Bleach

What is hair bleach?

Hair bleach is a chemical dye method used to lighten the hair. The term dye method can be a little deceiving though because hair bleach actually removes colour or natural pigment from your hair instead of colouring it.

First, the alkaline substance in hair bleach opens up the hair cuticle. Then, the oxidative compound in the bleach used in the lightening process will penetrate and dissolve the melanin in your hair. Melanin is the compound that gives your hair your colour. So, the longer this reaction takes place, the lighter your hair becomes.

How do you bleach hair at home?

There are several ways to bleach your hair at home with various hair bleach products. You can purchase a hair bleach kit or your bleaching products individually. There are even dedicated men's hair bleach products!

To bleach your hair, you will need the following items:

1. A mixing bowl or a suitable tray
2. A hair dye brush
3. Gloves
4. A hair cap
5. Cream peroxide
6. Powdered bleach
7. Toner/conditioner

Before we get into bleaching hair at home, it is important to always do a strand test before bleaching your hair. By doing a strand test, you can evaluate how much lighter your hair will go. However, hair bleach can cause hair damage and dry hair, so never leave bleach on for longer than indicated in the instructions. Also, please do a skin spot test 24 hours before bleaching your hair. This prevents you from serious allergic reactions if you are sensitive to certain ingredients in the bleach powders or cream peroxide that interact with it.

Step 1: Use a hair brush to detangle your locks. Get out an old towel and use it to cover your shoulders. This will protect your clothes against any bleach dripping from your hair.

Step 2: Start sectioning your hair into four equal sections. If you have some hair bleaching experience, you can use more sections for a more detailed bleach.

Step 3: Take your hair dye brush and put some bleach on it. Now, you are ready to start applying the bleach. Always go from the ends of your hair to the roots. The roots should only be done first if you have previously bleached hair and need a touch-up. If this is your first bleach, roots should be done last.

Step 4: Make sure the product is properly saturated and wait for the recommended amount of time.

Step 5: Rinse your hair thoroughly and make sure no bleach remains. If you notice any brassy or yellow tones, you can use a purple shampoo to get your hair colour perfect. Bleaching for a second time is not recommended, as this could seriously bleach your hair.

If you wish to lighten dark hair, it can often be useful to lighten it in increments. Brass tones are more likely to occur in people with warmer hair colours. People with natural hair that is fairly light tend to be easier to bleach, and this includes most people with blonde hair. Remember, people with red tones in their hair will always have the hardest time with hair bleach and it does require some skill.

How to mix hair bleach?

Ideally, you want to mix 1 part bleach powder with 2 parts developer. Please note that there are some exceptions to the rule, for example, if you want to do a balayage. For a detailed guide on making your hair bleach solution, please refer to our next tutorial.

How to make hair bleach?

To make hair bleach, follow our 4 steps below:

1. Add 1 part bleach to 2 parts developer.
2. Mix the ingredients together thoroughly. Ideally, you want to use a separate hair dye brush to get the best bleach dye results.
3. Check the consistency of your at-home hair bleach. The mixture should have a relatively runny consistency.
4. Take a new hair bleach dye brush before applying the bleach.

How to remove hair bleach?

To remove the bleach mixture from your hair, follow these steps:

1. Make sure the required time has passed before starting the removal process.
2. Grab the showerhead and make sure the water is lukewarm.
3. Rinse your hair until all the product is gone from your hair. (It can help to get someone to assist you during this stage).
4. Once all the product is removed, use a mild shampoo to wash your hair.
5. After shampooing and rinsing your hair again, use a deep conditioner on your hair.

Once the product is removed, make sure to protect your hair further since bleach is a harsh chemical treatment. Use a comb instead of a brush to avoid hair breakage, and avoid washing your hair too much over the next two weeks.

When you bleach your hair, it is usually a good idea to get a repair shampoo and conditioner for your regular showers. Adding reliable hair care products to your routine, such as suitable nourishing hair treatments, hair serums with keratin, and hair styling products for your hair type, can also help. It’s also best to avoid hair styling processes like perming and using hot styling tools like hair curlers, hair straighteners, and hair dryers, as they can add stress to bleached hair. Following these suggestions follows what many hairdressing professionals recommend for keeping your hair healthy after bleaching.

Does hair bleach expire?

Both bleach powders and developers can have an expiry date. Therefore, it is a good idea to purchase your products just before you intend to bleach your hair. However, bleach powder tends to have a long shelf life.

Please note that once you have mixed your bleach to bleach your hair at home, any unused mixture should be thrown away immediately. Reusing an old solution will not get you your desired results and could even ruin your hair!

How can you buy at-home hair bleach?

Hairhouse provides everything you need for your hair lightening needs. From powder bleach to developers from top brands like Hi Lift, Colour Royale, Yellow, and Wella in jars, bottles, sachets, and refill bags, you can count on Hairhouse to meet all your hair dyeing needs! We also stock semi-permanent hair colour and permanent colour that look fantastic on bleached hair, including platinum blonde, blue, and rose gold hair colours.

But it's not just about hair care and styling products. We also offer a variety of skincare and beauty products, and men's grooming essentials, including hair clippers, trimmers, and razors.

Browse our range online or in-store in Australia. Add your favourites to your shopping cart or wishlist and head to checkout. Plus, enjoy free shipping for orders over $50!