Bleaching your hair can be intimidating, but once you start it can become addictive. There are many things to consider before dyeing your hair — but expert Jason Lee of Jason Lee Salon in Toronto tells us just how many times you can bleach it.
See also: Everything you need to know about dyeing your hair blonde(r).
Question:
Jason, is there a limit to how many times you can bleach your hair? If you let it grow out after each time, is it safe to keep bleaching? I really like the way my hair looks when it is bleached.
Jason Lee’s answer:
With the return of everything ’80s-inspired, bleaching hair has made a comeback [while] riding the coattails of shoulder pads and leg warmers. From 20-something hipsters in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (what up to my boys in BK!!) to Lady Gaga and Kelly Osbourne, bleaching out hair makes a statement that can be very difficult to give up once you’re no longer a virgin to the bleach.
How can one argue the significance of bleach? Marilyn Monroe, Donatella Versace, Madonna, Christina Aguilera and Gwen Stefani have all built their careers thanks in part to a little help from bleach. In fact, do we remember a time when these celebs were famous before the bleach bottle? Hardly. It’s easy to understand why people are so obsessed with bleaching their hair because platinum blonde definitely sends a strong statement about your image: “You can’t ignore me.”
Related: Throwback style? Our favourite trending hairstyles of 2022 are a nod to the past.
Is there a limit to how many times you can bleach your hair? Not necessarily. However, if you find that your hair is breaking because of over-bleaching, you should either take a break from being so light, or consider cutting your hair shorter. There is no bigger pet peeve to a hairdresser than seeing someone with shoulder-length bleached-out hair with broken little pieces near the hairline and on the crown area. The dreaded breakage occurs if you overlap the bleach during application. The hair itself cannot sustain the lightening process any further and will ultimately snap off.
See also: The secret behind why caffeine may be the secret to really good hair.
When doing your roots, be certain that the bleach does not go over the already bleached-out hair as this will cause damage to the hair. Professional colourists know how to apply bleach because they take swelling into consideration. As bleach processes, it has a tendency to swell. If you don’t consider this swelling when applying bleach you will find yourself in a bit of a pickle and your hair could suffer the consequences. For the best results, try to touch up your roots every four weeks. If you bleach your roots too often, you run the risk of damaging the hair. On the contrary, leaving it too long between touch-ups can lead to creating an uneven colour.
I love a good bleach job, and I loathe a bad one! Done properly, bleached hair can turn a regular style into an amazing fashion statement. Done poorly, you could find yourself in a mess of a situation with broken hair and a hairstyle you never wanted. If you’re thinking of going bleach blonde, be certain that your technician has experience doing bleach applications to achieve the best results. Not every technician specializes in bleaching so make sure that you consult with them before sitting in their colour chair. xoxo
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