Want to try something new with hair? No need to look anywhere else! Dyeing your hair in pastel colors can give you a unique look. You have to bleach your hair first before getting that cool look. Scroll to Step 1 to start getting pastel-colored hair!
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Part 1 of 2: Whiten Hair
Step 1. Choose a hair whitening product to use
Hair should be bleached first if it wasn't platinum blonde or white before. If this is your first time, start with a hair whitening product. These products contain dyes and peroxides to whiten hair.
- Hair whitening products will be labeled white, blue, or purple. Blues and purples can add cool tones to help reduce the look of hair with a dreadfully warm (yellowish-orange) hue. Blue is best for covering orange hair, and purple is best for covering yellow hair. White color is generally used, without the addition of other shades.
- If this is your first time bleaching or dyeing your own hair at home, seriously consider doing it at a salon. Bleaching is the most difficult part of the whole process of getting pastel-colored hair, and can make it look dead and very dry if done incorrectly. Consider going to the salon to bleach your hair, then dye it yourself in pastel colors (or let the stylist do the whole process).
Step 2. Make sure your hair is not freshly washed before you start bleaching it
Hair bleaching products can irritate the skin if they come into contact with the scalp. To avoid this, or at least reduce irritation, you shouldn't wash your hair for several days before planning to bleach it. Natural hair oils will help reduce irritation caused by bleaching products.
- Using a toner on hair that has been dyed yellowish blonde is enough to lighten it. The Virgin Snow variant by Manic Panic is a good quality refresher that won't drain your wallet.
- If the results of using a freshener are not what you want, use another whitening method, like this one, instead. The way to whiten hair without damaging it too much is with a bleach bath (a mixture of bleach powder and shampoo).
Step 3. Choose a whitening product based on the developer used
The developer liquid (peroxide) is available in volumes of 10, 20, 30, or 40. However, whitening products will not contain volumes of 10 because they are not intended for bleaching hair. Do not use bleaching powder with 40 volume developer, this product is so harsh that it will damage your hair too much.
- Use 10 volume developer if your hair is light blonde. While bleaching blonde hair may sound weird, using 10 volume developer will help open up the pores, making it easier for the pastel dye to absorb.
- Use volume 20 build-up on light to medium brown, or auburn hair.
- Use 30 volume developer if your hair is dark brown or black.
- Keep in mind that the higher the volume of developer liquid, which is used with the bleaching powder, will determine HOW FAST the bleaching process is. NOT how light hair will get.
Step 4. Do a strand test (test color on several strands of hair) first
Strand test will help you to find out how long it takes to whiten your hair. Cut a few strands of hair at the base of the neck (where no one else can see), and use adhesive tape to hold them together. Mix 1 tablespoon full of bleaching powder, from the product you used, with 1 tablespoon full of peroxide developer.
- Dip your hair in the bleach mixture. Wait five minutes, then remove the dye with a washcloth. Keep dyeing and wait for five minutes for the strands to get the color you want. This amount of time is the amount of time it takes to bleach all the hair on your head.
- Don't rely too much on the strand test results. Different parts of the hair will process at different speeds, and may even contain different chemicals.
Step 5. Prepare the bleaching area
This area will be the same as when you dyed your hair. Place an unused towel (which is okay if it gets stained) near where the bleaching is done, the dye is likely to stain whatever it comes in contact with (which is the purpose of the stain itself). You'll also need a thin brush with a tapered tip, latex (or rubber) gloves, and a non-metallic bowl. Also put an unused towel around your shoulders.
- If possible, ask a friend for help with the whitening process as it can be difficult to do it alone.
- You can buy a thin brush at any beauty supply store if the whitening product doesn't come in the box.
Step 6. Mix the bleach powder packet with the developer liquid
Follow the directions on the whitening product's packaging to mix it properly. Use a white or unused bowl, as the bleach can absorb the color from the ceramic. Plastic bowls are best used for mixing the dye.
Step 7. Divide the hair into sections
Use the pointed end of a thin brush to part the hair in the center of your head so that the part is completely in the middle. Then divide the hair from the tip of one ear to the other, so you have four sections of hair at this point. Use bobby pins to hold sections of hair in place.
Step 8. Whiten the hair
If there are friends around, this is the time to ask for their help. If not, make sure you stand in front of a mirror so you can see the bleaching process. Take a few strands of hair from one of the tops of the four sections. Color the section with the dye, starting from 1 cm above the roots to the tips of the hair. Apply the hair dye using a brush from top to bottom (in the direction the hair is growing), leaving the 1cm section near the roots unstained (this step will be done later).
Step 9. Flip the dyed hair back to its original position
Then repeat the same process on the undyed lower strands of hair, continuing to flip each layer that has been colored to reveal the next layer of hair. When you've finished section, move on to the next section until all of your hair is colored.
Step 10. Add a second coat of bleach to the section of hair you first colored
Do this step when the section of hair has turned golden blonde. This time, apply the bleach using a thin brush from the roots to the tips of each strand. Repeat the same process for each section of hair.
Step 11. Monitor hair color
When the dyed hair reaches a pale blonde color (whiter than blonde), it's time to rinse it. Wash your hair using shampoo. You should use a pre-colored shampoo in preparation for the hair coloring process. Do not use conditioner as it can cause uneven staining. Rinse hair thoroughly.
- Hair may or may not be platinum colored after the bleaching process is complete. Instructions for use on whitening products will tend to say that hair can be left on for 50 minutes. This is a bad idea. If your hair is still very dark (or very orange) after 30 minutes, the bleaching process will need to be repeated. It's better to bleach your hair twice for 30 minutes than once for almost an hour.
- White hair is not common after the bleaching process! The lightest color you will get when you bleach your hair is pale yellow. Once your hair has reached a pale yellow color, use a toner or a permanent blonde high lift technique for a white finish. Bleaching in excess of white is very dangerous, because when the hair reaches it, there is no more pigment left and the hair will be damaged (dry, limp, fall out) if the chemical process is continued any further.
Part 2 of 2: Coloring Hair
Step 1. Dry the hair
If it persists, blow dry your hair to speed up the dyeing process--drying your hair on high heat will help it absorb the dye more easily.
Step 2. Pour the white conditioner into the mixing bowl
White conditioner is very important to use. Conditioner is useful as a base to be mixed with dye. Add the dye after the conditioner has been put in the mixing bowl.
The best hair dyes to use for pastel colors include Manic Panic, Pravana, Shasa, and Miranda (Garnier is not recommended)
Step 3. Start by mixing a small amount of dye into the conditioner
Mix the two ingredients so that the colors are evenly mixed in the conditioner. As a general rule, the color you see in the bowl is what your hair will get once the process is complete. Keep mixing the dye until the color you see in the bowl is what you want.
If you're worried that the dye will run off your hair, add more to the mixture just enough to make it look a shade darker than you really want
Step 4. Apply the dye mixture to the hair
Start at the roots of your hair and apply the dye all the way to the ends. You can choose to use the applicator, brush, or hand to do this. Sometimes, using gloved hands is the best way. If a friend is around, ask if you missed a section, or have them color your hair.
Step 5. Pile the dyed hair together on top of your head and cover it with a shower cap
It's important to cover your hair with a shower cap while waiting for the coloring process. A shower cap will make sure the dye doesn't dry out (this will result in an uneven color). Absorption time depends on how dark you want the color to be--generally it will take 30 to 45 minutes for regular pastels (as opposed to light or dark). However, the duration of the coloring is up to you--observe the color of the hair as it progresses.
Step 6. Check the hair color to make sure the process is complete
After 20 minutes or so, wash a strand of hair and see if it has reached the desired color. If it's too light, let the coloring process continue. Check back every 5 to 10 minutes to make sure the color doesn't get too dark.
Step 7. Wash your hair with cold water
Rinse your hair with cold water once you reach the desired color. You don't need (and shouldn't use) shampoo or conditioner. Don't worry if the color will run from your head to the drains--this is natural and won't affect the color you've already done.
Step 8. Blow dry your hair to check for uneven color
Wet hair always looks darker than dry hair, so it's important to dry it first before panicking thinking the dyeing process has failed. Use a blow dryer and dry hair thoroughly.
Step 9. Recolor the uneven parts
If you find that one section of your hair is lighter than the other (and you don't want it to look that way), reapply the dye to that section and let it absorb. Check it often to make sure your hair doesn't get darker than the rest.
Step 10. Mix a small amount of dye with your regular conditioner
If you want to keep your hair color, adding dye to your conditioner will keep it from fading.
Tips
- Some good quality hair dyes include: Manic Panic Atomic Turquoise (pastel blue), Miranda 0.65 (pastel purple), Manic Panic Cotton Candy Pink (pastel pink). Mixing dyes to get interesting colors is also a fun idea.
- It doesn't matter if you use any brand of conditioner, you can also use a cheap one. A large amount of conditioner will be needed to keep your hair pastel in color.
