than orange, you'll need a purple toning shampoo to neutralise the yellow. If your hair's turned orange, you'll need a blue toning shampoo to tone the brassiness and get rid of the orange.

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