A mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda can lighten hair a few shades lighter than hydrogen peroxide alone. This is because the addition of baking soda will form a paste that does not dry quickly. Plus, baking soda can lighten your hair color too! Before bleaching your hair, wash your hair and separate it into sections using bobby pins. After that, mix hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to form a paste, and apply it to your hair. Finally, rinse your hair and dry it by aerating it.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Washing and Parting Hair
Step 1. Wash your hair before you bleach it
As much as possible, hair should be as clean as possible when you use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda so that both ingredients can be absorbed into your hair. Use your regular shampoo and conditioner to remove dirt and oil. After washing your hair, don't use additional products like leave-in conditioner or styling cream.
Don't leave any product or oil residue behind, as hydrogen peroxide and baking soda can't get into your hair
Step 2. Blow dry your hair until it's slightly damp
When using a hydrogen peroxide and baking soda paste, your hair will absorb the brightening agent better when it's damp, not wet. Usually, you need to let your hair air out for about 30 minutes. However, you may not have to wait too long if you have fine, fine hair. For thick hair, the drying process may take longer.
Do not use a hairdryer to speed up the drying process, as the heat generated can damage your hair. It's a good idea to rest your hair because the color lightening or bleaching process that will be carried out has the potential to damage the hair
Step 3. Put on a shirt that you don't wear often and cover your shoulders with an old towel
Since hydrogen peroxide can bleach fabrics, it's a good idea to use old clothes and towels to protect your skin. Choose clothes or towels that you don't mind getting damaged or exposed to the materials used.
- Alternatively, protect your skin with a salon robe or even a large plastic bag with openings for the head and arms (eg a poncho).
- Protect the work area with newsprint, unused towels, and trash bags from getting paste. While they won't stain like hair dye, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda paste can change the surface color of some items.
Tip:
If you often lighten or dye your hair, it's a good idea to purchase a salon gown to protect your skin and clothing. Cloaks like this are usually sold at relatively affordable prices and can be obtained easily at beauty product stores or the internet.
Step 4. Separate the hair into 4 sections
Divide the hair from the center of the head (vertically) to form two segments. After that, divide each segment again horizontally (at ear level) until you have 4 sections of hair. Hold each section with bobby pins until it is ready to be bleached.
- If you have thick hair, you may need to make some extra sections. For example, you can separate your hair into 6-8 sections to make the bleaching process easier and apply the paste evenly.
- If you just want to highlight the outermost layer of your hair, you may not need to separate your hair into sections.
Part 2 of 4: Mixing Pasta
Step 1. Wear gloves to protect the skin
Even with the use of optional gloves, skin on hands exposed to hydrogen peroxide over a long period of time may develop redness and irritation. Also, you can whiten your nails or fingers. Therefore, it's a good idea to wear gloves to protect your skin.
Use disposable gloves or reusable kitchen gloves
Step 2. Pour 230 grams of baking soda into a large plastic or ceramic bowl
Measure out the baking soda, then put it in a bowl. Once the baking soda has been added, shake the bowl to break up any clumps of soda.
Tip:
Use a plastic or ceramic bowl to mix the ingredients. It's a good idea not to mix bleaching products (including natural ingredients like hydrogen peroxide) in a metal bowl, as this can trigger a chemical reaction.
Step 3. Add 3 tablespoons (45 ml) of hydrogen peroxide at a concentration of 3%
Measure out 3% hydrogen peroxide and pour it into a bowl of baking soda. The mixture may be bubbly, but don't worry. The foam is a normal reaction between hydrogen peroxide and baking soda.
- Since you're not using a lot of hydrogen peroxide, the mixture may not foam at all.
- Do not use hydrogen peroxide with a concentration above 3% because it can damage hair.
Step 4. Mix the ingredients using a plastic spoon until the consistency remains
Use a spoon to break up any clumps of baking soda that have formed on the paste. Keep stirring the mixture until all the ingredients are evenly mixed.
Do not use a metal spoon. You are advised not to use metal objects when mixing bleach. Keep in mind that the chemicals in bleach can react with metals
Part 3 of 4: Applying Pasta
Step 1. Test the mixture on a few strands of hair first before bleaching your entire hair to see the bleaching results
It's a good idea to do a mix test before lightening your hair color so you can see the results. To do the test, coat a few strands of hair from an inconspicuous area (eg the back of your head) with a paste of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, then wait 30 minutes before rinsing your hair. This process will show the effect the paste has on the hair. Also, it won't be as obvious if you don't like the bleaching finish or have a negative reaction to the paste.
- Based on the strand test, you can decide if you can still bleach your hair using hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. In addition, you can also determine whether you need less or more paste on your hair to get the results you want, as well as how long you need to wait to see the whitening results.
- You may need to make more paste before bleaching your hair as the paste used in the strand test will dry out.
Step 2. Keep in mind that the hair color will be 1-2 shades lighter
Hydrogen peroxide and bleach can usually lighten your hair 1-2 shades lighter so your hair color won't go from dark to blonde right away. Keep in mind that reddish, orange, or yellowish hues in your hair will be noticeable, especially if you have dark hair. If your hair absorbs hydrogen peroxide and soda well, you may see results like these:
- Blond hair will appear lighter.
- Light brown hair will look blonde, but with a duller or darker tone.
- Medium brown hair will turn light brown.
- Dark brown hair will turn medium brown or golden brown.
- Black hair usually turns dark brown or reddish brown.
- Red hair will turn orange or reddish blonde (strawberry blond).
Step 3. Use a brush or brush to coat each section and lighten the entire hair
Start at the bottom so you can easily coat your hair thoroughly. Make sure you apply the paste all over your hair because the missing sections will look very contrasting. If you have thick hair, separate your hair into additional sections to distribute the paste more thoroughly. When you're done bleaching a section, comb your hair to redistribute the paste in an even layer.
Cover your head with a shower cap to prevent the paste from dripping onto your body or clothes. In addition, the shower cap can retain the natural heat from the body so that the paste can whiten hair easily
Step 4. Use a brush to coat only the ends of the hair and get an ombre effect
Apply the paste to the ends of your hair first, which is usually the part with the lightest color. After that, gradually layer the hair strands until they reach the center of the strands. However, don't stop at the same point or height for each section you're dyed so you don't create a straight line effect that looks weird on your hair. Choose a different finishing point or height on each section to make the gradation of dark to light hair appear smoother.
Apply the paste thickly to the ends of your hair, and thin a layer of paste over the top of the strands. That way, you can create a neater gradient to a darker color on the top of your head. Make sure you run the brush through the strands of hair vertically, and not horizontally
Step 5. Apply the paste on several strands of hair using old toothpaste to create a highlight effect
Choose a section of hair that is less than 0.5-0.6 centimeters wide. After that, place the foil under it. Coat the section with paste starting at the roots, then fold the foil to separate the bleached section from the rest of the hair. Reapply the paste to the smaller sections of your hair until you've finished bleaching the four sections of hair that you separated from the start.
If you only want to lighten the top layer, you don't have to worry about separating your hair into sections. However, the highlighting process that is done all over the hair (not just the top) makes the hair color look more natural, especially if you often style or tie your hair
Step 6. Leave the paste on your hair for about 30-60 minutes
Check your hair after 30 minutes by removing the paste from a small section of hair at the back of your head. When you are satisfied with the resulting color, rinse your hair. If your hair color is not light enough, wait another 30 minutes (total, 60 minutes) before rinsing your hair.
Warning:
Don't leave the paste on your hair for more than 60 minutes as it can damage your hair.
Part 4 of 4: Removing Paste from Hair
Step 1. Rinse hair with cold water to remove the paste
Wet the paste to soften it, then use your fingers to lift it from the hair. Stand in the shower to rinse hair from the paste. Use cold water because it can lock or close the hair strands so that the hair looks shinier.
If possible, avoid shampooing after bleaching your hair. Rest your hair after you lighten the color
Step 2. Treat hair with conditioner, then rinse with warm water
Use regular conditioner or toning conditioner if your hair looks golden, then massage the product into your scalp to relieve irritation from the hydrogen peroxide and baking soda paste. After that, leave the conditioner on your hair for about 3 minutes before rinsing your hair with cold water.
Cold water can seal or lock the strands and make them appear shinier
Tip:
You may need to use a deep conditioner after bleaching your hair. This product helps restore moisture lost to hair during the bleaching or lightening process.
Step 3. Air dry your hair after bleaching it to prevent breakage
Using hot products, such as a blow dryer or iron, can damage your hair. Therefore, you should not use these tools after bleaching your hair. Allow your hair to recover for a few days before returning to hot tools if you wish.
When you style your hair with a heat source, use a hair protection product to reduce breakage. The bleaching process can dry out your hair, so you will need to treat your hair more carefully afterward
Step 4. Wait for at least a week before lightening or bleaching your hair again
You may be eager to get the end result you want, but it's a good idea not to rush. Although safe to use, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda can cause damage to hair if used too often. If you want to lighten your hair again, wait at least a week before bleaching your hair again. However, waiting for two weeks is considered much better for the condition of your hair.
This will keep your hair healthy while you're trying to create a new hair look
Tips
- In one treatment, a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda can lighten hair 1-2 shades lighter.
- If used in small amounts, hydrogen peroxide with a concentration of 3% will not damage hair. However, hair can show signs of damage if it's been dyed or treated with chemicals, or if your hair is really dry.
