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How Long Does It Take to Dye Hair Blonde?

Going blonde is a trend that never becomes old. But how long does it take to dye hair blonde? Is it the same for all? This blog post will answer that for you and provide tips to help the process along.

Many factors play a role in how long it can take to get blonde hair. Your current hair color, your hair health, and your dyeing method all impact the length of the process. 

How Long Will It Take to Dye My Hair Blonde?

Dyeing your hair blonde can take anywhere from 2 to 8 hours, depending on your starting hair color. The darker your hair is to begin with, the longer it will take.

For black hair, the process could require several sessions and take 6 to 8 hours, using a 40 or 45-volume developer. If you’re a brunette, expect 3 to 6 hours with a 30 or 40-volume developer.

For darker blonde hair, plan for about 2 hours using a 20 or 30-volume developer. Some cases may require several weeks to months for the complete transformation, with downtime between bleaching sessions.

If your goal is to lift your hair color to blonde color without destroying the hair cuticles, you should expect a several-weeks to months-long process with downtime between bleaching sessions. Consult a professional colorist to know how long it’ll take to color your hair blonde.

From Black to Blonde

black to blonde hair
Black to Blonde, floetryshoppe/Instagram

If you’re starting with black hair, bleaching and dyeing will likely take several sessions and the highest time, anywhere from 6 to 8 hours. Going from black to blonde is a lengthy process, so plan accordingly! 

You’ll also need to use a higher-volume developer when bleaching your hair if you’re starting with black hair since you’ll have to make more progress. We recommend using a 40 or 45-volume developer. 

From Brunette to Blonde

dyeing hair brunette to blonde
Brunette to Blonde

If you are a brunette, you can expect the bleaching and dyeing process to take between 3 and 6 hours. As with black hair, you’ll need a higher-volume developer when bleaching your hair from brunette to blonde, around 30 or 40-volume.

From Darker Blonde to Blonde

darker blonde to blonde hair
Darker Blonde to Blonde

If you have darker blonde hair and wonder, how long will it take to dye your dark blonde hair blonde, you’ll only need to plan for about 2 hours. Try using a 20 or 30-volume developer since you won’t need to lift that many shades.

Factors that Impact How Long It Takes to Dye Your Hair Blonde

dying hair blonde

Many factors impact how long it takes to dye your hair blonde. Your current hair color plays a role, and so do the following additional factors: 

  • The health of your hair 
  • The type of dye 
  • Your desired hair color
  • All-over color vs. highlights

Let’s break each of these factors down into more detail so we understand how they affect the time it takes to dye your hair blonde.

The Health of Your Hair

Healthier hair can handle more bleach than damaged hair can, so you’ll see quicker results if your hair is healthy when you start the blonding process.

Type of Dye

Another factor that can impact how long it takes to dye your hair blonde is the type of dye you use. For example, a temporary dye will take less time to achieve your desired shade because semi-permanent dyes don’t need to penetrate the hair shaft as deep as permanent dyes. 

Desired Blonde Shade

The shade of blonde you want to achieve will also influence how long it takes to reach your hair color goal.

If you’re going for an ashy blonde hue, for example, it will take less time than if you’re going for a platinum blonde hue. 

All Over Color vs. Highlights

If you want all-over blonde, it’ll take longer than if you just want highlights since highlights involve dying a much smaller portion of the hair.

FAQs

How long does it take to dye hair blonde in a salon?

It can take anywhere from 2-8 hours, depending on your base hair color, health, length, and expected hair color.

How many sessions does it take to dye my hair blonde?

Achieving the blonde hair color you want often takes three to four sessions to bleach and tone it to the correct shade without causing irreparable damage to the hair.

Can I dye my hair blonde in one day?

No, professionals don’t recommend dyeing your hair blonde in one day if you have brunette or black hair. Lifting the color to blonde in one day can cause significant damage to the cuticles of your hair.