When you bleach your hair, understanding natural hair levels and stages of lightening is crucial. Hair levels range from levels 1-10, with 1 being the darkest shade of black and 10 the lightest shade of blonde.
Bleached hair involves careful consideration of lightness and darkness to avoid irreversible damage or hair shedding. At Lush Hair Folk, professional hairstylists are cautious and ensure minimal damage through gradual removal of hair color.
What are Color Levels?
Color levels are measured on a scale of one to ten. A developer acts as an oxidizing agent to help penetrate hair by opening the hair cuticle.
The strength of the formulation disperses existing hair color and lightens the color level.
The Hair Colour Depth Chart
Level 1 -3 (black to dark brown)
Reaching platinum blonde from the darkest level of natural hair colors like black or dark brown is difficult. It requires multiple bleach sessions and can be significantly damaging to your hair to achieve the desired levels of lift.
Level 4-6 (medium to light brown)
Compared to levels 1-3, it’s easier to bleach hair if you have medium to light brown shades. You may only require 1-2 bleach sessions to achieve the hair color you want.
Level 7-10 (light to platinum blonde)
If you have light blonde hair as your natural tone, it’s easy to achieve platinum blonde colors. You’ll likely need only one bleaching session to reach the desired shade.
How to Know Your Natural Hair Level?
Before starting the dyeing process, it’s important to identify your hair color level. There are several ways to determine this, ensuring you achieve the desired result when bleaching your hair.
Consult a Professional:
The surest way to identify your hair color level is to consult a hairstylist. They can determine your natural hair levels and discuss how many sessions you’ll need to achieve your desired levels of lift.
Use a Hair Colour Chart:
A hair color chart helps you match your hair color level and determine the levels of bleaching needed to achieve a light blonde shade. It’s also useful when considering Korean hair perming to ensure the desired result.
Natural Lighting:
To accurately assess your hair, view it in natural light. Darker shades may appear lighter in the sun. You can also compare your hair to reference images for a better idea. If you’re wondering how long do balayages take, natural lighting can help you decide the best time for your next session.
The Levels of Bleached Hair (Stages of Lightening Dark Hair)
During the bleaching process, your hair will go through four stages as it progressively lightens. The number of sessions needed depends on the level you begin with. Understanding these stages can also help when choosing between balayage vs foilyage. Here’s a breakdown of each stage.
1. Dark to Reddish Tones:
When you start with dark brown or black hair at levels 1-3, the first bleach will turn your hair into a reddish or orange color. This is called the brassy stage in the bleaching process. Afterward, a Brazilian blowout can help smooth and manage the newly lightened hair.
2. Reddish to Yellow Tones:
After the first bleaching stage, your hair will lighten from reddish tones to yellow. If your hair color levels are 4-6, you may notice this transition happens quicker compared to those with darker hair. When considering babylight vs highlight, understanding your current color level can help achieve the best results.
3. Yellow to Pale Yellow:
As you progress through the stages of hair lightening, the yellow tones will gradually shift to a pale yellow or even a whiter shade, indicating you’re nearing the final level.
4. Pale Yellow to Platinum Blonde:
In the final stage of the bleaching process, use a toner to remove unwanted brassy or yellow tones. This will help you achieve a white or platinum blonde color.
How long does it take to get to your desired bleached level?
The time it takes to reach your desired bleached level depends on several factors like hair type, color, and the number of bleaching sessions required.
Natural Hair Level:
Your natural hair starting point is predictive of how many bleaches you’ll need to reach the desired levels of lift. Dark brown or black hair will require more bleaching sessions spread out over a few weeks to avoid excessively damaging the hair cuticles.
Bleach Strength:
The bleaching agents you use can impact how many times and how long you need to bleach your hair. While a stronger bleach gives faster results, it can significantly damage the hair cuticle. It’s recommended to see a hair specialist to avoid breakage and be careful with the process.
Hair Condition:
Healthy hair bleaches more easily and effectively than damaged or previously dyed hair. Ensuring your hair is in good condition before bleaching can lead to better results and less damage.
Technique:
The technique used in the bleaching process can determine how long and how many bleach sessions are needed to achieve the desired color.
Factors Affecting Bleaching Colour Levels
Your natural hair level, bleaching agents, condition of your hair, and the techniques used can all affect how well your hair reacts to bleach. The toner you choose also impacts achieving that platinum blonde look.
Tips for Bleached Hair: Do’s and Don’ts
To keep your hair healthy and maintain your ideal color, follow these do’s and don’ts to achieve the best results and prevent damage.
Do’s:
Sulphate-free Shampoo or Drying Products
Sulphates can strip your hair of natural oils and moisture, making it prone to breakage and damage. Use sulphate-free shampoo and hair care products without drying alcohols to protect your hair from unwanted brassy or yellow tones.
Deep Conditioning
Use a hair mask once a week to seal in moisture and create a protective barrier against further damage. A mask designed for blonde hair will help maintain those white tones.
Protective Styling
When styling your hair, dry it using the cool air setting or try air drying to reduce the heat your hair is exposed to, protecting it from damage.
Regular Trims
Getting regular trims helps remove split ends and keeps your bleached hair from splitting further up the hair shaft, maintaining a healthy look.
Use a Heat Protectant
When styling your hair, apply a heat protectant to add an extra layer of protection against heat damage and create a barrier that prevents moisture loss.
Cold Water Rinse
Wash your hair with cold water to seal the hair cuticle, preventing color fading and heat damage. This simple step keeps your bleached hair looking vibrant and healthy.
Gentle Detangling
Bleach hair becomes prone to breakage due to stripping the hair cuticle of pigments and keratin proteins. Use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to gently detangle your hair to prevent further damage.
Don’t’s:
Overuse Heat Tools
Avoid excessive use of heat styling tools and hair dryers on the hot setting to protect your hair from further damage. This helps reduce the risk of heat damage and keeps your hair healthy.
Excessive Washing
Overwashing your hair can be a major culprit in causing further damage. Washing it once a week is usually sufficient, but everyone is different, so adjust the frequency as needed.
Hot Showers
Hot water can open the hair cuticle, making it vulnerable to moisture loss and causing colored pigments to fade. To protect your hair, consider using lukewarm or cool water instead.
Harsh Hair Products
Avoid harsh hair products that are drying or not blonde-friendly, as they can cause your hair color to fade and lead to unnecessary damage to your hair cuticle.
Ignoring Roots
As your natural hair color grows, schedule touch-up sessions with a hair stylist to maintain your bleached color and keep a consistent look.
DIY Colour Corrections
Bleaching your hair is a technical process that needs proper knowledge and tools. Without them, you risk significantly damaging your hair. A colorist professional ensures the best results.
Conclusion
Understanding the levels of bleached hair and the stages of lightening is essential for achieving your desired color without causing significant damage. By consulting professionals, using the right products, and following careful techniques, you can safely reach your ideal shade, whether it’s platinum blonde or a vibrant color. Always consider your hair’s natural level, condition, and the strength of the bleaching agents used to minimize risks and maintain healthy hair.
FAQ’s
What are the different levels of hair bleach?
When lightening hair, the choice of Developer strength is crucial. For subtle changes, 10 Volume (3%) Developer is used with permanent, no-lift hair color, offering a standard oxidizing strength. A 20 Volume (6%) Developer is more common, as it can raise the hair color by 1-2 levels. For more significant lightening, a 30 Volume (9%) Developer or 40 Volume (12%) Developer is required to achieve desired hair colors.
What is level 9 bleached hair?
Level 9 hair is light and full of vibrancy, perfect for almost any semi-permanent color. Colors like Porange (pink-orange and UV reactive), Cosmic Sunshine (yellow hair dye), or Neon Moon (electric yellow UV shade) create radiant looks.
What are the 7 stages of lightening?
When lightening dark hair, it goes through seven stages: Stage 1 Black/Brown, Stage 2 Dark Brown, Stage 3 Light Brown, Stage 4 Dark Blonde, Stage 5 Medium Blonde, Stage 6 Light Blonde, and Stage 7 Icy Blonde/White with almost invisible pigment.
What is level 10 bleached hair?
To determine your level, take a section of hair from your crown. Hold it away from the rest and compare it on a level chart. Level 10 is the lightest light blonde.
