While the number of older people accepting their natural gray hair is increasing, we also see an amazing trend where youth with dark hair are showing interest in white hair bleaching. Celebrities like Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber have stunned the world by flaunting their bleached platinum blond style, inspiring many youngsters. Are you spellbound with the idea of having platinum blond hair but worried about safety? Read this article to know safe ways of bleaching. Achieving white hair that looks gorgeous and healthy when your natural hair is darker is not a simple process. However, by following a few easy tips and taking precautions, you can dye your naturally blonde, brunette, or even black hair a lovely shade of platinum. Be sure to use the best quality products available and consult a hairdresser, if needed. Taking proper care of your bleached hair is important as color-treated hair is more delicate than natural, untouched hair (1). But, before going for a bleached white hair look, you need to ask yourself a few questions to determine whether the hair color is for you or not.
Am I A Good Candidate For Bleached White Hair?
Bleaching your hair white is a slightly tricky process. Not everyone is a good candidate for bleached white hair! Here are a few factors that determine if your hair is suitable to be bleached:
Do You Have Virgin Hair?
Only those with virgin hair should consider dyeing their hair white. Virgin hair refers to hair that has never been dyed before or does not have any trace of any previous hair dye. If you have colored hair, you should wait until the dyed hair has grown out before bleaching your hair.
Is Your Hair Healthy?
Do you have healthy, dandruff-free hair? Is your hair prone to breakage or split ends? Having healthy hair is a prerequisite for dyeing your hair white. Dull, lifeless, or breakage-prone hair will be further damaged if exposed to the chemicals in the bleaching agents (1). Thick and coarse hair is the best-suited for this process.
What Is Your Natural Hair Color?
The natural shade of your hair plays a big role in determining whether you are a suitable candidate for bleached white hair. If you have healthy, natural blonde hair or light brown hair, you can go for bleaching without any worries. Since your hair is already of a light shade, it will be easier to achieve a platinum blonde look. However, bleaching dark brown or black hair white will take considerably more time and will take several sessions. It may take several weeks of allowing the hair to rest to prevent further damage too soon. Bleaching dark brown or black hair will mean that the hair will lift to an orange before needing to be toned to white. And the ones lightening their hair should be willing to endure a week or so of orange hair before the next bleaching session. It is more difficult to color dark hair white without causing excessive damage to the hair shafts. Once you have determined that bleached white hair is the way to go for you, start collecting the supplies for the guide given below.
How To Dye Your Hair White
Bleaching your tresses at home can save you loads of money. However, since it is an intricate process, you should be prepared well before you start. Use only the best quality ingredients available. Before beginning the actual bleaching process to color your hair white, collect the following supplies:
Hair bleaching powder 20 or 30 volume developer Plastic bowl and plastic measuring spoons (avoid metal) Toner Hair-coloring brush Hair clips Shampoo Conditioner Gloves Old clothes
Now you are ready to start! Follow the given steps to achieve the perfectly gorgeous platinum blonde look.
Put On Your Gloves
Prepare by wearing old clothes and putting on your gloves. Bleaching your hair can be a bit messy, and you do not want to ruin a set of new clothes.
Prepare Your Hair
It is advisable to massage your scalp and hair with some warm coconut oil for a few hours before starting the procedure. Do not use a brush or comb on the scalp before bleaching. Even microscopic scratches on the scalp can invite the bleach to burn the skin from the inside and even offer an opportunity for infection to set in. Coconut oil is moisturizing and nourishing, and it helps to minimize the damage caused to your hair by the bleaching process (2).
Divide Your Hair Into Sections
Dividing your hair into sections makes application easier and also aids with greater precision. Divide your hair into four quadrants by first parting it from the center of the forehead to the nape of your neck. Now, halve each section once again from ear to ear. Secure each quadrant with a rubber band or a hair clip.
Apply The Bleach
Follow the directions given on the packaging to mix the bleaching powder and developer. You should apply the bleach to smaller sections within each of the quadrants to ensure your hair is fully saturated. Bleach the tips and mid-lengths of your hair first. This is extremely important! Bleach activates faster with heat, so the warmth of your scalp will cause it to lighten faster than the mid-length. Starting 2” from the scalp is safe enough to apply bleach. They take longer to lighten than the roots. Once you have coated the rest of your hair with bleach, apply it to your roots. Give your hair a quick massage to ensure the bleach has been distributed evenly. Gather all your hair on the top of your head and put on a shower cap.
Processing
Leave on the bleach to process for as long as it takes your hair to reach a pale-yellow color. Note: If there is any burning or discomfort, wash the bleach out immediately. It could mean your body is having an allergic chemical reaction with the bleach. The processing time depends on the natural color of your hair. Blonde hair takes lesser time while darker hair takes longer. However, be careful not to let the bleach sit in for longer than the recommended time given on the packaging. It usually takes 20 to 50 minutes for the bleach to work its magic, depending on the natural shade of your hair. Check every ten minutes to see if the desired color has been achieved. Do not pull or stretch on the hair strands to see if the bleach is soaking in. Bleach softens and cracks the cuticles, making the hair more elastic. If you pull on the hair during this process, it will tear off. If you are still not satisfied with your hair color by the end of the time suggested on the packaging, wash your hair anyway. You can repeat the bleaching process after a week or so.
Wash Your Hair
After the stipulated time, wash the bleach off your hair. Rinse your hair thoroughly and use a balancing shampoo to restore your scalp’s pH levels (3). Conditioning after bleaching is an important step. Use a balancing conditioner to make your hair soft. Let your hair air-dry. Do not use a blow dryer after bleaching your hair.
Apply Toner
Bleaching makes your hair pale yellow, not platinum blonde. To achieve a platinum blonde look, you need to use a toner on freshly bleached hair to make it white. To make it look pure white, you need to use a neutralizing toner. Apply a good-quality toner on freshly washed, towel-dried hair to get rid of the brassy tones. Leave it on for about 30-40 minutes before washing it off. The toning process may need to be repeated every week. You can also use a toning shampoo instead. Once you decide to bleach your hair white, take these necessary precautions to get the most out of the process and emerge with healthy-looking and gorgeous platinum blonde hair.
Hair Bleaching Dos And Don’ts
Avoid shampooing for at least a day or two before bleaching your hair. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the natural oils in your scalp and hair help with the bleaching process. Massage your scalp and hair with pure coconut oil the night before to protect your hair from excessive damage. Bleaching agents are strong and can cause chemical burns. If you feel any discomfort during the bleaching process, wash off the bleach from your hair immediately. Using a toner is necessary to achieve a pure white platinum blonde look. However, just like bleach, toner can also cause chemical burns. Wash off the toner immediately if you develop rashes or experience pain of any kind after applying it to your hair.
After bleaching your hair and getting the pure white hair of your dreams, it is time to take proper care of your luscious white locks. We walk you through some handy aftercare tips below.
Aftercare Tips For White Hair
Now that you have gorgeous platinum blonde hair, it is time to take good care of your tresses. Bleached hair needs extra care to look lustrous and healthy. Here are a few aftercare tips to follow for white hair:
Do Not Wash Your Hair Daily
Washing too frequently can dry out your locks by stripping away their natural oils (3). Since your hair is already damaged from the effects of the bleach, it is advisable not to wash your hair every day. Even if you have not bleached your hair, it is not a good idea to wash it daily.
Massage With A Nourishing Oil
Giving your bleached hair some extra love and care is important. Gently warm some coconut or olive oil and massage it into your scalp and hair. You can leave it on for a few hours or even overnight. Then, wash off the oil with a mild shampoo to get soft and silky hair. Deep conditioning with oils helps restore hair health (2).
Use A Purple Shampoo And Conditioner
Purple shampoos and conditioners are specially formulated hair care products that use purple pigments to neutralize yellow tones. A good-quality purple shampoo is a must-have for those with bleached hair. Using a purple shampoo helps tone your hair and maintain its pure white color. You can use a purple shampoo and conditioner twice a week.
Avoid Heat Styling
After you have bleached your hair white, avoid all kinds of heat-styling tools like blow dryers, straightening irons, and curling wands for at least three weeks. Bleached hair is susceptible to the harmful effects of heat styling as the hair cuticles are left open during the bleaching process (4).
Closing Thoughts
How does baking soda whiten gray hair? Remember, bleached hair requires special care and nourishment. So, we recommend using coconut oil and purple shampoo to maintain your mane’s suppleness and liveliness. As your hair strands are vulnerable to damage, avoid heat-styling tools. Baking soda mixed with hydrogen peroxide may help break down the melanin pigments in gray hair and lighten the color. However, ensure that the hair is not dyed.
Hair Cosmetics: An Overviewhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4387693/ Effect of mineral oil, sunflower oil, and coconut oil on prevention of hair damagehttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12715094/ The Shampoo pH can Affect the Hair: Myth or Reality?https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25210332/ Heat-damaged evaluation of virgin hairhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30861299/
