Q&A for How to Bleach Dark Brown or Black Hair to Platinum Blonde or White

When I'm bleaching dark hair, I make sure to use a 10- or 20-volume developer. These are both relatively low volumes, which seems counterintuitive, but when the developer lifts more slowly, it leaves the hair less brassy and in better condition. It's definitely worth the longer application time!

Depending on what the black dye is made of, bleach may or may not remove it. The only way to know for sure is to do a strand test.

Yes, as long as you are starting with natural color. High-lift hair colors are a great option that are less damaging than bleach. But they may not work if your hair is naturally very dark or if you want a very bright, platinum blonde.

If your hair has never been colored before, a permanent dye should be able to lift it 2-3 levels. However, this may vary depending on the brand of color you use and the strength of the developer.

This is not achievable in one sitting and is too harsh on the hair. Bleaching black hair to white would take a few sessions over several weeks.

If you lift hair with bleach, you should always use toner. It not only refines the hue, it also adds shine and smooths and seals the cuticle.

You can't add highlights with a toner, only shift the hue of existing ones. For a beige result, you'll want to use an ash toner with a blue or violet base.

The directions on the packaging should state how much product is needed. If not, consult a Wella distributor or the seller of the product, perhaps.

You can try a high lift dye, but this will only work if your hair is a light brown color to begin with and your hair isn't currently dyed with another color. If your hair is darker than this, or still has dye in it, you will probably turn your hair red or orange instead.

A 20 volume developer will lift 1-2 levels. In general, 20 volume developer is the most commonly used.

Yes, you can, though you should be careful that you are not damaging your hair by doing so. Before you bleach, try a less damaging method like using a clarifying shampoo or a diluted bleach wash.

While the cost really depends on what you buy and how much, and localized costs in your country, here are some guesstimates: The bottles of developer around USD$4 each; bleach powder about USD$2 a packet; toner maybe USD$10; shampoo can be pricey, like USD$15-30 for a good bleached hair shampoo; gloves and brushes no more than a couple of dollars. With long hair you may need two packets of powder, or if you're doing it more than once as well. You can get two bleaches out of one bottle of developer, but you need a separate bag of powder each time. In all, guess around USD$30-35 for everything if you buy it at a beauty store. At a salon, it could cost USD$70-150 depending, but they're professionals so they can do it all in one day and will probably do less damage.

I would wait a week. Make sure you do deep conditions with coconut oil to repair your hair a bit and prevent it from any further damage. Your hair will thank you.

Wash your hair in cool water, never hot. And visit a beauty supply store for a shampoo and/or conditioner with a tone or color of your hair. This will keep the color vibrant.

After bleaching, just condition your hair. Shampooing would remove more natural oils from your hair which help protect it from damage and drying.

Yes. First, you remove the color from the hair's pigment, and eventually what remains is a yellow tinge. Now you need to follow up and tone it to give it that color you would like it to have.

It generally takes six hours of bleaching, but keep in mind those hours should be broken into chunks of less than one hour apiece.

No. You might harm your scalp, as bleached hair will start to get a little heat.

Wella has a good developer (go with a 30 volume), and Blond Brilliance has a really good toner that doesn't have ammonia, so does minimal damage.

Try hair color sprays made specifically for temporary root touch-ups. They work great, although they don't usually last after one shampoo.

I would do a bleach shampoo to try and get the rest of that red out before bleaching. Bleach shampoo: 1 part bleach + 1 part 10/20 volume developer + 1 part shampoo. Put the mixture on damp towel-dried hair, leave on for approximately 15 minutes.

No, don't bleach it again for at least a week. The grey color will wash out. Try a blue shampoo, they have many different kinds at Sally's.

You should dye all of your hair brown first, then bleach the ends. This is so you don't dye the bleached parts white.

Yes. The color of your hair won't change if you leave in the previous dye you have had in before. You should be able to tone it.

Any form of bleach will work fine whether it's powder, cream or liquid, but if it's your first time doing this, please use only 20 volume unless you're a professional.

This depends on your dye. Permanent dyes stay in for a very long time and you have to grow them out. Semi-permanent dyes fade after a couple weeks, and to keep them in you can use color-conserving shampoo and wash with cold water. Some dyes, like chalk dyes,stay in only until you take a shower or bathe.

Yes, you can use it. But note that if your hair is previously dyed (especially a dark color), it will be harder to bleach. You'll need to bleach it more times compared to bleaching virgin hair to get the desired result.

Well, bleach is considered permanent. If you mean, is there a way to change the color of the hair that grows out of your head, then no.

If your hair is at a yellow stage, try using toner shampoos. Look for blue or purple tones. Adding more bleach or a blonde box dye will increase the yellow tone.

Yes, it will probably take multiple sessions (although that's not a guarantee).