Home Hair Bleaching
A concept that has caused a stir in the cosmetic world, hair bleaching is a chemical process that is used to lighten hair. While, it is possible to get your hair bleached professionally, home hair bleaching is an economical and safe way of getting that blonde look. It is used for highlighting the hair and enhancing features and personality. The normal color of the hair fibers is due to the presence of melanin pigments, which are naturally produced in the hair follicle by melanocyte cells, in the growing or anagen phase.
With the application of the bleaching agents, the normal melanin present in the hair fiber is oxidized into a colorless compound. The most popular reason for bleaching hair is to get a true neutral, ash or platinum blonde hair. Based on how dark your natural hair is, the color after bleaching your hair could range from rusty orange to pale yellow. However it is important to keep in mind that hair bleach contains harmful chemicals like hydroquinone, kojic acid and ammonia which might cause scalp irritation and rashes, if not used properly. Hence it is important to know as to how to bleach your hair at home without causing damage to it.
Bleaching Your Hair at Home
For hair bleaching a developer with an oxidizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide is used. The alkalizing agent combines with the hydrogen peroxide and diffuses into the cortex (center) of the hair shaft, where it breaks down the melanin responsible for color and replaces it with whatever tinting agent has been used. You can use a store bleaching kit which contains the bleach in powder form and the developer (hydrogen peroxide) that is added to activate the lightening process.
To prepare the mixture read the instructions written on the kit. Based on the measurements on the kit, add the peroxide to the bleach a little at a time, stirring and squishing the lumps out. Make sure that the consistency of the mixture is neither too runny nor too thick.
For application of the bleach on your hair, wear your plastic gloves and tie a towel on your neck. Now section your hair using small claw hair clips. For bleaching the hair, remove the clip from one section and use the brush provided with the kit to paint the bleach evenly on the hair. Clip the section once it is done. Once all the sections have been coated, place a shower cap over your hair and using a warm blow dryer warm the shower cap. This will help the hair dye develop more quickly.
Leave on the bleach for 20 minutes or as specified in the instructions and then wash off. After rinsing off the bleach wash your hair with a mild shampoo, to remove all traces of the chemicals. As bleaching can dry your hair, use a good quality hair conditioner to moisturize your hair.
While, going blonde can be loads of fun, here are some words of caution you need to keep in mind. It is important to remember that hair bleach is toxic, so, keep the bleach away from eyes, nose, and mouth. Also, if you have hair that has been chemical straightened, permed, or recently dyed you should not use bleach, as this may permanently destroy the hair shafts leading to hair loss.
Home Remedies for Bleaching Hair
Due to the harsh chemicals, repeated bleaching can lead to weathered hair which looks dull and has a lot of split ends. This is why people are opting for natural hair bleaching methods to lighten their hair.
Lemon Juice: One of the most popular natural remedies is the use of lemon juice. For bleaching the hair, mix 2 tbsp of juice with approximately 6 tbsp of water and rub it in to your dry hair. Rinse off thoroughly after a couple of hours.
Tea: The use of tea can go a long way in bleaching the hair on your scalp. Steep the tea in hot water and let it cool down a bit. Rub it in to your dry hair and rinse off after a couple of hours.
Flowers: Certain flowers such as chamomile can also be used for lightening the hair. Just boil the flowers in water for an hour. Once it is cooled, strain the mixture and rinse your hair with the solution.
You can use any of these effective home remedies for bleaching hair. However, if you want to use the bleaching products, then make sure that you get a well-known product and perform a patch test to check for allergies. The best and usually the safest route to get the right hair coloring idea is to seek professional help to do the job.
