Lighten Up: Essential Information For Bleaching Your Hair
Posted on: 15 April 2016
Light hair colors have become extremely trendy over the past few years. From pastel hues to white-blonde locks, men and women alike are lightening their hair. You can also bleach your hair to go from a dark shade to a medium shade. For example, people with black hair will need to bleach their hair before dyeing it auburn. This is certainly a fun way to change up your look, but it is important to be prepared. Bleaching your hair can cause damage, breakage, and discoloration. Read on to discover some tips for safely and successfully bleaching your hair.
Caution Is Key
Hair bleach typically contains hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. These chemical ingredients effectively lift color from your hair, but they are very strong and often cause damage. If proper precautions are not taken, these ingredients may cause:
- chemical burns
- irritation of the sinuses
- broken or severely damaged hair
If you are bleaching your hair at home, use caution and follow all given directions. Cover your arms and chest with a plastic salon cape or an old shirt. Wear plastic gloves at all times, and avoid applying bleach directly to the scalp.
If you are concerned about potential side effects, consider setting up a salon appointment to have your hair lightened. This may reduce the chances of accidents or severe hair damage. Stylists are trained to use bleaching products in a safe, effective manner.
It Takes Time And Patience
There are multiple steps that go into the process of hair lightening. Some examples include:
- using a hair color remover to get rid of hair dye
- taking week-long breaks between bleaching sessions
- toning your hair to remove a yellow or orange tinge
Drastic changes in hair color take time. Bellatory.com mentions that it can take several weeks to achieve your desired shade. This is true whether you opt for a do-it-yourself dye job or you see a professional. However, professional colorists may be able to achieve results more quickly.
Tender Loving Care For Your Hair
Maintenance is one of the most crucial parts of successfully lightening your hair. Due to the damage that bleach causes, it is necessary to properly condition your hair. In addition to using a deep conditioner, consider some of the following ideas for giving your hair some tender loving care:
- Hot Oil – Hot oil treatments penetrate the hair shaft. You can purchase them in-store, make your own at home, or seek treatment at a salon.
- Avoid Heat Styling – Heat styling is a major source of damage for hair whether it is bleached or not. During the lightening process, avoid heat styling as much as possible. If you must use heat styling tools, use a protective spray or oil as a barrier.
- Keratin Treatments – Keratin is a structural protein that strengthens and repairs hair. It is commonly found in shampoos, conditioners, and styling products. Keratin treatments are designed to nourish and restore damaged, processed hair. You can purchase these treatments in beauty supply stores, or you can have them done professionally by a hair stylist.
