How to Bleach Your Hair at Home

Last weekend, I was sitting on my bed having a casual catch up of blogs and Youtube videos, when suddenly an idea hit me. I was like Paul on the road to Damascus (big up the Catholic school kids who get this reference), struck with a blinding light and a life-changing epiphany: I wanted to go back to being bleach blonde.

I used to bleach my hair for about four years during sixth form and uni, and then in a moment of wanting to be a grown up, decided to take it a more natural mid-blonde. Since then, I’ve realised being a grown up has nothing to do with your shade of hair, and people will never take me seriously as long as I go round acting like a tit (ie always) so bleach was calling me.

Enthused by my decision to go back to the light side, I set off into town first thing Sunday morning for supplies. I then pestered my extremely hungover sister until she agreed to assist me in my mission.

Before I go into how I did it, I will put a couple of huge disclaimers out there:

• I’m NOT in any way, shape or form a professional hairdresser, nor do I really know anything about colouring hair beyond a couple of years of my own experiences
• I have no idea whether these same steps would work for you
• Your hair may well fall out if you do this, I don’t know
• Your hairdresser will probably hate you. I’ve become quite accustomed to annoying hairdressers over my years of bleaching, straightening and gluing and sewing random wefts of hair into my head
• I’m used to having hair that has never been in good condition. and am truly okay with this. If you’re not, then definitely definitely seek the advice of a professional before doing anything as dramatic as this to your hair.

Okay, now that I’m sure nobody can sue me – on with the show!

What I Used:

Jerome Russel B Blonde Blonding Kit in ‘Medium Lift’

To bleach my hair, I use powder bleach and cream peroxide. I used to buy these separately, but when I went into my old haunt of Bodycare today they didn’t seem to have any of the powdered bleach in a separate box, so I bought this set (which is the brand of cream peroxide which I used to use, so I knew I was in good hands). This cost around £4 (much cheaper than it is in Boots or Superdrug, FYI), and I picked up two because my extensions have meant my hair is very thick.

I got the ‘medium lift’ option because I was bleaching dyed blonde hair, and also because my own natural is a very mousey brown so not much lifting was really needed. They’ve got a higher lifting option for people who have darker hair so make sure you get one strong enough for your hair. The set came with the cream peroxide, powder bleach and a conditioning shampoo. It also came with a handy little brush and pot to mix it all in, but I’m stupid and I didn’t realise this, so bought a toning brush and bowls when I made my next trip into Sally. I therefore insisted on using my newly purchased ones, which you can see in the top photo.

Method

You mix the cream and powder as so, until you get this very nice blue paste. I wouldn’t recommend applying the bleach yourself, in case you miss bits. This is where my hungover sister came in. After making me move from the conservatory into the garden, and then into a more shaded bit of the garden (hangover sweats, what can you do) she started applying. My sister always used to bleach my hair for me, and always did a good job. The method? You SLAP IT ON. I don’t think that’s a technical term, but as I’ve stated – I’m a rookie and I just don’t care about doing things in a remotely proper way. She had a vague system which involved doing all of my roots first and then working it through the lengths. The bleach doesn’t work in quite the same way as normal hairdye; the thicker consistency means that you have to really apply it to all of the hair on both sides, instead of just kind of squidging it in as you can with other dyes (more technicaly terminology for you there).

It was quite a lengthy process and so by the time we were finished, a lot of the bleach had already been on for an hour. The instructions said that on dark blonde/light brown hair the bleach should be left on for 90 minutes. I had no idea how long it should be left on dyed dark blonde hair – so as usual we guesstimated and I left it on for a further half hour after we’d finished applying.

Aftercare

Stating the obvious here, but bleached hair needs a lot of TLC. I headed to Sally which, if you don’t have a physical store in your city or town, is a hair and beauty suppliers that stock salon brands. It is also potentially the most exciting place on earth (no exaggeration). To take care of my new straw-like hair I purchased Osmo Colour Mission Silverising Shampoo, Osmo Silverising Conditioner and Osmo Intensive Deep Repair Mask, which were each around the £6 mark. The silverising shampoo and conditioner are both designed to be left on for between 3-5 minutes for maximum results, and are supposed to take the brassier, yellow tones out of bleached hair. Seeing as I’m a trampo and basically never wash my hair (should I admit to that?) I think these should last me a fair few weeks so should be well worth the money.

Results – Before and After

This was how my hair looked after its initial bleaching and one wash and condition with the Osmo products. There were still some strong yellowy tones, which was to be expected considering I was bleaching not only coloured hair but also extensions, which have been through Laaaawd knows how many processes before they landed on my head.

Some people might be happy with this as a final colour but I had a lusting for white blonde hair, so knew my work was not done. Because I’m a bloody mysterious bitch I’m not going to tell you what I used just yet because I have a full review of the product planned buuuuuuuut…. THIS is the final result!

Have any of you ever bleached your own hair? Share your tips in the comments below! 

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