Achieving that perfect icy white or platinum blonde hair is a journey that doesn't end with bleaching.
Whether you're a DIY enthusiast or a professional stylist, the key to stunning white hair lies in the post-bleach process.
Let's explore how to transform bleached hair into a flawless white masterpiece.
Understanding the Challenge
Bleaching lifts pigment from the hair, but often leaves behind unwanted yellow or brassy tones.
To achieve a true white, these residual warm tones need to be neutralized and the hair needs to be properly toned.
But before getting into that, let's talk about the bleaching part first.
All hairdressers know that the better you bleach, the less yellow and brassy tones you will be leaving behind.
And the better results you will get.
The Importance of Using a Good quality Bleach
Using good quality top end bleaching products come into their own when getting the hair white.
Use a good quality bleach, mix and apply it well, and you will be able to eliminate almost all the yellow.
In order to do that, we recommend that you use Brilliant Blondexx bleach with Bond Protect.
It lifts up to 7 levels without damage, thanks to the fact that Bond Protect is built in.
The Bond Protect means that you get a really creamy oil-based mix, and that is really helpful in countering scalp irritations too.
It's a step you should not ignore.
Brilliant Blondexx Bleach with Bond Protect
Brilliant Blondexx is unque because it contains Bond Protect built into the bleach itself.
- It's gentle enough to be applied on the root area.
- It has a powerful lift that so that you only requires 20 Vol developer or at the most 30 Vol developer.
- It contains Bond Protect to keep hair strong and prevent breakage.
- It produces a white creamy mix that causes less scalp irritation compared to regular bleaches.
The Toning Process
Let's suppose you have followed our recommendations and are using Brilliant Blondexx bleach, and that you get the hair up to a consistent level 9 or 10.
But of course, it is still yellow. Now what?
Next comes toning.
Toning is a crucial for achieving white hair.
It involves using products with violet or blue pigments to counteract yellow and orange tones.
All hairdressers use this to achieve blonde results - it's literally their secret weapon.
Which toner should I use?
Here's how to approach toning:
There are broadly speaking, 3 types of toners:
Intense lift toners - with extra lift: 2 levels lift, permanent toning
Regular lift toners - with regular lift: 1 level lift, permanent toning
Ammonia-free toners - tone-on-tone: no lift, ammonia free liquid gel toning
Choosing the Right Toner
If after bleaching, there is still a lot of yellow in the hair and you need to get it to white blonde, use our intense toners.
These have extra lift built in. And they're the only toners on the market that do this.
If after bleaching, there is not so much yellow, but you want really cold, pigmented blonde looks (such as silver, pearl or platinum blonde), then use the regular cream based toners. These still have some lift.
More importantly, they have ultra strong pigments They are perfect for changing the tone of your hair from warm to really cold, blue based blonde or platinum blonde.
And if you are looking more to refresh and tone the hair blonde (and you're not looking for a radical transformation), then use Blondify liquid toners.
These are ammonia-free liquid toners. They contain Bond Protect as well as Argan Oil so they are perfect for not placing any stress on the hair and toning it at the same time.
Plus they tone in just 10 minutes processing time. So they are a real hairdresser's friend.
What are the best products from Ugly Duckling Color for achieving white hair?
Today we have pre-selected some of our favorite toners for you. From each of the 3 categories mentioned above.
Intense Pearl Blonde Toner 100V - Ultra White Toner with Extra Lift for a Pearl Grey Blonde Look
This is one of Ugly Duckling's top products for achieving white hair:
- It's an ultra-fast acting toner with added lift (booster).
- Tones hair in just 10 minutes, effectively eliminating yellow and brassy tones.
- Produces an ultra white blonde (pearl white) hair color result.
- Can be applied to wet or dry hair.
- Contains argan oil for exceptional hair quality and shine.
Extra Cold Ash Blonde 10.1B - Blue Based Toner for a Clear, Natural Blonde Result
- The 10.1B Extra Light Cold Ash Blonde is specifically designed to transform bleached hair into a pure, white-blonde result.
- Zero Yellow Guarantee: Blue-based ash pigments completely neutralize unwanted yellow tone
- Color Wheel Based Toning: It uses blue and ash pigments to specifically engineer a natural, light blonde tone from yellow.
- Conditioning Properties: It contains Argan Oil for improved hair condition and softness
- Paraben-Free: Healthier approach to hair coloring.
Blondify Natural Ash Blonde 010A - Natural Ash Blonde Toning
This product is ideal for those looking to achieve a natural ash blonde tone. It's a natural looking blonde, not fake, and works everywhere.
The Ugly Duckling Natural Ash Blonde 10A toner offers several key benefits for achieving ash blonde hair:
- It has a super fast-acting formula: it tones away yellow hair in just 10 minutes
- It's very gentle on the hair: it's ammonia-free, it contains Bond Protect™ and Argan Oil. And it has no PPD or parabens.
- It allows targeted toning: it tones only lightened hair, leaving the base untouched
- Highly effective toning: it neutralizes yellow-orange tones to very desirable ash blonde color
- It's very easy to use: tt has a simple 1:1 mixing ratio and you mix in an applicator bottle, pour over the hair and rub.
- It leaves hair very glossy and shiny and healthy.
Blondify Blue Ash Blonde 09B - Blue Based Ash Blonde Toning
This product is a toner specifically designed to tone down very orange hair and make it a consistent, rich medium blonde color.
It is a blue based ash blonde, The difference is that it is a level 9 based toner.
This makes it less shear than level 10 toners.
And this in turn means that it is packed with more neutralising, blue based pigments which are going to work on orange hair.
There is no level 9 toner which works to color correct orange hair quite like this toner.
Some specific advantages of Blue Ash Blonde:
- It works on hair that has not been fully bleached to level 9 or level 10.
- Powerful and really spectacular color correction of orange hair thanks to blue based ash toners.
- Tones fast - in just 10 minutes.
- Super gentle on the hair: ammonia-free, contains Bond Protect™ and Argan Oil. No PPD or parabens.
How to Mix, Apply and Use Toners
1. Apply Toner Correctly: Apply the toner evenly to towel-dried, freshly bleached hair.
Make sure you are achieving a maximum of product saturation - in other words, every bit of your hair should get into contact with the toner moisture.
This means segment well, and use fingers (wuth gloves, of course) to rub the mixture in.
That is how you achieve rich, 3 dimensional color results.
2. Monitor Closely: Check the hair frequently during the toning process to avoid over-toning, which can result in a purple or blue tint.
Rinse with cool or tepid water as soon as you see the desired color.
3. Once all the product is rinsed out of the hair, consider using some purple toning shampoo or mask.
How to Maintain Blonde Hair After Toning
Maintaining white hair requires ongoing care:
1. Use Purple Shampoo or mask: Incorporate a purple shampoo into your routine to keep brassiness at bay between toning sessions.
Apply the purple shampoo immediately after bleaching. You can apply some purple mask after the toner has been washed out.
2. Deep Conditioning. Bleached hair needs extra moisture. Use deep conditioning treatments regularly to keep hair healthy and vibrant.
We would recommend you use Brilliant Blondexx Shampoo and Mask. It has been formulated specifically for maintaining fine, fragile blonde hair and contains Bond Protect.
3. Avoid Heat Styling and excessively Hot Water: Minimize the use of heat tools and heat in general to prevent damage and color fading.
Some More Professional Tips
For stylists looking to perfect their white hair techniques:
- Custom Toner Mixing: Experiment with mixing different toners to achieve the perfect shade for each client's unique hair.
All Ugly Duckling toners are mixable, and the liquid toners especially are super easy to blend together.
- Bond Protect: Incorporate bond-building treatments during the bleaching and toning process to maintain hair integrity.
Product Recommendations
Ugly Duckling's product line is specifically designed for achieving and maintaining white hair:
- Ugly Duckling Bond Protect Bleach for maximum lift while respecting hair integrity.
- Ugly Duckling Blonde Toners for neutralizing yellow tones and achieving the final result.
- Ugly Duckling Purple Shampoo for ongoing maintenance and purple toning.
Conclusion
Whitening hair after bleaching requires patience, skill, and the right products.
Whether you're a home colorist or a professional stylist, understanding the process and using high-quality products like those from Ugly Duckling can help you achieve stunning, icy white results.
Remember, healthy hair is the foundation of beautiful color, so always prioritize hair care throughout the whitening process.
