Hair Bleach

Cautions and Considerations

Get advice on using hair bleach safely and effectively.

If you're doing an all over blonde hair color, you'll have to apply hair bleach to the scalp, which can cause blistering and chemical burns. That's an extreme possibility, but could happen if you're not careful.

For on-scalp lightening processes, never mix bleach with a peroxide stronger than 20 Volume.

And deep in mind -- bleach just keeps on doin' it's thing until it either dries up or gets washed off.

Blonde hair color.

Pay attention to what's happening on your scalp. A normal hair bleaching process will cause a slightly uncomfortable tingle on the scalp, if the tingle progresses into a burning sensation, rinse the bleach off with cool water.

Bleach will lift existing hair color, especially dark colors more slowly than natural pigment.

Some inexpensive (drugstore brand) hair colors contain metallic salts which can turn your hair to mush if they're processed with bleach, perm solutions, or chemical straighteners. Check the ingredients if you've used a drugstore brand hair color to make sure it doesn't contain any metallic dye components.

If you aren't sure whether the existing color on your hair contains these dyes, snip a tiny section of hair from underneath and process it in a little of the bleach solution first. If you can pull it apart with your fingers after 10 or 20 minutes in the bleach solution, you'll know there's a problem. Darker colors contain more of this ingredient (in those particular brands), and the more you've used it, the more metallic salts will have been deposited on/in your hair.

PREPARE YOUR HAIR
For best results (and to avoid common color mishaps), make sure your hair is ready for the color.

Minerals from water, chlorine from swimming pools, and build-up from styling products can all impede the haircolor formula's ability to do it's thing.

Use Joico K-Pak Chelating Shampoo before coloring to help eliminate these impurities.

Using hair bleach is not a process to undergo if you value the health of your hair. It may come out feeling like straw and will be in dire need of protein/moisture treatments.

If you're coloring the regrowth of pre-lightened hair, be sure not to overlap the bleach when applying it.

If you get bleach on hair that's already been lightened, it could cause a chemical haircut. Never a good look!

Working in small sections will help you control the hair and ensure that the bleach gets only where you want it. Avoid squishing the hair down on top of previously bleached sections to prevent product transfer. If any bleach gets where you don't want it...even the smallest drip, blot it up with a towel and blast that piece of hair (or skin, clothing, furniture, etc...) with water immediately to stop the bleaching action.

One last word on using hair bleach safely...Wear gloves! Unless you like an unbearable biting sensation as chemicals eat away at your skin. I didn't think so. Good luck and have fun!

Get The Right Tools!

Soft 'N Style
The Hair Colorists Tool Kit