How long does bleached hair last

By: | Last Updated: March 19, 2022

Dreaming of a lighter hair shade? Well, hair bleaching may just be for you!

In just a few hours, you can instantly spice up your style by bleaching. From blonde to pink to ash gray, bleaching got that covered! 

But while we love how bold and beautiful bleached hair looks, will the color stay for a long time? 

Well, this article is here to answer that. 

So read along to know how hair bleach works, how long it would last, and ultimately, how soon after bleaching can you bleach again.

Ready to take the plunge? If so, let’s begin! 


Is bleaching your hair permanent?

bleach hair

They say nothing lasts forever, but I guess they’ve never heard of bleaching. 

Hair bleaching is a permanent process. 

Why?

Well, unlike hair dyes that only latch onto the hair strands, bleaching strips away the hair’s natural colors by lifting hair pigments. 

The hair’s original color is lifted from the hair shaft through oxidation and with the use of hydrogen peroxide and bleaching powder. 

Hydrogen peroxide opens the hair strands, while bleach powder removes the natural pigments of the hair. In other words, these chemicals penetrate the hair cuticle, making bleach permanent.

That’s why make sure you’re ready for a whole new level of commitment before hopping on to this coloring technique!


Does bleached hair grow slower?

Let’s get this straight — bleaching does not affect hair growth

Bleached hair grows the same as unbleached hair. So whether bleached or not, your hair will grow about 1-2 centimeters every month.

But why is there a misconception that bleached hair grows slower

Well, this is because bleaching causes hair damage. So if you’ve ever heard someone says bleached hair grows slower, they’re kinda correct. 

Chemicals used in bleaching damage the hair strands, causing brittleness and, eventually,  breakage. 

In this case, the hair weakens and becomes more fragile, and as a result, the hair now grows slower.

So yep, turns out there’s a little truth to this myth after all! Shocking, isn’t it? 


Will bleached hair go back to normal?

bleaching

Nowadays, people have been dyeing their hair blue, pink, blonde, or even purple

Bleaching has become so popular that almost everyone is doing it! I mean, who wouldn’t? Sporting new hair colors can make you look like a different person. 

But some might miss their natural hair color.

The question now is, will bleached hair go back to normal? Can you still bring back your natural shade?

I hate to break it to you, but nope, bleached hair will never go back to normal. 

Once you go bleaching, there’s no turning back. 

Chemical treatment, like bleaching, modifies the hair’s internal structure so it’ll stay permanent. But bleaching does not affect the roots. So your natural hair color will eventually appear at the roots.

In other words, it goes back to normal once the bleached hair grows out. Thus, regular trims are necessary.  

But don’t worry, though; your hair grows approximately 1-2 centimeters every month, so you’ll have your natural shade back in about  2-3 years.

And yep, I know what you’re thinking — 3 years seems like a pretty long time.

Luckily, there are two ways to make bleached hair grow faster — maintaining a good diet and caring for your scalp.

Your diet should include food that promotes hair health and hair growth. This includes salmon, eggs, nuts, avocados, legumes, chicken, green leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes, and citrus. 

Caring for your scalp means massaging it frequently.  This helps activate your hair follicle and stimulate blood circulation, thus promoting faster hair growth. 


Does bleached hair fade away? 

It depends. 

Bleaching strips off the hair’s natural pigment, making the hair base white. Simply put, there’s nothing added to the hair as it only extracts your natural hair color.

So it follows that bleached hair doesn’t fade away — nothing is added so that nothing will come off. 

However, it does fade when you apply toners over your bleached hair.

But first, what are toners? 

Toners are used in correcting hair color. It does not lift the hair and simply sits on your hair strands.

Toners are perfect for toning newly bleached hair. However, they fade the fastest.  

So bleached hair with toners becomes duller over time, making yellow pigments visible again.

 

Does bleached hair fade when you wash it?

No, bleached hair does not fade when you wash it. 

But toners do. 

Confused? Okay, let’s say you’ve applied toners on your newly bleached hair. And after several washes, you notice that your hair appears less vibrant.

Well, one thing’s for sure — you are not hallucinating!

Turns out color fading is inevitable when applying toners. 

Unfortunately, toners only last for a couple of washes, making your bleached hair appear muted or dull as they rinse out.

But don’t fret. You can still delay color fading by not washing your hair often, meaning you should avoid water and shampoos.

Your new color dilutes once water penetrates the hair, and shampoos, even those with gentle formulas, strip the color more quickly. 

Shampooing closes your hair cuticle and stops the toner from doing its job. 

But if you must, use cold water instead of warm water. 

Washing with cold water helps sip in the new color and prolong the fading process. You can also use sulfate-free shampoo but apply sparingly.  

Does bleached hair get lighter over time?

Ever noticed those white colors appearing on your bleached hair? 

Okay, chill out! That’s pretty normal. Turns out bleached hair lightens over time. The more you wash your hair, the lighter it will become. 

Also, UV rays emitted by the sun lightens the hair since it bleaches out melanin. Chlorine in swimming pools and well-water could also leave a greenish hue or brassy blonde on your tresses.


How soon after bleaching can you bleach again?

Do’s and Don’ts after bleaching hair

Let’s say your new hair color isn’t what you hoped for. And now, you’re tempted to re-bleach your hair. 

The question now is, is it safe to do so? 

Okay, let’s get this straight — nope, repeated bleaching isn’t recommended at all.  

It’s no secret how bleaching can be damaging. Chemicals used in bleaching will wreak havoc on your hair once it penetrates and lifts the hair’s cuticle. That’s why bleaching the hair more than once results in overprocessing and breakage.

It’s an unwritten rule that you should give your hair ample time to heal and recover before your next bleaching appointment. 

The waiting period allows your hair to regain its healthy state and strength. 

But how soon after bleaching can you bleach again?

Patience is a virtue when it comes to re-bleaching.  The waiting time can take up to 3-4 weeks, depending on how frizzy and damaged your hair is. 

Remember to stick with this recommended timeline as much as possible. Otherwise, you’ll only cause severe damage to your mane and tresses. 

The takeaway

Hair bleaching is a full-time commitment. The entire process can be damaging to the hair — yes, let’s not sugarcoat that! 

Therefore, sticking with a strict hair care routine is necessary to restore the strength of your tresses.

And as mentioned earlier, bleaching is a permanent coloring technique. There’s no going back!

Growing them out takes time too. Bleaching is a drastic move, indeed.  

That’s why you should always do your research. Make sure you’re doing the process right, and you’re applying your desired hair color. Doing a strand test beforehand also helps!  

At the end of the day, it’s better to look ahead and prepare rather than to look back, regret, and suffer negative consequences.

CHECK OUT: How To Bleach Your Hair Without Damaging It

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