How to Lighten Already Bleached Hair

Did you recently get your hair bleached, only to realize that you’re unsatisfied with the shade?

If you have already bleached hair but want to lighten your hair color, you’re going to have to re-bleach it.

I know, this sounds kind of scary, considering the fact that bleaching sessions aren’t exactly “nice” to your hair strands.

But with the proper method, your bleaching session won’t cause damage and you can enjoy your desired shade.

Learn how to lighten already bleached hair without damaging them with this guide.

Can You Lighten Already Bleached Hair?

You can lighten already bleached hair, but you’re going to need more bleach.

This can sound daunting, especially since bleach is noticeably not great for hair health.

That is why you should not bleach your locks any lighter until four weeks have passed and your hair is in good condition to go through another round of lightening.

If you’re unsure, it’s always best to seek the help of a professional at your local salon. They can assess your hair and get it to the blonde hair color you want without ruining it.

How to Lighten Already Bleached Hair?

There are three critical steps you need to take before doing another bleaching session.

1. Assess Your Hair Health

More bleaching sessions can obviously cause damage, such as hair breakage - even if you’re starting with virgin hair.

That’s why it is imperative to check the health of your hair before bleaching it again.

Look for signs of damage, such as frizziness, breakage, a noticeable lack of shine and smoothness, and difficulty when brushing.

Whether you notice any of these symptoms or not, you should always wait at least four weeks before doing another bleaching session.

2. Hydrate Your Hair

The next step is to hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate your bleached hair, whether you have minimal or extensive damage. Here are a few ways to get your blonde hair back on track.

• Don’t wash it as often. When you bleach your hair, you strip your strands of natural oils. Shampoos will do the same thing. So, reduce how often you wash your locks.
• Apply oil. Natural oils are going to be your best friend after you bleach your hair. You can use any kind of oil, such as olive oil or coconut oil.
• Hair mask. A hair mask is another excellent treatment to restore moisture. You can purchase store-bought masks or make your own.
• Use a conditioner. When you do end up washing your hair, make sure you’re using an ultra-hydrating conditioner before stepping out of the shower.

3. Re-Bleach Your Hair After Four Weeks

If you want to safely overlap bleach and do two bleaching sessions, you need to wait four weeks in between lightening.

This will give a chance for your hair to become moisturized and hydrated so that the bleaching session won’t do as much damage.

You can bleach your hair at home if desired. However, I would recommend going to a professional hair stylist to get your hair bleached, especially since it’s the second time around.

The hair stylist will be able to ensure that there is no extreme damage to your hair, such as breakage.

They will know how to work with your current color and hopefully, get you to your desired results within the same day.

Yet, some people may need to have even more than two bleaching sessions. This is especially true if you started with darker hair or dyed hair.

How to Fix Orange Hair

If you don’t need to necessarily “lighten hair” but are struggling with an undesirable orange hair color, you may not need to bleach (although bleaching could still end up being your only option).

1. Use a Toner

If you’re struggling with unwanted orange or yellow tones, the best thing to do is to use a toner.

Toners will diminish any of those harsher tones without the need for bleaching your hair, which will ensure that your hair is healthy and a lot softer.

But which treatment should you use?

• Blue toner is best for those struggling with an orange or brassy shade.
• Purple toner is better for yellow hues.

2. Apple Cider Rinse

Apple cider vinegar has become a trendy ingredient and can work for many things, whether cleaning or helping bleached hair lighten up.

If you want to lighten using apple cider vinegar, you will need to create your own “treatment.”

Mix a few tablespoons of ACV into a cup with water. Then, add blue or purple food coloring.

Remember - blue will get rid of orange notes in your hair, while purple is best for unwanted yellow shades.

Use this mixture as a part of your regular hair washing routine at least once or twice a week. (Don’t overdo it!).

3. Bleach It

I know, I know. You were hoping that you wouldn’t have to rely on bleach to lighten hair.

But the fact of the matter is, if you’re struggling with bleached hair you’re unsatisfied with, another bleaching treatment (professional is recommended) may be the only option.

Again, bleaching bleached hair should be done no more than every four weeks. During this time, hydrate and moisturize your locks so they do not become too damaged.

FAQ

How do I get my hair blonde after bleaching?

If you’re noticing orange or yellow shades in your blonde hair, the best thing to do is tone it. The blue yurt will eliminate orange in your blonde hair, while purple will eliminate unwanted yellow color.

Does purple shampoo lighten hair?

Purple shampoo does not necessarily lighten the hair. It is a toner that will help to achieve the desired blonde color.

Will hydrogen peroxide lighten hair?

Hydrogen peroxide is an effective lightening treatment to achieve a blonde color.

However, I don’t recommend trying it out on hair that’s already been bleached and lightened.