If you’ve dyed your hair with a semi-permanent dye and waiting for it to fade seems interminable, you might be inspired to try bleaching over it.
There are various videos explaining how to remove a semi-permanent dye from your hair using bleach, but is that the same as just bleaching over a semi-permanent dye? Is it safe to do?
It’s good to pause and research before making a treatment choice for your hair as you don’t want to damage it so severely that it will take months for it to be presentable again. Let’s delve into if semi-permanent dyed hair can be bleached.
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Can I Bleach Over Semi-Permanent Hair Dye?
While this is not your best option, hair can be bleached after it has been colored with a semi-permanent dye. Semi-permanent dye is only deposited on hair fibers, so it is gentler on hair than other alternatives.
Hence, a semi-permanent hair dye will not cause the same kind of reaction to bleach that a permanent hair dye will.
Nonetheless, dyes, specifically a semi-permanent hair dye process uses chemicals, so they should be applied with care.
Is My Hair Healthy?
Your hair must be healthy if you plan on bleaching as this is a harsh treatment. This is especially important if your hair has already undergone other chemical treatments such as lightening hair before using a semi-permanent dye.
Pre-Testing
Before you take the plunge and attempt to bleach hair that has been dyed using a semi-permanent dye, do a strand test. Select several strands of your dyed hair that can eventually be hidden. Apply the bleach solution to these strands to see how your hair and the color react to it before you apply it to all your hair.
How Will My Hair React to Bleach Applied Over a Semi-Permanent Hair Dye?
The color of the hair dye (semi-permanent) and if you bleached your hair before using the semi-permanent dye will influence how your hair reacts. If you do bleach jobs back-to-back your hair may end up being severely damaged.
Consider that when you apply bleach to your hair, it will open hair cuticles, so if you have done this before applying a semi-permanent dye, the pigment may penetrate hair fibers more deeply.
Bleaching in these conditions can contribute to making hair appear brassy and sometimes your previous color may peek through.
Should I Wait Before I Bleach Over My Semi-Permanent Hair Dye?
There is no specific recommended period to wait before bleaching over a semi-permanent hair dye job. Also, consider that semi-permanent hair dye is temporary, that’s why it’s only “semi” permanent.
Semi-permanent hair dye tends to fade after about twenty washings, so if you want to speed things along, wash your hair more often. Allow your dyed hair color to fade as much as possible before applying any bleach.
Waiting a bit longer will be safer for your hair, but if you are in a hurry for some reason, attempt to wait approximately two weeks before bleaching freshly dyed hair.
This will permit the dye to settle and begin its natural fading process. By allowing any excess pigment to diminish with a little time, there’s less possibility that your new bleaching will be negatively impacted.
Is There a Natural Way to Remove Dye That Is Semi-Permanent?
If your hair is already severely damaged or you prefer to avoid using more chemicals, there are a few things you can do that are less harmful to hair than bleach.
1. Wash Your Hair
This is the easiest “natural” way to remove semi-permanent dye from your locks and you don’t need to do anything special during your hair care routine.
Washing your hair can gradually fade your dyed hair’s color. Increase your shampoos and rinse with warm to hot water. This opens the hair cuticles so that pigment washes away.
To have this method work faster use a clarifying shampoo or one for thickening. These kinds of shampoo will lighten hair more rapidly. The problem with this method is that shampooing can dry out your hair, so use a good conditioner.
2. Try an Oil Treatment
Applying hot oil is a great natural remedy for removing semi-permanent hair dye. Try extra-virgin olive oil because when heated it will invade hair fibers forcing pigment out.
It’s a very safe and healthy way to naturally fade color that will be good for your hair and that you can use a couple of times a week. Begin by shampooing and rinsing your hair with hot water.
Heat about a half cup of olive oil in your microwave for anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds. Make sure it’s not so hot as to burn you. When the temperature is right, apply it to your wet hair and massage the oil into your hair well.
Wear a shower cap for at least a half hour and then rinse with warm water again. Shampoo your hair again with clarifying shampoo. Your hair should appear considerably lighter once it’s dried.
3. Apply a Mask to the Hair
Some hair professionals recommend using a mask that contains vitamin C to cause the color to fade. Vitamin C upon entering hair fibers will break down the bonds that hold color in the hair shaft.
Once you rinse the mask, your hair will appear lighter. You can make your vitamin C mask at home by crushing a dozen vitamin C tablets into powder and mixing them with a small amount of shampoo.
Wet your hair and massage your mask into the hair working up a rich lather. Put on a shower cap and wait an hour. Rinse thoroughly and condition. This natural method can be repeated several times without the risk of damage.
Tips for Protecting Dyed Hair When Bleaching
It is possible to bleach hair if it has been colored with semi-permanent hair dye. Even so, there are several things you should do to add some extra protection for your hair. When bleaching, try these tips:
- Never bleach hair that is severely damaged.
- Never bleach hair that is freshly washed.
- Do not leave a bleach solution on your hair longer than recommended.
- Use the lowest developer level.
- Use a bleach rinse rather than a bleach application.
- Do the strand test to evaluate your hair’s reaction before bleaching.
