HairToday
Bleaching versusTinting
Gary Callan
You'll often hear a stylistsay "to go any lighter we'll have to use bleach.". Clientsusually respond with "What's the difference?"
Many people think that anythingthat lightens the hair is a bleach. This is not true. A bleachwill remove colour from the hair. That's all. A tint replacesthe colour with a new colour. Different manufacturers claim theirproducts will do certain things but a general rule is that tintswill only lift the hair 4 shades.
Some high-lift tints claimto lighten up to 5 shades but this is only on hair that is lightbrown or lighter.
A bleach will take the hairthrough several stages of lightening from deep orange to verypale yellow.
One thing I find here inCayman is that I very rarely have to apply a toner after bleachinghighlights. I think this is because the sun starts the lighteningprocess and keeps the hair brighter. The strength of the bleachis determined by the volume (strength) of the peroxide. The averagebleach will lift with 2o volume peroxide. If you need to go higher,there are special 'on-the scalp' bleaches. There usuallycontain an ingredient that prevents burning.
If you have dark hair andwant to go blond, bleach may be inevitable. The dark pigment inyour hair will have to be removed. When the hair reaches a lightenough shade a toner will be applied to achieve the desired colour.A full head bleach will go to very pale yellow and will appearwhite. If a more subtle look is want you want, the bleach canbe rinsed off at a 'darker' shade.
I think it's fair to saythat almost any hair can be changed to every colour available.I did share my personal philosophy on colour before, but for thoseof you who missed it here it is:
Three Shades Lighter, neverdarker!
This is not a hard and fastrule, rather a guide for no problem colouring. We do an awfullot of dramatic hair colour in my salons, and they range fromblue black to platinum blond. From bright copper to deep burgundy.Heck we even do blue.
So, remember if you seea friend who now has blond hair and you know her to be a brunette,you know she has bleached her hair, and not just put somethingin to 'brighten up' her hair.
If anyone has any problemswith their hair or scalp, please feel free to come and see mefor a free consultation, at my salon in the Strand. (949 0022)
Until next week
Gary