Is bleach bad?
At our Abingdon hairdressers, from time-to-time clients we are regularly asked whether bleach is bad. Whether a client has bleached their hair at home, have heard bad press about bleaching hair or have had a salon disaster which has over processed their hair from using bleach, it’s more common than you might think.
Bleach doesn’t need to be a scary word. For the right candidate, the correct formula and the right expectations, using bleach can turn lifeless, flat, colourless hair into hair everyone will be envious of!
At our Abingdon hairdressers’ we would always recommend understanding the up and downsides of bleaching hair. Your local Abingdon hairdressers’ will likely to be well placed to advise on this, however if your hair is generally healthy and you seek something to introduce a little bit of lightness, bleach is a great starting point.
For more information on hair advice, our helpful balayage tips might help. Alternatively, check out our other blog posts for more.
Do I need to bleach my hair?
It depends. You have options. Typically the available options are;
- You could do this yourself using a home dye kit also known as a box dye. Home dying kits for some can work. Bleach does contribute the a higher risk and most Abingdon hairdressers would strong advise avoiding it. Bleach if used aggressively using the incorrect mix on the wrong type of hair can lead to bigger problems and a big correction job. Our advice is leave bleaching to the professional.
- Salon bleaching is typically in a controlled environment. Our Abingdon hairdressers are able to create different formulas dependent on the client hair type and desired look. Balayage is a great first option. Our Abingdon hair salon strongly recommends this option if you’re new to the world of colour or you are looking for something noticeable yet subtle and classy.
- Highlights too are a nice option for overall lightness. This option requires slightly more maintenance in the form of the numbers of appointments and ongoing aftercare.
- Scalp bleaches look great. This is the application of bleach all over covering every strand of hair for a lighter all over colour. Scalp bleaches are less common and require more maintenance.
It is also worth considering whether you are a candidate for bleach. If your hair is patchy through the application of a home dye kit or a faded colour, bleaching over this may spell trouble. Remember, bleach is powerful however if you apply it to patchy hair, it won’t correct this it will only further escalate your hair woes!
Speak to your Abingdon Hairdresser first and then decide together whether you are a prime candidate for a bleach service.
Should I use bleach?
Yes and no. Leave bleach on for longer than the recommended time and bleach will damage your hair beyond repair. Salon bleach can be left on for ‘up to one hour’. Crucially, most who are having a balayage, ombre or highlights generally won’t require bleach on for this length of time, so it’s important to recognise that shorter lengths of time can often be more advantageous to lightening rather than creating more damage.
With any bleaching service comes maintenance. Investing in a treatment to counter the effects of bleach during your hair appointment is really important. This will be the most important thing that you do! Additionally appropriate hair products should also be used to maintain your hair beyond your hair bleaching/colouring appointment.
