Bleached my own hair for 5 years before a stylist pointed out my mistake

I always thought you needed to go straight for the roots first. Had a friend in Portland who does color for a living watch me one time. She told me to start mid-shaft and do roots last. Said the scalp heat processes faster. Well my roots came out orange for years. Now I get why. Anybody else learn a basic technique way later than they should have?

3 comments

3 Comments

jesse_barnes3721d ago

My first bleach disaster actually happened because I didn't factor in that I'd used clarifying shampoo the night before. A hairdresser friend told me later that stripping all the natural oils like that makes the bleach soak in way faster and unevenly, especially at the roots. So it wasn't just the order of application for me, it was literally setting my hair up to fry before I even started lol.

leo2382mo ago

I mean, honestly... is orange roots really that big of a deal? I've been doing my own bleach at home for like three years and I just kinda hit everything at once and call it a day. My hair's not falling out or anything. Maybe it's just me but if it looks okay in the end who really cares about the order? Feels like a lot of fuss over something that works out fine anyway.

valwest2mo ago

Laughing out loud at "hit everything at once and call it a day" because that is basically a chemistry experiment gone wrong, you know? Orange roots aren't just a color thing, it's literally different porosity levels from new growth versus bleached ends reacting completely differently. What works for you is great and all, but I've seen too many friends end up with mushy breakage from skipping the "last half inch" rule to pretend it's not a real risk.