Bleaching hair is a popular method to achieve lighter hair tones or prep for vibrant colors. However, the process can sometimes result in uneven coloration, leaving you with patchy or brassy sections.
It’s a hair dilemma no one wants to face, but the good news is, it’s fixable. There are several options you can take to even out your hair color.
The most obvious step is to seek help from a professional hairstylist or colorist. However, if you persist in doing it yourself, there are two good options. We will guide you on how to fix unevenly bleached hair to get your mane back to its desired shade and luster.
Why Your Bleached Hair is Uneven?
It helps to find out what went wrong the last time. You can begin by retracing your steps before you discover the horrible results.
As you review the process, consider these four leading causes for uneven bleached hair and see if they apply to you.
- Not using enough product: If your hair is dark, you should use more bleach. By falling short, your hair could turn orange or red after bleaching.
- Choosing the right product for you: You should take your time shopping for the right bleaching product. These products have various volume strengths, ranging from 10 to 40. A Volume 10 product won’t get the job done if you have very dark hair. However, you should never use a developer above 30 volumes for on-scalp bleach applications.
- Poor product mixing: Make sure the product is not outdated. Also, it is imperative to mix the developer and bleaching powder evenly. While stirring the mixture with your brush, take your time, and don’t stop until a homogenized.
- Not sectioning your hair: Applying bleach to unparted hair is an invitation to a hair coloring trainwreck. Long and thick hair is particularly vulnerable. Starting from the lower part, use rubber bands to tie off small sections until you get to the top.
Will Toner Fix Uneven Hair?
It is possible to use toner on uneven-bleached hair. After several washes, you’ll most likely end up with slightly unevenly toned hair, but it is not a clear pathway to your desired hair color. However, if you prefer to skip the harsh effects of bleach, toning may be a viable option.
Toning may work for you, but it doesn’t correct all types of unevenly bleached hair. Before considering this option, try to determine the degree of your hair’s unevenness. If severe, you may be better off with the other methods.
Toning your uneven hair involves the same steps as dying over uneven bleached hair. Just substitute the bleach for toner.
Ways to Fix Bleached Uneven Hair
Want to know how to fix uneven bleached hair? These are two successful ways to take care of the problem.
Toning
If there’s only a small amount of hair that you missed, you can apply a toner to those areas with an applicator brush.
Be sure to choose a toner that is darker than your hair’s darkest tone. Follow the same process you would with spot bleaching.
The other option is to use a toning shampoo (such as Clairol or John Frieda) 2-3 times per week on your whole head. It’s not an instant fix, so be patient
Dye Your Darker – The Quick Way
If you dread the thought of appearing in public with a multi-hued hairdo, the quick way may appeal to you. Of course, you still have to wait a few days before doing it, but your days of embarrassment will soon be over.
All you have to do is dye your hair a darker color. This method is simple and safer. It just requires walking around with a darker shade of hair color for a while.
At the offset, it is essential to choose a hair dye that will adequately cover your mistake. For instance, if you’ve bleached your hair to a blond color, select a light brown hair dye or darker.
When you’re ready to start the hair dyeing process, do the following:
- Wear gloves throughout the whole process.
- Put cream or vaseline on your face to avoid getting it stained.
- Follow the instructions closely.
- Apply the dye evenly and wait within the specified time limit in the instructions.
- After washing the dye, rub in the conditioner to nourish your hair.
Spot Bleaching
Spot bleaching is another easy way to fix uneven bleach. First, separate the areas you missed from the rest of your hair using a comb and clips to keep hair out of the way.
Then, using an applicator brush, apply the bleach mixture to the missed spot so it completely saturates your hair.
Let it sit for at least 10 minutes, then wash it out. Be sure to follow up with a moisturizing conditioner.
Re Bleach – The Slow Way
If you are dead set on achieving your desired uniform color, you can bleach your hair a second time. The bummer is you must wait at least three weeks after your first try. Bleach dries out the hair and roots. If fact, the damage can get to a critical level.
It takes three to four weeks for your hair to recuperate from the first bleaching. This would be the perfect time to enrich your eating routine with high-protein, low-fat foods during the in-between time. Eat plenty of veggies and berries. A nutritious diet will help nourish and strengthen the roots.
Plus, massaging your scalp with Ayurvedic oils will prepare your hair for the next round of bleaching.
Successfully Completing the Bleach Job
After the three or four weeks have passed, you’ll be ready to give it another try, but this time will be better. Hopefully, you have followed our instructions for preparing your hair and scalp for this moment.
Before starting the second bleaching session, make sure your work area is clean, and all surrounding surfaces have a protective layer of cloth or newspaper. Also, to expand your view, position two mirrors in the front and back of your head. Now, you are ready.
As you go through the process again, keep these key elements in mind.
- Slip on your gloves and protect your face with a layer of cream.
- Prepare the bleach mixture precisely as the instructions dictate.
- Remember to split your hair into different sections.
- Apply the mixture the same way you would apply the hair dye.
- Start with the back of your head and end in the front.
- Wait around 20 minutes before evaluating the results.
After completing the process, wash your hair, and use an extra conditioner on it. Your shampoo should have a balancing pH level to rejuvenate your hair.
Because the bleaching process leaves your hair very dry, skip blow-drying your hair this time. Finally, wear a shower cap until the color has completely set.
FAQs
It is possible to fix patchy spots after bleaching, but it isn’t straightforward. If you plan to fix it yourself, it is better to dye all your hair darker.
Yes, you can use a color that is darker than your natural color instead of rebleaching it. However, wait a couple of days to dye it because bleach severely dries out the hair and makes it prone to breaking.
Sometimes it can take up to 20 minutes for bleach to tone, but you’ll probably see results in as quickly as five minutes.
To be safe, closely follow the directions on your box bleach kit and check on your hair at regular intervals.
Wait at least three weeks before you bleach your hair again. Bleach is very drying to hair, so give it three weeks to ‘heal’ by using a moisturizing conditioner, which will help make sure your hair doesn’t suffer too much damage.
It can, but it might not be as effective and can also take more time. Most stylists recommend using bleach again to spot treat or dying your hair completely.
Bleaching related other posts:
- Bleach bath hair
- Can You Bleach Wet Hair?
- How to Dye Hair Grey Without Bleach?
- Does Dyed Hair Go Back to Natural Color?
- Misconceptions About Bleaching Hair
At-home coloring products are convenient, but they aren’t error-proof, especially in an amateur’s hands. Fortunately, uneven bleached hair is one of those blunders you can fix in life.
So it comes down to whether you want to cut your losses or get it right the second time. Either way, these two methods should help you fix the uneven bleached hair.