How Hair Bleach Works

• In an article entitled "Better Hair through Chemistry," Pat Murphy explains that hair bleach is a solution composed of alkali and peroxide. The alkali softens the hair cuticle (the outermost layer of the hair shaft) while the peroxide emits oxygen. The oxygen enters the softened cuticle (thanks to the alkali) and breaks down the pigments which are responsible for your natural hair color.
  
  

Bleaching Techniques

• Experts strongly encourage the use of bleaches specifically designed for hair. Laundry bleach can cause serious damage to both the hair and skin, whereas commercial hair bleaches have been tested thoroughly. Don't be lulled into a sense of safety, however. Commercial hair bleaches can damage hair and skin as well if used inappropriately. Follow the directions offered on the package and make sure not to skip the recommended hair test: a small piece of hair is snipped and submerged in a bit of the solution to test how the hair reacts.
  
  Style Hair Magazine recommends that you beginning applying the bleaching solution at the back of the head where the hair is most likely to be darker, thus allowing the bleach to work longer in those areas.
  
  If you'd rather not bleach your entire head but rather portion out sections, highlighting may be a better option. There are three different techniques for highlighting: weaving, slicing and paneling. Weaving is achieved by weaving the tip of a comb into and out of your hair thereby picking up small sections to be bleached. Slicing is achieved by selecting out small bits of hair individually. (The effect can be similar to weaving but also might be vastly different by choosing wider sections.) Lastly, paneling is a technique wherein "panels" of hair are dyed complementary colors. Paneled hair can be parted differently to emphasize the various colors in the panels.
  
  

Caution

• Even carefully tested hair bleaches can be very damaging to the hair. In "Bleached Hair Blues," Karen Marie Shelton warns against applying bleach to already colored hair. She also warns that you should err on the side of caution when timing the bleaching treatment; never leave the product on longer than the recommended time.