Before you start down the path of bleach blonde hair, you need to know some important facts. Any hair color correction that involves lightening your hair color is going to involve bleaching. Even if you aren't planning to go blonde, one color cannot make another color lighter. The only way to lighten your hair is by bleaching it. You know what bleach can do to a pair of jeans, so imagine what it can do to your fragile hair.
You can lighten hair that has already been colored, but it will take longer than lifting natural color, so it may need to be done in stages. If you are bleaching dark hair, don't be surprised if it you go through a spectrum of colors: red, then orange, yellow and finally white.
The first thing to do is read directions carefully. Then read them again. There's no going back once you start, so it's critical to know what you are doing. Once you put bleach on your hair, you must pay attention to what your scalp is doing. Bleach will continue to bleach until it is dried up or washed off.
If you feel a slight tingling on your scalp, you know it's working, but if it starts to burn, you need to rinse it off immediately.
If you have previously colored your hair at home, you need to be sure the coloring kit did not contain any metallic dye ingredients. These metallic salts will dissolve your hair, so if you aren't sure, do a test strand. Just snip off a piece of hair from underneath, where it won't show, and process it according to the bleach directions. Check the strand at 10 minutes and again at 20 minutes. If it pulls apart, do not bleach your hair or you'll wind up shopping for a wig.
If you are not experienced at hair bleaching, ask someone to help to make sure you get the solution on evenly. It's also nice to have someone around to help you out should you get bleach in your eyes.
Hair bleaching uses hydrogen peroxide, which will permanently stain your clothing, so be sure to wear an old shirt or use an old towel to cover your clothes.
Bottom line? Do a test strand. Bleach dark hair in stages. Get some help. Cover your clothes. Rinse completely. Now, go ahead and find out if blondes really do have more fun.
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