Published on December 1st, 2022

Last updated on January 24th, 2023

How To Lighten Hair With Hydrogen Peroxide: What To Know Before Bleaching

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
light hair

Some people want a change in their hair. So, for example, their clarification can be a popular solution. However, not every person is ready to become a beauty salon client and prefers to make their hair a little lighter on their own.

If you want to lighten your hair yourself, you might consider hydrogen peroxide. It is a really effective way to make your hair lighter without using more professional methods. With the help of this remedy, you can lighten even very dark hair. However, this method has its nuances that you should be aware of. 

Despite its effectiveness, we do not recommend using this method of lightening hair too often. It can lead to ugly hair color and severe damage. And also, we strongly recommend testing this method of lightening hair on small strands.

In this article, we will cover the essential things about hair lightening with hydrogen peroxide.

What Is Hydrogen Peroxide?

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This product is an oxidizing agent, most often used for antibacterial purposes. Also, it does a good job of lightening and bleaching. Therefore, this component can often be found in paint packages in beauty stores. The peroxide penetrates the hair shaft and releases oxygen, which reacts with the pigment in the hair and brightens it.

Side Effects Of Hair Bleach With Peroxide

If you have selected such a method of bleaching your hair, you should be aware that it has some side effects, including:

  • Hair loss

Hydrogen peroxide can contribute to the oxidative process of the scalp. And this can cause your hair to fall out. Also, some studies have shown that dermatitis is possible due to the application of peroxide to the hair and scalp.

  • Hair cuticle damage

It is the second side effect you may experience. Due to the oxidation process, the disulfide bonds between hair proteins are destroyed, which damages the cuticle and makes the hair thin and brittle. It can also cause a quick splitting of the ends of your hair.

  • Scalp irritation

Hydrogen peroxide is an irritant. As a result of its use for hair, you may experience a burning sensation on the scalp. In some cases, you may even experience scalp burns.

How To Lighten Hair With Hydrogen Peroxide?

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If you’re ready to lighten your hair with hydrogen peroxide, check out our detailed step-by-step guide. We have prepared our instructions considering all the essential points related to your safety and your hair.

1. Wash Your Hair

Before starting your hair-lightening procedure with hydrogen peroxide, you must remove all dirt and oil from your scalp. Use a deep cleansing shampoo. Continue with a moisturizing and nourishing conditioner.

2. Dry Your Hair Without Using A Hair Dryer

After you have washed your hair, dry it without using a hair dryer. Blot your hair with towels, comb it gently and wait about half an hour before proceeding to lighten your hair with hydrogen peroxide.

3. Run A Patch Test

You may have an allergy to hydrogen peroxide that you didn’t know about. To test your body’s response to this product, apply a 3% peroxide solution to a small section of your hair and leave it on your hair for at least half an hour. Do this before washing your hair.

4. Apply Hydrogen Peroxide

To apply hydrogen peroxide evenly to all of your hair or to specific sections, part your hair with bobby pins and leave one section to work with. Moisten a cotton swab with 3% hydrogen peroxide and apply to hair an inch below the roots. Finish the section and wrap it in foil. Do this with all strands.

5. Leave The Peroxide On Your Hair For A Certain Amount Of Time

Of course, at this stage, you need to wait a certain amount of time, during which your hair will be treated with hydrogen peroxide. On average, you need to wait about half an hour. If you have a naturally dark hair color and want to make it much lighter, hold the peroxide solution on your hair for about a quarter of an hour.

6. Wash Your Hair Thoroughly

After you have waited the required amount of time, you need to wash the peroxide out of your hair. Use the cool temperature of the water to restore shine to your hair and do as little damage as possible. After that, apply your conditioner to your hair.

7. Dry Your Hair Without Using A Hair Dryer

Blot your hair with a towel and let it dry on its own. It will help protect your hair from damage. If you still need to dry your hair urgently or it’s cold at home, use the lowest temperature of your hair dryer.

Several Tips For Hair Bleach With Peroxide

We have also prepared some tips for you to lighten your hair with peroxide properly. Follow these steps if you have chosen this method of lightening your hair:

  1. Wear old and unwanted clothes during the hair-lightening process.
  2. Always clearly separate the hair into strands before you start lightening your hair.
  3. Always wear gloves before dyeing your hair with hydrogen peroxide. It will help you protect your hands and nails from harsh ingredients.
  4. You can mix peroxide with baking soda to get the most out of lightening your hair. To do this, mix a glass of soda and three tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide.
  5. Use a ceramic or plastic bowl to mix the ingredients you use to lighten your hair with hydrogen peroxide. Do not use metal utensils, as this may cause a chemical reaction.

Using these simple steps will help you lighten your hair more efficiently and without negative consequences.

Bottom Line

Thus, we have told you how to make your hair lighter with hydrogen peroxide. It is not the safest hair-lightening method you can use at home. However, with the right procedure, you can achieve discoloration of your hair by several tones, even if your hair is too dark. The main thing is to follow the guide clearly and do a preliminary test to examine how your hair and scalp react to such a product.

FAQ

How To Lighten Hair With Peroxide?

To lighten hair with hydrogen peroxide, wash your hair, dry it naturally, divide it into sections, and apply 3% hydrogen peroxide to each part. Leave the peroxide on your hair for about half an hour. Then wash your hair.

Can A Mixture Of Baking Soda And Hydrogen Peroxide Be Used To Lighten Hair?

Yes, if you decide to lighten your hair with hydrogen peroxide, you can enhance the effect by adding baking soda. Just mix a glass of baking soda and three tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide. This method will help you quickly achieve significant hair lightening.

How Long Should Hydrogen Peroxide Be Left On Hair To Lighten It?

It depends on how dark your hair is and what color you want. If you have medium blond hair and want to make it a few shades lighter, leave the peroxide on your hair for half an hour. If you have very dark hair and want to go blonde literally, you need to keep the peroxide in your hair for about 45 minutes.

Does Peroxide Turn Your Hair Orange?

In fact, using peroxide as a bleach for your hair runs the risk of turning your hair orange. It is especially true for those with brown hair. In order to control the color of your hair, try lightening one small strand to see what you get at the end of the lightning.