We all understand that choosing whether to bleach your hair involves a significant decision for the person doing it.
Because bleached hair can never be restored to its natural color, it represents a sea change. Knowing the ideal bleaching conditions is crucial for this reason.
Even when applying heat from a hairdryer, the hair fibers absorb some of the water that is contained when we wash them.
The Difference Between Bleaching Dry Vs Wet Hair
In general, dye won’t adhere to wet hair as well as it does to dry hair. We do not advise bleaching damp hair if you want the most vibrant and maximum dye absorption. Dry hair will allow the dye to penetrate more fully when dyed.
However, this is all circumstantial depending on the final product you are aiming for. In some cases, the technique might actually call for wet bleaching.
Bleaching Damp Hair
As we already mentioned, bleaching on damp hair will produce a different result than bleaching on dry hair. Some of the results of bleaching on wet hair include:
- Subtle Lightening and Transitioning: Wet hair will dilute the bleach with water, making it less potent and less effective on your hair. This could be the choice to make if you prefer a more subdued color in general.
- Faster Application – Wet hair has a different structure (the cuticle is open), which makes bleach more effective at processing through it more quickly. This is because wet hair proteins have weaker bonds than dry ones.
Bleaching Dry Hair
The full effect of bleach is only felt when applied to dry hair, as opposed to being diluted in wet hair. The cuticle is penetrated when bleach is applied to dry hair. The melanin pigments, which give your hair its dark colors, can then be broken down by the bleach by penetrating the cortex of your hair in this manner. Your hair will naturally become lighter when the melanin pigment is reduced. While dying dry hair can take longer than bleaching damp hair, the outcome may be more robust.
When Is It Acceptable To Bleach Damp Hair?
Although bleaching wet hair is not a common practice, there are several justifications for doing so. Below, we’ve listed the three most prevalent.
1. To Lighten Your Hair Faster
Wet hair actually lightens more quickly, as it turns out. Your stylist may use bleach on wet hair rather than waiting for it to dry if you’re pressed for time or just want a quick whitening method.
2. For A Subtle Color Change
Remember that the color of your strands won’t lift as much if you use bleach on wet hair as opposed to dry hair. This is so that the bleach will work more gently because the water in your hair will dilute it. Your colorist might use bleach on wet hair to make a subtle color change. This method works best when lightening your strands just one or two shades.
3. To Brighten Up Your Ends
The wet balayage technique lends itself perfectly to wet bleaching. When your hair is dry and highlighted, let the foils set before rinsing the bleach out of your hair. To add an extra boost of subtle definition for a lovely, sun-kissed mane, add a little more bleach to your wet ends.
What Takes Place When You Bleach Wet Hair?
As you are aware, bleaching your hair weakens, dries, and brittles the hair strands. When it comes to this, bleaching wet hair may be beneficial. Comparing the effects of bleaching hair dry versus damp will help you understand the differences.
Bleach penetrates the hair cortex and cuticle when it is applied to dry hair. Melanin, the pigment that gives your hair and skin color, is then broken down by bleach. A lighter shade of hair is the result. Bleach weakens hair by oxidizing and destroying the cross-linked hair proteins, though. This causes hair to become frizzy, brittle, and lose hair.
When bleach is applied to wet hair, that is not the case. The hair on the hair strands’ cuticles prevents the bleach from penetrating the cortex because the cortex is already covered by hair. That also implies that the hair’s natural pigment has not been completely removed. So bleaching wet hair is a fantastic option if you want to be daring but not too daring while keeping your hair protected. Here is a summary of the advantages of bleaching wet hair.
Is Bleaching Wet Hair More Damaging To Your Hair?
There are some problems with bleaching wet hair despite how convenient it is.
Hair is weakest when wet
The method can be damaging to your hair. Because of how fragile wet hair is, this is true. The cuticle, which is the thick exterior covering each strand, is made more permeable by water. Overlapping scale sheets make up its structure.
The cortex, the area in the middle of the hair, is typically shielded by the cuticle. Your hair’s color is produced by a pigment called melanin found in the cortex.
However, the cuticle is unable to effectively protect the cortex when it is open. This indicates that the hair is more susceptible to harm.
Don’t try this at home
Avoid utilizing this method at home if at all possible. Incorrect application can seriously damage your hair.
Additionally, at-home coloring kits come with instructions that you should always abide by. They most likely won’t involve coloring or bleaching wet hair.
Best to work with a trained colorist
It’s best to consult a colorist when bleaching wet hair. They’ll be aware of how to employ the technique safely while guarding against hair damage.
For instance, before using bleach, they can apply the appropriate amount of water. After bleaching, they might also apply a specific conditioner to lessen harm.
A colorist can also tell you if bleaching wet hair will give you the desired result.
Before Coloring Your Hair, Should You Wash And Dry It First?
It’s advised against washing your hair right before bleaching it. That’s because sebum, the natural oil in your hair, shields your scalp from damage as it happens. The oil will lessen hair protein deterioration and irritation of the scalp.
A wet balayage will only dampen the hair that is being lightened, so keep that in mind if your colorist performs one. Instead of shampooing every strand of your hair, they’ll probably spray some of it with water.
Prior to your appointment, you probably need to wait a few days before washing your hair. You can ask your colorist how many days you can go without washing.
Any Additional Best Practices For Bleaching Hair?
There are some things you can do to protect your hair if bleaching it is something you’re interested in. Your hair won’t become dry and brittle if you use the following advice.
- Intensively moisturize your hair. In the weeks leading up to your appointment, it is advised that you deep condition your hair. By doing this, you can lessen the chance of breakage while bleaching your hair.
- Consult a qualified colorist. An expert hairdresser will be able to bleach hair safely while minimizing damage.
- You should only bleach occasionally. Make an effort to space out your appointments. It’s one of the most effective ways to prevent over-treating your hair.
- Take care when applying heat. Bleached hair may become even more damaged when heated. It’s best to stay away from heat and bleaching together because they can both result in scalp burns.
- Avoid sun exposure. Avoid exposing your hair to the sun, which can cause further deterioration and breakage. Wear a hat or use hair sunscreen.
- Skip the chlorinated pools. The chlorine in swimming pools can also cause more harm to hair. When swimming in a pool, think about donning a swim cap.
- For product recommendations, ask your colorist. Special products and care are necessary for bleached hair. Use formulas designed specially for hair that has been colored or bleached.
Conclusion
Bleaching is influenced by a wide range of variables.
One of them is the type of hair you have, the color of your hair, and how recently you last bleached it.
It is best to visit your neighborhood hair salon and speak with your hair stylist if you are still unsure after reading our article. They’ll be able to determine what would work best for your hair based on the state of your hair.
