If you want to change your look, lightening hair is a great way to do it.
The traditional method of lifting or lightening hair involves bleach powder and hair developers. Hair lightening does not have to be limited to just bleach and hair developer. There are other methods that work equally well. One of the most common methods is to combine hair developer with shampoo.
There is some concern as to whether the hack will produce the same effects with the conventional pair.
Lightening hair using shampoo and developer
How to prepare your hair before lightening
You should strengthen your hair before the actual lightning to reduce the damage. Here are some tips:
CONDITIONING MASKS IN PLENTY
It is best to use conditioning masks on your hair before lightening it.
This can be a huge difference between hair that is silky and lightened and hair that looks straw-like, dry, frizzy and brittle.
REGULARLY OIL YOUR HAIR
Coconut oil, olive oil and almond oil are the best oils for your hair. Three times per week, within two weeks of the lightening process, apply these oils to your hair for extra nourishment.
Coconut oil is the best way to prepare hair for chemical treatments. We recommend that you apply a coconut-oil mask to your hair the night before you lift your hair.
WASH YOUR HAIR WITH SHAMPOO FREE OF SULFATE
The experts recommend not washing your hair for two days before the application of developer. This can strip the hair of its natural sebum, which protects the scalp from the chemicals.
Last but not least, you should only use shampoos that are labelled sulfate free. These formulas may not create the same amount of lather, but they are less likely to strip your hair of oil and cause allergic reactions.
How to Prepare the Mixture
WHAT DEVELOPER SHOULD I USE?
The hair developer is also called activator, peroxide or activater. It’s an important component of any hair color process. Hydrogen peroxide is its main ingredient. It opens the cuticle of the hair fibers, allowing the pigments to penetrate and color the fibers.
Hydrogen peroxide is available in different concentrations for hair developers. The higher the number the greater the volume of peroxide and therefore, the more lightening power the developer offers:
10VOLUME-3% PEROXIDE
The 10 volume developer can only darken hair by 1 shade and is therefore the least damaging.
This volume is for hair that is fine and thin, but does not possess enough strength to support a stronger volume.
This developer can only be used to go from lighter shades to darker, and not the other way around.
20 VOLUME – 6% HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
This volume is for those who want to lift their hair by 1 or 2 levels. This works best with thick hair because of their higher lightening powers, but it also causes more damage.
This is the most popular choice to cover 100% gray hair.
30 Volume – 9% Hydrogen Peroxide
The 30 Volume Developer lightens the hair up to three levels and allows more color pigments to penetrate the shafts.
Due to the higher concentration of peroxide, your hair will be damaged more. This developer is therefore only recommended if your hair is less damaged and you want to lighten the color.
40 VOLUME – 12% HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
It is not recommended that you use the 40 volume without bleach. This developer is most damaging to hair strands, and should only be used when you want a higher degree of lightening. This volume, when mixed with bleach powder can provide up to 5-8 lift levels.
hair developer
It all depends on the color of your hair and how much lifting you wish to achieve.
A 10 volume developer is not very strong, especially when combined with shampoo and not bleach. We recommend using either a 30-volume or 20-volume developer.
Do not exceed 30 volumes. It takes a lot of experience to use the 40 volume developer, and it also requires a variety of hair types. Leave it in the hands of a professional!
How to Mix?
- Add two tablespoons of the selected developer to the bowl
- Add the shampoo. Don’t overdo it with the shampoo. It can dilute the developer too much and reduce its effectiveness. Use only the daily lathering dosage.
- If you feel that your hair is still too dry to continue, you can add a little conditioner.
- Stir the mixture well so that the products blend to form a paste.
STEP BY STEP TO LIGHTEN YOUR HAIR WITH DEVELOPER SHAMPOO
GATHERING THE TOOLS
What you need to do a lightening job?
- Hair Developer of Choice
- You can also find out more about Shampoo
- Plastic bowl
- Old t-shirt or towel
- Hair clips
- Applying brush
- Rubber gloves
- Shower cap or plastic bag
STEP 1. Perform an allergy test
Do a skin test to determine if you are allergic or sensitive to the product.
Use a cotton swab to apply a small amount of paste inside the elbow.
Wait for a few moments (maybe 3). If you experience any reactions such as itching or redness, do not apply the paste. After rinsing the elbow, wash it with lukewarm aqueous water.
Before you lighten your hair, test for allergies!
STEP 2: WET YOUR HAIR
Wear old clothes you don’t care if the paste stains them. Use a towel to absorb excess water after shampooing your hair. The paste works best when slightly damp.
STEP 2: PUTTING ON THE GLOVES TO START APPLYING
Apply the paste with a brush to your hair after putting on rubber gloves.
Focus on the areas you want to highlight. Start at the middle of your hair and work towards the ends.
The roots will appear lighter if you apply the mixture all at once. The heat from your scalp will make the mixture work more quickly and actively.
start applying the paste
STEP 4. COVER HAIR W/ A SHOWER cap
After you have soaked your hair in the mixture, put on a showercap (or plastic bag, or something similar). This will lock in your body’s natural heat and speed up the lifting process.
STEP 6: YOU NOW WAIT
Processing time should be 30 minutes. Do not go over 30 minutes. You will ruin your hair.
Lift the shower cap periodically and check if your hair has reached the desired height.
STEP 7: Rinse with WARM WATER
After 30 minutes or when your hair has reached the desired level, rinse it off with lukewarm lukewarm.
Use only warm water to rinse your hair. Cold or hot water can damage it further. You should remove all of the paste.
rinse your hair with lukewarm water
STEP 7: LET IT DRY
See the final result of air drying your hair!
Aftercare Tips for Lightened Hair
MOISTURIZING OLIVE OIL
Continue to moisturize and nourish your hair after lifting it. Avocado oil, coconut oil or olive oil are all great for restoring your hair to health.
Use some of the common moisturizing oil on damaged hair to lighten it:
COCONUT OL
- As a leave-in conditioning treatment, apply a small amount coconut oil. This method is recommended especially for hair that is coarse or curly, as the oil can benefit your hair without looking greasy.
- You can leave the coconut oil on your hair over night. Shampoo and condition your hair normally to remove coconut oil.
OLIVE OLIVE OIL
- Olive oil is a great way to moisturize your hair, but don’t overdo it. Use 1-2 tbsp of olive oil for fine, short hair. 1/4 cup is recommended for thick and longer hair.
- Wrap your hair in a shower cap after massaging it into the hair. Let the cap sit on the hair for 15 minutes. Before rinsing out the oil, comb through your hair to spread it further.
AVOCADO OIL
- Avocado oil can be used to treat hair or as a hot oil treatment.
- For best results, leave the mask on for up to 3 hours.
- To use hot oil, place the jar in hot water first to warm it up. Then massage it into freshly washed locks. Let it sit around 20 minutes, then wash off.
apply nourishing oil on hair
AVOID HEAT STYLING
You already have fragile hair, and using heat tools will only make it worse. You can use heat protection spray if you are in a hurry and need to style your hair.
DEEP MASK
Treat your hair as though it had been bleached. You should apply a deep-repairing hair mask every week to your hair if it is lightened.
Pay special attention to your ends.
How to make a moisturizing hair mask after lightening your hair:
OLIVE OIL + COCONUT OIL
- Mix 1 tbsp olive oil with 1/2 tbsp coconut oil.
- Use a generous amount on your hair and especially your ends.
- Cover your hair and wait 1 hour.
- Wash with your regular shampoo and rinse thoroughly.
OLIVE OIL + HONEY
- Whip 1 tbsp honey and 3 tbsp olive oil together until you reach a smooth consistency. If you find the mixture sticky, add more oil bit by bit.
- As usual, wash your hair as normal and allow it to air dry.
- Apply the paste to the hair after you have divided it into manageable chunks.
- Wrap your hair in a shower cap again and allow it to sit for 30 to 90 minutes.
- Follow your normal shampooing routine.
The best results are achieved by applying this treatment twice a weeks on hair that is dried out and once a month on oily hair.
AVOCADO OLIVE OIL
- Take half an avocado and mash until it is lump-free.
- Stir well. Add half a cup of olive.
- Apply the paste after shampooing your hair.
- Wait for 30 to 45 minutes. Cover the area with a showercap.
- Finish by rinsing your hair and conditioning it.
You can apply this treatment either once a week, or once a monthly depending on how well hydrated your hair is.
AVOID SUN LIGHT AND CHLORINE EMISSIONS
Protecting your hair from the sun’s harsh rays is a good idea. At least wear a hat when you are out in the sun. Apply a SPF hair product.
Here are some tips for pool-lovers to protect their newly lightened hair.
- Pre-rinse with water
- Use your conditioner or oil as a pool cleaner
- Shower cap
- After swimming, rinse off all the chlorine using shampoo
Can you lighten your hair with just shampoo?
It is possible to lighten with a hair-lightening Shampoo. This product is perfect for those who want to make a slight, gradual change in the color of their hair with minimal damage.
A little bit of effort is required to use hair-lightening products. It usually takes several months to see a color change.
This guide should have helped you to understand the steps necessary for attempting to lighten hair at home using these products.
It’s important to use the correct procedure to spread the mixture on your hair. But it’s also crucial to prepare your hair for the process, and to restore it afterward.
