Jordan Harris

Ms. Pope

English1010

25 September 2020

​ Process Analysis: Bleaching

​ The bleaching process is a very crucial step to removing the pigmentation of hair color;
especially for people with naturally darker hair or those who want to remove previously dark
colored-hair. Hair bleaching is a chemical hair dye technique that strips the color of your hair
strands. This process can be very dangerous and harmful if not done correctly. This section of the
manual is going to explain the step-by-step process on how to properly bleach [Link] section
will also cover commonly made mistakes, frequently asked questions, hair bleaching do’s and
don’ts.
There are a couple of things you must check, before you can begin the bleaching process.
The first thing is to ask your client if they have applied any heat to their hair in the past week,
and if so ask how frequently. If your client has used too much heat on their hair, then it can cause
the hair to become very dry and brittle after you apply the bleach. Also make sure your client has
not washed or shampooed their hair within 24 hours of getting bleach applied; the natural oils in
your hair actually help coat the scalp and make the bleaching session less painful. Lastly, make
sure your client purchases hair products specifically for bleached hair, so they can take care of it
properly at home.
Once you make sure your clients hair is prepared for their bleaching session, then you can
start the process. The first step of the bleaching process is to evenly part the hair into four
quadrants, so the bleach can be evenly applied throughout the entire head. Make sure you
understand that separating hair into four quadrants, means to separate the hair into four sections.
After you part the hair, you will begin to apply the bleach one-inch away from the scalp. As you
apply the bleach, make sure you work down the section of hair that you are applying bleach too.
Working down the hair, means applying downward strokes to the section of hair you are working
on, this technique helps you achieve an even bleach distribution. You will continue to apply the
bleach until the hair is fully covered.
After you have applied bleach all over the head, you will then go back to do the roots.
The reason you do the roots last is because the roots need less time to process than the ends of
the hair. The body heat that comes from your head will speed up the bleaching process for your
roots, therefore you do them last to prevent any damage.
 Next, is to allow the bleach to set on the hair for 20-45 minutes, depending on the hair
color and texture. For darker hair, the bleach will need to set longer to achieve the lighter color
your client may want. In some cases, darker hair may need to be bleached more than once to get
accurate results. If this is the case with your client, then wait four to six weeks before you do
another bleaching session to prevent damage. For textured hair you must be careful with how
long you let the bleach set, due to the fact that textured hair is already dry and coarse. Textured
hair is extremely fragile and chemicals like bleach can cause a lot of damage if not applied
properly. While you let the bleach set make sure you are checking your clients hair every five
minutes to make sure the process is working and not creating any undesired results. Do not let
hair set with the bleach longer than 45 minutes, because as the bleach dries out it becomes less
active and will stop processing. If at any point your client complains that the bleach is causing
them any discomfort or pain then immediately rinse it out. After you rinse out the bleach, you
will wash the bleached hair out with the appropriate bleaching shampoo.
When you have rinsed the bleach out and shampooed the hair, you will then apply toner,
if needed. Toner is used after the hair is bleached to even out the color and prevent brassiness.
When hair is bleached and it comes out a golden yellow color or warmer than it should be, this is
considered brassy. To even out the color and make it more of a bright yellow color rather than a
golden color, you would need to add toner. You apply toner after you have rinsed and shampooed
the bleach out of the hair. Toner is applied to hair like you would apply a shampoo, you will
massage it through the scalp until it has covered the entire head. Then allow the toner to sit for
20-45 minutes, depending on how brassy the hair is after it has been bleached. Just like bleach,
do not let the toner sit longer than 45 minutes, to prevent any damage.
The final step of the bleaching process is to make sure your client takes the proper
precautions to take care of their newly treated hair. It is important to make sure your client has
the right products such as bleach friendly conditioners and shampoos. Purple shampoo is very
important to have while treating bleached hair, it helps with maintaining color and toning out
brassiness. It is also important to wait a couple of weeks before adding purple shampoo, because
it can alter the color if used too soon. Moisturizing and protein treatments can also help restore
the moisture to the hair and prevent the hair from becoming dry. Your client must also be
cautious of applying too much heat to their hair after getting it bleached, because heat damage
can cause the hair to break off.. You must emphasize the importance of hair upkeep to your client
and encourage them to come back for regular appointments. The bleaching process is very
tedious and if not done properly it can cause serious damage, you must follow these steps for a
successful outcome.