It is not recommended that you mix a hair conditioner product with bleach. Bleach works based on oxidation and the raising of the hair cuticles. Because conditioner does not raise the cuticles nor function as an oxidizing agent, it is of no value when mixed with bleach.
This is not to say that conditioning your hair, especially bleached hair is not helpful. It would be better to prepare your hair for bleaching with several deep conditioning treatments in preparation for the bleaching.
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Can I Mix Conditioner with Bleach?
No, the conditioner will not activate the bleach, so the bleach will not lighten your hair. Nothing will happen because oxidation has not taken place.
For bleach to do its job, it needs to be activated. Hair lightening or bleaching relies on chemical processes to function. Even if bleach alone is applied to your hair, nothing will happen.
This is the role of the “developer” lotion. Developers contain a specific percentage of peroxide which is an activator as well as an oxidizing ingredient. Conditioners lack the ingredients necessary to activate bleach and lighten the hair.
Also, consider the role of a conditioner. Conditioners seal or close the hair cuticle to render hair shier and softer. Bleach needs an open hair cuticle to dissolve and remove pigment from the hair shaft, hence lightening the hair.
Is It Necessary to Use Developer with Bleach?
Absolutely. You must have some type of developer to use bleach effectively. Hair bleach applied alone cannot lighten hair regardless of hair color. The activator, in this case, a developing lotion, activates the bleach permitting it to lighten the hair color.
Developers come with a variety of peroxide amounts, generally indicated as “volume level”, so you can select the strength of oxidation desired. Volumes appear as 10, 20, 30, or 40-volume developer lotions.
A 40-volume developer is stronger, so the product will be stronger. It will be capable of lightening hair as many as 8 levels or shades. Whereas a 10 developer may only be able to lighten hair a single level or two levels at the most.
To bleach hair, a developer lotion must be used. There are no alternatives to the effectiveness of a developer when lightening hair.
Are Peroxide and Hydrogen Peroxide the Same?
No, still technically the use of hydrogen peroxide could function but will not be as easy to work with as a developer lotion with peroxide. The consistency of hydrogen peroxide can also complicate the process.
Can I Mix the Bleach with My Shampoo?
Yes, bleached can be mixed with shampoo, but the developing lotion should also be included in the mixture. Shampoo alone will not activate the bleach. This kind of treatment is known as a bleach wash or bath. But performing a bleach bath is not simple.
Bleach washing is undoubtedly gentler on hair when attempting to lighten it. It is often employed as a corrective process for hair that is over-toned. One of the difficulties with a bleach wash is getting the amounts right. The ratio between shampoo, bleach, and developer is crucial to achieving your goal.
Experts recommend mixing the bleach and developer first to arrive at the correct blend and then adding an amount of shampoo equal to the bleach/developer mix. This should provide you with twice the amount of liquid necessary for bleaching to facilitate the wash.
Never leave a bleach bath on for longer than 45 minutes. Once you have applied this mixture, it cannot be undone, so getting it right from the start is a must.
If you are worried about the potential outcome, make an appointment with a hair care professional.
What Can Bleach Be Mixed with for Hair Lightening?
You can mix bleach with developer lotion, shampoo, developer lotion, or hydrogen peroxide, but there is always the possibility of error.
The best option is to mix your bleach with an appropriate developer lotion as hair care product manufacturers suggest. Shampoos can always be added afterward.
When bleaching or bleach-washing your hair you will be dealing with harsh chemicals. Mixing the wrong chemicals or mixing the wrong amounts of chemicals can ruin your hair and provoke skin and scalp irritations as well.
It is fundamental to always follow instructions exactly when using the chemicals. Avoid blending various products or worse unknown ingredients if you are not sure of the potential chemical reactions. Chemical reactions can burn skin and hair as well as damage hair irreparably.
While hydrogen peroxide can function with bleach, experts advise against using it as a substitute for a developer.
The Bottom Line
You should not mix a hair conditioner with bleach. Chemical reactions will not occur and thus present no risk but simply stated, it will not lighten your hair. So, there is no point in it. Remember that bleach to function requires an activator and developers are designed precisely for this reason.
The main ingredient in bleach is ammonia. Ammonia, when mixed with peroxide will cause a chemical reaction known as oxidation. The main ingredient in the majority of developer lotions is peroxide.
This is why the two are blended when working to lighten hair color and is the reason that a developer lotion is the best companion ingredient when using bleach.
Your developer lotion will also specify the strength of the peroxide contained in volumes. Most hair color products will indicate the best developer volume for the result you are trying to achieve.
You can attempt a bleach wash with shampoo. This is somewhat gentler than just applying bleach and developer directly onto your hair. It will lighten your hair, nonetheless, it should not remain on your hair for more than 45 minutes.
Whichever hair color product you select, read and do what the manufacturer’s product instructions indicate. These are chemicals and care should be taken when applying them.
If you decide to bleach your hair yourself at home, read carefully the product information so that you fully understand what you will be applying to your hair, the necessary amount ratios, and any risks you may be exposed to.
