Q&A for How to Do a Bleach Wash on Your Hair

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  • Question
    Can you use bleach on wet hair?
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    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.
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer
    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.
  • Question
    What does the shampoo do along with the bleach instead of just using the bleach by itself?
    Ashley Adams
    Professional Hair Stylist
    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.
    Professional Hair Stylist
    Expert Answer
    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.
  • Question
    I 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
    Professional Hair Stylist
    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.
    Professional Hair Stylist
    Expert Answer
    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.
  • Question
    A box dye left my hair yellow and I want to make it blonde. Can I accomplish this?
    Community Answer
    Using another box dye won't give you the color you want. Try using a toner by a quality brand such as Wella to make your hair more blonde, not yellow. Once you've achieved the color you want, maintain it by using a violet toning shampoo formulated to keep blonde hair from getting brassy.
  • Question
    Will a bleach wash remove dye from my hair?
    Community Answer
    Depending on the volume of the bleach and the type of dye, yes. It should be able to remove almost all semi-permanent dye. Permanent dyes should lighten, but darker colors (especially black) might not fade much. Normal bleaching is best for those.
  • Question
    Does bleaching damage hair?
    Community Answer
    Yes, but there are ways to prevent a large amount of damage. Lathering your hair with coconut oil two hours before bleaching will make a huge difference. If you are getting it done, ask if they have Olaplex to mix with the bleach.
  • Question
    How bright will it make my hair?
    Community Answer
    The level of brightness depends on your hair colour, whether you have bleached it before, how much you dilute the bleach with the shampoo, what volume the developer you use is, how long you leave it in and more. There is no certain way to know.
  • Question
    Can I use any bleach, like a cleaning product bleach, or do I need a specific hair type bleach?
    Community Answer
    Do not use cleaning bleach. Use a hair bleach you can get at a beauty supple store, like Sally's Beauty Supply. They come in packets and some even have toner in them.
  • Question
    How long should I wait between bleach baths?
    Community Answer
    This depends on the integrity of your hair. You should be able to tell after your first bleach bath how healthy (or unhealthy) your hair feels. Base your frequency off of that. It's usually recommended to wait at least a week (with conditioning) between each one though.
  • Question
    How can I use this with coconut oil?
    Sarah Kathleen-Akers Denney
    Community Answer
    About two hours before you do a bleach wash put the coconut oil in your hair. This will help protect your hair from some of the damage from the bleach.
  • Question
    Does bleach wash out of a person's hair after a while?
    Community Answer
    No, although without any further toning or bleaching, bleached hair may darken slightly over time.
  • Question
    What should I do if the bleach caused my hair to turn orange?
    Community Answer
    Apply an ash toner; it should get rid of the brassiness. If it's more of a light yellow, go for a pearl/violet/blue toner or toning shampoo.
  • Question
    Will this work to remove blue from my hair?
    Community Answer
    It depends on how faded the blue is. For some people, blue is the hardest color to get rid of, taking multiple tries and a bit of damage to completely remove the stubborn green and blue tones. If the hair is a bit faded though, a bleach bath may easily get it to a pastel mint green.
  • Question
    Can I get a lighter purple from a bleach wash on my dyed deep burgundy hair?
    Community Answer
    No, the underlying pigment of the deep burgundy color is orange or red. The bleach bath will only take out the overtones and the undertones. The only way to make it lighter purple is to bleach the hair out to a light or pale yellow color and then add a light purple color over the lightened hair.
  • Question
    Do bleach products permanently dye your hair?
    Community Answer
    Bleach will permanently change your hair color, but it does not change new growth. It will lift the color out of your hair, so even if you remove any color you place on top of your hair, it will not return to its natural color.
  • Question
    How do I remove bleach without stripping my hair?
    Community Answer
    You cannot undo the effects of bleach. Once your hair color is lifted, you can only deposit color on top of it. If you have only applied bleach (and not another color or toner), there isn't anything to "remove" as you have already taken pigment out of the hair shaft.
  • Question
    Will a bleach bath help get rid of the orange left after a high lift?
    Community Answer
    Bleach will lighten your hair to a yellow, but you will need toner to get the brassy tones out of it. Blue toner can fix bleached orange hair and give it a light brown color.
  • Question
    Why should I not add conditioner to the bleach if I am going to dye my hair afterward?
    Community Answer
    Conditioner can keep the hair dye from taking to your hair. Hair dye sticks better to the natural oils of the hair rather than the silky smoothness a conditioner gives.
  • Question
    How does this work on pink hair?
    Community Answer
    It should work well, especially if done by a hairdresser. When done properly your hair should look a clear platinum, like normal.
  • Question
    How often can I do this?
    Community Answer
    You should only do this once or a couple of times since it's not too good for your hair. Just try to do it as least as possible and only when you have to.
  • Question
    Why can toning shampoos not be used in a bleach bath?
    Community Answer
    The bleach will strip the shampoo of its color, it won't have any effect. You would only waste the shampoo.
  • Question
    How do I tone my hair after bleaching it?
    Community Answer
    Use a toning product that applies like a hair dye. They are normally a light blue or lavender color to counteract the orange and brass tones that hair has after bleaching due.
  • Question
    I have baby pink hair and have just done this, but it has not removed all of the pink? I have previously bleached hair, what else can I do?
    Sarah Kathleen-Akers Denney
    Community Answer
    Use a vitamin c and clarifying shampoo treatment. Crush up fifteen 1000mg vitamin C tablets with an equal part clarifying shampoo. You can do this a few times and it should help strip the pink. Or you can go to a beauty supply store and they can direct you to the correct color toner or color fix products.
  • Question
    Will a bleach bath get rid of unwanted green in my hair?
    Community Answer
    It should get rid of the green, but it may turn your hair yellow or orange afterward.
  • Question
    After bleach, should I rinse the hair with cool water or warm water?
    Community Answer
    You should rinse your hair with cool water. It closes the pores in your hair and will trap the color in.
  • Question
    Should I do the ends and roots altogether?
    Community Answer
    Start at the tips and work your way up to the roots. Because the roots are closer to your head, which will be giving off heat, they process faster. This means if you do your roots first, they could turn orange or much lighter than the rest of your hair.
  • Question
    How long do I have to wait to add color?
    Community Answer
    You can dye it immediately afterward, but make sure you follow the instructions in the box of dye.
  • Question
    What can I do if bleach turned my hair a mint green? Will a bleach bath work?
    Community Answer
    If your bleach turned your hair green, it could be due to a reaction with previous dye or it might be too diluted. Wash your hair and wait a bit to make sure your hair stays healthy, then you could try bleaching it again. Go to a salon to be safe.
  • Question
    How long do I leave the bleach shampoo mixture on my hair?
    Community Answer
    It depends on how light you want it to go and what volume of developer you use. 10-15 minutes with 20 volume developer should lighten it a shade or two. You don't want to do much more than this at a time because of the potential for damage. You CAN leave it on up to 30 minutes, but I wouldn't suggest that. Do this slowly over a few weeks, with intense conditioning treatments in between.
  • Question
    I have a client with hair a little too dark. I want to use a 40 volume with a blonde; will that work?
    Community Answer
    40 volume developer is too harsh. Try a 30. The client may need to come in for another appointment to get the right shade.
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