Fashion trends change every season or year. Despite the constant change, people still go crazy over the new trends and spend money on them. Hair bleaching is one of the few trends that go on and off. The only problem about following the bandwagon is the cost that comes with it.
Heading to the salon for some hair bleaching will cost you a lot of money, but it is now possible to do this at home. If you are one of the brave and skilled few who can perform DIY bleaching at home, then read on to know more about the step-by-step process.
Bleach Hair at Home
Assess your hair for possible risks
It is important to assess your hair to check whether it is ready to face the heavy treatment. The best results are commonly seen on virgin hair because it does not have any dye at all. People with light brown hair will also benefit from the bleaching. While it is possible to bleach darker hair, the process will be longer and the damage can be greater.
Prep your hair
The bleaching agent can strip away the life from your hair. This is why you have to take preemptive steps to keep your hair healthy. It only means going through lots of hair conditioning masks for a week or two before the bleaching treatment to strengthen the strands.
It will also help if you will avoid washing your hair for a couple of days prior. Your scalp will get irritated when you bleach your newly washed hair. In addition, search for a mask that will protect and repair your hair before adding fuel to the fire.
Start bleaching
Grab a bowl and mix the bleach with a developer to lift your hair color faster. Mix the two ingredients until the consistency becomes that of yogurt. It is highly recommended that you use a 30-volume developer or lower. A lower volume developer is safer on a sensitive scalp and fine hair strands.
Wear rubber gloves and begin applying the mixture all over your hair, and get close to the roots as much as possible. Allow the bleach to sit for about 45 minutes or until your hair becomes light yellow in color. If you have darker hair, you will have to go through the whole process a few more times to see the desired results. Experts recommend that people with darker hair allow for a few weeks of waiting between each bleaching session.
Apply toner
It is highly recommended that you avoid bleaching your hair more than twice a month. Make sure to tone your hair once the strands have lifted enough color. Rinse out the bleach and shampoo the hair to prepare it for the toner. This step makes the hair cool white, instead of a brassy yellow. Apply the toner all over your damp hair, and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. The process can be pretty messy, so you will want to do it while relaxing in a tub as you wait. Rinse the hair thoroughly and apply a mask to finish.
Maintain its color
A mask treatment will help keep your hair healthy and strong. Make sure to apply strengthening oil to the ends, or try out an organic hair treatment to control the frizz and dryness. This will delay your salon visits as you enjoy your newly bleached hair.
More hair care tips
A bleaching agent can completely damage your hair when done too often. You have to take good care of your newly bleached hair to prevent it from becoming extremely dry. Avoid washing your hair every day to keep the natural oils that protect each strand from breakage. You can use a dry shampoo or a powder comb to keep the hair fresh between washes.
It is also important to avoid straightening or blow drying your hair frequently. The heating tools can further damage your bleached hair, so limit the use of these styling tools to once a week or less. Allow your hair to air-dry as much as possible, and avoid wringing it out after bathing. If you have extremely dark, fine, curly, permed, colored, heavily treated or damaged hair, it is strongly recommended that you hold off the home bleaching and have your hair seen by a professional to achieve your desired results.
Also read: How to Get Rid of Dark Spots on Face