How To: Lighten Dark Hair
When you have blonde hair, making a dramatic change is easy. Just walk into any salon and you can leave with deep brown dark hair. If you’re starting with brown or black dark hair, however, the process isn’t so simple. Lightening dark hair requires more than just some dye and a snap of the fingers. In fact, the lightning process often takes a lot more time, patience, and money than most people are expecting.
If you are looking to go from dark vixen to blonde bombshell, here are all of the necessary steps you’ll need to take. Plus, we’ll look at alternatives that actually can give you a brand new look overnight.
The Time it Takes
Scroll through Instagram and you’d think that doing a total hair transformation is effortless. Models and actresses, do it all the time, right? Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. Anyone who has undergone this process knows that it takes multiple visits to the salon (which we’ll briefly cover later). Some experts say that transitioning from brown dark hair to that perfect shade of blonde can take up to 2 years!
Healthy Hair is Key
Some blogs will tell you that lightening dark hair is as easy as at-home bleaching and adding some blonde dye. While that may be true – and is the route many women go – it is definitely not recommended. The reason? It can damage your hair beyond recognition.
Someone who starts with thick healthy hair is left with dry, damaged strands that are brittle and easily break. Start with fine hair and you might find yourself losing more hair than you’re comfortable with. When it comes to dramatically lightening your hair, trained professionals will keep your hair health in mind at all times.
Don’t Break The Bank
The fact of the matter is that permanently lighting your dark hair a dramatic amount is costly. It can take multiple salon visits and lots of upkeep. If you aren’t willing to invest hundreds and hundreds of dollars into the process, a less dramatic change may be a better choice.
The Lightening Process
Taking hair from dark brown to blonde is a long, complicated process. Here is a brief overview of the (multiple) steps it can take.
Step 1 – Consultation
Before a stylist touches your hair, they’ll want to start with a consultation. Often offered for free, these 30-minute appointments will allow you to chat with your hair professional about your goals. They’ll also be able to give you a breakdown of the time and money it will take to make your dream a reality. Be prepared – depending on the condition and texture of your hair, they might tell you what you want simply isn’t possible.
At this appointment, you’ll also want to disclose any history of coloring your hair. Color-treated hair is different from virgin strands. You should also let them know if you frequently use hot tools like a hair dryer or curling iron. All of these factor into how they will lighten your hair.
Step 2 – Bleaching / Lightening
At your next appointment, your stylist will actually start changing the color of your hair. If you have dramatically dark hair (hair that has been dyed black, for example) bleaching it will be the very first step. This will strip your hair of the artificial color almost completely. They will then cover that color (which is often a harsh, brassy red) with a brown dye to achieve a lighter color.
If your hair isn’t color treated, simply lightening it may do the trick. If you’re at all worried about the products they’re using, don’t be afraid to ask. Good lighting products will focus on keeping your hair healthy. They’ll include key ingredients like bond builders, protein, and moisturizers.
No matter what color you start with, don’t expect your hair to be platinum blonde after just one visit. After the first lightening or bleaching process, your hair will most likely be a very brassy shade of light brown with obvious red undertones. While this may not align with your blonde bombshell vision, it is the first step toward having lighter locks.
Step 3 – Lightening Again…and Again
Achieving a very light blonde color can take several visits to the salon. After waiting an appropriate amount of time – at least 8 weeks, although more is recommended – you’ll want to go back to get your hair lightened yet again. This will begin to rid your hair of that brassy bronze color that was left over from your first appointment. These next few appointments can span a year, which is why patience is key to creating a totally new look.
Keep in mind, the texture of your hair will play a role in how long achieving your desired look will take. If you have naturally textured hair or naturally curly hair, your strands are more delicate than those with thick, straight locks. This means that your hair is more prone to damage. If this is the case, keep your expectations in check – a deep golden blonde is more realistic than becoming platinum blonde.
Step 4 – Maintenance
Just because you got the color you were looking for doesn’t mean the work stops there. Artificially lightened hair requires proper maintenance. Because your strands have been lightened or bleached, they are far more susceptible to damage from heated styling tools. You’ll want to use your curling or flat iron sparingly if you plan on going blonde.
Naturally dark hair also means that your roots will have to be touched up every 6 weeks. Keep in mind that every salon visit can cost up to a couple of hundred dollars, depending on the experience level of your stylist. If this investment is too rich for your blood, consider highlights or balayage rather than a full head of blonde hair. These techniques require less frequent upkeep.
Alternatives To Hair Dye
Want blonde hair super-fast? Try one of these dye-free alternatives to get gorgeous blonde hair practically overnight.
Permanent Extensions
Extensions are a great way to get the hair color you’ve been dreaming of without ever touching a bottle of bleach. This can allow women with natural hair to completely change the color, length, or texture. Traditionally, hair is tightly braided to the scalp and artificial wefts of hair are sewn into place. If you have natural or textured hair and want to become platinum blonde, this procedure takes only a day and can last for several months.
An alternative is fusion extensions. This attaches faux hair strand by strand using a special kind of wax. Although expensive and time-consuming, this method lasts for up to 6 months and is incredibly natural looking. Glue-in extensions are another great alternative if you are looking to add a lighter color to your hair. During this process, wefts of hair are attached near the root using glue or another type of adhesive. While not as permanent or as reliable as traditional weave or fusion extensions, they are more affordable and can last for approximately 2 months if properly maintained.
Wigs
Rather than wefts (or sections) of hair, some ladies prefer to get entire wigs sewn into place. This is yet another way to achieve a head full of natural-looking platinum blonde hair in just a few hours. If you aren’t ready to take the plunge and get a wig semi-permanently attached to your head, simply trying one out for a few hours might do the trick. Thanks to the popularity of fake hair, most high-quality wigs look exceptionally realistic. Just be sure to spend the money so that you don’t look like you took a trip to the Halloween store.
How To Naturally Lighten Your Hair
If platinum blonde hair isn’t in your future, don’t fret. There are a few easy ways to naturally lighten your hair without causing permanent damage. Try out these products and techniques if you want to mix up your look for spring break or summer vacation.
Lemon
In the 1970s, women used to squirt lemon juice on their hair before heading out into the sun. The juice was said to lighten hair in a safe, chemical-free way. Even though this process pre-dates the internet, those ladies were on to something. To naturally lighten your locks, add some lemon before heading out the door. After a few uses, you’ll start to notice natural highlights forming in your hair.
Honey & Olive Oil
This concoction is another one that will leave you with lighter, natural-looking highlights. Simply mix together ¼ cup of raw honey and ¼ cup of olive oil. Stir them together and then apply the mixture to your hair where you would like highlights to form – adding it to the ends will create a natural ombre effect. After letting it sit for 30 – 60 minutes, step into the shower and massage it into your hair, focusing on the roots. When you rinse it out, you should notice some lighter strands.
Cinnamon
Creating an overnight hair mask with cinnamon will also do the trick. For this technique, add powdered cinnamon to ½ cup of conditioner, apply it to your hair, add a shower cap, and let it set overnight. In the morning, wash it out like you normally would. Not only will your hair be silkier and full of anti-oxidants – it will also be a little bit lighter.
Chamomile
Chamomile tea has long been used to naturally lighten dark hair. To begin, brew a very strong cup of chamomile tea and let it cool. Then, apply it anywhere you would like your hair to be lighter. Step out into the sun and let your hair dry for no less than 30 minutes. When you wash it out of your hair, you should notice natural highlights.
Henna Dyes
If you’re after a rich pop of red in your hair, henna dye is the way to go. This all-natural hair color will leave your locks with a slight twist of color without ever going overboard. Made of gentle ingredients, it will softly change the color of your hair without causing any damage whatsoever. I recommend using the Henna Hair Dyes from Lush Cosmetics. They are made of nourishing cocoa butter and leave your hair looking silky and smooth.
