How to dye my hair without bleaching?
In the process of lightening hair, the dye first chemically lifts the cuticle and then breaks down the natural pigments (color) of your hair. The active ingredient is salon-grade peroxide. (Hydrogen peroxide from the drug store is not the same thing.) The peroxide comes in different strengths called ‘volumes’. The higher the number, the stronger the solution. A 5 volume is much gentler than a 40 volume. When you want to achieve a lot of ‘lift’ (lightening) you use a higher volume. 40 volume provides 2 levels of lift. This means you can only go 2 shades lighter than you are now without resorting to bleach. If you did it yourself, and I’m guessing you’re not a professional hairdresser, then the bleach products you were able to buy were much harsher than what is used in the salon. Also, you may have had to leave it on too long to get the level you wanted. Making sure the bleach stays moist by wrapping a plastic bag on your head will help. Adding heat from your hairdryer onto the plastic b
