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Do you want to lighten your hair? If you want to add some highlights or go a few shades lighter, you will most likely need to bleach your hair using a bleaching solution to get your desired appearance. According to the rule of thumb, at-home bleaching should not last more than 45 minutes. If you believe that leaving the bleach on for an additional fifteen minutes would result in a brighter blonde, you’re mistaken. After 45 minutes, the bleach will no longer raise your hair colour and begin to fry your strands. Please continue reading to see how long do you leave bleach in your hair.
So, what exactly is hair bleaching?
Hair bleaching is a chemical technique that removes the pigment (colour) from hair strands, resulting in lighter-coloured hair. Each hair shade will have a different degree of pigment to dissolve through, determined by the condition and kind of hair you have and the original colour of your hair. The more time bleach is left on the hair, the more colour is destroyed, and the hair gets lighter. Hair with existing blonde tones will be more easily transformed into a platinum colour. Still, deeper hues, such as dark brunette/black, would most likely seem yellow or perhaps a heated reddish hue after the first application.
How long should bleach be left in your hair?
A bleach and developer combination may keep in your hair for up to thirty minutes, but not more. The precise length of time it takes to bleach your hair depends on your present hair colour and your objective, but any more than 30 minutes risks harming your hair and scalp.
The basic guideline is that the longer you let the bleach soak, the lighter your hair will be, with a maximum of 30 minutes. If you don’t get the required colour lift, you may constantly reapply bleach but never leave the bleach on for more than 30 minutes.
It is because bleach and developers are strong chemicals that may affect the colour of your hair and damage it. It may dry out your strands, making them brittle, and possibly damage your hair.
When should the bleach and developer combination be washed away?
The best way to achieve the proper colour outcome is to keep track of your hair while the bleach mixture makes its way through your strands. As you examine how your hair lightens, you should be able to tell if it requires substantially more time or whether you can wash it off rather quickly. Keep in mind that the lighter the colour you choose, the longer you will have to wait.
However, you may conduct a test strand before bleaching your complete head of hair to get an idea of how your hair will respond to bleaching, how long the procedure will take to attain the desired colour, and if you’ll have an allergic response to the chemicals.
The Consequences of Leaving Bleach in Your Hair Too Long
First and foremost, since bleach and developer are harsh chemicals, your hair might damage. While these two will gradually lose their ability to lighten your hair after 30 minutes, they can still produce chemical reactions that may be harmful.
Even if you didn’t get your desired hue, you should wash off the bleach after thirty minutes. It won’t happen regardless of how long you keep the bleach in. You’ll only need second bleaching at least 14 days following the first to let your hair heal.
Things to think about before bleaching your hair
When considering lightening your hair using a bleaching agent, various factors create the most realistic and stunning colour.
Bleaching hair may be time-consuming, with the usual rule of thumb being that the darker the original hair colour, the longer it will take the bleaching chemical to obtain the desired shade.
Bleaching hair may damage your locks, and too much bleach exposure can result in dry, brittle hair strands prone to breakage, so make sure you evaluate your hair health before application.
It is well known that bleach works best on virgin, unprocessed hair free of heat damage, so keep this in mind while assessing your hair’s state before application if you’re debating whether or not to use hair bleach.
Things to think about after bleaching your hair
Your hair may feel significantly weaker after bleaching. It will most likely need some ‘TLC.’ Give them a boost with a moisturizing hair mask, such as our Hydrate and Recharge Masque, which replenishes and nourishes your strands with moisture. See our suggestions on repairing and caring for damaged bleached hair for the most proper guidance on keeping your hair healthy, moisturized, and looking its best for additional after-care information.
DO consult a professional
You may get a hair bleaching kit at a store or online and DIY (do it yourself), with potentially disastrous effects. The guidelines are generic and do not consider your hair type. You might burn your tresses if you use too much hair bleach or leave it on for too long.
A professional hair colour treatment is your best chance of getting blonde highlights or a full-head colour without damaging your hair. A salon specialist will examine your hair and apply the appropriate quantity of bleach. If you opt to go too light, the expert may advise how many bleaching sessions you need to get the ideal results.
Conclusion
When bleaching your hair at home using 20 volume bleach or any other bleaching agent, one of the most common queries is how long you should keep the bleach in your hair. The bleach will not lighten your hair to the desired shade if you remove it too quickly. However, putting it in for too long would be a mistake that might result in significant hair damage. The period you leave bleach in your hair is determined by several variables, including the quantity of bleach (or developer ratio) in the bleach mixture. Above is a complete guide on how long do you leave bleach in your hair.
