Understanding Hair Highlights: Will Lightening Brown Hair to Blue Cause Permanent Damage?

Are you considering getting a more vibrant look with hair highlights? Perhaps you're planning to go from dark brown to a slightly lighter, blue-infused hue. But what happens after the lighter color fades? Will your highlights be gone forever, or will you be left with bleached hair?

Effects of Bleaching on Hair

One of the most common concerns when it comes to bleaching hair is the lasting impact on your strands. Whenever you have bleached any part of your hair, the bleached portion will fade back to the bleached color permanently. This is due to the chemical process of stripping the natural color from the hair strands, making it irreversible. To regain the natural hair color in those areas, you will need to allow the hairs to grow out from the roots.

Understanding Lightening Processes

Able to achieve your desired highlight effect involves some form of hydrogen peroxide bleach. This is because any hair follicle that has been permeated by bleach will fade with repeated washing or due to sun exposure. This is a fundamental rule that has remained unchanged over time. Moreover, the effectiveness of bleach varies based on the starting hair color:

Reni Color Applications for Brown Hair

If you're starting with dark or brown hair, the process to achieve your highlights will require pre-lightening the hair. This means you're causing some damage to the hair by bleaching it. Once the color lightens, it will not be the same as before, and some yellow tones may remain after the blue highlights are applied.

Shade Compatibility

When applying blue highlights, you need to ensure that you lift the brown to achieve a desirable shade. This process will strip the brown and leave areas lighter than before. It's important to note that after the blue fades, the hair will not return to its original brown; it will remain lighter. Other colors like purple and pink are more prone to fading and gaining better results over time with additional toning.

Complications with Blue Highlights

Applying and maintaining blue highlights requires a thorough understanding of hair chemistry. If you only apply blue, it can be extremely challenging to achieve and remove. Typically, you must bleach all the way to a platinum blonde to get a true bright blue. Once this blue fades, it won't be completely gone without more bleaching. The outcome may leave your hair with a somewhat green tinge, similar to how blonde hair can turn green after frequent swimming.

Professional Guidance for Best Results

Whether you're aiming for blue or another color, professional guidance is highly recommended. Attempting to achieve highlights at home can result in uneven application, causing a chunky, unappealing look. Highlights and streaks are much more complex than they may seem, so seeking out a professional can help ensure a smooth and flawless result.

Understanding the potential impacts of bleaching and lightening your hair is crucial before embarking on a new hair color journey. Whether you choose to go for blue highlights or another vibrant color, be prepared for some temporary changes. With the right professional help, you can achieve the perfect look that lasts, even as your hair color eventually fades.