How Long to Leave Bleach in Hair

Summer is right around the corner, and you know what that means; it’s time for beach babe blonde shades to come out and play.

If you’ve been dreaming of bleaching your hair, don’t think you have to hit your local hair salon.

You can create stunning bleached blonde hair right at home!

And don’t worry - the bleaching process is relatively simple. The biggest thing to worry about is how long you leave bleach on your hair.

As most people know, bleach is notorious for causing hair damage, and that’s almost always related to leaving the bleach on too long.

That said, let’s discover how long to leave bleach in your hair.

How Long to Leave Bleach in Hair? Deciding factors

As a general rule of thumb, hair bleaching should never go longer than 45 minutes.

Ideally, you wouldn’t want to go past the 35-minute mark.

After 35 minutes, your hair’s cuticle will be far more susceptible to damage as bleach strips the hair oils.

How long you actually need to leave the bleach mixture on your hair depends on three factors: your natural hair color and type and the volume of bleach you’re using.

Tip: If you have no idea how much bleach to use when bleaching at home, you can always do a quick strand test.

A strand test will indicate how long to leave the bleach in. It will also demonstrate how well your hair strands handle the bleach.

Let’s take a closer look at these deciding factors.

Bleach Volume

There are four main types of volume bleach on the market: volume 10, 20, 30, and 40. These levels showcase how much hydrogen peroxide the product has.

That said, 10% volume is best if your hair’s natural color is relatively light, and will only require a quick and short hair bleaching session.

On the other hand, for someone with dark hair (such as dark brown or black hair), it’s better to use 30% volume bleach in your hair. Sometimes, two bleaching sessions are required.

Forty percent is the final option. However, this type of volume is typically not sold in stores as it is incredibly harsh and can ruin your hair if you’re not careful.

Natural Hair Color

It’s not enough to solely think about the volume when it comes to bleaching hair, though (or using hair dye, for that matter).

You also need to consider your current hair color.

For example, someone with darker hair might use the same percent developer as someone with lighter locks, but the time it takes to bleach may be extended by more than a few minutes.

Note that these are just estimates. If you’re looking for a platinum blonde look, you will want to leave the bleach in your hair longer.

Hair Type

The other thing to consider is the type of hair you have.

Fine hair has a thinner cuticle, so bleaching your hair will only take 15-20 minutes as the hair can pick up the color more readily.

Coarse hair, on the other hand, is a bit more challenging. You may need to leave the bleach on for up to 30 minutes.

At the end of your bleach treatment, if you notice your hair isn’t quite the right shade, you can always bleach your hair again. Just wait four weeks before you lighten it again.

Can You Leave Bleach In Your Hair Too Long?

Most of us have heard about the horrors of leaving bleach on your hair for too long, and the rumors are true.

Allowing bleach in your hair for too long can cause extremely damaged hair that is weak, brittle, and could possibly break off.

Not only that, but when you bleach your hair too long, you can harm your scalp, too.

People had mentioned that they felt irritation, itching, burning, and even blistering on the scalp when bleach was left too long.

You can prevent damage and ensure a lovely process of bleaching your hair by leaving your bleach in for the recommended time frame according to your hair color, hair type, and developer.

How to Care for Hair After Bleaching

Okay, so this post is not about how to care for your hair after you apply bleach.

However, I thought I would recommend a few tips. After all, regardless of how long you leave the bleach to lighten shades, you’re going to have some damage.

Here are a few tricks to encourage hair health:

• Hydrate! It’s no secret that bleach will dehydrate your locks. Combat this at home by applying a deep conditioner and wearing coconut oil hair masks in a shower cap.
• Stop the hot tools! It’s time to put your hair dryers, straighteners, and curling irons to the side - at least for the first few weeks after bleaching. Don’t dry your hair further!
• Tone it! Sometimes, people think they need to bleach their hair again, but this isn’t always the case. Try to tone it with blue or purple shampoo first.
• Don’t wash it as much! The last thing you want to do is strip the roots and strands of more moisture. Wash every 3-4 days, and your hair will thank you.

FAQ

How Long to Leave Splat Bleach in Hair?

As with any other type of bleach, you want to leave “Splat Bleach” on for no longer than 30 minutes. Check your hair every 10 minutes to see if it has reached the desired shade.

How soon after bleaching hair can you bleach again?

Wait four weeks before you apply bleach again. During this time, moisture your locks generously to prepare for the next application. This will prevent brittle strands and breakage.