Hair Transformation: Find The Best Bleach To Suit Your Needs

Our hair is one of the easiest to manipulate parts of our body that allows us to express ourselves however we want.

In this guide, we’ll explore the world of hair bleaches, exploring different formulations and their ideal matches for various hair types.

Whether aiming for subtle highlights, a vibrant new hue, or a bold statement, finding the best bleach for your hair type sets the foundation for a successful and hair-friendly coloring journey.

Be it style or color, hair is a fantastic way to show off your individuality, confident in the knowledge that if you don’t like it, you can just wait for it to grow out again.

Before You Get Started

• Determine your hair’s current condition, type, and color to select the most suitable bleach.
• Perform a skin patch test with the bleach to check for any allergic reactions or sensitivities.
• If you need more clarification about the bleach type or process, consider seeking advice from a professional stylist to avoid potential mishaps.
• Prior to bleaching, ensure your hair is well-moisturized and in good condition. Use deep conditioning treatments to prepare your hair for the process.
• Carefully read and follow the instructions provided with the bleach product.

If you happen to have dark hair of any kind and you’re wanting to go a nice bright color, then you’re going to have to bleach your hair first.

Most professionals recommend waiting until you can get to a salon for a bleach job, as there are plenty of ways that it can go wrong, and it could permanently damage your hair or scalp.

However, so long as you take all the necessary precautions and do your research, you should be more than able to complete a nice bleach job at home – but just be aware that it could go wrong and you may have to end up in a salon anyway. 

So if you’re confident enough to give it a go at home, then there are a few things that you need to consider before buying your bleaching products.

Every different hair type is going to benefit from a slightly different range – darker hair will need a stronger volume, for example.

With that in mind, here are some of the best products that we’ve come across for different kinds of hair 

Quick Guide: Finding the Best Bleach to Suit Your Hair

• Suitable Bleach: Select a bleach that matches your hair type, texture, and color for the best results.
• Safe Application: Follow all safety instructions and perform a patch test to avoid adverse reactions.
• Maintenance: After bleaching, maintain your hair’s health with regular deep conditioning treatments.
• Advice: When in doubt, consult a hair professional for expert guidance on selecting and applying the best bleach for your hair.

OUR TOP PICK

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Wella’s Blondor Multi-Blond Powder

EDITORS CHOICE

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Schwarzkopf BlondMe Bond Premium Lightener

BEST VALUE

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Clairol Professional BW2, Hair Lightener

OUR TOP PICK

Wella’s Blondor Multi-Blond Powder

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No doubt about it, the best overall product that you can get to bleach your hair at home is going to be Wella’s Blondor Multi-Blond Powder.

It boasts a fantastic ability to lift, without causing as much damage to your hair or scalp – it claims not to cause burning or irritation.

Many stylists consider Wella to be the best bleach that you can get for your hair, and the quality of the product makes it easy to see why. 

BEST FOR LIGHT HAIR

Schwarzkopf BlondMe Bond Enforcing Premium Lightener

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If you already have light hair, then you won’t have to worry about getting a massive amount of lift in order to get highlights or bring your hair to a color light enough that you’ll be able to manipulate to whatever you want.

For that reason, the bleach will only need to be a low volume. So for this category, we’ve chosen Schwarzkopf BlondMe Bond Enforcing Premium Lightener.

This product is said to be able to bring your hair from regular blonde to a shocking platinum blonde.

Although this is great for light hair, if you have dark hair you’ll be able to get a lot of lift as well, as its formula can lift up to 9 levels all whilst promising minimal breakage.

This product also boasts the ability to neutralize warmer undertones and prevent yellow hues or unwanted brassy undertones from becoming too prominent in your hair.

BEST FOR DARK HAIR

Clairol Professional BW2, Hair Lightener

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If you’re starting your bleaching journey with particularly dark or black hair, then first of all you need to be aware that you’re going to need to be prepared to go through the process of bleaching your hair multiple times in order to get it to the level of lightness that you’re wanting.

Keep In Mind

• Hair Assessment: Consider your natural hair color, type, and texture when choosing the right bleach to achieve your desired result.
• Test Strands: Always perform strand and patch tests before full application to check for allergy sensitivities and to gauge the bleach’s effectiveness.
• Expert Guidance: If you need more clarification about the bleaching process, consult a professional hairstylist for recommendations and guidance.
• Follow Instructions: Adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions on the bleach product carefully to ensure safe and effective application.
• Post-Bleach Care: After bleaching, maintain your hair’s health by using quality conditioning products and minimizing heat styling to prevent damage and breakage.

If you were to go to a salon you’d need to be prepared for multiple trips anyway.

That said, you still want to get a product that’s going to give you as much lift as possible after one process, and with that in mind, the best product we’ve found for dark hair is Clairol Professional BW2, Hair Lightener.

Although it will still probably take you a few goes through, this product is known on the market as being crafted specifically to lift particularly stubborn dark hair. 

BEST FOR NATURAL HAIR

Splat Null Lightening Bleach

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If you’ve never colored or bleached your hair before and have totally fresh, virgin hair, then you’ll need a product that’s going to be gentle enough to keep your hair healthy whilst still giving you the best lift imaginable.

Splat Null Lightening Bleach is going to give you a lot of lift whilst also being gentle enough for natural hair.

This product also comes in a variety of colors so you can pick and choose what kind of result you get – just be sure you know what you’re doing if you have totally virgin hair as there’s no going back from bleaching. 

BEST TO MINIMIZE DAMAGE

Wella Color Charm

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If you already have bleached or dyed hair, or if you happen to have a hair type that is more prone to damage, then you need to get a bleach that is going to give you a lift without completely frying your hair.

Because of that, we’ve chosen Wella Color Charm as the best bleach on the market that will protect your hair from the damage that is associated with bleaching your hair at home.

This well-known brand has created a product with natural oils and fatty acids that are able to create a natural barrier around your scalp in order to keep it healthy and to prevent damage. 

BEST FOR A SENSITIVE SCALP

L’Oreal Quick Blue Powder

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If you have a particularly sensitive scalp then you should try using L’Oreal Quick Blue Powder, which was created to be gentle to your hair as well as your scalp.

This is a great product if you’re new to the process of bleaching your hair or have previously bleached hair already.

The more developer that you put on your hair then the more damage it’s going to get, especially with repeat uses.

A product like this one is going to prevent you from completely frying your hair to really damaging your scalp.

After using this product, they claim that your hair isn’t going to feel damaged or rough – which honestly is the best outcome. 

BEST DRUGSTORE BOX DYE

L’Oreal Paris Feria

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If you’re not looking to invest too much money into your new hair adventure or you just need a  top-up then you might end up heading to the drugstore in order to get the best product.

If this sounds like you then the best that you can do for your hair is to pick up L’Oreal Paris Feria.

This product is well-known for being the best drugstore option, and many people credit it with being the product that got them into the hair bleaching process. 

This bleach has a deep conditioner whilst also being particularly delicate which allows your hair to healthy and strong after the treatment. 

BEST FULL KIT

Flash Lightning Hair Bleach Kit From Manic Panic

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In order to bleach your hair, you need a bleach as well as a developer, and sometimes it’s easy to forget that you need both.

In order to avoid this mistake, you can pick yourself up a full kit like this Flash Lightning Hair Bleach Kit from Manic Panic.

This product is available in a variety of different volumes so you can get the level of lift that you need.

Pro Tip

Consider using a lower-volume bleach for a gradual and controlled lightening process, especially if you’re new to bleaching or have delicate hair.

Manic Panic is a well-known brand in punk/emo/alternative circles so you can process your hair with confidence that you’re going to get a good result.

And then you can purchase a crazy color from manic panic to go over your freshly bleached hair. 

BEST NATURAL LIGHTENER

Sun Bum’s Lightening Spray

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Perhaps the idea of bleaching your hair has scared you a bit, and you don’t know if you’re ready to commit to completely stripping your hair, then a way to work your way up to it might be to try something like Sun Bum’s Lightening Spray. 

This product is a blend of different UV-Ray activated ingredients that can naturally lighten your hair a lot more gently than with others – although you won’t really see a dramatic change.

If you’re already blonde or have light hair, you’ll just need to spray it on your hair a few times a week before you spend time in the sun and you’ll notice a subtle change to the tones in your hair. 

Unfortunately, if you have darker hair, you probably won’t see much of a difference. 

Tips For Bleaching Hair

If you’ve decided on your product and you’re ready to get the process of lightening your hair started, then here are a few tips that should help you get the lift you’re hoping for, rather than a head full of orange. 

These types of developers serve a specific purpose, and the choice depends on the desired hair color outcome and the current state of the hair.

It’s important to follow professional guidelines and consider the hair’s health when selecting the appropriate volume developer for a specific coloring or lighting process.

First of all, ensure that you have the right developer for your desired lift. There are 4 different kinds of developers that each lead to a different level of lift.

10 Volume Developer

You’re really not going to see a lot of lift with this product, but it could be great if you already have pretty light hair, or if you’re just wanting to give yourself some natural-looking highlights or just a slightly lighter tone to your hair. 

This “10 volume” designation reflects its minimal hydrogen peroxide concentration, making it ideal for subtle color shifts and gentle toning.

When mixed with hair color or bleach, 10 volume developer facilitates the oxidation process by subtly breaking down the hair’s natural pigments, allowing for slight color changes or soft lightening effects.

It is often chosen for covering gray hair, creating delicate highlights, or achieving a natural look with minimal risk of hair damage.

Due to its mild nature, 10 volume developer is considered the least aggressive option and is generally well-suited for individuals seeking minimal alteration to their hair’s color or tone.

20 Volume Developer

This developer will give you a little bit more lift whilst remaining gentle, it does however take a lot longer to achieve that lift as it’s pretty slow acting.

Again this is great for giving you a little bit of lift if you’re already blonde or perhaps want highlights without causing too much damage. 

It is a gentle yet effective option for achieving desired hair transformations.

With a moderate concentration of hydrogen peroxide, the “20 volume” label signifies its strength and capacity to lighten or deposit color in a controlled manner.

When combined with hair color or bleach, a 20-volume developer facilitates the oxidation process by breaking down the hair’s natural pigments, allowing for the introduction of new color molecules.

It is a versatile choice suitable for various applications, including covering gray hair, toning, or achieving subtle to moderate lightening effects.

30 Volume Developer

This “30 volume” designation signifies its strength and ability to provide significant lightening or color-depositing effects on the hair.

When mixed with hair color or bleach, a 30-volume developer facilitates the oxidation process by breaking down the hair’s natural pigments, allowing new color molecules to penetrate the hair cortex.

It is a versatile option that can be used for various applications, from lightening darker hair shades to achieving vibrant color results. 

Best for light to medium brown hair, this developer is going to give you a decent amount of lift (around 3-4 shades if left long enough) without causing as much damage.

This is a good middle ground that will ensure that you get a decent lift, however, if you have darker hair, expect to have to go a few rounds with the bleach if you’re wanting to go particularly light. 

However, following usage guidelines and considering the hair’s condition is essential to ensure practical results and health.

40 Volume Developer

It is a potent developer with a high concentration of hydrogen peroxide, making it a solid and practical choice for lightening or bleaching hair.

The “40 volume” designation signifies its strength and ability to lift the hair’s natural color significantly.

When mixed with bleach or hair color, 40 volume developer aggressively breaks down the existing pigments in the hair shaft and facilitates the oxidation process, allowing for a dramatic color change or lightening effect.

Due to its strong lifting power, 40 volume developer is typically recommended when a substantial degree of lightening is desired, such as going from dark to very light hair shades.

This is the strongest, most effective developer that you can pair with bleach, it is also very harsh and can be pretty damaging to your hair.

Did you know?

The invention of modern hair bleach can be attributed to French chemist Eugène Schueller, who founded L’Oréal in 1909 and created the first safe and effective bleach for hair.

Even with Dark hair, you should see a dramatic amount of lift with this developer, but be prepared to do some deep conditioning treatments afterward.