If you’re like me, you love to change up your hair with the seasons. Bleaching is one of the most common ways we change up our hair, but it’s not as easy as it seems.
If DIY is your go-to, you’ve probably ended up with some uneven bleached strands. Don’t fret! We’ve got a couple of solutions for you. No more patchy, uneven, or brassy blonde.
Why is Your Bleach Job Spotty and Uneven?
Some of us like to save a bit of money and experiment on our hair at home. That’s okay if you do it correctly, but things can go wrong when you take the DIY route.
If you had a bad bleach job, it’s important to find out what went wrong in the first place, so you don’t make the same mistakes again.
You may have used lower quality bleach or didn’t dilute it properly which resulted in patchiness. Maybe you were inconsistent with your application and the hair didn’t take to the bleach evenly. Maybe you didn’t use enough bleach in the first place. Or it could be that you didn’t section your hair before getting on with the job. Perhaps, you didn’t leave the bleach on your hair for the right amount of time.
It could be any of the reasons listed above or it could be something else.
Don’t worry! Whatever the reason, a bad bleach job can be fixed. We’ll go over how to fix it and how to properly bleach in the first place. Say bye-bye to bad bleach jobs!
Ways to Fix Uneven Bleached Hair
1. Bleach the Uneven Parts Again
Depending on how the bleach did you dirty, you’ll need to try a different technique to fix it. Patchy bleach job, or bad roots?
Try re-bleaching the parts you missed. Wrap the bleach-soaked hair in aluminum foil. This will help with two things: heating the bleach up to speed up the process and prevent the bleach from bleeding.
Don’t forget to follow our instructions on how to properly bleach hair, so you don’t have to come back to this list again.
Related: These are the Best Hair Bleaches on the Market
2. Dye the Entire Head with Darker Hair Dye
Are you just so over your patchy hair after a failed bleach job? Get yourself some good quality, ammonia-free dye (that means no box dye!).
When selecting a shade for this, you should go at least as dark as the darkest part of your hair. It’s important to go darker and not lighter because it’s easier to cover light spots with dark bleach.
Hope you’re ready for a massive change with this one. Apply the dye over your entire head, from root to tip. Voila! No more messy bleach job.
3. Use an Appropriate Toner to Even it Out
Got a slightly uneven bleach job? Grab your desired toner and slather it on, it’s more likely to even itself out. Of course, this depends on how light you want to go.
For example, this probably won’t work for someone who wants to go platinum. Yellow-bleached hair won’t tone to a silver or white blonde. But if your goal is to be a strawberry blonde and you’ve got some sunflower yellow patches, you’re likely in the clear.
Remember to use an appropriate developer with your toner. Not everyone needs a 40-level developer. With the right toner, you can save a bad bleach job.
4. Wait a Few Weeks and Bleach Hair Again
If your hair’s a little too bleached out, time is your friend. Give your hair lots of rest, a super hydrating mask or two, and try again in a few weeks.
And if your hair is straggly, stringy, or straight up falling out, stay away from the bleach. Your delicate strands can’t handle it. Give it some TLC and bring it back to life before going back to the harsh stuff. It’s super important that you give your hair a break.
No heating, no styling that will cause damage. Your hair will thank you, and the bleach payoff will be better. Once your hair is lively again, you can bleach with caution.
Related: How Much Should You Wait to Bleach Your Hair Again?
5. Go to a Professional
This is the most expensive option of the bunch, but with nearly guaranteed results. Even if you are a professional, or have a ton of experience, it’s not as easy to bleach your own hair.
Any professional will recommend going to a salon, and if you’re at your wit’s end, then this is the choice for you.
Do a thorough Google search, ask your friend with the best dye job who she goes to, or scour Yelp reviews. Also, make sure your salon touches and feels your hair before providing you with a quote – they can’t quote what they can’t feel.
How to Properly Bleach Your Hair
Below, you’ll find some important instructions because they relate to a few of the ways to ‘fix’ a bad bleach job. There is definitely more than one proper way to bleach hair. I’ll talk about one of the easiest ways to do it at home.
- Step 1: Get good-quality bleach. Also, select an appropriate developer for your hair color. A higher developer is better for darker hair.
- Step 2: Section your hair into easy-to-manage portions. Each bleaching section should be small, only an inch or two thick. When bleaching your whole head, it’s easiest to start from the bottom portion first. When bleaching a few strands that are highlights or corrections, use foils to keep the bleach from spreading.
- Step 3: Once you’ve figured out your plan of attack, it’s now time to put enough bleach on your hair to fully saturate the strands. Bleach does not lather. It’s going to stay where you put it, and it won’t spread just by rubbing it onto other strands. This causes inconsistent color payoff.
- Step 4: Start off by putting the bleach on the darkest parts of your hair. This may be the mid-shaft if you’ve already bleached your hair and have a lot of roots. Cover your brittle ends after the mid-shaft strands. The bleach goes on the roots last. The heat from your scalp will speed up the lightening of the roots.
- Step 5: Once you’re fully covered, place a plastic bag on your head to help keep in some heat. Using a hairdryer can help speed up the process. Check the different sections of your head before rinsing.
- Step 6: Fully rinse off the bleach, and use a purple shampoo and conditioner. These shampoos are meant for blonde hair and act as a toner. All washed up? You’re all set for your toner of choice.
How to Care for Bleached Hair
Bleached hair is brittle. This is a fact. It’s on the drier side and more prone to breakage because of the bleaching process. Using moisturizing hair masks helps reinvigorate those thirsty strands.
Purple shampoo and conditioner help a lot to keep away brassiness. It’s like pumping your hair with a toner each time you wash.
Other than hydration and toning, taking care of your hair is the same as usual. If your hair is extra fine or brittle, consider taking a break from styling and heat for a week or two after bleaching.
Conclusion
So, you tried something new and messed up. It’s okay! Don’t be discouraged. Regardless of how you’ve messed up, there is a solution.
It’s important to learn from your mistakes, so you don’t make them again. Always read the instructions on the box.
We’ve provided steps to properly bleach your hair, so you can avoid this altogether. YouTube is also your friend, and so is your local hairstylist. It is fun to experiment, but be educated and do it with purpose.
After reading all about how to bleach properly, you’re armed and ready. Bleach away!
