How to Bleach Hair

Introduction

(CC photo by Nikki)

• Maybe you've always heard that blonds have more fun, and you want to see if it's true.¹ Maybe you want to try being a redhead, but you have dark hair that needs to be lightened before you can go red. Maybe you just want to make a dramatic change in your look.

• Whatever your reasons, you've decided to bleach your hair. If you do it right, bleaching can look terrific. But bleaching can be risky, and if you don't know what you're doing, you can seriously damage your hair or injure your skin. This guide will tell you how to bleach your hair safely and effectively.

Step 1: Before You Bleach

(Creative Commons photo by Laura)

• Before you bleach your hair, think it over carefully. This is not a decision to make lightly (no pun intended).

1. Remember that there is always the risk of damaging your hair or just looking bad.
   • Do some research to help you figure out what hair colors would look best on you.²
   • You can always experiment with a picture of yourself using a photo editing program to see how you would look with a different hair color.³
2. Consider whether your bleaching would be better handled by a salon.
   • Lightening your hair is risky, and it could well be that a pro would do a better job than you will at home.⁴
3. Bleaching will be more challenging if you have naturally dark hair.⁵
   • It will probably require several treatments, which could be damaging to your hair.⁶
   • You should really talk to a professional hair stylist before trying it.
4. Bleaching reddish-brown hair also has challenges.
   • It's likely your hair will turn orange, and you will need multiple treatments.⁷
5. Bleaching will inevitably do some damage to your hair.⁸
   • You can minimize this be washing with quality conditioners for a couple of weeks before you bleach.⁹
6. If your hair has had any treatments recently, like perming or relaxing, you should give your hair a few weeks to recover before bleaching.¹⁰
7. If your hair already has some coloring in it, you'll need to remove the coloring before you bleach.¹¹
   • Removing existing coloring before you bleach puts additional stress on your hair, so proceed carefully.¹²
   • If you dyed your hair with a dye containing metallic salts, do not attempt to bleach it now. The bleach and metallic salts could have a bad reaction, causing hair breakage and other problems.¹³

Health Considerations

• Hydrogen peroxide is potentially dangerous, and there are things you should know before using it.¹⁴

1. Improper use of bleach can cause hair loss, painful blisters and other problems.¹⁵
2. If you're pregnant, your body might be very sensitive to certain chemicals and you'll need to take special precautions.¹⁶
   • Talk it over with your doctor before you bleach.
   • Be sure to do a skin test before bleaching, don't get the chemicals in your eyes and avoid saltwater and chlorine for several days afterwards, to prevent a possibly dangerous reaction.¹⁷
3. Using bleach during your period shouldn't cause problems, although you might be more sensitive to chemical aromas.¹⁸
4. If you swallow hydrogen peroxide or get it in your eyes, it should be treated as an emergency situation.
   • Seek medical attention immediately if you've swallowed it, and if you get it in your eyes, flush them with water for 15 minutes and then see a doctor or call a poison control center.¹⁹

Step 2: Bleaching

(Creative Commons photo by Orin Zebest)

• There's no stopping your "blond ambition!" You've made up your mind, and you are going to bleach.

1. First, you'll need to select a quality hair-bleaching product.
2. If possible, always ask a hair stylist for a product recommendation.²⁰
   • You can also talk to your friends for suggestions about brands that they've used.
3. Use an established hair bleach.
   • The larger, better-known brands (L'Oreal, Clairol, etc.) have been used by millions of people, and you should be safe with them so long as you follow the product's directions.^{21 22}
   • The larger brands are also more likely to have 24-hour phone lines with operators standing by to answer questions if you have a problem.²³
4. Bleach is sold as "on the scalp" and "off the scalp."
   • "On the scalp" means it is safe to use on your scalp; "off the scalp" means it isn't. "Off the scalp" bleaches are intended for highlights.²⁴
5. Bleach is sold in various volumes ("10," "20," "30," "40") with the strength increasing as the volumes go up.
   • The higher volumes work faster and are better for people with naturally dark hair, but they can also be much more damaging.²⁵
   • The lower volumes can also be effective, but generally you have to leave them on for longer, which is more risky for your hair and scalp.⁸

Getting Started

(Creative Commons photo by Alana Elliott)

• Now you've got your bleach, and you're ready to get started.

1. Become very familiar with the instructions that came with your kit. They will offer step-by-step info, and you will need to follow every step.²⁶
2. A few days before bleaching, test a strand of your hair and a small patch of your skin on your elbow, behind your ear or some other inconspicuous place.²⁷
3. If the strand of hair became the color you wanted and your skin has not reacted adversely to the bleach, you're all set.²⁸
4. The night before you bleach, wash your hair thoroughly and leave-in conditioner for half an hour.⁷
5. Note that coloring your hair will always go much more smoothly if you have a friend help you.²⁹
   • Certain parts of your head can be difficult to see or reach.
6. Bleaching can be very messy, so do the bleaching in the bathroom.³⁰
   • Wear a towel around your neck and clothes you don't mind ruining.³¹
7. Wear rubber or plastic gloves.³² Be very careful you don't get any bleach on your hands.
   • If you do get bleach on your fingers, wash your hands carefully, apply moisturizer and use exfoliating lotion later to help scrub away the dry, dead skin cells.³³
8. You can put a little Vaseline or petroleum jelly along your hairline and ears, so the peroxide won't spread and stain your skin.³⁴
9. Mix the powdered bleach and the developer together until they are a pasty consistency.
   • Use a glass or plastic bowl to mix. Do not use a metal bowl.³⁵
10. Start at the back of your head, where your hair is darkest, moving forward in 1/2 inch sections and working quickly but carefully.³⁶
11. Apply the bleach to each section of hair, but stay away from the roots for now.³⁷
12. Once your hair is covered with the bleach, put on the plastic cap that comes with the product and set a minute timer for the time specified by the package's directions.³⁸
13. If you feel pain at any point during the bleaching process, wash the bleach out right away to make sure you don't have a serious reaction.
14. Near the end of the process, it's time to do the roots, keeping the bleach off your scalp as much as possible.³⁹
15. Do not leave the product on for longer than the directions specify, or you could seriously damage your hair and injure your scalp.⁴⁰
16. When your time is up, rinse the bleach out and gently shampoo your hair.
    • You can rinse out any remaining bleach with lemon juice or white vinegar.⁴¹ Of course, be very careful not to get either liquid into your eyes!
    • Bleach kits will sometimes be packaged with a special rinse.⁴²
    • If your kit comes with a rinse like this, you must use it or the bleach will damage your hair and scalp.
17. Never attempt to bleach your eyebrows or eyelashes.⁴³
    • Using bleach near your eyes is dangerous.
18. If you are experiencing significant pain or redness after you wash the bleach out, see a doctor.

Step 3: After You Bleach

1. It is important to use a good conditioner after you bleach, to help your hair recover.
   • Conditioner is especially helpful if you things have gone wrong, and you fried your hair.⁴⁴
2. Give your hair some time to recover for at least a few days before bleaching again.
3. Avoid pools with chlorine as they can turn your bleached hair unpleasant colors.⁴⁵

Conclusion

• Bleaching your hair is a bold move. If done poorly, it can result in disappointment or even injury. But done well, it can give you an exciting new look. With these tips, you're on your way to a new you!