Prepping hair for bleaching?

Aug 29, 2014

Jack B.

I agree with Emily on everything. You can bleach at home as long as you know what you're doing (watch lots of YouTube tutorials or have a friend with bleaching experience help) and you care for it well after. I also used Ion bleach and developer on virgin hair with coconut oil masks and some kind that they sell at the counter at Sally's (forgot the brand, oops) with minimal damage after 3 rounds of bleaching.

Tips:
-If your hair is very thick bleach in sections. Mine took 30+ minutes to get 1/4 bleached, and that can really throw the timing off.
-roots and the underside of your hair need less time, because your body heat will accelerate the process.
-be prepared for a terrible orange/yellow phase. Buy lots of toner.
-check your hair texture regularly while bleaching. With both hands about an inch apart, grab a small section between index and thumb and tug. If hair feels stretchy (I think it's like string cheese) rinse immediately.

Aug 28, 2014

Emily W.

Trying to remove the built up pigment will definitely help. Either using a clarifying shampoo, dish soap, a color stripper, etc. to remove the dye will make it easier for the bleach to do it's thing.

I did it myself using Ion bleach and developer, but my hair was virgin so I didn't have any previous dye to contend with. The most important thing really is aftercare. A hydrating/conditioning mask is crucial! I used the Queen Helene cholesterol mask, and my hair is not damaged at all, despite being bleached three times in two days (yes, I'm horrible and nobody should attempt that).

Aug 28, 2014

Shaye M.

Make sure your hair is dirty before you bleach, it'll help minimise the damage. Also, I've gone white blonde myself and I would make my own bleach (peroxide and the bleach powder) also aftercare is important to, you'll need products that're very moisturising on the hair because the bleach makes your hair very vulnerable to damage and breakage when it's wet.

Aug 28, 2014

Annika C.

I bleached my hair a couple months ago and I used a box bleach. personal it didn't work out too well for me, it ended up itching and burning pretty badly, but I didn't use a very good type of bleach. I would get it done professionally of I were you.

Aug 28, 2014

Becca K.

So, I'm going to slowly save up (I don't make much at my current job and the salon I'm looking at is really expensive) to get my hair bleached out white-blonde and possibly dye it pastel pink or pastel purple at a later date.

I'm wondering what the best steps are to prepare my hair for bleaching (it's been dyed at least once a year for a good decade, multiple times in the last few months). Also, what is the best way to care for my hair after bleaching it?

One more question: Salon vs box bleach, which is better? I purchased a box of L'Oreal Féria Absolute Platinum dye to dye it but my mom (who does my dyeing for me) threw an awful fit and said it will turn orange and fall out and I needed to have it professionally done. /:

Any/all input is great!