As many people already know, Clorox bleach has been around for a long time and is very inexpensive when compared to other methods of bleaching hair. Clorox has been used by many people with varying degrees of success.
In this article, I will discuss the effectiveness of Clorox, its potential dangers, and whether or no to use Clorox bleach on hair. Let’s start!
Contents
What is Clorox?
Clorox (Sodium hypochlorite) is an organic compound that is basically a salt made from the bleach. It is used in the household to remove stains from clothes, disinfect surfaces, remove bacteria and viruses, and treat water. It is also used to purify swimming pools, aquariums, and even some fish tanks.
The main ingredient in Clorox bleach is sodium hypochlorite. Sodium hypochlorite is a contact irritant, corrosive, and strong oxidizing agent (which is why it is used as a bleach). Clorox is a product that is intended for the maintenance of household items and not for use on the body.
The Effects of Bleaching Hair With Clorox
As you can see, bleaching your strands with Clorox is a bad idea, but what happens if you put Clorox bleach in your hair? Clorox will not only whiten your hair but will also strip all the natural oils from it, make it dry, brittle, and unmanageable.
The most likely outcome would be that your locks will break at the points where the bleach contacts your scalp. The color of your hair will be lightened, but it will also be damaged. Clorox will also dry your hair out, leaving it feeling rough and brittle.
The bleach will damage the strands at the surface, making it become brittle and even break. If you are interested in dying your hair, it’s probably best to stick to less harsh products.
How to Bleach Hair with Clorox?
So, can you bleach your hair with Clorox? Yes, you can. But be very careful because Clorox can easily damage and burn hair and turn it into a straw. In fact, we do NOT recommend bleaching your locks with Clorox.
If you still want to use Clorox, here is what to do.
Things you’ll need
- Bleach: Clorox bleach OR other bleach that is designed to remove and lift color
- Applicator: A plastic bottle with a cap (such as a shampoo bottle) or a spray bottle
- Plastic gloves
- Plastic shower cap
- A towel / old T-shirt
- A bowl
- Water
- A hair mask
- Vaseline
Bleaching steps
Follow these steps to whiten your hair with Clorox.
Step 1: Wash and condition your hair
Wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner. This will help soften your strands and remove any dirt that may hinder the bleaching process. You can also apply a hair mask before bleaching. Use a mask that is enriched with proteins and moisture because bleaching hair with Clorox dries it.
Step 2: Let your hair dry
I would recommend you dry hair naturally. If you use a hairdryer, the hot air from the dryer may damage your strands and make them frizzy. Today your locks are going to go through a lot, don’t make it worse.
Step 3: Mix the bleach
When your hair is almost dry, you can start mixing the bleach. To do this, put on your plastic gloves and take a plastic bottle (such as a shampoo bottle) with you. The proportions should be 1/3 bleach powder and 2/3 water.
Take Clorox bleach into the plastic bottle and close the bottle’s cap. Then, shake the bottle to mix the bleach.
Step 4: Use protection
Put Vaseline on your ears, neck, and back of your head. This is to prevent the mixture from getting on your skin and ears.
Step 5: Do a strand test
Before you apply the bleach, we recommend you do a strand test to make sure you can tolerate the bleach, and your hair does not have any bad reaction to the bleach.
Apply a little Clorox on a strand. Let it stay for 20-30 minutes. Rinse the bleach and see how your lock feels. If it feels normal, then you can whiten your whole hair. If it feels burning, then you should stop bleaching immediately and wash your head with warm water.
Step 6: Apply the mixture
You can apply the bleach directly to your strands, or you can place it in your plastic bottle in order to make the application easier. Start applying the mixture from the bottom of your hair while keeping your plastic gloves on. Don’t forget to use a comb in order to spread the mixture evenly over your locks.
Step 7: Time it
After you apply the bleach, time it for 20-30 minutes. Do not leave the bleach for too long. Use a shower to cover your hair while you’re waiting.
Step 8: Wash it off
When you are done with the bleach, make sure you wash your head with lots of clean water. You don’t want the bleach to stay in your hair. You shouldn’t use shampoo as it will make your locks dry and straw-like.
Wash your head in cool water, thus closing the hair shaft and helping the strands to keep the color.
Step 9: Condition and style
Now that you have washed the bleach off your hair, you will need to condition it. Conditioning will help to soften your locks and make them feel nice. Apply conditioner with massaging moves. It will help the water to get to the roots and also push out any extra bleach that might be left in your hair.
Once you have conditioned the hair, you can style it. Try not to style it too much because you don’t want to damage your locks further.
A few important tips
To make this quite dangerous process safer, please, follow the tips below.
- Mix the bleach in a well-ventilated area, otherwise, the fumes from it may be harmful to your health.
- Do not mix the bleach with hot water because the hot water may cause the bleach to release toxic gases.
- To avoid eye injury, wear your goggles or glasses.
- You can either pour the bleach into the bottle and then shake it and mix it, or you can use a dropper.
- Never use metal objects to apply the bleach.
- Wear a protective mask to avoid inhaling the fumes.
- Always test the mixture on a small area of your hair before you begin to whiten your whole head.
Related Post:
- Best Color Depositing Shampoos
- Best Color Depositing Conditioners
- Best Color Depositing Conditioners for Grey Hair
Final Words
What you need to remember is that bleach is very harsh on your hair. It can very easily damage your strands and turn it into a straw. And since hair bleaching is not permanent, you will have to do this several times before you get the desired look.
What do you think of this method? Have you ever tried this method before? Do you know of any other method to bleach your hair with Clorox? Please share your experience with us in the comments below. We would love to hear your thoughts.
