Since there will be intermediate stages when your hair is orange-tinged, coppery, or other not-quite-blonde colors, be ready to offset or mask these shades with hats, scarves, and other hair accessories.
Look for a bleach kit, which contains bleach powder and liquid peroxide. This is a stronger formula suitable for dark hair. Peroxide comes in different strengths, ranging from 10 volume to 40 volume. Note that 40 volume is too strong for general bleaching as it could burn the scalp. It is only used for tipping dark hair, in which case it does not come in contact with the skin. 30 volume will work more quickly than either 20 or 10 volume.
Snip a few strands of hair from an inconspicuous place at the back of the head. Tie the strands together with a bit of string or tape them together at one end. Mix a small amount of the bleach powder and liquid peroxide per manufacturer’s instructions. Dip the strands into the bleaching mix so that they are completely saturated. Set a timer or keep track of how much time passes during the test. Every five minutes, check the strands by wiping away the bleach with an old cloth. Reapply the bleach again, and repeat the process until you have the desired shade of blonde. Now you know how long to leave the bleach in your hair.
To protect your pillow from oil stains, wrap a towel around your hair or braid it and put on a shower cap.
It’s important to use non-metallic pins or clips to secure each of the four sections. This is so the clips don’t react with the chemicals in the bleach.
You can also rub a thin layer of petroleum jelly onto your forehead, ears and neck. Petroleum jelly isn’t necessary for bleaching in the same way it is for dyes, to avoid stains. But it can protect against irritation in case the bleach gets on the forehead, ears, and neck.
First do one thin section from one of the back quarters, making sure it is totally saturated before moving on to the next. Clip the section back into place before moving on to the next one. Do the two back quarters first, then the front quarters. Work in the direction of hair growth, i. e. from roots to ends. Work as quickly as possible: you want the hair to bleach roughly the same amount of time to achieve an even result. You can use different volumes to achieve this, as well: for example, using the quicker 30 volume up front and a 20 volume developer in back. Once hair is saturated, put on the processing cap.
Check the color by removing the bleach from a small section with an old cloth. If you choose to continue, remember to re-saturate this section with bleach first. It may help to set a timer for 10 minutes to ensure consistency.
This isn’t recommended if it’s your first time bleaching, when it’s important to get a sense of how long the process takes on its own. If you choose to repeat, you can try to speed it up with heat.
Shampoo lightly, preferably with a shampoo specifically formulated for bleached hair. A shampoo that contains purple toner, for example, will help eliminate brassiness and yellow tones. [4] X Research source Towel dry your hair and style as usual. If you can, avoid using heat products to style, as they will increase the stress and damage to your hair.
Dark hair usually has red or orange undertones, so bleaching tends to turn it orange. Blue toners balance orange, violet toners balance yellow, and blue-violet balance orange-yellow. In short, you want a toner that contains the color opposite to your undertones on the color wheel in order to neutralize. If in doubt, take a look at a color wheel to see where you fall. [8] X Research source For white hair, choose a toner that is specified for white. You cannot bleach your hair white: you have to tone it. [9] X Research source If you have any question about which toner to pick, you may want to go to a beauty supply store for professional advice, or consult a hairdresser.
Mix 1 part toner to 2 parts 10 or 20 volume developer. If you have black hair consider using 40 volume; however, keep in mind that the strength of 40 volume developer may be very harsh, and will severely burn if it touches your skin. Please seek medical attention if you receive a chemical burn! Apply toner evenly from root to tip, using the same sectioning technique described above for bleaching. Many toners require only 10 minutes, so apply as quickly as possible and keep close track of time. Check your progress every 5 to 10 minutes using the same strand technique described above for bleaching. Be careful not to overtone white hair, which can result in yellowish or grey color.
Remember to discard any unused bleach and toning mixture when you’re finished.
