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The Best Bleach for Hair (Top 10 Brands Review 2023)

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If you dye your hair regularly, you will need to use bleach. Hair bleach is almost indispensable when it comes to lightening dark hair or even lightening hair that has been dyed.

best bleach for hairIt can be a stimulating experience or a terrible mess if you don’t use the right products and techniques.

It can lead to hair damage, scalp irritation, and more when misused. “ Bleaching hair at home is very risky, ” warns Kristen Fleming, color director at the 3rd Coast Salon in Chicago. “ It’s a very unpredictable process if you already have color in your hair, in which case it really is best to leave it to the pros.

If you are confident, you know what you are doing, and choosing a quality professional-level product will further help you achieve success.

So what is the best bleach for hair?

A hair bleach (or hair lightener) works to lift the hair’s shade greatly. If you want to get the perfect blonde shade, you have the best bleach for black hair that does the job without damaging it unnecessarily – exactly what this post is all about.

We have the best hair bleaches for every hair type and budget to help you with the best results at home.

How to Choose the Best Bleach for Black Hair

How To Choose The Perfect Hair BleachHair bleaching is one of those treatments we highly recommend you go to a salon if you want a professional result.

This guide will help you learn how to bleach your hair safely and successfully every time. Getting good takes practice and experience, and when you’re ready to experiment on your own, it’s time to get started.

Hair Type

First and foremost, you need to judge your hair and be honest with yourself. The most important things to determine are:

  • How dark is your hair?
  • Has your hair been processed (dyed, permed, etc.)?
  • How is the health of your scalp and hair in general?

The main points are:

  • The darker the hair, the more sessions you will need to get the very light blonde
  • Processed hair is already damaged and more porous, so the bleaching should be softer than the bleaching of new hair.
  • If you previously dyed your hair black with a box dye, go to the salon or try not to melt your hair.
  • I don’t apply bleach to the scalp if you have a dry or dry scalp.
  • Make sure to take a strand test.

Generic vs. Salon Bleach

There are several generic brands of bleach. The term ‘generic’ is used here to refer to inexpensive brands found in supermarkets, beauty salons, and pharmacies. These brands are not used in salons as it is just a no-frills product destined for the home market at a low price.

This is all well and good, and these products will certainly lighten your hair, but there are significant differences between these types of products and salon-quality bleach, which is why hairdressers don’t use these bleaching powders. If you have the best results when using hair bleach, you also want to understand the difference. Some of the main differences to note are:

  • Inferior ingredients
  • Less effective lighting
  • Greater damage to hair
  • Uneven lightning

If you look at hair bleach, you will notice that the ingredients vary by brand. In particular, the presence of more nourishing additives that care for your hair and scalp is of great importance, which is reflected in the performance differences between different products.

Levels of Lift

What does it mean if a package says the bleach has a lift of up to seven levels? Considering the hair levels, the potential maximum changes your own hair will undergo if the stars align and you get the perfect result.

For example, a lift level up to 7 means that your hair can go from level 2 up to nine levels in one session.

The Best Bleach for Hair of 2023

Those generic drugstore bleaching kits might be cheap, but don’t cut it if you want to turn your dark hair into bleach blonde. It would help if you had strong enough professional bleach to turn your hair into the desired blonde shade.

Whether you’re looking for the best bleach for black hair to use as a pre-color or want to achieve

You’ll find your match with our following list of best hair bleach products that effectively lighten dark hair in the least harmful way.

1. Manic Panic Flash Lightning Hair Bleach Kit – Best Hair Bleach Kit

Manic Panic Flash Lightning HairView On AmazonThe Manic Panic whitening bleaching kit is the most popular option among bleachers at home, and for a good reason. The company has been making cruelty-free, vegan products since the late 1970s. When they first opened their punky NYC boutique and changed cosmetic history forever.

This medium-strength bleach lightens even dark brown hair mixed with the included 30 volume developer. However, don’t expect to go platinum blonde in one session unless your hair color is already quite light.

If you have natural hair, the manufacturer recommends going for the 40-volume bleaching kit for a better lift for the stubborn dark pigment.

Not only is it vegan, but the formula is also PPD, ammonia-free, and parabens-free, creating a healthier and more enjoyable experience. The included instructions are easy to follow, even if you will bleach your hair for the first time.

The Manic Panic pack contains everything you need to bleach your hair: dust-free bleaching powder, developer, brush, mixing bowl, cap, and plastic gloves.

The amount you get is great for bleaching strands or shorter hair, but you probably need more than one set if you have thick long hair.

Pros
  • Cruelty-Free
  • Vegan Formula
  • Pack contains everything you need for bleaching your hair process
  • Perfect for Whitening Strands
Cons
  • Not suitable for black hair
  • Long hair needs more than one set

2. Schwarzkopf Professional Blond Me Premium Lift 9

Schwarzkopf Professional Blond Me PremiumView On AmazonYou don’t need another blonde layer once you’ve bleached hair with Schwarzkopf powder bleacher. It offers an easy-to-operate lift level that can reach up to 9 levels.

This makes it easier to achieve icy to platinum shades. And while the formula is powerful, it doesn’t leave your hair with an overpowering bleach-like scent. For results of the best use of the Schwarzkopf developer hair lightening powder.

Pros
  • Up to 9 light levels
  • Easily controllable color levels: from ash blonde to platinum shades
  • It can be used with or without a developer.
  • Delivers results in just one session
  • Inexpensive
Cons
  • Possible Scalp Irritation
  • Coppery tones appear in lower levels as bleach settles.

3. Wella Blondor Multi Blonde Powder Lightener

Wella Blondor Multi Blonde PowderView On AmazonAs one of the top-rated lighters on the market, Wella Blondor gets the job done beautifully. Many stylists consider it the best hair bleach!

This lightning bleaching powder delivers incredible results, with less damage (and half the time). It works great for those with sensitive scalps and does not cause pain, itching, or burning.

The dust-free formula bleaching powder lightener comes in a tub, and you need to purchase the developer separately and the necessary tools. Although you can use any developer with bleach, the manufacturer recommends using the Koleston developer for the best results.

Pros
  • Gentle yet highly effective formula
  • Contains anti yellow pigments
  • Contains Conditioners
Cons
  • May require more bleach due to weaker strength

4. Schwarzkopf Professional Igora Vario Blond Plus

Schwarzkopf Professional Igora Vario BlondView On AmazonIf you want to lighten your hair but don’t necessarily go from black to platinum blonde, this is a great alternative to the BlondMe bleach. This product is also from Schwarzkopf, and it contains nourishing ingredients and fiber binding technology to minimize damage and give you beautiful, healthy blonde hair.

At up to 7 levels of light, bleach isn’t as strong as the Blondme bleach, which claims up to 9 levels of light, meaning it’s perfect if you want to lighten your hair without too much want to be pale blonde. Not only is it weaker and reduces oxidative damage, but it is still packed with nourishing ingredients that will leave your hair feeling soft, smooth, and wonderfully healthy.

As a standard for Schwarzkopf bleach products, the Igora bleach has integrated fiber bonding technology to minimize damage by forming a protective layer around the hair bridges.

The patented succinic acid is one of the ingredients that form new bonds that create hair strands. The bleach also contains mineral oil, lysine, and arginine, which nourish the hair, while the ultramarine blue neutralizes yellow tones.

You will get nearly 16 oz. of dust free formula bleach powder. While you can use any developer with this bleaching powder, Schwarzkopf recommends Igora Royal 30 volume developer.

Pros
  • Uses fiber bonding technology
  • Contains nourishing ingredients
  • Includes ultramarine blue to avoid copper tones
Cons
  • A little pricey
  • Not as effective as the BlondMe bleach

5. L’oreal Quick Blue Powder Bleach

LView On AmazonIt is sometimes difficult to get through your hair’s roots without getting burnt on the scalp here and there. A gentler formula is available, but it doesn’t really get results. If you want to lift your hair effectively without all the drama, trust L’Oréal Quick Blue Powder Bleach. This one lifts your hair up to seven levels without the slightest irritation to the scalp.

In terms oThisst acclaimed bleach, if you want terms results t to lighten a few shades, it can also be mixed with a stronger developer for the purest platinum blonde.

Pros
  • Safe to use on the scalp
  • Lightens hair up to 7 levels
  • Simple and easy to apply
  • It helps you achieve various shading eff.
  • Reasonably priced
Cons
  • It would help if you had a separate developer with 40 volumes for the whitest shade.
  • . It can be over-drying on some hair t.ypes

6. Clairol Bw2 Powder Lightener

Clairol Professional BW2 Hair PowderView On AmazonClairol professional bw2 is considered the strongest at-home bleach on the market for dark or resistant hair and is everything you’ve been looking for. This black hair lightener is for extra lightening power, lifting even the darkest hair.

It is also believed to give you better control over bleaching your hair process, although it may take a few times to get the natural color you want if you start with dark hair. At the best Of these, it is affordable!

Pros
  • Great for dark, resistant hair
  • It contains a humectant to keep the bleach from drying. out
  • Powerful, no-fuss formula
Cons
  • Too harsh for delicate hair
  • No blue pigments to soften the coppery tone

7. Wella Blondor Soft Blonde Cream Lightener

Wella Blondor Soft Blonde CreamView On AmazonFrom the Blondor range of Wella, you can choose whether you want to use the bleaching powder or this cream. This lightener is specially designed for scalp applications as it is much gentler than the Blondor bleaching powder.

While this cream formula gives you up to 7 levels of lift, it is much gentler on your scalp. The ingredients’ quality is as high as in the bleaching powder, but the formula is adapted for skin contact, giving it the best option to bleach your roots.

Because the bleach is in a cream formula, it contains liquid conditioning ingredients, such as nourishing oils and hydrophobic (water-repellent) ingredients. Anti-irritant and antibacterial compounds, bisabolol and farnesol, have been added to condition the scalp during the bleaching process.

While it may sound like you could apply the bleach directly to your roots, this is not the case, and you will have to mix this lightener with a developer.

The package contains 7 oz. Tube of oil mixed cream lighter. It is recommended to buy a Koleston developer, but you can use any brand developer as long as it is a volume of 20 or less.

Because the tube contains a relatively small bleach, it is the perfect product for root adjustments.

Pros
  • Perfect for scalp applications
  • It contains nourishing ingredients for a healthier experience
  • Very gentle formula
Cons
  • You only get a small amount.
  • Not suitable for applications outside the scalp or to make the head completely white

8. Jolen Creme Bleach Formula

Jolen Creme Bleach Original FormulaView On AmazonIf you don’t want to reveal that your lightened locks aren’t genuine, your eyebrows need an update. Jolen Creme Bleach Formula is the safest way to bleach your eyebrows so that it blends beautifully with your new hair color without causing skin irritation, thanks to the aloe vera infusion. It’s great for lightening brows, but the formula is also intended to lighten dark hair or dark hair all over your body to make it less noticeable.

Pros
  • Lightens dark hair and eyebrows without irritation
  • Enriched with moisturizing aloe
  • Top
  • For sensitive skin
  • It comes with a mixing cup
  • No-drip formula
Cons
  • More rounds of applications are required to achieve a lighter shade

9. Sally Hansen Creme Bleach Extra Strength Face & Body

Sally Hansen Creme Bleach XtraView On AmazonIf it’s not your hair that you want to bleach, there are body hair products like this Sally Hansen bleaching cream. Since normal hair bleach is far too strong to use on your body, this bleach has been specially formulated to lighten facial hair, eyebrows, arm hair, and legs.

Much gentler than the standard hair bleach, this uses only hydrogen peroxide for bleaching your hair. No persulfate compounds have been found in normal hair bleach, making it suitable for the face. However, if your hair is very dark and naturally resistant, you will likely need more than one bleach if you want to lighten the hair drastically.

The supplied preconditioner contains witch hazel and alcohol to narrow pores to minimize skin irritation. The bleach contains mineral oil, aloe extract, and tocopherol (vitamin E), reducing irritation and preventing dehydrated skin after the treatment.

As with scalp hair, the hair bleaching process can reveal warm undertones. And you may end up with orange or yellow eyebrows. Since the formula does not contain firming ingredients, it may be necessary to give your eyebrows the correct color or dye.

Although suitable for use on the face and body, do not bleach your eyelashes or pubic area. Hair: it’s just not a good idea.

The bleaching kit includes bleaching product cream, activator bleaching powder, pre-conditioner, mixing cup, and applicator; that’s all you need to get great results. The cream does contain parabens as a preservative, which can be a major drawback.

Pros
  • Contains preconditioner to minimize irritation
  • Infused with aloe
  • Gentle enough for use on body and face
Cons
  • It may take more than one session to bleach dark hair.
  • Contains parabens

10. Manic Panic Flash Lightning Hair BThis is for you ifach Kit

Manic Panic Flash Lightning HairView On AmazonIf you need more bleaching power, thematic Panic 30 is for you. The formula is vegan and cruelty-free, while it gives your hair more lift and bleaches much faster.

While this is great for dark, resistant hair and scalp bleaching, the 40 volume developer is far too strong for lighter hair (level 3 or higher). This extra strength is much more likely to damage your hair and make it brittle.

This may be a problem for some, unlike Clairol professional bw2, where the bleach itself is strong, allowing more removal of the color molecules. Effectively increasing developer strength increases the risk of damaging your scalp and hair.

However, you can dilute the developer with water to obtain the desired volume.

While the formula is cruelty-free for the environment, it is not cruelty-free for your hair. Since there are no conditioning ingredients like in the Schwarzkopf blonde and Wella bleaching powders, your hair will likely feel dry and damaged. Especially when combined with the high volume developer, it has the potential to bake your locks and leave them damaged.

The bleaching kit contains everything you need to bleach your hair: brush, mixing bowl, cap, plastic gloves, bleach powder, and developer. The bleach powder is the same as in the kit of 30 vol, but the developer supplied is stronger, with a volume of 40.

Pros
  • Vegan and cruelty-free
  • Everything is on the set.
  • Great set for resistant hair
Cons
  • Maybe too strong for some
  • Lack of nourishing ingredients

The Types of Hair Bleach

Bleaches are available in three different types: oil, cream, and bleaching powder. Whatever you choose from the three, it is worth noting that you will need a bleach with more oxidants, preferably 30-40 volume, to optimally lighten your hair without unnecessary damage since you are working with dark hair. Never go beyond 40 volumes, as this can destroy your hair. With all of this in mind, here are your bleaching options.

Oil Bleach

This type of bleach is based on a type of sulfonated oil, but its main ingredient is hydrogen peroxide for bleaching hair mixed with bulk builders and other lightning activators. An oil bleach can lighten hair up to 3 colors. They are great for removing color from stubborn roots and great for highlights.

Cream Bleach

Because cream bleach has a thicker consistency than oil, it does not run or drip and is easier to apply. They contain thickeners and bluing agents in addition to conditioners that can minimize hair dryness. While cream-based bleaches may not be the fastest, they will gradually lift your hair color so you can stop at the shade you want.

Powder Bleach

Powder bleaches give the fastest results among their counterparts. The procedure involves making a paste from the powder. This can be done by mixing a developer containing the main ingredient peroxide to give the mixture a thicker consistency. However, you need to be careful when using this type of bleach as it contains little to no conditioning ingredients and can dry the hair too much.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What does bleach do to your hair?

During the hair bleaching process, alkaline agents, which are lighter, cause your hair to swell and open the cuticles. Once the cuticles expand, the alkaline substances penetrate the hair’s cortex and dissolve the natural pigments known as melanin.

To handle the dark pigments, bleach has to break down the natural fatty acids on your hair shafts, making your hair brittle. The cuticle continues to expand until it is so open that nothing is holding it together. Finally, the cortex is exposed, split ends appear, and damage occurs, making your hair look unhealthy.

How Long Should You Leave the Bleach on Your Black Hair?

How long you leave the bleach on your hair depends on the lightness you hope to achieve and the level of development you use. The higher the developer, the faster it will process, but the more damage it will do (and vice versa).

How did your dark hair turn out without coloring it orange?

To avoid orange hair, you want to enhance your color. One way to do this is to use a blue or purple clarifying shampoo to neutralize and neutralize the orange tones. If you need even more help, try using a toner.

Wrapping Up

Now that you are equipped with the knowledge you need, you can move on and begin your journey to the beautiful blonde hair of your dreams. Using this guide, you can choose the best hair bleach products that are right for you best, avoid common mistakes and keep your hair healthy and beautiful.

Also, don’t press the results of your dream hair during the first bleaching session. The key to bleaching your hair is to apply it slowly and evenly (this way, you don’t overly damage your hair).

Depending on how light you go and what light color you started with, you will need several bleaching and toning sessions. Do extensive research on bleaching your hair to avoid tragic mistakes!

References
  • beautymag.com
  • kalistasalon.com
  • us.davines.com
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Mutasim Sweileh

Mutasim is a published author and software engineer and beard care expert from the US. To date, he has helped thousands of men make their beards look better and get fatter. His work has been mentioned in countless notable publications on men's care and style and has been cited in Seeker, Wikihow, GQ, TED, and Buzzfeed.