Hair colour changes are one of the things that women love doing. If they are feeling under the weather or they simply want to change style, hair colour is one of the things they focus on first.

Bleaching is one of the processes that help you achieve a lighter hair colour. This process is needed if you have dark hair and you want to transition to at least 5 lighter shades. Bleaching is the process of breaking down the colour of your hair in order for it to be lighter. It oxidises your hair colour so that its natural pigment gets removed.

Bleaching is best done by a professional. If you’re new to this, the wise thing to do is to consult a professional and let them do the bleaching for you. However, if you want to try this at home, you can easily buy bleaching kits in the drugstore. Here’s a step-by-step guide to doing it.

1. Keep your hair healthy.

Before putting bleaching products on your hair, make sure to prep it a week before. Bleaching only works well when your hair is in good condition. If it’s dry and frizzy, you risk damaging your hair even more. Stock up on conditioner prior to your bleaching session.

2. Protect your clothes (and your floors!)

When you’re all set to put on bleach, wear old clothes first to make sure it won’t be a problem if you stain them. If you have an apron or an old towel that you can use, place them on your shoulders. You should also put old clothes on the floor in case of spilling.

3. Section your hair.

By using hair clips, you can start sectioning your hair into smaller parts. This ensures that you bleach each strand. Usually, you can section your hair into 4 sections. If you have thicker hair, 6 sections will do.

4. Prepare the bleach.

Depending on the instructions on the box, mix the bleach and the developer. Mix it well so that there are no lumps on the product.

5. Apply the bleach.

With an applicator, get some of the bleaching mixture from the bowl and apply it to a section of your hair. Start with the bottom parts of your hair and work your way to the top. Make sure that each hair strand has product before moving to another section. Follow the same process for the other sections.

6. Wait for it.

Once you’ve applied bleach on every section, cover your hair with a shower cap. You usually have to wait at least 30 minutes but not more than 45. Check your hair periodically if it has reached the shade you want.

7. Wash your hair.

If 45 minutes are up or if you found the shade you want (whichever comes first), step into the shower and rinse your hair. After removing the bleach, wash your hair with a balancing shampoo to balance the pH levels. Let it air dry after.

DIY bleaching is not very complicated; however, it can be challenging for newbies. If you’re worried you’ll mess it up, go to a salon instead.

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Nicola is always on the lookout for the best beauty tools and skincare products. She believes in "prevention is better than cure" so she is always trying to perfect her beauty routine to avoid premature aging. Fun fact about Nicola: She owns a lot of sunscreens as she carries a mini sunscreen in each of her handbags and backpacks.