The old saying goes that blondes have more fun. And maybe there is a tiny bit of truth to this adage as so many women (and men) are willing to go for broke and go platinum. Some get it done professionally at a salon, while the rest of us poor folk decide take the challenge upon ourselves. Look great or go bald trying, right? The truth, however, is that the risk is fairly minimal if you follow the instructions. An added bonus to a successful at-home bleach job is that it can save you a lot of money (or cost you even more if you screw it up, but do try to think positively). Salon prices do vary, but you can expect to pay at least $100 for a professional bleaching and then your hair will likely need toner at an additional cost. Ultimately, you have to ask yourself if you’ve got the stones to do it. I did it and I think mine turned out pretty well, if I do say so myself. Here is how I bleached my hair platinum blonde…
TOTALLY BLEACHIN’
Time to rock and roll! I made sure that I had my work area prepped and I put on my gloves. The instructions called for a 1:1 ratio of the Wella Powder Lightener and Salon Care 30 Volume conditioner. So, I mixed 1 oz of powder bleach with 1 oz developer in my mixing bowl. I also added about 3-4 drops of Argan Oil so that the bleach would be less stringent on my hair. In retrospect, I probably went through half of the 16 oz bottle of 30 volume developer for my whole head with the first bleaching. Most people would probably advise you to section the hair and apply it that way, however, I just made sure to coat all of my hair evenly because patience is not a virtue of mine.
After I applied bleach evenly to my entire head, I put on my handy plastic cap and played the waiting game for about 50 minutes and no longer, per the instructions. I’m a bit tough headed and the slight stinging from the bleach didn’t really bother me. However, some of us have more sensitive scalps than others. Keep that in mind as you apply bleach to your own hair. You will also feel some heat coming from your head as you wait. Not to worry, this is completely normal and is an indicator that the bleach is working its magic. Once my time was up, I jumped in the shower, careful to keep my head held back in the flow until the bleach was entirely rinsed out. I didn’t shampoo but, instead, used my ION Repair Solutions Effective Care Treatment and left it on for about 5 minutes before I rinsed. I kind of freaked a little at this point because my hair turned orange, but this is completely normal for medium colored hair. From there, I waited about 24 hours until I did my second and final bleaching.
It’s not rocket science, but it is a matter of paying close attention to what you are doing. Never leave bleach and toner in your hair for longer than stated in the instructions because you can lose your hair. Even though bald can be beautiful, let’s not push it here. If possible, have someone help you with your roots when the time comes to touch them up. You can always do it yourself but be assured that it’s not an easy task and occasional swearing may occur. Continuing on to the toner…
TONE IT UP, BABY!
Another 24 hours later I noticed that I still had some brassy undertones and that I would need a toner. The ratio for the toner was 1:2, so I mixed 1 oz of Wella Color Charm T18 White Lady to 2 oz of Salon Care 20 Volume Crème Developer. I then applied the toner to my hair the same way as how I applied the bleach. I only needed to keep the toner on for about 5 minutes as the brassiness was quickly pulled out. So, be careful to keep an eye on your hair at this time because toner will turn your hair a grayish color if it is left on for too long. TIP: Mix baking soda with shampoo, or you can use Head & Shoulders shampoo if you have it. Shampoo a couple of times and this should drastically reduce the gray color. Remember to deep condition regularly.
That’s it, so have fun with it! Blonde is not just a hair color it’s a state of mind.
