Many women with permed hair want to know if they can safely bleach their hair. This is because bleaching can be a bit of a gamble, especially if you’re not familiar with the process.
So, can you bleach permed hair safely? And if so, how should you go about it? Read on for answers to these questions and more.
The Anatomy of a Perm
The anatomy of a perm is simple: Curls are achieved by soaking the hair in a chemical solution, typically ammonium thioglycolate or sodium hydroxide. This breaks the disulfide bonds in the hair, allowing them to be reformed into different shapes when the hair is exposed to heat.
The new bonds that are formed are weaker than the original bonds, though, which is why permed hair tends to be more fragile than unpermed hair.
So, What Does This Have to Do With Bleaching?
Well, bleaching also involves breaking disulfide bonds in the hair. In fact, that’s how it gets its name – the bleach “oxidizes” the hair, meaning that it causes the bonds to break down.
This is why bleaching can be so damaging to the hair: It essentially weakens all of the bonds in the hair, making it more susceptible to damage.
Things to Consider Before Bleaching Permed Hair
With all of this in mind, it’s important to consider a few things before bleaching permed hair:
- The health of your hair: If your hair is already damaged or fragile, bleaching it will only make things worse. In general, it’s best to avoid bleaching perm hair if possible.
- The type of perm you have: Some types of perms are more resistant to damage than others. If you’re not sure about the type of perm you have, it’s best to consult with a professional before bleaching your hair.
- The bleaching products you use: Not all bleaching products are created equal. Some are more gentle than others, and some are designed specifically for use on damaged or fragile hair. If you’re not sure which product to use, it’s best to consult with a professional.
Should You Bleach Permed Hair?
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to bleach permed hair is up to you. If you’re confident in your ability to bleached your hair safely and you’re comfortable with the risks, then go ahead and give it a try.
However, if you’re not sure about either of those things, it’s probably best to avoid bleaching your hair. Consult with a professional if you’re not sure which option is best for you.
Who Should Avoid Bleaching Permed Hair?
There are some people who should definitely avoid bleaching their permed hair, including:
- Those with damaged or fragile hair: Bleaching will only make things worse.
- Those with certain types of perms: Some types of perms are more prone to damage than others.
- Those who are not confident in their ability to bleach their hair safely: Bleaching can be a bit of a gamble, so it’s best to avoid it if you’re not sure you can do it safely.
- Those who are not comfortable with the risks: Bleaching can be damaging to the hair, so it’s important to be comfortable with the risks before trying it.
If you’re not sure whether or not you should bleach your permed hair, consult a specialist. They’ll be able to examine your particular circumstances and provide customized advise based on them.
How to Bleaching Permed Hair
If you’ve decided that you want to bleach your permed hair, there are a few things you need to do to ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible:
Choose a gentle bleach: As we mentioned above, not all bleaching products are created equal. You’ll want to choose a product that is designed for use on damaged or fragile hair, such as Manic Panic’s Gentle Bleach.
Follow the instructions carefully: Bleaching your hair is a delicate process, so it’s important to follow the instructions carefully. Make sure you understand the process before you start, and don’t hesitate to ask a professional for help if you’re not sure about something.
Be prepared for damage: Even if you do everything right, there’s a good chance that bleaching your hair will cause some damage. Be prepared for this by using a good conditioner and keeping your hair trimmed regularly.
You should be able to bleach your permed hair safely and effectively now that you’ve read these suggestions. Just keep in mind that there will be some harm done.
How to Care for Bleached Permed Hair
Once you’ve bleached your permed hair, you’ll need to take some extra steps to keep it healthy:
- Use a good conditioner: A good conditioner will help to replenish the moisture that was lost during the bleaching process. Be sure to use a conditioner that is designed for use on bleached hair.
- Trim your hair regularly: Bleached hair is more prone to split ends, so you’ll need to trim it more often than you would if it wasn’t bleached. Try to get a trim every 6-8 weeks.
- Avoid heat styling: Heat styling can be very damaging to bleached hair. If you must style your hair, be sure to use a heat protectant and avoid using high heat settings.
Following these guidelines, you should be able to preserve your bleached permed hair healthy and looking beautiful.
The Bottom Line
Bleaching permed hair can be damaging, so it’s important to consider the risks before doing it. If you’re not sure about the risks or you’re not confident in your ability to bleach your hair safely, it’s probably best to avoid it.
However, if you’re comfortable with the risks and you’re confident in your ability to bleach your hair safely, then go ahead and give it a try. Just be sure to use the right products and take care not to damage your hair.
Have you bleached your permed hair? How did it turn out? Let us know in the comments below!
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