Does bleach damage the hair?

If not done correctly, Pulitano explains that bleaching your hair can absolutely be damaging. “The process of bleaching opens up the hair cuticles to dissolve the melanin that gives your hair its color,” he explains. “If not done carefully, it can leave the hair porous, dry, and brittle. However, a professional colorist will be able to keep your hair healthy using a gentle technique, the right products, and treatments to repair your hair post-bleach.” That said, proceed with caution if you just can’t make it to a salon.

How often should you use bleach?

When it comes to how often you’ll need to bleach your hair, Pulitano says it depends on what look you’re trying to achieve, how the bleach is being used, and your hair type. “It will vary each time, and a professional colorist will let you know how often they need to see you,” he says.

How do you bleach safely at home?

In general, Pulitano (like most professionals, TBH) doesn’t recommend attempting a bleach job at home yourself. “It’s the strongest coloring product we use as professionals, and when misused, it can cause some serious damage—not to mention mess around with your color,” he says. “Things like breakage, yellow or orange tones , and patchy color are all risks.” He also mentions that getting it professionally fixed post-DIY sesh can sometimes be more costly than seeing a stylist for the initial job. Still, we understand the urge to take matters into our own hands, especially if getting to a salon isn’t possible. If you’re going to take the plunge, we recommend following the package directions closely (especially when it comes to processing time) and being sure to apply the bleach one inch from your scalp down to your ends at first and then going back to apply to the roots once the rest of your hair is saturated. Once you're finished processing, be sure to shampoo your hair thoroughly.

What are the criteria for choosing the right bleach for a specific hair type and/or need?

You'll need to take into account hair type when considering your bleach product (hair that's been dyed in the past, or is very dark or very thick, will require a product with a higher volume of developer, for instance). Depending on how short your hair is, you'll also want to check if a product is safe for the scalp or not (if it's not, it's not a good choice for those with a buzz, as it could harm their skin and their hair).

Is bleaching your hair worth it?

That depends on how light you want to go. If you're looking to lighten slightly and want to go the DIY route to save money, bleaching your hair at home can certainly be worth it. But if youre looking to lighten more dramatically, and worried about causing damage, it might be best to see a professional.

What is the difference between a lightener and bleach?

Lightening products reduce the pigment in the hair, while bleach strips it out completely. Bleaching, in other words, is much more dramatic and allows the hair to get much lighter.

How long does it take to bleach your hair and how long does it last?

A single bleach treatment can last anywhere from five minutes to a couple of hours (though some people need to get more treatments in order to go lighter). Once bleached, hair doesn't return to its natural color until it has grown out. So, in order to go back, you'll need to wait on the hair to grow out.

Does hair bleach hurt?

Bleaching can hurt the scalp, particularly if you aren't using the appropriate product (i.e. one that is meant specifically for close or direct contact with the scalp). Hair bleach products contain strong chemicals so it's not uncommon to feel a tingling sensation when the product is applied.

The 15 Best Professional Hair Bleaches of 2023

While at-home treatments and salon dye jobs provide the same general result, the latter tends to have a fairly better outcome—especially when it involves bleach. This is partly because stylists are trained and experienced in how to correctly mix and apply products.

"Choosing the best lightener and developer is challenging," says color specialist Jodana Geary, "and you may end up with an unwanted result that compromises the condition of your hair." Additionally, the lighteners used at salons aren't what you'd find on the drugstore shelf.

"Pro bleaching products typically have more lifting power to them," explains celebrity colorist Matt Rez. However, he advises against using them at home and instead says to ask your stylist if they can lighten your hair with a particular brand.

According to Geary, pro-level bleaches contain high-quality ingredients that help colorists achieve their clients' desired results while protecting the hair's integrity. "Professional lighteners include clay, cream, or powder formulas and come in different strengths, achieving anywhere from six to nine levels of lift," she tells Byrdie.

We conducted hours of research to find the best professional bleaches on the market, evaluating each of our picks based on their active ingredients, ability to lift, and more. With recommendations from professional colorists and after considering dozens of options, we landed on these top-rated picks.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Wella Professionals Blondor Lightening Powder at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Budget:

L'Oréal Super Oreal Blanc Professional Powder Bleach at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Gentle:

Sparks Professional Color Powder Lightener at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for All-Over Blonde:

Redken Flash Lift Bonder Inside at Walmart

Jump to Review

Best for Brown Hair:

Schwarzkopf Blonde Me Premium Lift 9 at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Platinum Hair:

L'Anza Healing Blonde Ultra Blonding Decolorizer at Walmart

Jump to Review

Best for Balayage:

Clairol Professional BW2 Lightener at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Highlights:

Clairol Professional Basic White Extra Strength Powder Lightener at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Blue:

Salon Care Professional Blue Flash Powder Lightener at Amazon

Jump to Review

Runner-Up, Best Blue:

L'Oréal Paris Quick Blue Powder Bleach at Amazon

Jump to Review

In This Article

Our Picks
Final Verdict
What to Look for in a Professional Hair Bleach
Prepping Hair for Bleaching
After You Bleach
To DIY or Not
FAQ
Why Trust Byrdie

Wella Professionals Blondor Multi-Blonde Lightening Powder

Walmart

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Sleekshop.com

What We Like

Gentle formula
Anti-yellowing agents
Colorist-recommended

What We Don’t Like

Developer sold separately

Celebrity colorist Reece Walker loves Wella Blondor for foil highlights, though it can be used for balayage, ombré color, or all-over lightening. "It's gentle on the hair and gives you incredible lift without having to use a high-volume peroxide," he tells Byrdie. "I also use this bleach for my clients' scalps when their natural hair is light brown."

Whether your hair has been bleached too many times to count or you're a lightening novice, this formula will get the job done—potentially with less damage. The powder is a bluish-purple hue, which counteracts the yellow, orange, and brassy tones that are often seen on chemically lightened hair.

Price at time of publish: $34

L'OrÃ©al Professionnel Super Oreal Blanc Professional Powder Bleach

Sally Beauty

View On Amazon View On Sallybeauty.com

What We Like

Budget-friendly
Dust-free
Non-drippy mix

What We Don’t Like

Developer sold separately

L'Oréal makes one of the more affordable professional bleaches. Super Oreal Blanc is a dust-free powder formula, meaning it's supposed to limit the particles you inhale while getting your hair done. It mixes into a non-drippy, workable paste and offers up to seven levels of lift.

Price at time of publish: $7

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Walmart

What We Like

Dust-free
Anti-yellowing agents
Replenishes hair fibers

What We Don’t Like

Developer sold separately

This ultra-fine, dust-free powder lightener from Sparks is a light blue hue. In addition to lifting up to eight levels, the cool tone helps cancel out yellowish, brassy colors. What's more, this professional bleach calls on amino acids to strengthen and protect each strand from damage.

Price at time of publish: $7

Courtesy of Walmart

View On Walmart View On Sleekshop.com

What We Like

Colorist-recommended
Protects bond fibers
Built-in measuring cup

What We Don’t Like

Not DIY-friendly

"I love Redken's Flash Lift Bonder Inside," Rez says. "This lightener can lift up to eight levels and protects bonds to keep fibers in the hair strong without having to use a higher-volume developer."

Price at time of publish: $41

Courtesy of Sleekshop

View On Amazon View On Walmart

What We Like

Dust-free
Neutralizes brassiness
Colorist-recommended

What We Don’t Like

Potentially irritating
Developer sold separately

"This is amazing for breaking through previously colored dark hair when doing heavier freehand work or on scalp bleaching for my naturally dark brown and black-haired clients," Walker says.

Price at time of publish: $25

L'Anza Healing Blonde Ultra Blonding Decolorizer

Walmart

View On Walmart View On Ecosmetics.com

What We Like

Anti-yellowing agents
Supports hair elasticity

What We Don’t Like

Developer sold separately

If you're going platinum blonde, you'll need a bleach that offers the maximum number of lift levels (nine), like L'Anza's Healing Blonde. This decolorizer also contains bluish anti-yellowing pigments, plus arginine to help strengthen your hair and make it more elastic.

Price at time of publish: $37

Courtesy of Amazon

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Sallybeauty.com

What We Like

Dust-free
Stays moist after mixing
Works on very dark hair

What We Don’t Like

Developer sold separately
Strong smell

Thinking about going for balayage hair? BW2 might be your best bet. The dust-free powder contains humectants to ensure a continually creamy consistency after mixing. This makes it easier to achieve the hand-painted, sweeping effect that gives lightened hair natural-looking depth and dimension.

Price at time of publish: $19

Clairol Professional Basic White Extra Strength Powder Lightener

Sally Beauty

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Sallybeauty.com

What We Like

Dust-free
Creamy when mixed
Controlled lift

What We Don’t Like

Developer sold separately
Strong smell

Clairol Basic White is a great choice for creating highlights. The extra-strength powder is de-dusted to minimize particles in the air, and thanks to a moisture-sealing humectant, it stays consistently creamy after mixing.

Price at time of publish: $28

Salon Care Professional Blue Flash Powder Lightener

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Sallybeauty.com

What We Like

Anti-yellowing agents
Creamy when mixed
Minimal swelling

What We Don’t Like

Not DIY-friendly
Developer sold separately

If you want to make sure your highlighted or all-over platinum hair doesn't have a yellow tint, consider bleach with blue pigments, like Blue Flash. This powder lightener contains ultramarine, a mineral-sourced cobalt-colored pigment that counteracts yellowish, brassy tones. It also promises minimal swelling of the hair shaft, which can be damaging.

Price at time of publish: $25

Amazon

View On Amazon

What We Like

Dust-free
Affordable
Controlled lift

What We Don't Like

Developer sold separately

This blue pick also works to fight brassy and yellow tones, and it's also dust-free for a safe application. Reviewers love that the mix stays creamy throughout processing and that it's able to lighten very dark hair efficiently and easily.

Price at time of publish: $22

Ion Color Brilliance Bright White Creme Lightener

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Sallybeauty.com

What We Like

Affordable
Softening
Replenishes hair fibers

What We Don’t Like

Developer sold separately
Contains PEGs

Prefer a cream formula? Consider Ion Bright White. Though it still needs to be mixed with a developer, the smooth, moist consistency is supposed to help condition and soften your hair while it's being treated. Not only that, but it contains keratin to replenish and strengthen each strand.

Price at time of publish: $24

Matrix Light Master V-Light Lightener with Controlled Lift

Brighton Beauty Supply

View On Walmart View On Beautyhive.com View On Theblowdryer.com

What We Like

Mess-free mixing
Spreads smoothly
Controlled lift

What We Don’t Like

Developer sold separately
Long processing time

Matrix Light Master is de-dusted for easy, mess-free mixing while minimizing the bleach particles that get into your airways. It also spreads smoothly and offers up to seven levels of controlled, precise lift.

Price at time of publish: $40

Amazon

View On Amazon

What We Like

Minimal swelling
Leaves hair silky

What We Don’t Like

Developer sold separately

Pulp Riot's clay-based bleach is ideal for balayage, ombré, sombré color, and other hair-painting techniques. The kaolin creates a barrier to keep swelling and transferring at a minimum, while argan oil leaves your hair silky-soft.

Price at time of publish: $43

ion Color Brilliance Ammonia-Free Powder Lightener

Sally Beauty

View On Sallybeauty.com

What We Like

Minimizes damage
Dust-free
Formulated with natural oils

What We Don’t Like

Developer sold separately

If you'd like to keep potential damage at a minimum, or just want to breathe in fewer fumes, an ammonia-free formula like ion's Color Brilliance Powder Lightener might be the way to go. It's as strong as many formulas with ammonia, being able to lift seven levels. It also contains plant oils like coconut, chia seed, and sunflower to condition and protect the scalp.

Kevin Murphy

View On Com.au

What We Like

Protects bond fibers
Strengthening

What We Don’t Like

Only available at salons

"This is the perfect lightener when working with darker depths of hair and for achieving maximum contrast by providing up to nine levels of lift," Geary says. "It also maintains the integrity and condition of the hair with built-in bond protection."

Final Verdict

The best professional hair bleach overall is Wella Blondor Powder Lightener, a colorist-recommended formula that offers gentle lifting while minimizing yellowish tones. If you're doing an all-over blonde effect, the Redken Flash Lift Bonder Inside is another excellent choice with our expert's stamp of approval. And if you're starting with brown hair, your best bet is Schwarzkopf Professional Blond Me Premium Lightener.

Meet the Expert

Jodana Geary is a hair color specialist and education manager at Color.Me by Kevin Murphy.
Matt Rez is a celebrity colorist who has worked with Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber. He is also the inventor of the midlight technique and brand ambassador for Redken.
Reece Walker is a bi-coastal colorist. He has worked with many celebrity clients, including Eva Longoria, Miranda Kerr, and Victoria Beckham.
John Pulitano is a stylist and the co-owner and creative director of Headcase Hair, a salon in Sydney, Australia.
Kristen Fleming is the hair color director at 3rd Coast Hair Salon in Chicago. She has over 15 years of professional experience and was named a top colorist in Chicago.

What to Look for in a Professional Hair Bleach

Conditioning Additives

According to Fleming, seeking out formulas that have conditioning or hydrating ingredients mixed in directly with the bleach is a good way to help minimize the likelihood of hair damage from the get-go. Even better, she says, are formulas that have a reparative built-in bond builder.

Avoid Ammonia

If you want to play it safe, stick with ammonia-free formulas or any at-home bleach that comes with a developer higher than 20 volume, Fleming advises. This is beneficial for ensuring both safety and that you don’t inadvertently end up over-lightening or completely stripping your hair.

Consider Your Hair Type

Hair that's ultra-thick, ultra-dark, or been colored a lot in the past will require a bleaching product that can lift several levels lighter (as much as eight). So look for a powerful product that won't damage or strip the hair. If you have a hairstyle that requires bleaching very close to the scalp (i.e. very short or buzzed hair), you'll want to look for a product with a bond protectant, which will help ensure the skin stays healthy.

Prepping Hair for Bleaching

The best way to prepare hair for bleaching is to avoid heat styling or chemical treatments for a week prior, to ensure the hair is in a fairly natural state. You'll also want to moisturize ahead of time, as bleaching is an incredibly drying process. As for whether hair should be clean or dirty prior to bleaching, that is up for debate—though most stylists agree it's best not to wash your hair for a day or two prior, to ensure your natural oils are intact before stripping the hair.

After You Bleach

If you're getting a cut the same day, most stylists will wait until after the bleaching is done to cut the hair. This allows them to cut off any damage that may come as a result of the bleaching, and ensure the hair looks its healthiest.

Also after you bleach, avoid washing your hair for the first 48-72 hours. Once you go back to shampooing, do it less often, aiming for every other day or less, but ensuring you condition frequently.

To DIY or Not

Bleaching the hair is a big step, and one that should not be taken lightly. If you're doing it at home and plan on going really light (from dark brown to blonde, for instance), keep in mind that you might not get the results you want, and therefore may require a salon visit (a costly one) to fix any damage. In that sense, a DIY bleach job could be much costlier than simply visiting a salon in the first place. But if you're only lightening slightly, or okay with growing out a bleach job you aren't 100% happy with, a DIY experiment might be a better option.

FAQ

Does bleach damage the hair?

If not done correctly, Pulitano explains that bleaching your hair can absolutely be damaging. “The process of bleaching opens up the hair cuticles to dissolve the melanin that gives your hair its color,” he explains. “If not done carefully, it can leave the hair porous, dry, and brittle. However, a professional colorist will be able to keep your hair healthy using a gentle technique, the right products, and treatments to repair your hair post-bleach.” That said, proceed with caution if you just can’t make it to a salon.
How often should you use bleach?

When it comes to how often you’ll need to bleach your hair, Pulitano says it depends on what look you’re trying to achieve, how the bleach is being used, and your hair type. “It will vary each time, and a professional colorist will let you know how often they need to see you,” he says.
How do you bleach safely at home?

In general, Pulitano (like most professionals, TBH) doesn’t recommend attempting a bleach job at home yourself. “It’s the strongest coloring product we use as professionals, and when misused, it can cause some serious damage—not to mention mess around with your color,” he says. “Things like breakage, yellow or orange tones, and patchy color are all risks.” He also mentions that getting it professionally fixed post-DIY sesh can sometimes be more costly than seeing a stylist for the initial job.
Still, we understand the urge to take matters into our own hands, especially if getting to a salon isn’t possible. If you’re going to take the plunge, we recommend following the package directions closely (especially when it comes to processing time) and being sure to apply the bleach one inch from your scalp down to your ends at first and then going back to apply to the roots once the rest of your hair is saturated. Once you're finished processing, be sure to shampoo your hair thoroughly.
What are the criteria for choosing the right bleach for a specific hair type and/or need?

You'll need to take into account hair type when considering your bleach product (hair that's been dyed in the past, or is very dark or very thick, will require a product with a higher volume of developer, for instance). Depending on how short your hair is, you'll also want to check if a product is safe for the scalp or not (if it's not, it's not a good choice for those with a buzz, as it could harm their skin and their hair).
Is bleaching your hair worth it?

That depends on how light you want to go. If you're looking to lighten slightly and want to go the DIY route to save money, bleaching your hair at home can certainly be worth it. But if youre looking to lighten more dramatically, and worried about causing damage, it might be best to see a professional.
What is the difference between a lightener and bleach?

Lightening products reduce the pigment in the hair, while bleach strips it out completely. Bleaching, in other words, is much more dramatic and allows the hair to get much lighter.
How long does it take to bleach your hair and how long does it last?

A single bleach treatment can last anywhere from five minutes to a couple of hours (though some people need to get more treatments in order to go lighter). Once bleached, hair doesn't return to its natural color until it has grown out. So, in order to go back, you'll need to wait on the hair to grow out.
Does hair bleach hurt?

Bleaching can hurt the scalp, particularly if you aren't using the appropriate product (i.e. one that is meant specifically for close or direct contact with the scalp). Hair bleach products contain strong chemicals so it's not uncommon to feel a tingling sensation when the product is applied.

Why Trust Byrdie

Byrdie contributor Theresa Holland is a freelance commerce writer specializing in beauty and lifestyle. She interviewed multiple experts for this story, including two celebrity colorists and one color specialist, who offered insight into usage and product recommendations. Next, she reviewed many formulas, combed through ingredients lists, and referenced several scholarly articles before landing on the final selections. Theresa covers haircare, skincare, makeup, and fitness gear at Byrdie.

The 11 Best Ammonia Free Hair Dyes of 2023

Updated by Shannon Stubbs

Article Sources

Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

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Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Dec 27;19(1):70. doi: 10.3390/ijms19010070. PMID: 29280987; PMCID: PMC5796020.