It is no secret that hair bleaching is a very harmful procedure and spoils the quality of hair. But modern technology has made compounds less toxic. It was they who made it possible to test the procedure for bleaching curls for almost all the girls of our time. Read about how bleaching is done and how to minimize the effects of hair damage, read in this article.
What it is?
It is well known that hair bleaching technology consists in washing pigment from curls. The amount of pigment, as well as its color, is individual for each person and is determined by the inherited set of genes. When bleaching brown hair, yellow pigment remains, and dark hair after that looks light brown with an orange tint. Of course, such formulations can also wash out artificial pigments. In this case, the subsequent shade is difficult to predict if the painting was not done by a high-class master.
It is necessary to distinguish between two different procedures - lightening and bleaching. The first involves partial leaching of the pigment, and the second - complete leaching to a shade of “ashes”.
Departing from the topic, it is worth noting that bleached hair does not hold dye well. In order to find and fix a new shade, at least 3 or 4 staining procedures are necessary.
Features of discoloration during pregnancy
Surprising as it may seem, the discoloration for pregnant women becomes much more relevant than for other women.It is during this period that the body gives all its reserves of nutrients to the baby, and every day the woman looks a little worse.
There are many hypotheses about the dangers of almost all hair-dye formulations on the fetus. But, you should know that there is no scientific evidence for this.. Usually, the chemicals contained in the formulations, if they are harmful, then immediately for the body of the mother and the child.
Simply put, harm from inflicting low-quality products will affect women in a situation not. But this applies only to budget or home-made products. Modern manufacturers, and especially well-known brands with a good reputation, do not allow themselves to use compounds that adversely affect the body. In particular, the external influence of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide does not affect the body of the future mother and child.
Despite the likelihood of such reduced risks of exposure to dyes, it is best to adhere to the following rules when bleaching hair:
- The procedure itself is best done during the second trimester. During this period, the risk of unforeseen situations is reduced, since the fetus has already matured.
- Use formulations only with natural dyes. A vivid example of such a natural bleaching agent is white henna.
- Try or ask the master not to apply the mixture on the roots of the hair and especially on the scalp.
- Avoid applying heavy metal formulations. They are generally harmful to any organism.
Following these simple rules, you can reduce the harmful effects of substances on the fetus. If you, of course, are still in doubt of causing irreparable harm to their health. Separately, it is worth noting the fact that drugs taken orally can have a much more tangible effect on a child than cosmetics that are applied to the outer layers of the skin and its derivatives.
Advantages and disadvantages
Not very positive consequences of this procedure are many, here are some of them:
- High probability of getting a hair burn. The alkaline environment of the composition negatively affects the scales of the hair, as a result of which they begin to unfold. This condition of each hair, coupled with the effect of disheveled, thin hair.
- The compounds “wash off” the natural hair protection. As has already become apparent, those become unprotected and lose their luster.
- Negative effect on the sebaceous glands of the scalp. The mixtures dry not only the hair, but also the skin, contact with which is almost inevitable during the procedure, if the hair is lightened from the roots. This, in turn, leads to the fact that the protective layer of the follicles ceases to be produced, as a result of which the curls can begin to fall out.
- Sometimes such procedures can be accompanied by unpleasant sensations, including itching, burning and even slight burns to the skin.
- The bleaching procedure requires a lot of time and money. Spending will continue after the procedure - for regular correction and care products.
But, as in any procedure, there are positive aspects:
- With the right choice of shade "cold / warm" there is practically no representative of the fair sex, which would not go a light shade of hair.
- It looks equally good both on long hair and on short.
- With a high level of product quality, the compositions do well both with thin hair, without causing severe damage to them, or with thick and stiff curls.
- The procedure can become a lifesaver for owners of gray hair. Discoloration can completely hide gray hair.
- Reduces oily scalp and hair. If you are faced with a problem of a fat head, then discoloration will help not only to cope with this problem, but also to refresh the image.
In general, I must say that All girls should try bleaching, especially if there is a financial opportunity to afford the work of a high-class master.
How does hair bleach?
In a professional hairdressing environment, various means for bleaching hair are called dyes of the first group. One of the brightest representatives of this group is the “paint” based on hydrogen peroxide (30%). As part of the “paint”, peroxide should be used only together with the catalyst - ammonia (3%).
The solution is kneaded in the following proportion: one part alcohol to three parts peroxide. It is worth remembering that alcohol accelerates the action of hydrogen peroxide, so if you add too much alcohol, then hydrogen peroxide will completely decompose into its constituent components. Sometimes ammonia is replaced by ammonium bicarbonate. He is able to "remove" the red or yellow tint, which is a frequent consequence of discoloration. The ratio of hydrogen peroxide to ammonium is six to one.
Also, the composition for bleaching includes water (the recommended temperature is about 50 degrees) and shampoo (not more than 60 grams per 100 grams of composition). This composition when applied resembles a liquid cream, it acts on the hair and scalp with relatively no harm, but the effect as a result does not always turn out to be expected and desired. Such a composition is easy to make at home.
Known for several decades and the very first hair bleaching agent is hydroperit tablets. They are a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and urea. This mixture has a depressing effect on the hair and leaves burns on the skin. Nevertheless, now it is still used, but only to lighten unwanted hairs on the body.
Hydroperite with long exposure completely destroys the hair structure, which can be very desirable for hair on the body and face.
Ready powders for bleaching hair cope much better with their task. There are several brands whose products have received positive reviews.
- A fairly well-known bleach is "Blondoran Special." The powder is mixed with hydrogen peroxide (6-12%) until a paste, after which it is applied to the hair. Used during highlighting or complete discoloration. It gets along well with all shades of hair. It does not require long exposure, the maximum time is 50 minutes. Also, the Blondoran-Supra mixture received good reviews. It is quite similar to the previous product, it has a minimal risk of hair damage.
- Other products of mild action, relatively affordable for each customer, - L'Oreal Blonde Supreme. It has a rather gentle effect on the hair. However, it is not entirely suitable for dark hair.
- Another manufacturer - "Rokolor". The products of this brand can be attributed to budget options. It preserves the natural color of the hair as much as possible, while making it lighter. Also suitable only for girls with blond hair.
If it is necessary to lighten the hair by several tones, it is completely possible to do just applying oxide. For this, 6% concentration is enough.
How often can the procedure be carried out?
It should be noted immediately that it is impossible to carry out the bleaching procedure again immediately after the previous procedure.
If the first time it was not possible to achieve the necessary shade, then the next procedure should be performed at least with a break after one or two weeks.
Sometimes the hair bleaching procedure is carried out only in order to get rid of the unwanted shade after unsuccessful dyeing. In this case, you also need to wait at least half a month after the first procedure, if you want to completely “wash off” the previous color.
When conducting a simple and "home" procedure for clarification with lemon juice, in which you just need to mix lemon juice and water in equal proportions, and then apply it to your hair, do not worry about the frequency of the procedure.
The following bleaching procedure can be done half an hour after the last.
Technology
The technology of applying the composition to the hair as a whole is not complicated, but it requires attention and accuracy, and sometimes speed. Before the procedure, it is necessary to prepare the tools in advance: cotton swabs, a brush for applying paste and protective gloves.
The instruction includes the following steps:
- Since bleaching compounds can cause chemical burns, it is necessary to protect the skin as much as possible. Clothing will also require protection - for this it will be enough to cover your shoulders, and sometimes your neck, with a thick towel. The skin around the hairline, especially the forehead and temples, must be lubricated with a cream with high fat content.
- Now you can start breeding the mixture. Mix all the ingredients quickly and in the right proportions, since such compounds can lose their properties per minute or even decompose.
- Curls are carefully combed and divided into strands. It is recommended not to wash your hair before the procedure for several days, so that they form a natural defense.
- The main point is the application of the composition. If the hair has not previously been bleached, then the composition is not applied to the roots. The optimal distance from the roots to the “line” of applying the mixture is 3-5 centimeters. The paste is applied carefully to each strand and is evenly distributed over the entire length.
- After you have finished applying to the bulk of the hair, you must also apply the mixture to the fluffy hair.
- Comb and comb hair thoroughly. Leave on for 10 minutes.
- This step should be done for those who are not the first time doing hair coloring. It is necessary to apply the mixture to the roots of curls. Leave on for another 20 minutes.
- The penultimate stage is the washing off of the mixture from the hair. This is best done with slightly warm water. After you need to rinse your hair with a solution of lemon juice and vinegar (9%).
- The final step is to get rid of moisture with a terry towel and comb the strands.
Sometimes hair tinting is added to the procedure - to give a more natural or desired shade.
Professionals recommend applying the mixture starting with curls on the back of the head and gradually moving towards the strands on the top of the head and temples. It is also worth considering that for each composition the exposure time is different.
This is especially true of ready-made mixtures from manufacturers of professional products.
Possible problems
If you need to re-bleach the hair in less than two weeks, it is recommended to apply a soft paint without ammonia after the first procedure. This will reduce the subsequent exposure to the clarifier. It is best to opt for honey or golden hues. Dyes with a purple pigment are also used. As a rule, owners of dark hair face such a situation, for which the transformation, for example, into a “platinum blonde”, is very difficult from the first procedure.
Lightening the hair can become even more problematic if the hair was previously regularly painted with persistent dark colors. Sometimes in such cases, after the lightening procedure, the hair may turn red, pink or acquire a pronounced green tint. The best option would be to tint such hair, and after two weeks, again make the lightening procedure.
So that the hair simply does not fall off, especially after a repeated procedure, it is necessary to perform thorough daily care for a month after the last procedure. We will talk more about this below.
If the hair falls out after bleaching, then it is necessary to take the subsequent care more seriously. To do this, apply special masks, which include castor and burdock oils. It will be useful to use coconut oil.
It is necessary to mix all the ingredients in equal proportions and heat in a water bath, and then rub into the hair roots. Then the hair is covered in a bag and kept warm (in a towel) for several hours (from two to the whole night).This mask is easily washed off with shampoo and water. Usually, hair loss is characteristic of initially brittle, dry and severely damaged hair.
Care
In this section, we’ll talk about general care for any hair that needs to be done after this procedure. If for hair that has not been exposed to any formulations, care is optional, but still desirable, then for hair that has undergone a bleaching procedure, it is simply necessary. The main care is the regular application of masks and balms. It is also necessary to purchase sulfate-free shampoos.
Positive feedback received a homemade mask of olive oil, yolk, honey and brandy. All ingredients must be mixed in the amount of 1 tablespoon and one piece (for yolk).
Such a mask should be “kept warm” on the head for a couple of hours, and then rinse with non-hot water.
Try to minimize the effect of various thermal effects. It is best to wash your hair with soft water, not from the tap. To do this, it will be enough to boil it. Now there are special water filters on sale that soften water with chlorine.
In conclusion, it is worth saying that the demand for hair bleaching procedure is growing every year. In addition, there is, perhaps, not a single stylist of our time who does not advise slightly lightening the hair of each woman.
Hair bleaching is a very delicate and time-consuming process. The video below shows a technique that will help evenly discolor roots that have grown by more than 2 cm. This is necessary to know, because if you apply the brightening mixture immediately to the entire treated area, then in the basal area (1-1.5 cm) the curls lighten stronger , and a white bar will appear, which will subsequently create problems.