Q&A for How to Prepare Your Hair for Bleaching

No, I wouldn't recommend it. The bleach could irritate the burn and make it worse or cause infection. When bleaching or coloring, you don't want to have any kind of lesions or open wounds on your scalp.

Yes, if anything it will lessen the damage of the bleach without affecting the results.

You can, but it's probably best to wait until the next day, unless you're worried there's still some bleach residue in there.

If you are bleaching your hair by yourself at home, you can just evenly distribute the bleach throughout your hair, and then place a shower cap over it. When salons use foil, they use heat to speed up the bleaching process, which can be more damaging.

You will definitely want to have dry hair. Wet hair is more vulnerable than dry hair, and the water will also dilute the bleach, which can negatively affect your results.

Apply oil to dry hair. Pop it in the microwave so that it's warm - not boiling hot obviously! Then start at the ends and work through. If its in need of it, you can sleep with it in overnight and shampoo out the following morning or leave it in while you have a bath and shower it out after. Either way - your hair will thank you!

No, it's not. Sun In uses heat to enhance the natural light colors in your hair.

Yes. You can also add a few drops of coconut or argan oil to your bleach mixture before apply it. If you choose to do either of these, make sure that you are using pure and natural oils. Any oils with added chemicals or ingredients could hinder the effects of the bleach.

Yes. There are some stylists that apply it as soon as they remove the foil of bleach. Just make sure the shampoo doesn't stay in your hair for too long.

It's better to use a toning dye to offset those effects. Bleaching your hair is damaging, and you should not do it more than once a week.

It's better to wait a week at least (or two, if you can wait that long) after bleaching to color your hair.

Yes! Although coconut oil may be better for your hair, olive oil is also nourishing.

20-volume developer is safest for use at home. Stronger developers like 30- or 40- can lighten the hair faster than you can apply it thoroughly, leaving unevenly lightened results. They are also much more damaging. 40 volume developer can leave you with chemical burns on your scalp and permanently damage your roots, even resulting in permanent hair loss. For best results, opt for multiple applications of 20 volume developer in a 2 to 1 ratio of bleach powder until you've achieved the desired results.

Hair is more fragile when it's wet, so it will likely sustain more damage from the bleach. A technique called a "bleach bath" can be used on wet hair though where the bleach is diluted rather heavily with shampoo and conditioner; this will lighten the hair a few shades with little damage, but will not get you to platinum blonde.

Yes, you may use it after two weeks of keratin treatments to lessen the damage to your hair.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions. Most bleaching powders require a specific developer to function properly. Using the wrong strength or ratio could cause uneven results. Make sure to apply to the ends or roots and wait the recommended time before applying to the remaining area. The instructions are different for lightening virgin hair versus a root touch up on previously bleached hair. If you have dyed hair, consult a professional for the best way to achieve consistent color results.

Yes, 2 days before is fine, don't wash it the day of.

Yes. Hair will often become brittle after bleaching, so deep conditioning is a good idea.

You can, but it's better not to have shampooed your hair a couple of days prior to the bleaching session.

Yes, it is best not to bleach freshly washed hair.

Try a small mixture with a small patch of hair before you mix them entirely.

No. Scratching before bleaching can make your scalp burn when you apply the bleach.

Yes, you can definitely but the toner in right after you bleach it, but keep in mind that it might make your hair come out a bit silver, depending on which toner you use.

Yes. Minimize using any chemical products, or better yet, stop it for few weeks before you bleach your hair. This can prevent any extra damage on your hair.

You can use regular shampoo! Just make sure you condition it really well, preferably with a deep conditioner.

Yes, you can bleach your hair after washing it. It does not have to be dirty.

Yes, that is fine.

A purple shampoo. This will help get rid of any yellow tones left in the hair after bleaching. Alternatively, any shampoo for dyed hair, as it's made for sensitive hair.

No, because conditioners and masks actually stop the bleach from sticking to the hair. It makes your hair slippery. You want to have unwashed hair to bleach, preferably not washing it for a few days before the bleaching.

You don't have to wait if you hair has never been dyed before, but you should wait for 2 or 3 days for your hair to become slightly oily before bleaching it.