How to fix uneven bleached hair

By: | Last Updated: March 26, 2022

So, you mess up your at-home bleaching session badly. Can you still do something about your unsightly uneven hair? 

Don’t feel helpless. Just because you mess up does not mean you should give up.

We’re here to help you!

In this article, we’ll let you know how to fix your hair coloring disaster. And also, share with you the possible reasons why it happens.

Let us get started below!


What causes patchy bleached hair?

Do’s and Don’ts after bleaching hair

Before we identify how to fix uneven bleach jobs, let’s learn why it occurs in the first place. Read below!

Wrong Products

Not all bleaching products are the same. There are products specifically made for your hair type. Those are the ones that you should look for.

Not sure about your hair type? Ask a professional!

Does that sound like a lot of hassle? Check online forums to get expert advice.

Know your hair type. Find the right bleaching solutions for you. Save yourself from uneven hair after the bleaching session!

Incorrect Mixture

As you shop for bleaching products, check the ingredients. Find the manufacturing or expiry date to ensure it’s still good. Choose hair bleaching products from trusted brands.

Usually, bleaching products come with powder and a developer

You must follow the instructions correctly. Or it will lead to uneven hair color. 

When mixing, find a container of your preference. Mix it properly using an application brush. Patiently stir the products according to instructions until you reach a homogenous liquid. Then, apply it to your parted hair.

Use a good set of tools for easier and uniform application. 

Uneven Application

Prepare your hair for the bleaching session to achieve your desired results. For starters, section your hair.

You’re inviting a hair coloring disaster if you don’t section your hair when bleaching. This is especially true for people with longer and thicker hair. 

To prevent that, use hair ties to section your hair before applying the bleach. 

Improper Application

Incorrectly applying the bleach can lead to uneven spots too. 

The best way to apply the bleach is by starting from the ends and then working your way up. 

Why? Your scalp produces more heat than the tips of your hair. This means that the roots will process the bleach faster. If you start from the scalp, it will become two levels lighter than the tail.

Not Enough Time

Don’t you have forty minutes to spare for the bleaching session? Postpone it! Schedule it some other time instead.

The right timing is essential when it comes to bleaching your hair. 

If you wash your hair too early, the result will be uneven, patchy-colored hair. Leaving the bleach for far too long will damage your tresses. You wouldn’t want any of that, right?

Let the bleaching mixture set in your hair for forty minutes. Otherwise, you’d not like the results.

Your Hair

You bought the right products for your hair type. You followed the bleaching instructions down to the T, but you still got patchy results. “Why? Where did I go wrong? Why do I still have dark spots after bleaching hair?” you might ask.

Your hair could be the problem. You might have a darker hair base or more porous hair. 

The color of your hair

Dark hair is hard to lift. You can’t expect to go from very dark hair to blonde in one bleaching session. Bleaching hair with a darker base takes a lot of time and effort.

If you aren’t careful enough, your hair will give a hint of red or orange tones after bleaching.

The porosity of your hair

The middle to the end parts of your hair is more porous compared to the new growth. This is due to sun and damage exposure. 

For the more porous parts of your hair, it will absorb the bleach more easily compared to the less porous parts. This will then result in patchy areas.


How to fix uneven bleached hair at home

How to fix uneven bleach at home

Luckily, there is something that you can do to fix your hair coloring disaster.

After identifying what went wrong, let’s now learn how to make it right below.

For those in a rush

Dye your hair with a darker color if you need to even your hair color right away. 

But don’t dye your hair immediately. At least, wait for a couple of days or so.

Here’s what you need to do:

  • Use a dye that’s closest to the darkest color of your strands. It’s the best way to cover up your mistake. 
  • Use gloves and apply face cream to protect your hands and face from staining.
  • Read and closely follow the instructions on the label.
  • Section your hair and start from the ends, working your way up to the roots.
  • Apply the dye accordingly.
  • Wait within the time limit specified in the label.
  • Wash out the dye and rub a conditioner of your choice to nourish your strands.

For those who can wait

Don’t you need to go anywhere anyway? No zoom calls or online meetings to attend to? Maybe you can wait.

There is a more effective and less harsh-to-your-tresses way to even out your hair color. It takes time, though. 

Bleach it again!

Scared? Don’t be. Just do it properly this time. But wait for 3 to 4 weeks before bleaching your hair again. This will give your hair enough time to heal, close, and lay flat again. 

Meanwhile, do the following to prepare your tresses for the next bleaching session:

  • Ditch the heat styling tools a week before bleaching your hair again. These include rollers, flat and curling irons, and blow dryers.
  • Don’t wash your hair a day before bleaching it. Natural oils minimize hair damage during the bleaching session.
  • Apply coconut oil to hydrate your hair. It will act as a barrier between your strands and the bleach. It prevents protein loss and strengthens your hair at the same time. 
  • Deep condition your hair with a hair mask two weeks before you bleach it. Do this twice a week for best results.
  • Take every chance to moisturize your hair between two bleaching sessions. Use shampoos, hair masks, conditioners, and treatments that have moisturizing ingredients. 

Will toner fix uneven bleached hair?

If you don’t want to bleach your hair again, consider toning it. It is less harsh on your tresses.

So, can you tone uneven bleached hair? The answer is actually yes and no.

It will not work on all the patchy areas of your hair. But it will correct areas that didn’t come out the right tone. 

Know what products to use to neutralize the uneven color on your hair below!

Shampoos/Conditioners to UsePatchy Hues to Fix
BlueOrange tones
RedGreen tones
PurpleYellow tones
OrangeAshy Tones

Upon reading above, you now know how to fix orange spots in bleached hair. So start shopping for blue conditioners and shampoos now. 


Will dying over uneven bleached hair fix it?

Do you shampoo hair after bleaching

Is another bleaching session too harsh for your tresses? Is toning your uneven bleached hair not a viable option? You might consider dying it instead!

As mentioned above, you can dye your hair to fix the patchy areas. 

Choose a dye that’s darker than your current hair color. Chocolate brown and black will make good choices. 

But if you want to color your hair with lighter shades, this might not be a viable option. 

In that case, you’d need to bleach your hair again. This time, using the correct methods. To prevent damage to your tresses, wait for a month before bleaching your hair again.

CHECK OUT: How To Bleach Your Hair Without Damaging It


The Takeaway

You can prevent uneven bleached hair with the right know-how about the proper bleaching application. 

And if you mess up your hair during the bleaching session, there are things you can do to fix it too.

You can either bleach your hair again, use toning products, or just dye it with darker hair color. 

Whatever you choose, the key to preventing hair coloring disaster is the right knowledge about your hair type and the proper application of the products you choose to apply. 

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