As far as bleach can go? :: Forums :: HairCrazy.info

Is there a stage when bleach just cannot make your hair any lighter? I have just bleached my hair using a 30vol peroxide and I have a nice, even result, however I really would like it to be lighter. It has gone to a kind of caramel blonde (see pic) - I was hoping for a pale blonde.

My question is: Will I have to accept that this is as light as my hair is going to get and anymore bleaching just isn't going to change the colour? Or could I just bleach over it all and get a much lighter result?
My hair is in good condition, and the colour before bleaching was my natural mousey brown.

i had the same problem and mine wouldnt go any lighter. it may just depend on the hair type though.

It's difficult to say whether or not it will bleach more because everyone's hair is different.
The best way to determine anything though is by doing a strand test.

It looks like an expensive highlight job

If you wanted you could dye red over that and you'll still have the highlights and lowlights showing through. It would look really nice.

How long did you leave the bleach on for?

If it was me, I think I'd give the hair a week to recover and use a lot of conditioning products, maybe with lemon juice mixed in because that's meant to lighten hair too. Then do a strand test with a weaker volume of bleach and see if it works.

Thank you for your replies

I left the bleach on for 45mins.

My hair was actually candy apple red last year! I've been growing out my natural colour since then simply because my hair was in terrible condition at the time.
The reason I'm bleaching is because I've just started temping with an agency and needed to go back to 'normal' haircolour - I chose blonde because it means I can easily go back to a bright colour when I want to. That pic isn't very good really, was taken in artificial light. It just looks like an awful yellow colour in daylight

I think I will just have to do a strand test with some more bleach and keep checking the colour. Also, do you think a toner would help?

A toner would certainly help if getting a natural looking blonde is your goal. I'd recommend a blonde toner rather than a white toner as they're designed to remove brassy/yellow tones. Definitely do a strand test first.

i have black hair (soft black) and always have to bleach in two rounds, unless i'm just touching up my roots.

one application of 30 vol. only takes my hair to a certain color, and stops having any effect beyond that point no matter how much longer i leave the bleach in.

i'll usually do a quick second round with 20 vol. and that'll get it down to a pale, buttery yellow in a matter of minutes.

so if your hair still feels healthy (looks to be in pretty good condition right now) and it isn't terribly stubborn, i say try again with 20 vol. developer.

Sooo sorry, this is the last question, I promise!

I'm having trouble finding a blonde toner. Even on the internet! I'm guessing I will need a violet/blue toner. Even when I google it, it doesn't bring up anything about where I can buy one, just info on using it!

There is some 'Clairol Born Blonde Toner' in the shops but I'm not sure this is the one I should be using.

Does anyone know where I can buy blue/purple toner in the UK. Or....would using even a semi-permanent purple hair-dye work?!!

Thanks so much.

try the born blond one. It's a direct dye (ie no mixing) so shouldn't do any harm. Strand test first of course.

Your other option is a blond dye which will help correct the colour and even it out.

By the way, don't worry about asking lots of questions - that's what the forum is here for

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