- Yes, you can bleach an already bleached hair
- Between one bleaching session and the next, it is advisable to wait for 2 to 3 weeks
- After that, you should assess the health of your hair to ensure that it can withstand the second bleaching session
- If your hair is not in good health, you can’t bleach it again. You risk burning it and damaging it forever
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Unfortunately, and in part because of the rise of social networks, bleaching has gone from being an aggressive chemical process to something you can easily do at home and without any risk.
However, believe me, that’s not the truth. The reality is that for every five home-bleachings, two of them end up with severe damage.
So, don’t be fooled.
Bleaching is not easy nor innocent. We’re talking about a chemical process that takes place on the inside of the hair.
Once that part is damaged, it’s impossible to repair it. That’s why, when faced with over-processed and burned hair, the only solution is to cut it off. To remove the damaged part.
So, can you re-bleach your bleached hair?
Yes, you can re-bleach your hair, but very carefully, to be honest.
- The first step is to allow at least three weeks between each bleaching session. In those three weeks, take care of your hair as if you were taking care of the Holy Grail.
- The second step is to face the truth. How is your hair after those two weeks? Is it strong or do you notice that it breaks when it’s wet, for example?
If your hair is badly treated, dry or dull after the first bleaching, you can’t bleach it again. No matter how much you want to. It doesn’t matter if your cousin’s second bleach was perfect, even if she had hair begging for moisture.
You shouldn’t bleach it. If you do, face the consequences, which, of course, will be very unpleasant.
It’s also important that you know how many volumes of developer to use.
Before we go any further, please tell me the truth, are you willing to accept my advice?
Then, if you accept it, keep reading, because I will tell you:
- How to assess the health of your hair between the first and second bleaching session
- What volume developer to use in the second bleaching
- How to prepare your bleached hair to withstand further bleaching
If you’re not willing to accept my advice, then go ahead and risk increasing the statistics of women who burned their hair by bleaching it again and again. It´s your choice.
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How to assess the health of your hair between the first and second bleaching session
Do you know what happens during bleaching?
The hair fibers break to expel the color, leaving them open and porous.
That’s why if you want to know if your hair will withstand another bleaching, you should assess various aspects of your hair, for example, texture.
- Is your hair rough to the touch?
If so, it means that your hair is dry or damaged as a result of the bleaching. Then, you’ll need to repair it.
- Is your hair orange, light yellow or almost white?
This is very important. The resistance of your hair will depend on the shade you have reached with the first bleach.
In other words, orange hair implies that it didn’t go through so much bleach or at least, it wasn’t extremely aggressive.
If your hair is light yellow, it means that it has been bleached at least twice.
And if your hair is almost white, it has undergone several bleaches or two that were very aggressive.
- Are you sure your bleached hair has enough protein to tolerate one more bleaching?
To be sure of this, you should perform a hair fiber strength test. Don’t make that tired face! After all, we’re talking about your hair.
Besides, this test is very easy to do:
- Take one of your hairs from your brush and wrap it between two fingers
- Pull to opposite ends
If your hair holds out for a few minutes, it means that it still has protein and is strong enough for one more bleaching session.
If your hair is cut immediately, that’s bad news! You won’t be able to bleach it again, because it has lost all the essential proteins.
- Finally, to ensure that your bleached hair will withstand further bleaching, perform the strand test.
Separate a strand of hair from the back of your head and apply the mixture of 30 volume developer and bleaching powder. Leave the mixture on for 20 minutes and rinse.
If your hair retains the texture and you can style it perfectly, you can bleach your hair again.
If your hair gets easily tangled, sticky and you can’t comb it, you should not re-bleach your hair because it will cut or burn.
All these tests will determine the verdict, so:
- If your hair is rough to the touch, orange, and you can comb it after the strand test, you can bleach.
- If your hair is almost white and, when testing the strength of the fiber, it was cut immediately, you cannot apply another bleach.
Let’s assume that the resistance tests on your bleached hair came back positive. Then you can bleach it again. But, wait, not so fast!
There are still some considerations to be made, such as what volume developer to use.
What volume developer to use in the second bleaching
It is essential that you know one basic rule of coloring: developer volumes are added up.
For example, if you prepare the bleach mixture with 30 volume developer and add some 20 volume developer, you will be applying a 50 volume bleach mixture to your hair.
The same thing happens when you bleach your hair twice:
- If you used 40 volume developer in the first bleaching, you must use 20 volume developer in the following one.
- If your hair is already bleached and you used 30 volume developer, the next bleaching should be with 30 volume developer.
Many women apply the 30 volume developer bleach and, when it does not reach the desired shade, they apply a second 40 volume developer bleach.
If we add up the volumes of the developers, the calculation is 70. Can you imagine the hair destruction that occurs in that hair?
Ideally, bleach the hair with 30 volumes, hydrate it for at least two weeks, and then apply another 30 volume bleach.
You can also take other precautions, such as:
- When you mix the developer and bleaching powder, you can add 10 drops of coconut oil or argan oil.
- You can also add a conditioner or keratin moisturizer to the mixture.
- And you should always choose cream developer, as some brands include oils and aloe vera to protect your hair.
Finally, we arrive at one of the most important parts: the recovery of hair health.
Even if you take all the necessary precautions, your hair will suffer from both the first and second bleaching.
How to prepare your bleached hair to withstand a new bleaching
After the first bleaching, don’t relax. Start immediately hydrating your hair.
- Use ends repair oils, which are applied in the areas most affected by the chemical process.
- Apply moisturizing with heat. You can use the hairdryer or a thermal cap.
- Choose heavily textured creams. Those with almond oil, keratin, and coconut will repair the texture of your hair.
- Moisturize your hair constantly with micellar water. This way, your hair will absorb the minerals that help repair
You can try one method at a time. The important thing is that you do it for three days, let your hair rest for a day, and start another three days with a new method.
Conclusions
- The important thing before bleaching your hair again is that two or three weeks pass between one bleaching and the other.
- During these weeks, take advantage of the opportunity to deeply nourish your hair with deep moisturizing masks.
- Before bleaching your hair again, always perform a strand test to evaluate the texture and strength of your hair.
- If your bleached hair still shows signs of damage or breakage, you won’t be able to bleach it again.
What does your bleached hair say? Will it resist second bleaching?
