Dyeing/Bleaching FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

• How can I make my hair white-blonde?
• How can I tell if my hair is damaged?
• Where can I buy permanent unnatural colored dye?
• Why do semi-permanent dyes fade?
• How long should I wait before re-dyeing?
• How long should I wait before bleaching back to blonde?

Q: How can I make my hair white / platinum blonde?
A: Your hair will need to be bleached to a pale yellow (similar to the inside of a banana peel). If you have dark hair, you may need to bleach your hair twice in order to get to a pale yellow color. You don't want to bleach your hair past this stage, don't leave the bleach in until it is actually white because then you will have damaged your hair beyond the normal bleaching damage. Once your hair is bleached to a pale yellow, you will then need to tone it using a semi-permanent ash/violet based toner. You may need to tone more than once. This will remove the brassy/yellow-tones from your hair. Remember you must wash the bleach out of the hair thoroughly before applying the toner. You can also try violet tinted shampoo to tone the yellow out of your hair.

Q: How can I tell if my hair is damaged?
A: If your hair is breaking off a lot or feels like straw, it is damaged! You need to use some good deep conditioning treatments often, as well as a daily conditioner to help restore it to its normal condition.

Q: Where can I buy permanent unnatural colored dye?
A: I am unfamiliar with any permanent punky colored hair dyes products and have not been able to find any information about it. You could try talking with a professional hair colorist at a salon, they may be able to give you a permanent shade you like, however most salons will use the same type of semi-permanent colors that we carry in the store.

Q: Why do semi-permanent dyes fade?
A: Well, because they are semi-permanent! The formula is designed to fade. While there are things you can do to help the dye last longer, it is still possible for the dye to fade quickly. Some people have longer lasting results than others because of hair type and how they take care of their hair. There are several factors that contribute to the lasting power of the dye in your hair, read over the about hair dye section on this page for more information. The surest way to keep the color is when it starts to fade recolor it.

Q: How long should I wait before re-dyeing?
A: The answer to this question is primarily dependent upon your hair type, the current health of your hair, and the brand of products used. Since semi-permanent dyes such as Manic Panic are not really damaging to your hair, your only real concern on deciding whether to re-dye is whether or not the colors will somehow contrast when dyed on top of the other. If you think your hair is in bad condition and you're worried about it, then don't do it - If your hair seems as healthy as ever, go ahead.

Q: How long should I wait before bleaching back to blonde?
A: The answer to this question is again primarily dependent upon your hair type, the current health of your hair, and the brand of products used. With bleaching, it is generally a bad idea to bleach hair that is already bleached. This is why when you do your root touch-ups you only bleach the dark hair (your roots) and not your whole head, as this can be extremely bad for your hair! It is also a bad idea to use a permanent color remover on top of bleached hair. Both can cause severe and irreparable damage to the hair. However, if your hair color is faded, and you anxious to bleach to a blonde again, if your hair is in good healthy condition, and you must, then I think it is probably okay - just be careful as to how long you leave the bleach in. The best solution would probably be to have a professional hair colorist examine your hair condition and help decide the next step to achieve the desired results.