How to Change Your Hair Color After Bleaching and Dyeing
Transitioning your hair color can be a thrilling and exciting process. However, if you've already bleached and dyed your hair, you may be wondering what to do next. This guide will walk you through the steps to successfully change your hair color without damaging it.
Important Considerations Before Changing Your Hair Color
To ensure that your hair remains healthy and beautiful, it's important to wait approximately six weeks after bleaching and dyeing before attempting to change the color again. This break allows your hair to heal and strengthens the shaft, making it more resistant to damage during the bleaching and dyeing process.
Preparing Your Hair for a Color Change
During the waiting period, maintaining healthy hair is crucial. Wash and condition your hair regularly to nourish and protect the strands. Additionally, make sure that your hair roots are visible, showing at least a half-inch of growth, indicating that your hair is strong enough to undergo further processing.
When it's time to rebleach, only apply the bleach to the roots. Follow the directions on the dye box carefully. Once the roots have reached the right level of lightness, gently work the bleach down to the ends for a very short time, just enough to prepare the hair for the toner. Overprocessing your hair can result in porosity, dryness, and damage, especially if your hair has already been processed comprehensively.
Changing Your Hair Color Without Bleaching
If you want to change the color of your previously bleached and dyed hair without using bleach, you have limited options. The hair may not lighten further, and the only viable changes are either to darken or tone the existing color.
For those with hair that was dyed a dark, intense shade such as violet red, indigo, or a very intense copper, using a color remover without bleach is highly recommended. This will help to neutralize the existing color before applying a new one. Choose a developer based on the desired final color: a 10 volume peroxide for significantly darker shades or resistant hair, and a 5 volume peroxide for toning, lighter shades, or fine hair.
Understanding the Reasons and Starting Points
The decision to change your hair color depends on several factors: your starting color, the desired end color, and your personal reasons for the change. Whether you're looking to refresh a faded hue or explore a new palette, the right approach can make all the difference.
Professional advice can also be invaluable. When seeking a new color, be cautious and mindful of your hair's condition. Many stylists have extensive experience with hair transformations and can guide you through the process safely and effectively.
For someone like the narrator, who dyes her hair regularly and keeps the same hair for years, knowing that the bottom portions of her hair may have been dyed multiple times can help set expectations. Hairdressers might occasionally scold clients for over-processing their hair, but understanding the process and being patient can yield the best results.
Remember, changing hair color requires patience and proper care. By following these guidelines, you can achieve the desired look without compromising your hair's health.