Bleaching!

Nov 19, 2011

Carrie B.

Hey everyone! I'm fairly new here, but you Beauties seem pretty skilled in the looking good department, so I decided to come here for some much-needed advice :-)

In early December, I'm bleaching my naturally light brown hair blonde. I baby my hair to the max. Heat protectant, deep conditioner, overnight conditioner; you name it. I go out of my way to keep my hair as healthy and shiny as I possibly can, because I am growing out my hair; why have long hair if it's going to have split ends?

My question is, what can I do to keep my hair from completely drying out during the bleaching process? My hair stylist already warned it will dry out SOME, but I don't want to completely ruin my hair. Help?

Any product recommendations or at-home remedies are appreciated!

-Carrie. Xo.

Nov 19, 2011

Linda D.

One thing that has worked for me is just getting a trim every three months and just trying to use less hot tools and doing a deep conditioning twice a week. The one product that I am in love with is my Kerastase Chroma Riche masque. Also the Kerastase thermique conditioner is amazing. The warm water activates the product. Leaves hair feeling smooth, moisturizered, and adds a nice shine.  

Nov 19, 2011

Carrie B.

Linda,

Thank you for the product recommendations! I'll look into those for sure. I forgot to mention that one of the things I "go out of my way" to do for my hair is that I DO religiously get my hair trimmed every 8 weeks or so. I'm VERY good about that, so that will be nothing new :-)

Thank you again!

XO.

Nov 21, 2011

Stephanie B.

There is a product called Aphogee Keratin 2 Minute Constructor. You can find it at Sally's Beauty Supply.  http://www.aphogee.com

Nov 21, 2011

Angela W.

Repost alert!! And get ready to read a novel.. but this is how I've bleached for years and had great results : )

Forget the BLUE tinted bleaching powder and go with NEUTRAL. This is huge. I was having ho-hum results with the blue until one day I swiched to the neutral and the heavens opened up and turned me bleach blonde!

Next, use a 40 developer. Yep, a 40. Don't be scared, the key is not leaving it on too long and frying your hair. As long as you keep your eye on the clock you'll be ok. I prefer a cream developer too, less messy.

Then, mix them equal parts and use A LOT. I buy the big old tub of powder bleaching agent and two bottles of the 40 developer. I'll put a list of the products I use at the bottom.

So now you have to consider what condition your hair is in. If you have dye on part and natural roots, the bleach is going to take differently. So brush the bleach onto your dyed hair first and then wait like two minutes (literally, like two) and then do the roots. Your tips might have damage too so the bleach is going to affect them more rapidly than the thick, middle part of your strands. Sometimes I wipe the tips off with conditioner (yes.. just as I said it, wipe the bleach off by smoothing conditioner over them) when I feel they're getting compromised.

You have to work SUPER fast but make sure you're being thorough. If you trust a friend enough to help you do the back of your head, then great for you. I do it myself with a handheld mirror that reflects the back of my head in my bathroom mirror and I do just fine. I use a comb to seperate my hair, too... much easier than trying to do it with just your hands or a brush.

Now watch your hair. The box might say to keep in on for 40 minutes but I've never, ever left it on that long. I figured that was the fastest way to damage my hair so I always rinsed it out within 20 minutes.

Prepare to have pretty orange-y hair. And that's OK! That's what toner is for... I use Wella toner in Ivory Lady (T 10) with 20 or 30 volume developer (I've found I just don't need as strong of a developer at this step)... which I apply immediately, while my hair is still wet. I don't leave that on for very long either, maybe 20 mintues at the MOST. I think most girls go wrong when they leave stuff on too long. Then, instead of rinsing the toner out with shampoo I use a clarifying conditioner and don't shampoo at all. I just rinse like mad.. then condition.. and condition... and again if I feel like it. Then it's Keratin mist time (keratin is protein.. protein is stripped from your hair during this process so I feel it's good to put it back in). Seems to work.

Viola. It's not going to be Platinum overnight but... since you're not leaving it on too long and wrecking your hair, you can do the whole process again in a few days (the longest I ever waited between bleachings was like a week- mostly because I was busy). Before I knew it my hair was nearly white and not brassy at all.

I also invested in one of those purple shampoos. But be careful with those- I started to go a tad grey on the tips from overusing it! I had to bleach the grey out! Not good... so don't leave the purple shampoo on for more than a minute.

THe best advice I could possibly give is to seriously just look at and feel your hair. You can tell if it needs a break- so give it one! And don't freak out if you have to do the process a few times before you get the color you want. PS- you can always fix "spots" if you get any- just paint bleach onto just the spots and then rinse them away! Bleach is actually really easy to do once you get comfortable with it.

Here's my list of items I use:

1. latex gloves
2. a pro type brush (flat, wide brush that looks like a mini painter's brush) with synthetic bristles
3. at least two packages of Kaleidocolors tonal lightener powder in *Neutral* NOT Blue!
4. pure white creme developer in 20 or 30 and 40 (you might as well buy a lot because blonde takes a lot of upkeep).
5. Wella toner in Ivory Lady (T 10).
6. A clarifying conditioner (I used VO5 kiwi somethingorother for $1)
7. A really, REALLY good conditioner. I like Joico's K-Pak Reconstruct line. The shampoos and conditioners you're going to use are key so don't be cheap here.
8. Keratin Mist (I use the CHI one) but you could also do a protein replacement treatment by using Henna and Placenta.
9. An oil treatment. I am OBsessed with mixing pure cold pressed coconut oil, olive oil, and Argan oil together and using it as a mask. Coconut is a must!
10. Clairol's Shimmering Lights purple toning shampoo.

And that's it. Just condition like mad (literally, every few days do a mask) and your hair will be fine! Here's a pic that was taken the same day as a self-bleach job:

Nov 22, 2011

Christine R.

The Joico K-Pak Reconstructor is Great for in between bleaching!! 

Mar 2, 2012

heartlee H.

@Angela W.

Omg! Thank you for such a detailed post! I've been wanting to bleach myself for a while because spending $70/month +TIP to get your roots touched up is a killer!!

I'm still a little nervous but I think your post has given me the confidence to at least try it!!
I may be messaging you for some inspiration or advice haha.
♥