Introduction
A bleach bath is a great way to take hair 2-3 levels lighter all the way to a true level 10 blonde. It works particularly well on short hair.
Done properly, it’s a very easy and simple way of getting hair totally blonde. In this article we will guide you through everything you need to know about bleach bathing. We will start with looking at when you should use this process. Then we will go through what products you need to use, and then take you through a complete step-by-step process guide, complete with pictures and a video.
What is a bleach bath?
Unlike the traditional bleaching process, which can be quite difficult to get right, a bleach bath is a milder lightening technique and a simpler one to do.
It combines a low-volume developer (usually 10 or 20 volume) with bleach powder and sulfate-free shampoo, creating a diluted mixture that gently lifts color and sits very comfortably on the scalp with less irritation.
Doing a bleach bath minimizes damage, preserves hair health, and allows for more better and more even lightening.
Is a bleach bath right for you?
The bleach bath is ideal for anyone with short hair looking to go blonde.
Now, this does not mean that you can't do shoulder length hair with a bleach bath. You can.
But with longer hair, you will need to take into account the differential action of bleach on the hair near the root versus hair far away from the root.
Near the root the hair is going to lighten faster due to the heat of the scalp, and away from the root it will lighten less fast.
In any case, long hair very often has different colors in it.
Typically, you will see very dark natural hair at the roots and lightened or colored hair at the mid-lengths, with the ends typically very very light already.
This is why hairdressers typically don't use bleach baths for long hair and do a regular bleach application.
This gives them a less liquidy mix which they can apply with greater precision.
What you'll need for a bleach bath:
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Sulfate-free shampoo. We recommend Brilliant Blondexx shampoo with Bond Protect.
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Good quality bleach powder. We recommend Brilliant Blondexx. It contains Bond Protect. This is important because the bleach is going to be acting on the scalp and near-root area and you need to make sure it is very comfortable processing there.
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Low-volume developer. We would recommend you use a 20 Vol developer.
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A non-metallic bowl, brush and clips. Ugly Duckling sells these on our website.
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Gloves and a coloring cape. Protect yourself and your clothes.
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A toner to use after the bleach bath.
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A deep conditioner or mask. We suggest you use a purple-based toning mask.
The Bleach Bath process: 5 steps to successfully bleach the hair
A successful bleach bath
Prep: The best prep for any bleaching process is to do nothing to the hair for at least 3 days, and ideally 7 days.
This allows the natural oils in the hair to build up. And these oils protect the scalp during the bleach bath process. Don’t forget that the bleach will be sitting on the scalp.
Mix: Combine your bleach powder, developer, and shampoo in equal parts. You can add in a few drops of warm water as well to adjust for thicker or finer hair.
Apply: Section hair (even though it is short) and wearing gloves, use your brush to apply the mixture evenly.
Start from the ends and work your way up. That way you are giving more processing time to the ends and less to the root area.
Monitor: With bleach you need to keep checking every 5 minutes or so. Wait until you see a really pale yellow color.
Rinse and Condition: Rinse thoroughly with cool water.
Toning after Bleaching
Now you are ready to tone.
Ugly Duckling has a range of toners, both permanent and demi-permanent. Which one you choose will depend on the exact shade you are looking to achieve.
Use our toners with 20 Vol developer.
We are giving some very popular toners below. All our toners contain Argan oil.
Intense Pearl Blonde toner
This one is a cream based toner with additional lift. Use this if you are looking for a pearly white ultra-light blonde result.
Intense Silver Blonde toner
This one is also a cream based toner with additional lift. This toner will give a whiter, more natural silver-white blonde result, equally light as the toner above.
Extra Light Cool Blonde 10.2
This toner is heavily pigmented with violet tones, Use this for a greay-blonde result or if you still have a lot of yellow in the hair after bleaching.
Natural Violet Blonde 010V
This toner is a demi, so it is ammonia-free. It is gel based, and very easy to apply. It is also PPD-free and is enriched with Bond Protect. Use this for very light white blonde results and if the bleached hair is showing a lot of yellow.
Natural Ash Blonde 010A
Also a demi, and also PPD-free. This toner is more ashy than the toner above. Use it if you are looking for a natural ash blonde result.
Deep Condition your hair
After you have done the above, you should have stunning blonde hair. We recommend that you use Brilliant Blonde Purple mask to finish the process.
Brilliant Blonde Purple Mask is sulfate-free and acidic. It is also packed with purple toning ingredients. It will not only return the hair to its natural acidity, it will tone it one more time for good measure.
And make sure that not one iota of yellow is left in the hair.
Conclusion
With proper precautions and care, a bleach bath can be your gateway to radiant, platinum blonde hair.
Remember, good application technique as well as good quality products are the key to getting you there.
Embrace the icy blonde journey and of course the end result.
How to do a bleach bath and get short hair insanely blonde - Watch video
Hair by Bozey Tedstone
