Before bleaching, use a daily hydrating mask. If possible, let this soak into your hair well every day for a week before bleaching. Rinse the mask out with cold water. This is because bleaching removes moisture from your hair, so your hair could use that extra hydration!
Natural bleaching agents like apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, chamomile tea, or cinnamon and honey can lighten hair gently and naturally with minimal damage.
Bleached hair is not permanent in the same way that hair dye can be. Bleaching involves removing the natural pigment from the hair, which can lead to a lighter color. However, the bleach does not change the hair structure permanently; it affects the hair's cuticle and can lead to damage over time.
Generally, it's recommended to wait at least 4 to 6 weeks between bleaching sessions to minimize damage. Here are some considerations: Hair Type: Fine or damaged hair may require longer intervals, while thicker hair might tolerate more frequent bleaching.
Blue toning formulas can help counteract orange tones in the hair. The reasoning goes back to basic color theory: Shades positioned opposite on the color wheel are complementary and effectively cancel each other out when combined.
If you take care of bleached hair it can be healthy, silky and shiny.
Going blonde without bleach is not only possible, but it's also a healthier, less damaging alternative.
Why is Toner Needed? Toners are more than just an accessory to your color treatment. They refresh and enhance your hair's tone, and they're a lifesaver for tackling any unwanted oranges, brassiness or yellows as bleaching exposes the hair's underlying pigments that can get damaged without further treatment.
Best Way to Bleach Hair with Minimal Damage
Mix 1 part powdered bleach and 2 parts low-volume developer in a plastic bowl. Apply bleach with an applicator brush from the tips to the roots to apply evenly. Let it sit for 20 to 45 minutes until you reach your desired shade. Rinse with neutralizing shampoo and warm water.
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.
Coconut oil, with its rich fatty acids, might coat the hair and potentially minimize some of the damage caused by the bleaching process. Here's a caveat: the science on this is not entirely conclusive. Some hairdressers swear by it, while others recommend other treatments.
Hair stylists often tone bleached or blonde hair to neutralize brassy yellow and orange tones on bleached hair with a purple color. Purple shampoo is a great at-home solution for toning hair and preventing brassiness.
Designed to strengthen and smooth hair, OLAPLEX No. 3 prolongs colour and repairs hair follicles, rebuilding dry, brittle strands, and reversing signs of chemical damage, including bleach.
Most brown-haired clients will require at least two appointments to reach their dream blonde shade. If they're going from dark brown or black hair to blonde, it may even take a few more.
Remember, high lift colour is an alternative to bleach. It provides a single-process application to help minimize damage. While high lift colour could be less damaging than bleach, even the gentlest hair colour can cause damage. This is because it raises the cuticle and chemically alters the inside of your strands.
The good news is that there are solutions for damaged hair. There are no 'long-term' effects from bleaching hair, however, immediately after first bleaching the hair, it becomes prone to damage.
Don't Overprocess
Using too high percent of developer will cause the hair color to lift too fast causing damage to the hair cuticle,” says Faye. Rez adds that leaving the bleach on too long—even with a lower volume processor—can also contribute to damage.
Bleaching agents cause your hair cuticles to swell making your hair look more voluminous after a bleaching session.
If your client's hair is on the yellow end of the orange spectrum, a violet shampoo can help to correct and neutralize their brassy hair. This is because violet sits opposite yellow on the color wheel, allowing it to cancel out those unwanted tones and leave strands beautifully balanced.
Highlights: For foil highlights via bleaching, she suggests waiting six to eight weeks—or until new growth is about 1 inch—to prevent overlap and maintain hair health. This also applies for treatments like balayage.
Blonde blends better with grey
Grey hair in blonde hair or grey roots in blonde hair blends better than with darker hair. So blonde is a good choice if you want to make your grey hair or grey roots less noticeable.