The 12 Best Professional Hair Bleaches for Scoring Lighter Strands

No matter whether you’re lightening virgin (AKA never colored) hair, or pre-colored strands, this will get the job done, lifting hair up to seven levels. Shoppers love it, consistently giving it five stars and raving about its efficacy. FYI, the powder itself is a bluish-purple, and also contains anti-yellowing pigments, choice for keeping your new blond hue fresh and vibrant and warding off any brassiness.

First, a quick chemistry lesson. Generally speaking, ammonia is a key ingredient needed in most hair colors; it causes the hair shaft to swell so the color (or bleach, as it were) can better penetrate. The issue is that it can be irritating for many, not to mention smells bad.

Luckily, new advancements have lead the way to many ammonia-free hair colors, bleach included. While the lightening here isn’t quite as powerful as you’d get with an ammonia-based product, this is a good pick if you’re already blonde and looking to go blonder. Plus, because it’s a paste, it’s easy to use and control.

The ingredients in this bleach read more like something you’d find in your face moisturizer. We’re talking fatty acids, vitamin E, shea butter, and jojoba oil, all of which give this it’s ultra-creamy consistency. As a result, it’s both super easy to use (no worrying about drips) and nourishes your scalp and protects hair, too. Heads up, it works fast.

Specially made to be extra-strength for dark hair, this is choice for those with deep brown or even black strands looking to go lighter. While yes, it may take a few rounds to get to your desired blonde shade, this option is the way to go. Not to mention that one eight-ounce tub contains about eight uses worth, plenty of product to help you achieve your lightest color. Amazon reviewers—with all different hair colors—call out how well and quickly it works, but do say that it has a strong and distinct smell.

Not only is this pick affordable, but it also comes with everything you need—we’re talking a cream developer, mixing tub, cap, gloves, and even a brush (plus very helpful instructions). Since it only lifts five levels, it won’t get you super blonde, but if you’re looking for a more subtle change—without blowing the bank—this can’t be beaten. We also appreciate that it’s vegan, cruelty-free, and PETA-certified.

There’s no way around it; bleaching your hair can be seriously damaging, all the more so the lighter you’re trying to go. That’s why this innovative formula is so clutch for those who are already dealing with stressed-out strands. Yes, it lightens intensely and quickly, but with an added advantage. The powder contains a treatment inside, which works to protect the bonds that ensure your hair stays strong, healthy, and looking good. Think of it as bleach with benefits.

This dust-free powder delivers controlled lightening (up to seven levels), making it ideal for all-over bleaching, highlights, or just to knock out dark root re-growth. Thanks to its protective oil system, it helps lock in moisture, a major win since bleaching can lead to seriously dry strands. Loyal reviewers love it, and repeatedly note how fast it works, too.

Icy, platinum shades are all the rage in the hair color world, and this option makes it easy to achieve those dramatic tones. It offers up to nine levels of lift, the most of any product in this round-up. Since it is so powerful, it can be irritating if you get it on your scalp, and reviewers note that it’s best to use a developer from this same brand for the best results, rather than mixing and matching.

Let’s be real, if you’re going to bleach your hair out, your brows are going to need a little touch-up, too. After all, platinum hair and brown brows just don’t work. Given that hair bleaches are so intense, you definitely don’t want to use any of those on your face or body. Enter this pick. The no-drip formula is specially made for sensitive skin, and it’s infused with aloe so you don’t have to worry about irritation. Use it for your brows, or to lighten dark hair and make it less noticeable elsewhere on your body, like on your arms and legs.

Not only does this lift up to nine levels, but it also helps counteract the dullness and dryness that can come with going so light. A unique Reunite Mending Technology touts amino acids (the building blocks of the protein that make up our hair), helping to strengthen strands and seal the cuticle. As a quickie reminder, the cuticle is the outermost layer of the hair; bleaching lifts and opens it, and this technology reseals it. And a closed cuticle means hair looks healthy and super shiny.

Use this guy to touch up highlights and make your hue instantly look fresh and vibrant. It ever-so-slightly lightens only the darker, natural hair, breaking up any areas of harsh contrast, so that you never end up with what we affectionally call ‘tiger-striped’ hair. Effective on pretty much all base shades, it also works in just five minutes, the perfect fast fix in between full-on highlight sessions.