Buying guide for Best hair bleaching products

Looking to make a drastic style change and turn your locks platinum? The only way to achieve white-blond strands is with hair bleach. At-home hair bleaching may intimidate the hair color newbie, but with the right tools lightening your hair yourself isn’t just possible, it’s easy.

However, with so many hair bleaching products on the market, finding the right bleach for your mane can be a challenge. To go blond safely and successfully, you need to find the right strength formula at the right price. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the options, we’re here to help.

If you want to rock a bubblegum pink (or purple or blue) hairstyle, you’ll need to bleach your hair first.

How do hair bleaching products work?

During the process of bleaching, hair cuticles swell, which allows oxidation to occur. The oxidation process gradually removes the hair’s pigment, resulting in a lighter color. The longer you keep bleach in your hair, the more pigment is removed. The strength of the hair bleaching product’s developer affects the speed of the bleaching process.

Bleaching changes the porousness of your hair strands, making it seem as if a texture change has occurred. Hair may appear more voluminous and is often easier to style after bleaching.

Too much bleaching, though, can damage your hair. If hair is too porous, it doesn’t just absorb moisture, it loses it quickly as well, making hair dry and brittle. Using the wrong developer strength also increases the amount of damage done to your hair.

What you should know before you bleach your hair

Before you don protective gloves and start bleaching, there are a few things to consider.

Bleaching is not hard to do, but it’s also easy to mess up. It requires patience. You may not get your hair to look exactly right on the first round of bleaching.

It’s much easier to bleach hair that has not been chemically treated than it is to change already dyed hair. The lighter your natural hair color, the easier it will be to make the change to blond. Since it takes longer to go blond if you’ve got darker hair, you should expect more damage as a result.

Bleaching your hair will cause it to dry out, considerably. Have a deep-conditioning hair mask on hand to liven up your locks post-treatment. Bleach will also damage your hair. Be prepared to give your locks extra TLC post-bleaching.

After bleaching, it won’t take long for dark roots to show. Going platinum requires a lot of upkeep. Returning to your original hair color won’t be hard, but getting back to blond again will be tougher.

Keep in mind that the hair bleaching product that works for one person won’t necessarily work for you.

What you need to bleach your hair

Let’s take a look at the hair bleaching products and accessories you’ll need to bleach your hair at home. Don’t want to bother with gathering it all individually? Choose a hair bleaching kit with everything included.

Lightening powder

Lightening powder is the chemical that bleaches your hair.

Developer

The developer is mixed with the lightening powder to develop it. Aim for a yogurt-like consistency when combining the two together, which will be the easiest to apply to your hair.

Toner

This is a necessity if you want a silver or platinum blond look. It removes any traces of yellow color that may appear as a result of the bleaching process. If yellow blonde is your goal, you can skip the toner, though.

Gloves

Rubber gloves will protect your hands while you work.

Bowl

You’ll need a bowl to mix together the lightening powder and the developer.

Tint/dye brush

You’ll also need a hair tint/dye brush to apply the mixture to your hair.

Clips

Use hair clips to section off your hair during the bleaching process and get right at the roots.

Choosing the right hair bleaching product for your hair

You’ll need to choose a hair bleaching product with a developer strength that corresponds to your current shade. Too strong a formula can be dangerous and may irreparably damage your mane. Developers come in volumes of 10, 20, 30, and 40, with 10 being the weakest.

Opt for a lower volume developer if you’re new to hair bleaching. People with thin hair should avoid any developer over 30 volume. Forty volume developer is extremely strong and can burn your scalp. It’s mainly used for highlights or very dark hair. We don’t advise using this strength of developer unless supervised by a professional. Whatever your hair color goals, don’t be shy to ask a professional for advice.

Developer comes in liquid or cream form. Cream developers are easier to apply and less messy. To prevent brassiness, look for a hair bleaching product with a blue or purple hue. Worried about damaging already brittle strands? Select a hair bleaching product that’s labeled “gentle,” and pair it with a low-volume developer.

Prices for hair bleaching products

At-home hair bleaching costs significantly less than heading to the salon. Of course, there’s a bit more uncertainty involved, but the potential savings can be worth it.

Hair bleaching products will cost you less than $40, but keep in mind you may need extra products for upkeep, including purple shampoo to keep your color vibrant and hair masks for deep conditioning.

Tips

The steps involved in bleaching hair are reasonably straightforward, but we’ve got a few tips to make your transition to blond a little easier.

• Don’t wash your hair before bleaching it, but do comb it through. It’ll be easier to apply the product.

• Have everything laid out before getting started. You don’t want to be searching for hair clips once your gloved hands are covered in goop.

• Perform a test on a small piece of hair to see what kind of shade to expect. This will also give you an idea of how long the bleach needs to stay on before achieving your desired shade.

• The hair bleaching product is likely to drip onto your clothing, so wear clothes you don’t care about.

• Use clips to section off your hair while you apply bleach. You won’t mistakenly bleach a spot twice, and you’ll be sure to cover your entire head.

• Work in a well-lit area so you’ll notice if you miss spots on your head.

• Get a friend, family member, or partner to help you make sure you don’t miss a spot. If you’re alone, use two mirrors so you can scope out the back of your head.

• Don’t leave the bleach mixture on for too long. Let it sit for 30 to 45 minutes, depending on your hair’s thickness. Take a look in the mirror to get an idea of how light your hair is getting.

• Don a shower cap while you wait for the bleach to work its magic. You’ll avoid staining anything around you.

• Or hop into a luxurious bubble bath to wait out the bleaching process. There’s no need to worry about getting product all over your sheets or couch cushions, and you can relax while you wait.

• If you don’t get the right color the first time around, wait at least a week before bleaching again.

• Once you’ve got that perfect shade of blond, use purple shampoo once a week to wash your hair. It helps reduce brassiness.

• Doing upkeep on your roots? Don’t apply bleach everywhere. You’ll damage already treated hair for no reason.

If you’re stressed about using a hair bleaching product, go to a salon for your first bleach job, or get a stylist’s opinion while you’re there for a cut.

FAQ

Q. Someone told me my hair will fall out if I bleach it. Is that true?

A. Only if you overdo it. Avoid high-volume developers if you’re new to bleaching or have very thin hair. Leave the strong stuff to the professionals. Don’t bleach twice in one day. Too much bleaching too soon may cause your hair to fall out.

Q. Is it possible to go blond if I have dark hair?

A. Yes! It just takes more patience. Although you might find information online that suggests those with black hair should opt for 40 volume developer, that’s not the best idea. It can burn your scalp. You’re better off bleaching your hair multiple times with a lower volume developer or heading to the salon if you have jet-black hair and want to go platinum.

Q. I’ve only had bleach in my hair for 10 minutes, and my locks look orange! What do I do?

A. Be patient. When bleaching, your hair doesn’t magically turn light blond. Bleaching occurs in stages. Darker hair will turn orange before it goes yellow. If you still have orange hair after waiting for the hair bleaching product’s recommended time, you will likely need to re-bleach your hair. Wait a little while before going through the process again, at least a week. If you’re scared to do more damage, seek the help of a professional hair colorist.

Q. Is it a bad idea to bleach my hair at home?

A. Lightening your hair at home is cheaper than heading to the salon. Although there’s a higher chance that you’ll damage your hair and mess up your color doing it on your own, mistakes can happen with a colorist, too. If you’re prepared, well-informed, and have the right expectations, go ahead and try the DIY route with a hair bleaching product.

Q. Can I use hair bleaching products on body hair?

A. Use bleach on your eyebrows and other facial hair, just be careful not to get any near your eyes. Lightening your eyebrows is a drastic change, so make sure it’s what you want before you make the commitment. It takes longer for eyebrow hairs to grow out than the hair on your head. We don’t recommend bleaching your nether regions at home. Consult a professional.