The Benefit of Bleach

• Blond is BeautifulImage by Flickr.com, courtesy of D. Sharon Pruitt
  
  Bleach is a powerful lightener. No other chemical can lighten hair as much or as quickly. Compared to hair dyes, which can only lighten four levels higher than the base color of hair and stops forty minutes after exposure to air, bleach is not limited.
  
  

How Bleach Works

• Bleached WhiteImage by Flickr.com, courtesy of SmilingStrong
  
  Bleach needs a catalyst to work. According to research published in the "Journal of Cosmetic Science," the action of bleach breaks hair molecules down. Thus, when activated with a peroxide catalyst, bleach becomes like hungry little Pac-Mans, eating the hair's color molecules. If bleach is not stopped before it has eaten all the color in your hair, it will continue to break down the protein hair is composed of. That's why it is important to stop the bleach just after hair reaches the desired level and just before all the color is gone.
  
  

Effects of Heat With Bleach

• Putting on the heatImage by Flickr.com, courtesy of nutmeg) (megan soh
  
  Heat speeds up bleach's lightening action, according to Claude Bouillon and John Wilkinson in "The Science of Hair Care," so don't let bleach sit on hair under heat without checking frequently. The same principle applies to bleach applied directly on the root area; the heat of the scalp will speed bleaching action at that location.
  
  

When and How to Stop Bleach

• Stop with ShampooImage by Flickr.com, courtesy of Eliazar Parra Cardenas
  
  According to Bouillon and Wilkinson, bleach action stops when diluted with water. Ideally, bleach should be rinsed off while there is still a little yellow color left in the hair; if left until hair is white, the hair becomes fragile. After a thorough rinse, hair can be shampooed and conditioned.
  
  

When Not to Bleach

• Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of megan ann
  
  A professional hairdresser can tell when hair is too fragile to bleach, as hair becomes when severely damaged by chemical processes. It will become impossible to repair, will not hold color and can literally disintegrate.
  
  

When to Bleach

• Maximum success is achieved on healthy, clean hair. Hair can be primed with a deep moisturizing or protein treatment a few days before bleaching.