Can Bleaching My Hair Make it Fall Out?
It's true that bleaching can make your hair fall out, but not for the reason you might think. Bleach is a powerful chemical that breaks down pigmentation and protein molecules. Here are some essential facts about bleaching hair to help you understand the job it does, so that you can control the outcome. Does this Spark an idea?
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The Benefit of Bleach
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Blond is Beautiful Bleach is a powerful lightener. No other chemical can lighten hair as much or as quickly. Compared to hair dyes, which can only lighten four levels higher than the base color of hair and stops forty minutes after exposure to air, bleach is not limited.
How Bleach Works
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Bleached White Bleach needs a catalyst to work. According to research published in the "Journal of Cosmetic Science," the action of bleach breaks hair molecules down. Thus, when activated with a peroxide catalyst, bleach becomes like hungry little Pac-Mans, eating the hair's color molecules. If bleach is not stopped before it has eaten all the color in your hair, it will continue to break down the protein hair is composed of. That's why it is important to stop the bleach just after hair reaches the desired level and just before all the color is gone.
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Effects of Heat With Bleach
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Putting on the heat Heat speeds up bleach's lightening action, according to Claude Bouillon and John Wilkinson in "The Science of Hair Care," so don't let bleach sit on hair under heat without checking frequently. The same principle applies to bleach applied directly on the root area; the heat of the scalp will speed bleaching action at that location.
When and How to Stop Bleach
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Stop with Shampoo According to Bouillon and Wilkinson, bleach action stops when diluted with water. Ideally, bleach should be rinsed off while there is still a little yellow color left in the hair; if left until hair is white, the hair becomes fragile. After a thorough rinse, hair can be shampooed and conditioned.
When Not to Bleach
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A professional hairdresser can tell when hair is too fragile to bleach, as hair becomes when severely damaged by chemical processes. It will become impossible to repair, will not hold color and can literally disintegrate.
When to Bleach
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Maximum success is achieved on healthy, clean hair. Hair can be primed with a deep moisturizing or protein treatment a few days before bleaching.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of D. Sharon Pruitt Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of SmilingStrong Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of nutmeg) (megan soh Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Eliazar Parra Cardenas Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of megan ann
