How to discolour hair at home

Discolouration of hair is the removal of the pigment found in the strands and its purpose is to whiten hair. Two products are usually used for this purpose include oxygenated water that opens the cuticles of the strands and the discolourant, that penetrates the strands to remove the natural colour.

The discoloration process can be quite exhausting for the strands and it may result to very dry, opaque and brittle hair. Therefore, before the colouring process, it is essential to identify characteristics of your hair. The recovery of the strands before and after discoloration should be made. These include hydration or cauterization which will prevent hair from getting too damaged during the process.

The best way to discolour hair is to go to a professional in the salon, but it can also be done at home. For this reason, the hair should be dry at the time of application of the discoularant and it should preferably be dirty. This is because the natural oil of the hair will help in protection of the strands. It is also recommended to wear an old blouse or a bathing robe during the process so as to avoid staining of clothes.

Step-by-step process to discolour hair

The step by step process to discolour hair is:

1. Choose the bleach, preferably one with good brands and which is blue in colour, as they will have a better colorant effect and it will prevent the hair from becoming too yellow. Some of the great brands include Blond Up from Revlon, Blond Me from Schwarzkopf, Wella Blondor, Platinum Plus from Lóreal or Alfaparf supermechas.
2. Choose the hydrogen peroxide that will react with the bleach, preferably one that is stabilized and creamy, in the volume of 10 to 40. It is important to note that the larger the volume of hydrogen peroxide, the faster the bleaching effect. However, this can spoil the strands of hair at a faster rate.
3. Mix the bleaching powder and hydrogen peroxide, until a creamy and homogenous mixture is formed. This is usually 1 measure of the powder for 2 measurements of hydrogen peroxide.
4. Take a test on a strand of hair, so as to assess whether the hair will be damaged during the process and to avoid discolouring the hair if the strands turn out to be too brittle or elastic. In such as case, it is necessary to look for a professional hairdresser to perform the procedure.
5. Divide the hair into strands using fasteners. Ensure you can see the back of your hair well using a mirror. If this proves difficult, then ask for assistance from someone else who will help you apply the product.
6. Apply a moisturizing cream on the skin around the hair, such as on the forehead, nape and ears. This will prevent irritation of these areas by the product used in discolouring the hair.
7. Apply the product with a hair brush, beginning with the tip of the strands, then to the top. This is because the root of the hair is more sensitive and they will be discoloured first before the tips. If your intention is to discolour all hair including the rot, then begin application of the product throughout the length and apply it in the region near the scalp. This will help in getting a homogenous result.
8. Observe the time of action of the product, and you should avoid letting it stay for more than 30 to 40 minutes. A simple tip is to check after every 5 to 10 minutes if the desire colour has been achieved. This is because the discolouration time will vary depending on the current colour of hair and whether there has been usage of other products before, which can hinder discolouration.
9. Wash your hair with shampoo and rinse well, so as to remove all residues of the product.
10. Finish with a matization with products that will correct the tonalization of the strands. This will prevent them from acquiring unwanted tones, such as yellowish, orange or greyish. They are usually specific products, for purple or blue colour. However, these can be replaced by toners, paints or other types of colour brokers.

At the end of the process, ensure that you hydrate the strands using a moisturizing mask. For better reconstruction result, add a keratin ampoule for hydration.

Care after discoloration

After the discolouration process, the hair cuticles will be opened and this causes the loss of nutrients and it also reduces hydration. Therefore, it is necessary to take good care of the hair so that it remains healthy, dry and shiny. Some of the care processes that can be done include:

• Weekly or fortnightly hydrations at home, and performing hair reconstruction treatment in the beauty salon at least once in a month
• Take a diet that is rich in protein foods such as egg and gelatin. This is because the protein helps in hair formation, making hair grow faster and become more beautiful.
• Avoid washing your hair with very hot water, as heat facilitates the opening of the scales of the strands
• After washing, let the hair dry naturally and use a good leave-in, such as argan oil-based or coconut oil, to protect the strands from aggressions such as heat, wind and sun
• If you need to dry your hair with a dryer, try to keep a distance of 30 cm from the strands
• Comb your hair carefully, detangling calmly and preferably using wide-toothed combs during the detangling process.

It addition, it is also recommended to have a hair schedule that contains an intensive hydration treatment, divided into phases. This will be helpful in recovery of the damaged strands of hair.