I was wondering which is better for lightening dyed black hair: L'Oreal's Quick Blue or Clairol's BW2? I did a strand test with the Quick Blue, and got blond with 30 volume bleach, bleaching it once. Can I use heat with the Quick Blue? Is Clairol BW2 better? Looking forward to hearing from you, thanks so much in advance, and thank you for the awesome blog.
Answer:
Both products are powder substances. The powdered bleach is usually designed for an off scalp (foil or cap) application. However, some colorists (and people at home) use it on scalp as well. There are other lighteners (bleaches for hair) that are designed for an on scalp application - they are liquid, such as L'Oreal's Super Blue or Clairol's 7th Stage.
Now some people prefer Quick Blue, because they feel it is gentler on the hair. Others prefer BW2 because they feel it lifts hair to the lighter stage better and faster. I think that they are very similar in "power". Check on the package what the recommended peroxide volume is - the higher volume the faster and lighter outcome. I think you can use up to 40 Volume, however I usually used 20 Volume peroxide since my clients were business people and needed their hair to look "natural". But people in arts use higher volume of peroxide to make their hair lighter.
If my client was in a rush, I used heat with my formulas, just to speed up process. If you do that also, be careful not to over process your hair. Over-processed hair can become "gummy", and it can break off - this is so called chemical haircut.
Do not forget to use a good hair conditioner - before and after bleaching.
Credit:
I found the above image on www.zimbio.com
Note:
This post should be taken as a first step for a discussion with your hairdresser and/or colorist about your ideas, desires or problems with your hair. Under no circumstances, you should act upon this post ONLY. I strongly advice you to have your hair done by a skilled and reputable hairdresser/colorist in your area.
I found the above image on www.zimbio.com
Note:
This post should be taken as a first step for a discussion with your hairdresser and/or colorist about your ideas, desires or problems with your hair. Under no circumstances, you should act upon this post ONLY. I strongly advice you to have your hair done by a skilled and reputable hairdresser/colorist in your area.
Q: Thank you SO much for the advice, I really appreciate it. I have very thick, dyed black hair (dyed for three years) that is very resistant to bleaching. I did a strand test. Is it better to bleach with 30 volume four times(spaced out in time), or bleach with 40 volume twice(a week apart)? Both left my hair healthy after the strand test(I did not space out the time in the strand test). Thank you so much again:)
ReplyDeleteA: I thought that your hair is naturally dark. With an artificial color I would not know how your hair will respond to the bleach. The color application (how you do it, how often, for how many years etc.) makes a difference "if and how well" bleach will work. There are too many variables. But usually (most of the time) the dark artificial colors get lifted at best up to a yellow stage. Very rarely to a very light (platinum or white) stage.
Hi:) Thank you SO much for all the advice. My hair is naturally black which I dyed blue black but stopped dying nine months ago.
ReplyDelete(sorry for the confusion.) It got lifted to a beige blond with three applications of the 40 volume, but the four applications of 30 volume is not that far behind. I think one more application (making it five applications) with the 30 volume will make it the same as the four applications with 40 volume. I'm just not sure if it's safer to do it with the 30 volume that many times, or it's equal to the forty(four times). You are so awesome for helping me:)
The first time I did the strand test, I got a dirty blond with the 30 volume. But I need to get it to a beige blond. Do you think it's better if I bleach it with the 30 volume(I would probably need to do this four times more), many times spaced apart(and if so, how many days should I give it in between) or with the 40 volume(which would need at least three or four times of bleaching)? There is not much of a difference with the result of both. Will the damage to my hair be less with the 30 volume even though I am doing it so many times?Sorry so many questions:) Your advice is awesome, thank you SO much.
ReplyDeleteThe longer you leave bleach (or color remover) on the hair the more chances of your hair becoming dissolved. So you need to lift the hair to a pale stage as fast as possible. Then you need to apply a toner in blue/violet shade.
ReplyDeleteBut really, the best thing to do is perhaps consult a colorist who can check visually in what kind of condition is your hair after so many applications.
I really cannot tell you "go ahead and do it" since I cannot see your hair personally. You need someone who uses a hair bleach on a regular basis to see if your hair still may take it... also another strand test would be great way to find out how strong is your hair.
Thank you so much for responding to me, and for such great advice:)
ReplyDeleteHi! I got my hair dyed at a salon, thinking it would be darker brown, but apparently "richer" means black. I want to lighten it and thought that I would just dye it with a lighter brown store colour. Will that work or do I need a remover like the ones in your article? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi, unfortunately if a colorist tinted your hair with a very dark pigment than anticipated, you need to use a color remover or bleach, and then re-tinted again. A lighter shade of color will not do the job. I would remove the dark color as soon as possible, because the regrowth (which has only natural, non-artificial, pigment) would get lightened up considerably lighter. Lighten your hair about one shade lighter brown than desired, and then re-color. I would probably even color it 1/2 shade lighter than desired color (mix your desired color and one shade lighter color 1:1). This way if your hair is too porous it will not "suck" just all the dark pigment in. And if you want your hair darker next time, you can use your desired color only.
Delete