Forever. You have literally removed all the colour from that hair, and it won't come back. The new hair you grow will be your normal hair colour, so you just have to wait for it to grow out (or dye the bleached part, but those results may vary).
When hair is bleached, the natural pigment (melanin) is removed, which can result in a lighter or even yellowish tone. The hair itself won't regain its original color once it has been bleached. However, over time, new hair growth will come in with its natural color, while the bleached hair will remain lighter.
How long does bleached hair last? In comparison to other dyes, hair bleaching is a permanent process which cannot be washed away over time. This is because the melanin, which gives your hair its colour, is stripped away from the hair during the bleaching process.
Does bleached hair fade? Bleached hair doesn't fade back to your natural hair colour in the same way that other dyes will. However, it can become darker or duller over time if the toner washes out, leading to yellow pigments becoming visible again.
As long as the hair follicle is preserved, the hair will regrow in most cases. Bleached hair will regrow at the same rate as other forms of damaged hair, which in a healthy growth cycle is typically between 6-12 months.
If you take care of bleached hair it can be healthy, silky and shiny.
Bleaching is permanent, while hair coloring can be permanent as well as temporary. Bleaching process takes a few hours. Hair coloring takes less than 45 minutes. Bleaching is damaging and will always be.
If you need a quick damage control…
Back to natural hair colour you go—STAT! When going back to natural hair colour after bleaching, choose a box of dye that you feel most closely represents your natural shade (since you can't see it without visible roots) and go to town.
Keep in mind that color-wise, the end result will usually be the same whether you're going to the salon with freshly washed or dirty hair. Allowing oil to accumulate before bleaching your strands is solely to nourish your scalp and should have no impact on your desired color.
Check the pH of your water: whether you are doing a wash or a rinse, be sure to check the pH of your water. If it's hard water, it can also play a role in the dye fading faster. You can always install a filter to help you with this.
The level system is made up of 10 numbers which help determine the depth level of your natural hair. 1 is black, 5 is light brown, 6 is dark blonde, 7 is blonde and 10 is the lightest blonde.
Grow out your hair
Growing your hair out is both the most effective and least damaging way to return to your natural color (though, depending on how quickly your hair grows, can take some time).
Growing out bleached hair requires patience and proper care. By understanding the hair growth cycle and incorporating the right products and practices into your routine, you can support healthy hair regrowth and minimize damage.
Start Slow With Lowlights & Toning
Walker says those who have been light for a long time often experience regrowth that appears darker than it actually is when it has fully grown out. His advice: "I recommend starting off either toning it down to blend your regrowth [or] adding in lowlights to break up the blonde."
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.
If you want to dye your bleached hair considerably darker, such as to dark blonde (colour level 7) or darker, pre-pigment your hair first. This is because the red pigments have been permanently removed by bleaching. You need enough warm pigment in your hair to achieve a beautiful darker colour.
Effect of permanent hair dye and bleach
They are both permanent; this means that you cannot get your own hair colour back in your dyed or bleached hair. Both hair dye and bleach consist of two substances that you have to mix. One is an 'acid' and the other a 'base' (usually ammonia).
While some hair types may hold better the second or third day of washing, in most cases it's best to visit the salon with clean, dry hair. Despite what you may have heard before proms and formal dances back in the day, it's actually preferable to work with hair that is free of oil and buildup.
Applying bleach to dry hair lets the lightening agent penetrate further into your hair cuticle and cortex to dissolve melanin, leading to a more vibrant and bold result.
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.
Changing your hair color can be a way to express your individuality and personality, and can help you feel more confident in your own skin. But it's not just the color of your hair that can affect your mood and confidence – the condition of your hair is also important.
Frizziness – If your hair has open cuticles and incurs more split ends, it can look a lot frizzier and develop more flyaways. Dryness – Due to the harsh oxidizing agents found in hair bleach, bleaching your hair can dry it out. When your hair lacks its natural moisture, you can end up with brittle, lifeless locks.
Baby highlights or money pieces are two approaches that only bleach small portions of your hair. Faye adds, “Balayage is a great technique to consider that uses bleach painting on the surface of the hair, not penetrating as deep into the hair cuticle which creates less opportunity for damage.”
Over time with repeated coloring sessions, the structure of your hair changes. It will become weaker and more prone to breakage. The more damage your hair incurs, the less color it will hold. That's why it's so important to prioritize repair if you color your hair.