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Is Lightening Your Hair with Hydrogen
Peroxide Damaging?
Healthline
Hydrogen peroxide is a colorless liquid chemical. Some
small amounts occur naturally, but the hydrogen peroxide you find in stores or
salons is synthesized in labs.
It can be used as a disinfectant and as bleach,
including as a hair lightener. Because of this, hydrogen peroxide is an
ingredient in many blonde hair dyes.
While it’s generally safe to use hydrogen peroxide on
your skin and hair, it can cause skin, lung, and eye irritation.
Hydrogen peroxide to lighten hair
Hydrogen peroxide is commonly used to lighten hair. It
may be used on its own or in other blonde dyes.
Hair dye with hydrogen peroxide is considered
permanent dye, which means that it will only go away as new hair grows.
This is because hydrogen peroxide works in the hair
cortex, the innermost part of the hair that holds the pigment that gives hair
its color.
Hydrogen-peroxide-based dyes alone can help take your
hair to a light blonde color.
These dyes are also often used to turn dark hair a
lighter color before adding another color of dye. It can turn dark brown hair
red, for example.
Hydrogen peroxide and hair damage
Hydrogen peroxide is generally safe for your hair, but
it can cause some issues, even in the concentrations you can buy for home use.
Skin irritation
When dyeing your hair with hydrogen peroxide, you
might experience irritation on your scalp and around your hairline.
You can help prevent irritation by making sure your
hairline is protected by petroleum jelly and clean cotton, and keeping the
hydrogen peroxide in your hair for as little time as possible.
Damage to the hair cuticle
The cuticle is the outer layer of your hair. It
protects and helps strengthen it.
Lightening your hair with hydrogen peroxide can damage
the cuticle, because the hydrogen peroxide needs to enter through your hair
cuticle to dye the hair.
Cuticle damage can lead to breakage, split ends, and
frizz.
Deep conditioner treatments will help reduce damage to
the hair cuticle.
Hair loss
Hydrogen peroxide is a type of oxidative hair dye.
This means it causes a chemical reaction in the hair cortex that leads to the
new hair color.
While oxidative dyes are more permanent than other
dyes, this also means they cause oxidative stress for your hair. This stress
ages your hair and can cause hair loss.
Breakage from damage to the hair cuticle can also lead
to hair loss.
How to lighten hair with hydrogen peroxide
Make sure you dilute the hydrogen peroxide, protect
the skin around your hairline, and go slowly to get the right color without
irritating your skin.
Dyes containing hydrogen peroxide
Many permanent dyes you can buy in a drugstore include
hydrogen peroxide. These dyes use hydrogen peroxide to strip your natural hair
color and make the dye last longer.
Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda
Baking soda is an alkaline, which helps hydrogen
peroxide work better in two ways.
First, it opens up the cuticle to allow the hydrogen
peroxide to get into the hair cortex more easily. Second, when mixed with
hydrogen peroxide, it helps break down the melanin in hair.
To lighten your hair with hydrogen peroxide and baking
soda, mix the two ingredients into a paste, and spread it evenly throughout
your hair.
Leave it on for 15 minutes to an hour, depending on
how dark your hair is, and then rinse it out with cold water.
Hydrogen peroxide alone
Make a mix of half hydrogen peroxide and half water.
Put it in a spray bottle and spray a small test piece first. This is to make
sure that you don’t have an allergic reaction and you’re happy with the
resulting color.
Once you’re satisfied with the color, cover your neck
and shoulders with a clean towel you don’t mind staining.
Then saturate your hair with the hydrogen peroxide
solution and leave it on for 15 minutes to an hour. Rinse your hair well.
At a salon
A trained hairstylist and colorist can use hydrogen
peroxide in a salon to lighten your hair. They’ll make sure to match the final
color to your skin tone and can add highlights if necessary.
Alternative hair-lightening products
Lemon juice
Lemon juice works best on dark blonde or light brown
hair.
Combine lemon juice with water and saturate your hair
with the mixture. Let your hair dry for a few hours — preferably in the sun —
and then rinse it out.
Apple cider vinegar
Mix one part apple cider vinegar with six parts water
and spray it all over your hair.
Leave the mixture on for 15 to 20 minutes, and then
rinse thoroughly. This color change might be more subtle than some of the
others.
Chamomile
Brew a strong cup of chamomile tea and saturate your
hair. This lightens your hair gradually, but should work for most hair colors.
Chamomile can also brighten dull blonde hair.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a great way to bring out red and blonde
highlights in your hair.
Just mix cinnamon powder with water to form a paste,
and it spread throughout your hair. Cover your hair, leave the paste on for
several hours, and then rinse.
Honey
Mix honey with warm water and spread it throughout
your hair. Wrap up your hair and leave the mixture on for several hours.
You can even leave the honey on as long as overnight,
since it only lightens your hair slightly. Then rinse it out.
The takeaway
Hydrogen peroxide and dyes containing it are a safe
way to lighten your hair.
However, it’s best used in a salon to minimize hair
damage and ensure you get the right color.
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