Hair Bleaching

Hair bleaching is the deliberate lightening of hair colour by chemically altering or removing the natural melanin pigments in the cortex. It is performed for cosmetic reasons (to create blondes, fashion shades or a blank canvas for vivid colours) and can occur unintentionally through prolonged sun exposure (photobleaching).

Common chemical agents

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2): the primary oxidising agent used in most lightening products. In salon practice it is provided at different strengths (see "Developer volumes" below).
Persulfate salts (ammonium/potassium persulfate): used in powder bleaches or boosters to accelerate lift; active under alkaline conditions and when activated by heat or metals.
Alkaline agents (ammonia, monoethanolamine/MEA): raise the pH to open the cuticle and speed the oxidative reactions so lightening occurs more quickly.

Household sodium hypochlorite (household bleach) and strong acids are unsuitable for hair and can cause severe structural damage or chemical burns.

Developer volumes and lift

Developers are commonly discussed as percentage hydrogen peroxide or as salon "volumes":

10 vol ≈ 3% H2O2 (very mild lift)
20 vol ≈ 6% H2O2 (common for single‑process lightening)
30 vol ≈ 9% H2O2 (stronger lift; increased damage risk)
40 vol ≈ 12% H2O2 (maximum salon use in some systems; highest damage and scalp‑burn risk)

Higher strength gives more lift per application but increases cuticle swelling, cortex oxidation, and fibre weakening. Many stylists prefer staged lightening for very high lifts rather than a single aggressive application.

Typical process overview

Consultation & strand test: assess history, porosity, and realistic target shade; a strand test shows expected lift and damage risk.
Application techniques: on‑scalp full‑head, foils/highlights (off‑scalp), balayage (hand‑painted), or gloss/toner after lift.
Timing & monitoring: process time depends on natural pigment, product strength and desired level of lift — monitor frequently to avoid over‑processing.
Toning: after lift, a toner (depositing colour) or purple/blue products neutralise brassy yellow/orange undertones to achieve the desired shade.

Effects on hair structure

Oxidation removes melanin and alters keratin chemistry; repeated or heavy bleaching raises porosity, reduces tensile strength and can fracture disulphide bonds indirectly.
Cuticle lifting during bleaching increases roughness and friction, causing tangling and apparent dryness.

Risks & adverse reactions

Scalp burns and irritation: particularly with high‑strength products or when left too long; persulfates can provoke severe contact reactions.
Allergic and respiratory responses: persulfates and powder bleaches may cause dermatitis, rhinitis or asthma in sensitised individuals; adequate ventilation and personal protective equipment are important in salons.
Uneven lift and brassiness: dark or red pigments may leave warm undertones that require multiple sessions or specialised toners to neutralise.

Safe practice & salon guidance

Always perform a consultation and strand test before large lifts.
Avoid overlapping freshly bleached hair with a second bleach application; section and work conservatively.
Allow recovery time between aggressive chemical services (commonly several weeks) and avoid combining multiple oxidative processes in one visit without professional judgement.
Use gloves and protect the client's skin (petroleum jelly at the hairline) and your own respiratory protection when handling powdered persulfates.

Aftercare and maintenance

Toning & purple shampoos: use violet/purple toners or shampoos to counteract yellow/brassy tones.
Bond‑rebuilding treatments: salon bond builders can improve manageability and reduce breakage but do not fully restore virgin strength — combine with moisturising conditioners and protein treatments.
Lower‑temperature styling and UV protection: minimise heat and protect from sun to slow further photodegradation.
Moisture–protein balance: alternate gentle protein‑rich treatments with hydrating masks to restore a more resilient hair matrix.

Alternatives

High‑lift permanent dyes: can lighten a few levels without separate bleaching in some cases but still use peroxide and alkaline agents; less suited for very dark hair.
Semi‑permanent/toning shades and glosses: deposit pigment without strong lift — useful for refreshing tone with less damage.
Mechanical/sunlight methods: gradual, low‑damage lightening from sun or specialised lightening sprays, less predictable and slower.

Medical/forensic notes

Extensive chemical treatments including bleaching can alter drug/metabolite levels in hair used for forensic testing and may degrade certain analytes.

Writing Tips

Why It Matters Erotically: Bleached hair changes how light, skin and facial features read; it can signal risk-taking, transformation, and vulnerability — powerful states to explore in intimate scenes.
Sensory & Emotional Prompts: Describe the sting of peroxide on the scalp, the metallic smell of chemicals, the gritty feel of powder bleach, the hum of salon heat lamps, the dizzy excitement of a character choosing a new look, or the shame/pride that follows a drastic change.
Focus Areas For Scenes: Contrast (pale hair against warm skin), texture (stubbly regrowth vs. soft bleached ends), ritual (salon chair, towels, foils), aftercare touch (applying bond treatments, massaging in masks), and the social/identity implications of altering appearance.

Writing Examples

Her hair came out of the chair like a promise — too bright against her warm skin, each platinum strand rebelling against the light. She ran her palms through the softened ends and felt, absurdly, like someone else with the same name.

Why it works: Uses contrast and bodily reaction to show identity shift; tactile detail (softened ends) grounds the emotional change.

The powder tasted like ozone in the air as the stylist folded foil after foil; the peroxide hissed, and under the lamp she hunched into the heat, part-excited, part-afraid. When she looked in the mirror, the edges of her face seemed sharper, new.

Why it works: Salon sensory details (hiss, lamp heat, foil ritual) create immediacy; split emotion (excitement + fear) makes the transformation intimate.

Common Pitfalls & How To Avoid Them

Being Overly Clinical: Avoid long chemistry lectures in erotic or intimate scenes — keep technical detail brief and sensory-led unless the voice calls for it.
Inaccurate Technical Detail: If you include developer strengths or chemical names, use approximate ranges (e.g., low/medium/high developer) rather than precise percentages unless you research primary sources; alternatively, use generic terms like “strong developer” or “staged lift.”
Fetishisation Without Consent: Avoid eroticising non-consensual or harmful behaviour (e.g., forcing colour changes on someone without agency). Emphasise consent and emotional context.
Ignoring Aftercare: For realism, show follow-up care (bond treatments, purple shampoos, conditioning) when you describe heavy lightening — it signals responsibility and character knowledge.