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Did you color your hair, but it came out looking a little too funky? Or perhaps you just want a new look and think a bleached bombshell is what you're after? Either way, you will need to know how to bleach wash your hair. Bleach washing, also known as 'soap capping' or 'bleach bathing', is a gentler way to remove color from your hair. Scroll down to Step 1 to get started!
Steps
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Do an allergy test. If this is your first time using bleach or doing a bleach test, you should perform an allergy test before covering your whole head in bleach (or else you might have a bad reaction.) Mix up a small amount of equal parts bleach and developer . Take a cotton swab, dip it in the bleach, and rub it on the inside of your elbow. If that area begins to itch, grow patchy, or take on a bright red color, then you are most likely allergic to the bleach and should not use it on your whole head. Monitor the area for 48 hours. If nothing happens then proceed with the bleaching. [1] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source- If your bleach and developer come with instructions on how to perform an allergy test, follow those instructions.
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Wet your hair with cool water. Plan to bleach your hair when it is damp but not dripping. Run your hair under a cool stream of water (be it in the shower or sink). Once your whole head is wet, towel dry it so that it is damp rather than soaking wet (ie. there should not be water dripping in rivulets off of your head). [2] X Research source- You can also let your hair air dry for several minutes in combination with towel drying it.
- Bleach can be applied to wet or dry hair. You should use whatever approach is more consistent with your level of bleaching experience. Your bleach will likely go best if you use a method you are comfortable with.
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Pour the shampoo you will be using into a mixing bowl. If possible, use a clarifying shampoo as this sort of shampoo will help you to gauge the strength of the bleach you are using. You should use the amount of shampoo you would normally use when washing your hair .- You may want to add a tad bit more in case you need to add a bit more bleach to your hair.
- Most shampoos are fine to use but do not use a toning shampoo.
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Mix 1oz (28ml) of bleach and 1oz developer in a second bowl. There are many different types of bleach - cream, oil, liquid, or powder - but it really doesn't matter what kind you use. They all do the same thing in the end.- Using a 30 or 40 developer can break or snap re-treated hair, so use with caution! Developer comes in many volumes with lower numbers being weaker and 40 being the strongest.
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Pour everything into one bowl and mix thoroughly. The shampoo--if a clear clarifying one--should turn whatever color the blech is.- Add conditioner . This step is optional, but recommended to keep hair healthy. However, do not add conditioner if you are planning on dyeing your hair directly after bleaching it.
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Put an old towel around your shoulders. Bleach has a tendency to remove the color from everything (not just your hair but clothing too) so it's important to bleach-proof your work area. Wrap an old towel (one you don't mind discoloring) around your shoulders. To be safe, you may want to wear an old shirt you don't care about as well. Put your latex or rubber gloves on so that the bleach doesn't irritate your skin. -
Apply the bleach wash to your damp hair. You will need to wear latex or rubber gloves for this step. When applying the bleach wash, start at the bottom (or tips) of your hair and work your way up to the roots. Once you have reached the roots, rub the rest of the bleach bath into your hair just like you would rub normal shampoo into your hair while showering.- It's okay to apply the mix only to certain spots on your hair (like where the color didn't work out like you wanted it to.)
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Clip your hair up while the bleach processes. Once your hair is clipped up with plastic clips, put a shower cap over it. The shower cap will make the bleach process more quickly, and will also ensure that the bleach doesn't drip everywhere. -
Use a spray bottle and towel to remove a bit of bleach. Spray a small section of the hair with plain water in a spray bottle and wipe a bit of bleach clean with an old towel. Do this every few minutes to keep an eye on how much your hair is lightening. It is important to keep an eye on your bleaching hair or else you may end up with a more intense platinum that the one you were hoping for.- For already bleached hair, you may only need 7 - 10 minutes.
- For removing a dark dye, you may want to process it longer than 10-15 minutes, though it should only be 30 minutes maximum.
- If you do decide to use 30 or 40 vol - for extra lift or speed - don't let it process longer than 7-10 minutes (depending on your hair color and condition).
- Timing can vary from person to person depending on if the hair is untreated or if it was previously chemically processed or colored. The current condition and texture of the hair can also influence the timing.
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Wash out the solution. Once you have reached the color you were hoping to achieve, its time to wash the bleach out. [3] X Research source If you are planning on dyeing your hair after this bleaching process, do not use conditioner while you wash your hair out (some conditioners keep dye from getting absorbed into the hair.) If you are not planning on dyeing your hair, use a deep conditioner to bring some life back to your bleached hair. Wash your hair out as thoroughly as you can. [4] X Research source- If you're trying to remove hair dye, your hair should look orange or yellowish.
- If you're trying to remove a toner , it should leave the hair yellow.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionCan you use bleach on wet hair?Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.Wet hair is more fragile than dry hair and for that reason, you shouldn't usually use bleach on it. However, you can do a bleach wash, where you mix lightener with water on wet hair.
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QuestionWhat does the shampoo do along with the bleach instead of just using the bleach by itself?Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.The shampoo dilutes the bleach, making it less harsh on your hair. It also removes dye, if the hair has been previously colored, and it can be used to freshen up previously bleached hair.
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QuestionI have completely black hair, and I want to dip-dye it dark purple. I have virgin hair, and I'm unsure if I should go for 20 or 30 volume developer. What are your thoughts?Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.Because your hair is so dark, using a purple dye alone may not lift your existing color. So you may need to bleach your hair first, using 20 volume developer.
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Tips
- Bleach baths can be used to remove dye if the hair has been previously colored. They can also be used to freshen up previously bleached hair.Thanks
- It is not always necessary to wait a full 24 hours before colouring. Some brands of colour actually have conditioning benefits.Thanks
- If your hair already has split or frizzy ends, trim them after completing the soap cap process.Thanks
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Warnings
- Before applying bleach, do a test patch. Doing so will help determine if you're allergic to peroxide or ammonia. If you are allergic and apply the wash anyway, you could have a dangerous reaction.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- 10 vol. or 20 vol. Developer
- Any Shampoo (non-toning)
- Conditioner (Optional)
- Deep Conditioner
- Hair Bleach (blue or violet)
- Latex Gloves
- Non-metal mixing utensil
- Shower cap (Optional)
- Two metal-free mixing bowls
References
About This Article
Article Summary
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To do a bleach wash on your hair, pour some clarifying shampoo into a bowl and combine 1 ounce (30 mL) each of bleach and developer in a separate bowl. Stir the shampoo into the bleach mixture until they are thoroughly combined. Wet your hair with cool water and towel dry it so it is damp but not dripping. Drape an old towel around your shoulders and put on rubber gloves. Apply the bleach bath to your hair, working from ends to roots. Clip your hair up with plastic clips and cover it with a shower cap. After about 7 to 10 minutes, examine a small section of your hair to see if it’s as light as you want it to be yet. Depending on your hair color and the strength of the bleach, the process may take anywhere from 7 to 30 minutes. Rinse your hair thoroughly when you’re done. If you plan to dye your hair, don’t use conditioner. For advice from our cosmetologist reviewer on what to do if you plan on coloring your hair after you bleach it, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I have fine multi-racial hair, so it's hard to do anything with it chemically because it's so dark and breaks easily. With a 20 developer and these instructions, I was able to do a bleach bath on my hair, lifting the color a few shades in about 15 minutes. Hopefully, over the next few weeks with a couple more treatments, I'll be blonde. Thanks." ..." more
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"I have fine multi-racial hair, so it's hard to do anything with it chemically because it's so dark and breaks easily. With a 20 developer and these instructions, I was able to do a bleach bath on my hair, lifting the color a few shades in about 15 minutes. Hopefully, over the next few weeks with a couple more treatments, I'll be blonde. Thanks."
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"I wish I'd seen this article before making one hair dye mistake after the other and spending hundreds of dollars. Thank you for posting this. I've gotten great natural ideas to restore my very damaged hair."
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"I had just bleached my hair to a level 10 from about a level 7 but I wanted the white hair trend and it wasn't quite there. After using this, I got the baby white I wanted!"
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"Your article helped as I just wanted to know if I could use bleach powder with shampoo or conditioner instead of bleach developer."
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"Great article. I think I will be giving this method a try, as I want to lighten my hair a little."
