How to Bleach Your Hair
A lot of us sometimes feel the need for a makeover, and going platinum always feels like a good choice as it can really brighten your look. 5-Minute Crafts created a guide so that you can do it safely and keep your hair healthy.
What you will need
- Coconut oil
- A hairbrush
- A hair coloring brush
- Developer
- Bleach powder
- Toner
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
Notes:
- Before bleaching, make sure your hair is in good condition. Also, it’s best if you don’t wash your hair for a couple of days before bleaching.
- There are 4 main volume levels of developer: 10, 20, 30, and 40. The darker your hair is, the higher the volume should be.
- Volume 10 should be used if you want to add a color tone to hair of the same lightness levels. This one is meant to be a color deposit, it will not lighten your hair.
- Volume 20 lifts the hair’s original color by 1 or 2 levels. This is also the best developer for gray coverage.
- Volume 30 works the same as the level 20 volume developer but lifts the hair color by 2 to 3 levels. It’s used for bleaching as well as dyeing.
- Volume 40 is the strongest of them all. It lifts the hair color by 4 shades. Use this one very carefully. It’s best if you want to go super platinum blonde. Never go beyond 40, it will burn your scalp.
3. For previously colored hair, make sure to use a stronger filter treatment using products with ingredients such as ammonia, peroxide, bleach, and alternative chemicals that clear the hair molecules of color.
4. Another recommendation for previously colored hair is to wait 8-10 weeks after you dye your hair so that your color has time to fade.
5. Please keep in mind that if your hair is already dyed, and even if you want enough time for it to fade, if you bleach it yourself, it will only allow it to go 1-2 shades lighter. If you want something more permanent, lighter, and less invasive, it’s best to visit a hair salon.
The bleaching process
Step 1
Warm up some coconut oil and coat your entire head. Brush your hair so that the coconut oil reaches all parts of your hair.
Step 2
Separate your hair into 4 sections. Fix the parts so that they all stay in place.
Step 3
Mix the developer and the bleach powder until it achieves a pudding consistency. The amount you can use should be written in the instructions of each product. Please read it carefully.
Note: Please avoid using metallic bowls as they may contain substances that can break down and make the bleach lose its lifting power.
Step 4
Apply the bleaching mixture to one of the sections you previously separated, starting from the roots. Do it to both sides of the hair.
Do that to all 4 sections of your hair. Always start from the top.
Step 5
After applying the bleaching mixture to all of your hair, wrap it up with a plastic bag. Make sure you leave room for air. Leave it for around 20 minutes.
Step 6
After waiting 20 minutes, wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner.
Step 7
Dry your hair lightly.
Step 8
Mix some developer with toner (ratio 2:1) until it has a jello-like consistency.
Note: Toner is needed for people whose hair is naturally dark because you will never achieve a platinum blonde hue the first time you bleach it, and it will actually look yellowish. The toner should be used, in a shade like light ash, silver or pearl, so that your hair can achieve a cooler shade.
Step 9
Apply the developer and toner mixture only to the roots and then use your fingers to massage it. It will slowly start to turn purple (which is a good thing). Wait 5 minutes.
Step 10
Now apply the mixture to the rest of the hair and wait for another 5 minutes.
Step 11
Wash your hair thoroughly with shampoo and conditioner for the last time and then dry it.
Results
If you followed all the previous steps correctly, your hair is now platinum blonde and looking healthy.