Choosing the Best Hair Bleach
If you regularly dye your hair, chances are you'll need to use bleach at some stage. Hair bleach is almost indispensable when it comes to lightening dark hair, or even for lightening hair that has been dyed.
Of course, not all hair bleach is made equally, and there are several distinctions between a generic brand and the top professional hair bleach products.
If you want hair that lightens properly and doesn't end up unduly damaged, you don't need just any hair bleach. You need the best hair bleach, because your hair really is worth it.
Generic vs. Salon Bleach
There are several different generic brands of bleach. The term 'generic' here is used to refer to cheap brands found in supermarkets, beauty supply stores, and pharmacies. These brands are never used in salons, nor are they designed by the leading professional brands that stock the best hair salons in the world. These products are simply produced for the home market.
This is all well and good, and these products will certainly lighten your hair, but at what cost? There's a few different reasons that hairdressers don't use these bleach powders, and if you want the best results when you use hair bleach, you'll want to understand the difference too. Some of the main differences include:
- Inferior ingredients
- Less effective lightening
- Greater damage to hair
- Uneven lightening
If you look at hair bleach, you'll notice that there are actually different bleaching agents used in different brands. There is a reason you pay less for Hi Lift bleach powder compared to Wella Multi Blonde, and that's because the ingredients in the powder are cheaper and inferior. Salon bleach powder contains top quality bleaching agents, nourishing conditioners, strong tone to counteract warmth during the lightening process, and a horde of other special ingredients that care for the hair and boost the lightening process.
It sounds like marketing hype, but in practice, it is completely true. Salon bleach is the best hair bleach available and will lighten your hair more effectively, with less damage, and a more even result. What this translates to is that the difference between a generic bleach and a salon bleach product is the same as the difference between fried orange hair and glistening natural blonde.You don't have to bleach your hair anywhere near as long or as many times to lighten it, and it's significantly healthier as an added benefit.
Of course, even salon bleach powder isn't equal, and there are a three products that really stand out from the crowd. Choose one of these hair bleach powders when you need to lighten your hair, and you really are using the best hair bleach available in the industry. Your hair will thank you for it.
Wella Blondor Multi Blonde
Wella's Blondor range is the holy grail of hair lightening. As one of the top salon brands in the hair industry and trusted by hairdressers all over the world, you can expect great results and dependable quality from all of their products. Wella Multi Blonde bleach is no exception here and when you want the best hair bleach possible, you won't be disappointed by the results you can achieve with this bleach.
Wella Multi Blonde bleach is most notable for its high lift potential, highly effective 'anti-yellow' system, and quick lightening. Not only does Multi Blonde offer almost twice the possible lift of generic brands, but it does so in less time, and leaving less warmth. The anti-yellow system assists in toning hair after lightening, making it easier to achieve a cool blonde result, whilst the advanced lightening power allows you to reach blonde from darker hair in one step.
It can also be used for dramatic highlights, where you need maximum lightening to create a distinct contrast. In this case, you can safely use a higher volume of developer to remove dark color and achieve a nice cool blonde result. This means that you no longer have to suffer with orange highlights in your dark hair, when what you really want is an authentic natural blonde.
Usage
Development time: Up to 50 minutes maximum.
On Scalp / off scalp: Safe for both.
Developer: 20 vol on scalp, up to 40 vol off scalp.
Mixing: Between 1:1 and 1:2. Multi Blonde is flexible and can be mixed with less developer for a thicker product without impacting lightening.
Igora Vario
The Igora brand is Schwarzkopf's flagship professional brand, and the Vario lightening line is designed with the same high quality as their Igora Royal hair dyes. Igora Vario tops the list of salon lighteners and is the best hair bleach to use if you want a dependable and superior salon product that is also highly affordable.
Like Wella Multi Blonde, Igora Vario can effectively drab more of the yellow color that is revealed during bleaching, and as it is designed to achieve blonde hair, it is able to reach a blonde color from darker hair with relative ease and without having to apply it more than once. It also lightens your hair with far less damage compared to generic brands, and even the majority of salon brands.
Choose Igora Vario if you want a cool blonde result, with less damage, and the comfort of knowing your hair isn't going to stall at the orange stage during blonding.
Usage
Development time: Up to 45 minutes maximum.
On Scalp / off scalp: Safe for both.
Developer: Up to 30 vol on or off scalp (Use caution when using 30 vol on scalp). Do not use 40 vol developer with this bleach.
Mixing: 1:2 bleach powder to developer.
Loreal Infinie Platine
Loreal Infinie Platine is a relatively new product on the market, but this is the absolute best hair bleach to use on highly resistant hair where effective lightening is more difficult to achieve. It is also probably the quickest hair bleach on the market, with the ability to lighten up to 20 percent faster than other bleach powders.
Like Loreal's Platinum hair bleach, Infinie Platine features ingredients that serve to chelate and remove metals from the hair. These metals impregnate the hair whenever it is washed and can interfere with the lightening process, limiting results and increasing damage. By binding to these metals and preventing them from interacting with the bleach process, lightening is boosted, damage is reduced, and resistant hair lightens much more effectively.
Because this bleach lightens so quickly, it is in contact with the hair for less time than other bleach powders. This also limits damage because the oxidation reaction that damages hair is ceased sooner. Choose Loreal Infinie Platine hair bleach when you need the best hair bleach for lightening resistant, darker hair to a platinum result, or when you need bright highlights.
Usage
Development time: Up to 50 minutes maximum.
On Scalp / off scalp: Safe for both.
Developer: Up to 30 vol (Up to 40 vol on open highlights).
Mixing: 1:3 bleach powder to developer.
Special Mention: L'Oreal Platinum Ammonia Free
If you're trying to avoid ammonia, for whatever reason, Loreal Platinum Ammonia Free bleach deserves a special mention here. Ammonia is important in hair dye and bleach, but if your hair is sensitive to ammonia, or you're just trying to avoid ammonia for whatever reason, this is the best hair bleach for you.
Just like Loreal's Infinie Platine and Platinum hair bleach powders, this hair bleach features ingredients that bind to and remove metals from the hair, giving you cleaner results. It also lifts extremely fast compared to other bleach powders, meaning that it doesn't have to be left on as long to achieve the same results.
One caveat here with an ammonia free hair bleach is that this product, whilst generally more gentle on the hair, isn't the appropriate bleach to use on hair that is resistant to lightening. If you need to lighten your hair from dark brown to a shade of blonde and want to achieve this in a single process, you'd be better using Infinie Platine, or one of the other two bleach powders mentioned above. Resistant hair will not lighten as well with an ammonia free hair bleach.
However, when used appropriately, on hair that is sensitive to lightening and ammonia, this bleach will dramatically minimize damage and help you keep your hair in top condition when you lighten it.
Usage
Development time: Up to 50 minutes maximum.
On Scalp / off scalp: Safe for both.
Developer: 20 vol on scalp, up to 30 vol off scalp (Up to 40 vol on open highlights).
Mixing: 1:3 bleach paste to developer.
Developer Conversion
Volume
| Percentage
|
---|---|
5 vol
| 1.5 %
|
10 vol
| 3 %
|
15 vol
| 4.5 %
|
20 vol
| 6 %
|
30 vol
| 9 %
|
40 vol
| 12 %
|
Bleaching Hair
Having the best hair bleach is all well and good, but you need to know how to use bleach in order to lighten your hair with it, safely and effectively. As with any bleach, these salon bleach products will work best when applied to hair that is properly sectioned and prepared for the bleaching process.
- How to bleach hair
If you need more information about how to bleach your hair properly, you will find it here. Discover how to prepare and apply bleach, how to section your hair, and how to use it in a way that will improve your results...
More Information
- How to do a bleach wash
A bleach bath is a milder way to lighten your hair or remove dyed color. Discover the benefits and learn how to use it... - How to dye hair blonde
Dyeing your hair blonde is a little more complicated than most colors, but with the right preparation and knowledge, you can achieve a beautiful and natural result...
After bleaching your hair, your hair needs specialized care to restore moisture and relieve the dryness that hair bleach causes. This dryness is limited with one of these bleach powders, but the resulting dryness still needs to be addressed if you want your hair to feel soft and healthy.
Bleached hair can also benefit from protein treatments. Protein treatments help restore the structural integrity of the hair after it has sustained damage. A good protein treatment can literally save even the most damaged hair, ensuring that you don't need to rush and cut it all off. Even when using a good hair bleach that doesn't cause as much damage, you should still follow up with a protein treatment to keep your hair as strong as possible.
By taking care of your hair like this, your hair will look its best for longer and you will never run into problems like excessive breakage and weakness. Your hair will be stronger, blonder, and softer, as long as you look after it.
Do you have a question about hair bleach? Wondering what the best hair bleach is for your color change, or just have a question about lightening hair in general? Leave a comment for tailored advice.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
Comments
This was so helpful thanks!
Is all bleach in hair kits at home the same
where can I get one n only argan oil powder lightener 16 oz tube it looks like they must of discontinued it..please help
How does Goldwell bleaching products measure up?
Hey! Yeah so these are pretty cool bleach powders, do you have any references for processors?
Just warning, "ammonia free" bleaches aren't as safe as companies are making us think. You still need a component like ammonia, which is an alkaline agent, for the lifting process to happen. Manufacturers are replacing ammonia with a chemical called MEA (monoethanolamine), which is an alkaline agent and fun fact, it has no smell. When doing research you find it is known to cause respiratory problems, lung and brain cancer, kidney and liver damage. I mean, our bodies naturally make ammonia and in large doses yes, it is bad for you, but if you know how to properly use it, it isn't as harmful.
Here is an amazing man (Max Eli) that has helped me learn more about hair! I high recommend watching his class videos.
Hi,
I have shoulder length brown hair and i would like to dye my hair grey/ashy blonde. Do you have products to recommend and tips about how to do it
How do you dye black hair blonde. I lost a bet on a game and
the condition was I dye my hair blonde if I lost. Which is an
extreme for me cause I know I would look ridiculous and
I am naturally tan. What is the safest way to make my black
blonde? Please help. I never back down on a taken bet.
Hi there,
I am pretty allergic to hair dye but I heard of someone who also shares this allergy and she can only use bleach ? I have no way of finding out what ingredient it is I am allergic to but I was wondering if powdered bleach + liquid developer typically share any common ingredients with permanent hair colouring? You're knowledge/ help is greatly appreciated in advance!
Hi,
Thank you for really useful information about developers but I am trying to dye my medium brown roots to blonde and my hairdresser said I can't go above 9.1 which is fine as it looked amazing, but as a few weeks have gone by its turned to orange and brassy even after using silver shampoo and conditioner.
I want to dye my own hair but don't know where to start, I will find the Wella developer but don't know about colour and toners ? I usually have a Ash toner on 9.1 dyed hair but don't understand the Wella toner 10/13 I think as doesn't say it's for toning just states permanent hair colour.
Please could you help as desperately need to do my roots and colour but also don't know much about highlights in general only what I have watched.
Where would I get any products from please ?
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I've been trying to get my hair a cool platinum blonde without success im sure my hairdresser is using a crap bleach as I've asked her so many times why when I've asked her to lift my blonde and my hair colour is very blonde but still has that golden colour does it come out a yellow blonde surely it should be lifting to a whiter colour even with a toner i go away with brassy highlights.
Im an African American i wear my hair in a short boy cut i want to dye it silver/gray or white i had it dyed honey blonde approx 2 months waiting for it to grow out in the mean while doing deep conditioning to make sure it's in good shape natural hair dark brown what's the best bleach and develper fir me and is it good to do on my short cut
Hi,
Thank you for the tips, I bleached my hair from dark brown and now it's this lighter orange tone what brand should I get to achieve more yellow to platinum?
Thank you again
Is clairol toner flaxen the same color as flaxen tint ? My hair is hard to lift a lot of orange after bleaching 3 times with Clairol 7th stage use to be the only strongest bleach. What bleach is stronger than clairol 7th stage ?
I need product advice and schooling on how to get a pure white beard and hair for the Christmas season. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
trax_4u@yahoo.com
Will the L'oreal Infinie Platine swell up when applied? have you used it for balayage?
hi i have no idea about coloring and im planing to get highlights. can you please recommend me a good brown shade and a brand please :) also is it okay to use this loreal hair color packs? i dont have grey hair tho please help me to figure this out. thank you
I need advise on bleaching my daughters hair. I've been using koleston perfect 12/1 & 12/89 with 12% and she is naturally a base of an 8. Occasionally she has had a few bleached hi litres through the top section just to get it lighter and brighter. She now wants to go platinum all over, however she does have very fine, quite fragile hair which Makes me reluctant to use bleach all over & on the scalp. Could you please advise me on the best & safest way to achieve a platinum shade. I have been doing some research on the fibreplex product which sounds amazing as works & protects the bonds within the hair but is very expensive! Another tip that I have heard can help is to apply coconut oil and leaving it on the hair for a few hours prior to application of bleach.
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Hey. I wanted to dye my hair a grey balayage/ombre but my hair is black right now (virgin hair). I was wondering how I would go about doing that? Any specific recommendations/precautions I should take about the bleach, toner or process? Much thanks, Tracy
Hi there, I have had major allergic reactions to infinie platine but I didn't to ammonia free bleach. My hair is super resistant dark brown and I had bleached it for years and never had a reaction before, but suddenly I am super allergic. Is this something you've heard of before? I have got blue hair but obviously the roots are getting long and I look AWFUL. Any advice?
Hi! My hair is naturally dark brown and I want to go blonde so I can dye it different colours. I haven't dyed my hair in over a year, and I want to bleach it now but I want to do it myself to avoid paying salon prices (broke college student here). Which of these bleaches would you recommend is the best for dark brown hair? Any assistance you can provide would be great! Thanks :)
I have to ask a question ,if I go grey what bleach should I use?
Hi
I have bought Igora Vario Blond extra power to bleach my roots as a hairstylist managed to get it too dark. However, I bought Igora Oil Developer of 40 vol and after reading your article, I'm a bit worried. What could happen to my hair/scalp if I use the 40 vol developer?
Thanks
Went back over your advice and see Blondor is probably the way to go.
Are you a pro Maffew, because you certainly sound like one.
Okay my question: is there a bleach out there that effectively takes out red/gold tones? Know about using toners, but really don't want so much of a project. Have heard that Wella Blond Me is excellent but have not tried it.
Thank you in advance!
I really need help!
I had bleached my hair since 6 years and i am bleaching the roots once every month, 5 months ago i had an allergy my face was swollen in the left side and i took steroid pills for 3 days and it stoped and I stopped bleaching my roots since that time. The problem now is that i really don't want to stop bleaching and can't accept to go back to my original hair color which is very very dark stubborn black, i love the blonde color and i am really taking good care of my hair after bleaching, so please just tell me what to do or what kind of bleach is safe to use to continue bleaching
Thanks
Hi! You have a great article here. I want to go with a pastel /rose gold style.
My hair is dyed the darkest brown and I recently put some purple on and only my roots took.
I want to bleach it but am not sure which would be the most effective bleach for my hair. It is so long! 28"
Also, what would be the best color to put on to achieve the rose gold look?
Thank you in advance!
Thank you for the quick reply, it's really helpful. Yes my hair is natural at the roots so hopefully it will lift to the right shade in one go. Some of the prices on amazon are quite varied but I wanted to buy this, do you think it looks dodgy? www.amazon.co.uk/Schwarzkopf-Igora-Vario-Blond-Extra/dp/B003A4UNDM/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1423325929&sr=1-1&keywords=Igora+Vario
Is there a good developer you would recommend ?
Hi Maffew, thanks for all your really helpful articles on bleach/hair dye (I've read nearly all of them!) I've looked all over the internet and yours are definitely the most helpful. Sorry my question is a bit long but would really appreciate if you could help me
My hair at the moment is a bit confusing because my hair is ombre, natural level 4 on my roots to about a yellowy level 8 at the ends. I want to even out the contrast between the top and bottom of my hair by lighting the top by bringing it to a level 7 with first bleaching with 20 vol (to a yellow/gold stage, is this right?) then toning. Would the toner colour 8.1 be ok for a level 7 (link to the brand and colour swatches of the toner: killerstrands.myshopify.com/products/illumina-color) a level lighter because I read ashier tones comes out darker i think? if you're not familiar with the results to illumina any other recommendations you know would be great
Also if i use this ashy toner on the bleached top section will it stain my blond ends a greeny colour? would you recommend I mix up a different colour toner for the bottom of my hair to use at the same time? this is a picture of what I want the colour to look like overall: www.saccuccihairgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/bronde.jpg
Lastly, I'm from the uk so don't know if you know any good places to buy professional hair products but would you recommend anywhere good? Is amazon ok? Thanks
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