Q&A for How to Bleach Brown Hair

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  • Question
    Should I start with damp hair when bleaching my brown hair?
    Community Answer
    No, your hair needs to be dry when bleaching it. It also helps if your hair is naturally greasy; it will help protect your hair from damage and make it easier to bleach. If your hair is very dry, consider applying some coconut oil to it instead.
  • Question
    What would happen if I left the bleach in for too long?
    Community Answer
    It might make your hair super dry, chemically burn your scalp, turn you hair an orange shade, and you will probably lose hair. Do not leave bleach in for more than an hour.
  • Question
    How soon can I color my hair after bleaching
    Allison Batera Sullivan
    Community Answer
    You can color your hair immediately after you rinse, shampoo, and condition your hair after bleaching it. The sooner you apply color to bleached hair, the more your hair will absorb the color.
  • Question
    If I need to bleach my hair a second time, should I wait a day?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you should wait a full 24 hours before rebleaching.
  • Question
    Does this work for red hair as well?
    Community Answer
    Yes. However, you may need to re-bleach in a couple of weeks, as red (whether natural or dyed) is one of the harder colors to remove.
  • Question
    Can I use house cleaning bleach? Or does it have to be that special powder kind?
    Community Answer
    Do not use house cleaning bleach, that is very dangerous for your hair, scalp, and surrounding skin. It must be the bleach specially formulated for use on hair.
  • Question
    Do I still need to use the purple/blue shampoo if I'm going to tone my hair light ash blonde?
    Community Answer
    You should wash your hair with purple shampoo for light ash blonde once a week to banish brassy tones, but you don't need to use it immediately after toning.
  • Question
    How long do I wait to bleach my hair so that it won't be orange after using a lightening hair treatment?
    Allison Batera Sullivan
    Community Answer
    Some hair, especially if it's very dark, will unavoidably have orange tints from bleach. The best way to get rid of brassiness, or orange tints, is by using a blue-based toner after you bleach your hair.
  • Question
    Can I bleach my hair right away after washing with shampoo and conditioner?
    Allison Batera Sullivan
    Community Answer
    It's recommended to apply bleach to unwashed hair, but you can apply to washed hair as well. It just may work faster, so be sure you're checking your hair for damage every 2-3 minutes.
  • Question
    How long should I keep the bleach in if I have dark brown hair?
    Community Answer
    No longer than 50 minutes. If it is not as light as desired, wait at least two weeks to re-bleach.
  • Question
    I lightened my hair a week ago and applied 9.13 for highlights. This color is not suiting me, if I change my hair color will it damage my hair?
    Allison Batera Sullivan
    Community Answer
    Darkening your hair color, or making it darker than the bleached parts, will not damage it. However, each time you lighten with more bleach, it does damage to your hair because it strips your hair of all color.
  • Question
    Can I bleach my hair after using a permanent dye?
    Allison Batera Sullivan
    Community Answer
    If you just applied fresh color to your hair, you should wait a few weeks before bleaching it. Trying to bleach it too soon will make it harder for the bleach to work; you'll need to leave it on longer and risk having it damage your hair.
  • Question
    Can I go swimming after bleaching my hair?
    Community Answer
    If you are swimming in a lake or ocean, it is perfectly safe. Salt may bleach your hair further. If you are swimming in a pool, it is better to wear a cap over your hair. The chemicals may turn your hair green and make the color dull.
  • Question
    Can I use shampoo when I bleach my hair?
    Community Answer
    It is not suggested, due to the fact that bleaching already dries your hair out. If you shampoo as well, then you are further removing oils that have just been stripped away.
  • Question
    When bleaching my hair, should I cover it with foil of some sort?
    Allison Batera Sullivan
    Community Answer
    People usually do this for highlighting to avoid having the bleach contact other parts of the hair that you do not want bleached. If you're bleaching all of your hair, it's unnecessary to use foil.
  • Question
    Can I use semi-permanent dye on my hair after I bleach it?
    Community Answer
    Semi-permanent dye should be okay to use after bleaching and will work much the same as a toner. To avoid further damage, choose one without any ammonia.
  • Question
    I naturally have near-platinum blonde hair but colored it a light brown a few months ago. Will one bleach be good enough?
    Allison Batera Sullivan
    Community Answer
    One bleach will most likely turn your hair back to light blonde. If you get brassiness (red, orange, or yellow tints) from lightening the brown dye, just use a toner to neutralize it.
  • Question
    After bleaching, patches of dark hair are still visible; is it safe to rebleach entire head of hair to cover the patches?
    NY Blossom
    Top Answerer
    No. Wait a week to let your hair recover and then use bleach on any darker spots.
  • Question
    What would you recommend as the best bleach on the market?
    Community Answer
    I use Splat hair dye kits. I have medium brown natural hair and I use the bleach kit. It doesn't leave any brassy undertones and it's affordable.
  • Question
    Will the color of the hair after bleaching medium dark brown hair be the same as in the pictures in the article?
    Community Answer
    Probably not after the first time. Bleaching is a process; try bleaching once a week until it reaches a color you're satisfied with.
  • Question
    How can I bleach blonde hair and color it blackish brown?
    NY Blossom
    Top Answerer
    You don't need to bleach it if you're dyeing it a darker color. Blonde hair is very easy to dye.
  • Question
    Is it safe to apply a color a week after I bleached my hair?
    Community Answer
    Yes. It is safe to dye your hair within 24 hours, as long as it is with semi-permanent dye, as these dyes are less harsh on your hair.
  • Question
    How long after I bleach can I add my red color dye? Do I have to wash my hair before I do, or should it be greasy?
    Community Answer
    It’s generally suggested to wait at least two to four weeks between coloring hair, especially after bleaching. That’s the minimum interval, but it would be better to wait six or seven weeks to avoid doing a lot of damage.
  • Question
    Is it safe to color my hair directly after bleaching it?
    Crazymind
    Community Answer
    You can dye your hair directly afterwards, but I wouldn’t recommend it. I’d wait one day or two, and use a hydrating hair mask after bleaching so that the damage to your hair will be minimized.
  • Question
    Where do I purchase hair coloring and bleaching products?
    Community Answer
    You can get items for hair coloring and bleaching at any major retailer or beauty supply store.
  • Question
    Do I shampoo and condition the strand test?
    Community Answer
    You can, but it's not required. If you're bleaching the rest of your hair straight after the strand test, it's best to leave it and condition it with the rest of the hair, because too many products at once can damage your hair further.
  • Question
    Could I just foil my hair instead of using clips?
    Community Answer
    Foil works well for doing some sections of hair; it is also best once treated. Starting with it sectioned with clips make it much easier to work quickly through the hair when applying bleach.
  • Question
    Should I trim my split ends before bleaching my hair?
    Community Answer
    I would recommend waiting until after bleaching your hair to trim your split ends since the bleaching process could make them worse.
  • Question
    After bleaching my hair, do I need to do a blonde dye?
    Community Answer
    A semi-permanent dye or hair toner will help you reach your desired shade (since freshly bleached hair can look artificially yellow). Some gentler semi-permanent dyes may also make your hair look smoother and shinier. Using permanent dyes (which contain more peroxide in the formula) is not recommended as these will further damage bleached hair.
  • Question
    Could I use this method on my beard?
    Community Answer
    No, I wouldn't use this on your face. The skin on the face can be very sensitive, so dyes and bleaches should be avoided.
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