How to Bleach a Beard

White beard hair is commonly found on older gentlemen.

As a man ages his beard hair will begin to take on a salt-and-pepper appearance. This happens because the hair follicle cells stop producing melanin which determines your hair color. While this is perfectly normal, many men prefer to have one shade of beard hair. Bleaching is an option for men who wish to have pure white facial hair; however, bleach alone will turn the hair an unnatural shade of yellow. Avoid this dilemma by bleaching with a toner.

Things You'll Need

• Petroleum jelly
• Bleaching kit with toner
• Plastic cling wrap

Instructions

1. Obtain a toner kit designed for facial hair in a white, silver or blonde tone that is equivalent to the color you desire. Kits are found at beauty supply stores; however, if you are unsure of what selection is correct, consult a professional colorist to choose the right color.

2. Coat the areas around your beard line with petroleum jelly to prevent burning during the coloring process. While the kit is designed for facial hair, it may cause a tingling or stinging sensation to areas that do not contain facial hair.

3. Read through the manufacturers directions entirely to verify mixing directions and time allowance for the mixture. Mix the developer and the bleach in a small bowl using the coloring brush included within the kit.

4. Apply the bleach mixture to the beard area only with the coloring brush. Work around the hair line to prevent the mixture from coming in contact with the skin. If the mixture comes in contact, wipe away quickly with a paper towel and reapply a coating of petroleum jelly.

5. Cover the beard with plastic cling wrap and wait the allotted time recommended by the manufacturer. Remove the plastic when the time is complete and rinse the beard with clean water. The water will run clear when there is no more bleach present.

6. Mix the toner and the developer in a second bowl. This will complete the bleaching process, remove any brassiness and seal the white into the beard. Apply the mixture to the beard in the same manner as the bleach mixture; however, there is no need to apply petroleum jelly to the skin area. Wait the allotted time recommended by the manufacturer.

7. Rinse the beard completely and dry. Repeat the process if necessary until the beard is completely white.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear old clothing when bleaching the beard hairs. The bleaching mixture may drip during the application process.

• Bleach may dry out or damage your beard hairs. Follow up the bleaching process with a hydrating conditioning treatment.

• Rinse hair immediately if skin begins to react to the bleach mixture.

References

• Everyday Health; Why Does Hair Go Gray?; Chris Iliades; July 2010
• Hairfinder: Bleach a Beard
• Blonde Ambition: Second Stage of Going Blonde at Home

Resources

• "Esquire"; The Suggestion: Mind the Beard Line; Peter Martin; May 2008