How to Dye Bleached Hair
Determine what color you want to dye your hair., Determine how long you want your color to last., Pre-condition your hair with a deep conditioner., Use a protein filler., Test for allergic reactions., Prevent stains., Mix up the color., Do a strand...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Determine what color you want to dye your hair.
After you have bleached your hair, you need to decide which color you want to have.
The cuticle layers of your hair strands have been disrupted in the bleaching process, which allows hydrogen peroxide (a key ingredient in hair bleach) to penetrate the hair strand and strip out color.
Depending on your hair's natural color and how long you left in the bleach, your hair now might be yellow, white or reddish.
Your hair is now ready to take on color, and will often take color much more quickly and deeply than if you hadn't bleached your hair.
You might choose to dye your hair a natural color, such as shades of brown, black, red or blond.
You might also choose a color like cherry red, blue, purple, pink, and so on.
For more natural color effects, stay within 1-3 shades within your own natural color.
Consider the base color of your hair after bleaching and the base color of the dye you are going to use.
These might conflict and give you the wrong color.
If your bleached hair is yellowish, and your dye has a blue base color, you might end up with greenish hair.
Using a dye with a violet base color, however, will offset the yellow in your hair, giving you better results.
Use a hair color wheel to select the right shade.To figure out your dye's base color, check the dye manufacturer's website for a "palette list" or similar, which categorizes colors into warm, neutral and cool shades.
You can also buy different components of a hair dye kit at a beauty supply store.
These products will indicate their base color on their package (i.e., blue, blue-violet, violet, violet-red, red, etc.).Paying attention to the color palette of hair dye will help reduce the risk of ending up with the wrong color in your hair.
Look at your hair in childhood photos.
This will help you determine how your hair will react to certain colors.
If your hair was a warmer color (honey blonde or similar), your hair will likely react with a warmer color now.
Similarly, if your hair was a cooler color (ash blonde, brunette), your hair will likely have cooler undertones when you dye it now.Be sure to consider your work environment when choosing a color; many workplaces consider bright, unnatural hair color to be unprofessional. -
Step 2: Determine how long you want your color to last.
There are numerous types of store-bought dyes available, including permanent, semi-permanent, and color rinses.
Each of these lasts a different length of time in your hair.
These can be purchased at beauty supply stores, drug stores, grocery stores, and box stores like Target or Walmart.
Permanent dyes are long-lasting and can produce very natural-looking colors.
They can also produce very strong or dramatic colors.
Because they are very strong, however, they can damage your hair, since they need to be left on your hair for a longer period of time when dyeing.
Demi-permanent dyes are a step down from permanent and typically last about 20-25 washes.
These can dye your hair 1-2 shades darker and also can add striking highlights.
Even shorter lasting temporary hair-color dyes are also available.
Semi-permanent dyes are temporary, are more natural-looking, and typically last about 10 shampoos.
They do not need to be pre-mixed and can instead be used straight out of the box.
These dyes fade progressively, particularly with exposure to air and shampooing.
They typically do not contain ammonia or peroxide and are therefore better to use on fragile or already-damaged hair.
Temporary color dyes are useful for touch-ups and experimentation with different hair colors.
These include rinses, mousses, sprays, chalks and hair color crayons.
They typically coat the hair, rather than color the core of the hair strand.
As a result, these types of dyes rinse out within 1-3 washes.
You may experience an unwanted color in your hair after the temporary dye fades.
For example, if you bleach your hair and use a temporary blue dye, you might get green hair after the blue fades. , Used a day or two before dyeing your bleached hair, a deep conditioner will help build up moisture in your hair, which was likely damaged in the bleaching process.
There is a wide variety of types of deep conditioners, from less expensive ($5-$8) to more expensive ($30+) store-bought ones to more natural, DIY ones.
There are recipes to make your own deep conditioner, which typically use foods as their base.
Search online for “deep conditioner recipes” for suggestions using bananas, avocados, mayonnaise, yogurt, eggs, coconut oil, or other foods.This step will help minimize ending up with extremely dry and brittle hair after you dye it by increasing your hair’s moisture and elasticity, the hair’s ability to return to its natural shape.
Ideally, you would have pre-conditioned your hair before bleaching it, but if not, you should still use a deep conditioner on your hair before you dye it again., The protein filler will help fill in gaps in your hair so that color will go on more evenly, and they also will help add color back into your hair.
Protein filler can also be added to the hair dye.
To add protein filler directly to your hair, put a small amount in the palm of your hand and spread throughout your hair.
You don't need to rinse this out before applying the dye.
Alternately, add the protein filler to your hair dye by adding a very small amount (if you add too much, it will make the hair dye too runny and therefore really messy).
To help adjust the color of your hair, add protein filler.
For example, if you want to dye your hair from bleached blonde to a warm brown color, you need to have all three primary colors (red, yellow, blue) going into your hair color.
Your bleached blonde hair, for example, provides the yellow color.
Use a red protein filler along with an ash-toned brown color, which has blue undertones.
Together, these will result in the correct color., This step seems time-consuming, especially when you want to get started on dyeing your hair.
But it is an important step that will save you a serious skin rash (or worse) if you happen to be allergic to any of the dye’s ingredients.
To do a patch allergy test, apply a dab of dye on a patch of skin behind your ear.
Leave the dye on for 24-48 hours and check for any allergic reaction, such as a rash, itching or burning on that spot.
If you do have an allergic reaction, however mild, you should try a different brand.
Be sure to test the new brand for any allergic reactions as well. , Chemical-based hair dyes can easily stain your skin and hands, so take care to cover yourself properly.
Wear gloves and cover your clothes with an old towel.
Apply a small amount of petroleum jelly along your hairline and neckline to prevent stains.Have a bottle of alcohol-based facial toner nearby to remove dye from your skin, countertops and floors. , If you have purchased permanent dye, you will likely need to mix up the color with a developer in order to attain the correct color.
Follow the instructions on the box to mix the color properly. , Gather up a small hunk of hair from the nape of your neck.
Brush the dye onto this strand, starting at the roots and working it towards the ends.
Set your timer for the allotted time recommended by the box’s instructions (around 20 minutes).
Rinse out or wipe off the dye and check the color against a white towel.
This will enable you to check if you like the color before dousing your entire head in it.
It will also help you gauge how much time to leave on the dye., Divide your hair into four sections.
Pin back three of these sections while you apply color to the fourth section.
Work the dye into your hair in about 1 inch (2.5 cm) sections, starting at the roots and working towards the ends with your hands to ensure full saturation.
When you’ve applied to all four sections, rub the dye all over your hair as though you were shampooing your hair.
Be sure to read the instructions on the box for applying the dye to your hair. , Be sure to read the instructions on the box for timing recommendations.
Typically, you will leave hair dye in for about 20 minutes or more, starting when you have put color in the last section of hair.
Some dyes may even recommend a heated dryer to help the color process more effectively. , Gently rinse your hair with warm water to rinse out the leftover dye.
Rinse until the water runs clear.
Use the packet of conditioner that came with the dye, rubbing it into your hair.
Leave it in for the amount of time recommended by the box’s instructions and then rinse it out. , Blow drying your hair will just dry out your hair even more and can severely damage your hair while it is in this fragile state.
Be sure not to judge your new color until your hair is dry.
The color of wet hair almost always looks darker than the actual color. , Water, soap and heat can lessen the dye’s hold on your hair and cause it to escape.
Leaving your hair alone for three days will enable the dye to sink into the cuticles of your hair, which opened during the color process.If, after washing, the hair dye hasn't held, you can try to dye it again, but you will risk damaging it further.
If you're finding that your bleached hair isn't holding color, you should probably visit a hairstylist to get it corrected professionally. , Your hair will be brittle and dry after this color treatment and will need deep conditioning to restore some moisture and elasticity.
Use a deep conditioner (store-bought or natural) at least once a week, leaving it in your hair for 20-30 minutes and then rinsing it out.
Results can be improved by heating up your hair with a hair dryer while the deep conditioner is in place.
If you have made your own deep conditioner with food, check to make sure it hasn’t gone bad.
If it’s been mixed up for longer than a few days (or a week if kept in the refrigerator), throw it away and mix up a new batch. , If you like the color effect you’ve achieved with this dye job, you may want to continue with this color.
Even if you choose permanent dye, it will start to fade and grow out of your hair within 6-8 weeks.
You do not need to completely re-dye your hair, however.
Just focus on dyeing your roots, applying dye at the base of your scalp and combing it through the rest of your hair just before you’ve reached the time limit to have the dye in your hair.For the most effective touch ups, apply dye to the new growth, stopping where it meets the pre-colored hair. -
Step 3: Pre-condition your hair with a deep conditioner.
-
Step 4: Use a protein filler.
-
Step 5: Test for allergic reactions.
-
Step 6: Prevent stains.
-
Step 7: Mix up the color.
-
Step 8: Do a strand test.
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Step 9: Apply the dye to your hair.
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Step 10: Start your timer.
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Step 11: Rinse your hair and apply conditioner.
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Step 12: Towel dry your hair or let it dry naturally.
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Step 13: Avoid washing your hair for 2-3 days.
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Step 14: Take care of your hair.
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Step 15: Retouch the dye every 6-8 weeks.
Detailed Guide
After you have bleached your hair, you need to decide which color you want to have.
The cuticle layers of your hair strands have been disrupted in the bleaching process, which allows hydrogen peroxide (a key ingredient in hair bleach) to penetrate the hair strand and strip out color.
Depending on your hair's natural color and how long you left in the bleach, your hair now might be yellow, white or reddish.
Your hair is now ready to take on color, and will often take color much more quickly and deeply than if you hadn't bleached your hair.
You might choose to dye your hair a natural color, such as shades of brown, black, red or blond.
You might also choose a color like cherry red, blue, purple, pink, and so on.
For more natural color effects, stay within 1-3 shades within your own natural color.
Consider the base color of your hair after bleaching and the base color of the dye you are going to use.
These might conflict and give you the wrong color.
If your bleached hair is yellowish, and your dye has a blue base color, you might end up with greenish hair.
Using a dye with a violet base color, however, will offset the yellow in your hair, giving you better results.
Use a hair color wheel to select the right shade.To figure out your dye's base color, check the dye manufacturer's website for a "palette list" or similar, which categorizes colors into warm, neutral and cool shades.
You can also buy different components of a hair dye kit at a beauty supply store.
These products will indicate their base color on their package (i.e., blue, blue-violet, violet, violet-red, red, etc.).Paying attention to the color palette of hair dye will help reduce the risk of ending up with the wrong color in your hair.
Look at your hair in childhood photos.
This will help you determine how your hair will react to certain colors.
If your hair was a warmer color (honey blonde or similar), your hair will likely react with a warmer color now.
Similarly, if your hair was a cooler color (ash blonde, brunette), your hair will likely have cooler undertones when you dye it now.Be sure to consider your work environment when choosing a color; many workplaces consider bright, unnatural hair color to be unprofessional.
There are numerous types of store-bought dyes available, including permanent, semi-permanent, and color rinses.
Each of these lasts a different length of time in your hair.
These can be purchased at beauty supply stores, drug stores, grocery stores, and box stores like Target or Walmart.
Permanent dyes are long-lasting and can produce very natural-looking colors.
They can also produce very strong or dramatic colors.
Because they are very strong, however, they can damage your hair, since they need to be left on your hair for a longer period of time when dyeing.
Demi-permanent dyes are a step down from permanent and typically last about 20-25 washes.
These can dye your hair 1-2 shades darker and also can add striking highlights.
Even shorter lasting temporary hair-color dyes are also available.
Semi-permanent dyes are temporary, are more natural-looking, and typically last about 10 shampoos.
They do not need to be pre-mixed and can instead be used straight out of the box.
These dyes fade progressively, particularly with exposure to air and shampooing.
They typically do not contain ammonia or peroxide and are therefore better to use on fragile or already-damaged hair.
Temporary color dyes are useful for touch-ups and experimentation with different hair colors.
These include rinses, mousses, sprays, chalks and hair color crayons.
They typically coat the hair, rather than color the core of the hair strand.
As a result, these types of dyes rinse out within 1-3 washes.
You may experience an unwanted color in your hair after the temporary dye fades.
For example, if you bleach your hair and use a temporary blue dye, you might get green hair after the blue fades. , Used a day or two before dyeing your bleached hair, a deep conditioner will help build up moisture in your hair, which was likely damaged in the bleaching process.
There is a wide variety of types of deep conditioners, from less expensive ($5-$8) to more expensive ($30+) store-bought ones to more natural, DIY ones.
There are recipes to make your own deep conditioner, which typically use foods as their base.
Search online for “deep conditioner recipes” for suggestions using bananas, avocados, mayonnaise, yogurt, eggs, coconut oil, or other foods.This step will help minimize ending up with extremely dry and brittle hair after you dye it by increasing your hair’s moisture and elasticity, the hair’s ability to return to its natural shape.
Ideally, you would have pre-conditioned your hair before bleaching it, but if not, you should still use a deep conditioner on your hair before you dye it again., The protein filler will help fill in gaps in your hair so that color will go on more evenly, and they also will help add color back into your hair.
Protein filler can also be added to the hair dye.
To add protein filler directly to your hair, put a small amount in the palm of your hand and spread throughout your hair.
You don't need to rinse this out before applying the dye.
Alternately, add the protein filler to your hair dye by adding a very small amount (if you add too much, it will make the hair dye too runny and therefore really messy).
To help adjust the color of your hair, add protein filler.
For example, if you want to dye your hair from bleached blonde to a warm brown color, you need to have all three primary colors (red, yellow, blue) going into your hair color.
Your bleached blonde hair, for example, provides the yellow color.
Use a red protein filler along with an ash-toned brown color, which has blue undertones.
Together, these will result in the correct color., This step seems time-consuming, especially when you want to get started on dyeing your hair.
But it is an important step that will save you a serious skin rash (or worse) if you happen to be allergic to any of the dye’s ingredients.
To do a patch allergy test, apply a dab of dye on a patch of skin behind your ear.
Leave the dye on for 24-48 hours and check for any allergic reaction, such as a rash, itching or burning on that spot.
If you do have an allergic reaction, however mild, you should try a different brand.
Be sure to test the new brand for any allergic reactions as well. , Chemical-based hair dyes can easily stain your skin and hands, so take care to cover yourself properly.
Wear gloves and cover your clothes with an old towel.
Apply a small amount of petroleum jelly along your hairline and neckline to prevent stains.Have a bottle of alcohol-based facial toner nearby to remove dye from your skin, countertops and floors. , If you have purchased permanent dye, you will likely need to mix up the color with a developer in order to attain the correct color.
Follow the instructions on the box to mix the color properly. , Gather up a small hunk of hair from the nape of your neck.
Brush the dye onto this strand, starting at the roots and working it towards the ends.
Set your timer for the allotted time recommended by the box’s instructions (around 20 minutes).
Rinse out or wipe off the dye and check the color against a white towel.
This will enable you to check if you like the color before dousing your entire head in it.
It will also help you gauge how much time to leave on the dye., Divide your hair into four sections.
Pin back three of these sections while you apply color to the fourth section.
Work the dye into your hair in about 1 inch (2.5 cm) sections, starting at the roots and working towards the ends with your hands to ensure full saturation.
When you’ve applied to all four sections, rub the dye all over your hair as though you were shampooing your hair.
Be sure to read the instructions on the box for applying the dye to your hair. , Be sure to read the instructions on the box for timing recommendations.
Typically, you will leave hair dye in for about 20 minutes or more, starting when you have put color in the last section of hair.
Some dyes may even recommend a heated dryer to help the color process more effectively. , Gently rinse your hair with warm water to rinse out the leftover dye.
Rinse until the water runs clear.
Use the packet of conditioner that came with the dye, rubbing it into your hair.
Leave it in for the amount of time recommended by the box’s instructions and then rinse it out. , Blow drying your hair will just dry out your hair even more and can severely damage your hair while it is in this fragile state.
Be sure not to judge your new color until your hair is dry.
The color of wet hair almost always looks darker than the actual color. , Water, soap and heat can lessen the dye’s hold on your hair and cause it to escape.
Leaving your hair alone for three days will enable the dye to sink into the cuticles of your hair, which opened during the color process.If, after washing, the hair dye hasn't held, you can try to dye it again, but you will risk damaging it further.
If you're finding that your bleached hair isn't holding color, you should probably visit a hairstylist to get it corrected professionally. , Your hair will be brittle and dry after this color treatment and will need deep conditioning to restore some moisture and elasticity.
Use a deep conditioner (store-bought or natural) at least once a week, leaving it in your hair for 20-30 minutes and then rinsing it out.
Results can be improved by heating up your hair with a hair dryer while the deep conditioner is in place.
If you have made your own deep conditioner with food, check to make sure it hasn’t gone bad.
If it’s been mixed up for longer than a few days (or a week if kept in the refrigerator), throw it away and mix up a new batch. , If you like the color effect you’ve achieved with this dye job, you may want to continue with this color.
Even if you choose permanent dye, it will start to fade and grow out of your hair within 6-8 weeks.
You do not need to completely re-dye your hair, however.
Just focus on dyeing your roots, applying dye at the base of your scalp and combing it through the rest of your hair just before you’ve reached the time limit to have the dye in your hair.For the most effective touch ups, apply dye to the new growth, stopping where it meets the pre-colored hair.
About the Author
Patricia Torres
Experienced content creator specializing in lifestyle guides and tutorials.
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