How To Bleach Your Hair Platinum Blonde

Introduction

Lady GaGa 2009

If you wish to dye your hair platinum blonde ala Lady GaGa, Perez Hilton Gwen Stefani or other famous white blondes, I urge you to go to a professional hair colorist.

Especially if this is your first time bleaching your hair. Taking your hair from any natural color to white blonde can come with a series of complications including the hair turning unwanted colors, breakage or spongy hair.

However, if for whatever reason you can't afford a private professional hairdresser, you may wish to go to a local cosmetology school which specializes in hair color training and ask if you can have your hair bleached there.

Keep in mind that local cosmetology schools have students do the work but they are constantly supervised by professional hairdressers who are their teacher.

Also remember that celebrities like Lady G, Perez and Gwen all have some of the top celebrity hairstylists on their speed dial. There's no way they are risking their hair by bleaching it themselves.

Purchase The Bleach Kit & Prep Hair

Bleach is a permanent lightener. It reacts with the natural pigment in hair. Depending on how long the bleach is left on the hair and the beginning color of the natural pigment, bleach will usually lift hair approximately 4+ shades.

If you hair is extremely dark, you may need to perform more than one bleach process.

Listed below are the basic steps you will take if you bleach your hair yourself (DIY):

Always do a patch test BEFORE you proceed with a full bleaching session. If for any reason you experience problems after doing a patch test, be sure to consult with a professional hairdresser.

Bleached Blonde Pamela Anderson 2010

Purchase either a pre-packaged bleach kit from your local beauty supply.
You will need either a 30 to 40 volume powder bleach (which is stronger than other forms). 30 volume is milder but will not lift as dramatically as 40 volume. If you need a strong bleach select 40 volume.
Separate your hair into 4-8 individual sections. Although some recommend you mix the bleach first, it is better to have your hair pre-sectioned to save time.
Protect the hairline by applying a layer of Vaseline or similar cream completely around the face. Also apply to the back of the scalp along the neck. Bleach may burn unprotected skin. Make sure to keep all adjacent skin protected. If you prefer, you can wrap an old towel around your neck.
Once hair is ready, put on a pair of fume proof goggles.

When you have sensitive lungs, consider wearing a face mask. Have plastic gloves available as well.

If you wear glasses consider placing goggles over your glasses or tape them to prevent fumes from getting into your eyes.

Warning: Never apply bleach to your head if you have any current scratches, burns, scars, pimples, open wounds or other eruptions.

Mix Developer With Bleach

Put on new and clean plastic gloves.
Pour 3 ounces of crème developer in a professional style plastic mixing bowl.
Mix the developer with 2 scoops of bleach powder in a very well-ventilated room. Never mix bleach in a closed closet or other closed area.

Apply Bleach To Ends First

Always start applying bleach at the back of head. Work methodically around the head in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction working 1 1/2 to 2 inches from the roots.
Work in a well-lighted area with mirrors so you can see the back of your head.
Apply the bleach from the mixing bowl with a brush. Do not use your fingers and make sure you always wear gloves.
Select a work room where bleach splatters will not do damage. Make sure you have covered the floor and walls with old towels. Wear old clothes as well.
Start at the bottom of each section of hair working up the shaft until you reach 1 1/2 to 2 inches from the root section.

Perez Hilton 2009

Note: Never start applying bleach to the roots first.

If you apply bleach to the roots first, there is danger of the roots becoming much lighter than the rest of the hair or even becoming discolored.

Never bleach or dye your hair for more than an hour at at a time. Exposing hair to bleach for more than one hour can make hair so brittle it will break off. There have also been cases of bleach actually melting the hair right on the scalp when the bleach is too strong or allowed to remain on for too long of a period of time.

Always leave at least a week and preferably two in between each bleaching session. This will give your hair and scalp time to heal.

Some of the side effects of bleaching hair too often is hair which is dry, damaged, frizzy or sponge like. Hair may become brittle and liable to breakage.

There's a possibility your head could even be covered in scabs or sores. Always condition in between every bleaching cycle and be as patient as possible.

Apply Bleach To Ends First

After all the sections of hair have been covered with bleach, apply the bleach mix to the roots.
Do not massage bleach mixture into the scalp or along any areas of unexposed skin. Do not use a sharp comb or brush to apply the mixture since they can scratch the scalp and cause burns.

Kaley Cuoco

Burning Scalp Or Smoking Head

One of the dangers of bleaching is a burning scalp or even the hair may start to smoke.

If this condition occurs immediately rinse entire scalp and hair with a mixture of 7-up mixed with 6-8 packs of Sweet n' Low. This will neutralize the bleach and stop the smoking and burning.

Allow Bleach To Process

Finish bleach application by covering entire head with a brand new plastic shower cap or plastic bag. Make sure all hair is tucked up and off the neck.
Sent a timer initially for 30 minutes so that you can check to see how well the bleach is taking. Generally speaking it may take up to one hour for the bleach to completely process, but it's wise to check it as it processes. Never bleach hair longer than one hour at a time to avoid breakage.

When processing your bleach, understand that your hair will progress through several. As your hair "cooks" it will most likely go from bright orange to soft orange, gold yellow, then pale baby duck yellow.

Don't worry if you see this progression of colors because it's completely normal. Once your hair has turned baby duck yellow, wash the bleach out.

Remove Bleach

Rinse the bleach out first with lukewarm water. Then apply a pH neutralizing shampoo. This will stop further chemical reactions on the scalp and end the basic bleaching process, even though it may still remain active for a short time after you rinse all the bleach out.
After the bleach and neutralizing shampoo have been completely washed out, apply a toner. Although this is highly recommended, it is not essential. Keep in mind that a violet based will remove any residual yellow out of your hair.
After rinsing out any toner, apply a protein treatment or similar hair strengthening treatment.
Once you've use the protein treatment and rinsed it out, you may optionally use a deep conditioning treatment so your hair is deeply conditioned as well.

Image of L-R Kristin Chenoweth Carrie Underwood, Christina Applegate Carrie Underwood Fox TV Special 2009

If your hair color is still not as light or white as you desire, you will need to wait at least one week before applying more bleach. Depending on how white you want your hair to be, you may need to do 2 or 3 separate bleach applications.

If your hair is not bleached to the level you desire after 2-3 bleach treatments you need to consult with a professional hairdresser.

Always wait at least a week between hair bleaching treatments!

How To Tone Your Hair

Once you've reached a light yellow hue, shampoo with a pH balancing shampoo. Then apply the toner of your choice to your hair to the desirable platinum shade.

The right toner will counterbalance any brassy or duck yellow tones.

Remember to always read any and all instructions fully to determine how long to leave the toner on your hair and how much to use.

Carrie Underwood

When in doubt call the toll free consumer hotline listed in the product literature.

Summary

Bleaching hair is a permanent hair color process which will take natural hair color approximately 4+ shades lighter during each individual bleach cycle.

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- Revised Publication Date: 01/14/10

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