How Long Should I Wait to Bleach My Hair Again Without Damaging It?

Repeated bleaching of your hair poses the risk of dry and brittle hair, matting, tangles, and hair breakage. This is because your hair strands are not suited to withstand such strong chemicals unless prepared for them.

There isn’t a set timeline as to how long you should wait before you bleach your hair again, although some experts say four to six weeks is a good enough waiting period. Most hairstylists however encourage you to look at the state of your hair to ascertain if it’s ready to be subjected to bleaching agents again.

Below we get into more detail about some of the most prevalent questions you may have about bleaching your hair.

Duration & Factors to Consider

As mentioned earlier, it merely depends on the state of your hair. Whether it’s dry, flat, has split ends, or looks healthy and moisturized. One quick look at the health of your hair and you should have an answer.

Nonetheless, several experts recommend a waiting period of a minimum of four weeks up to six weeks. One month should be enough to reintroduce natural oils, moisture, and strength back into the hair shaft after which the hair can then be exposed to bleaching agents again.

If you have naturally thin or fragile hair, you should wait longer for about six to eight weeks before considering bleaching again. Your hair is known to take more time to rejuvenate and get its strength back. That should be enough time to get the hair ready.

After the said weeks have elapsed and you notice your hair has no natural shine, multiple split ends, and just looks dull and dry. Give it more time to rest and become healthy again.

How long you should wait before you bleach depends on several factors, namely;

• The state of health of your hair
• How you care for your hair
• The color you are trying to achieve
• Type and volume of the bleach you had used before

The State of Your Hair

Before you bleach your hair, you should always look at the state of your hair.  Is it shining? How strong are the hair strands? What about the ends? How is the overall volume of the hair?

The answers to these questions should guide you to know when your hair is ready for the next bleaching session. This is because unless your hair looks the same before your first bleach, don’t attempt a second bleach as the result could be catastrophic if not damaging to your hair.

The health of your hair can help you avoid multiple hair problems such as thinning caused by stressing the hair strands from the follicle. Thinning is often the first sign of hair loss and other more severe hair issues.

Split ends mean your hair is weak and lacking in protein, a repeat of the bleach will simply increase the breakage causing uneven hair length.

Care of Your Hair

After the bleaching session, your hair will be high porosity. It will require more and more moisture until the hair starts to add in volume again. You have to repeatedly condition and moisturize your hair for as long as it needs until the hair is healthy again.

Stick to a regular regimen to keep the hair happy. This will ensure your hair is ready to bleach as soon as possible. Even after those four weeks.

Color You’re Trying to Achieve

For dark-haired individuals getting a lighter shade of hair means they need to lighten or bleach the hair first then introduce the new hair color. This means regularly introducing bleach until your hair gets to the lightness of the hue you want.

If you’re sure about this, begin by purchasing the right bleach from the start.

Bleaching multiple times means more exposure, hence go for a low volume bleach which is less likely to cause drying or damage to the hair. This way, the hair can even recuperate faster.

Be careful about the ingredients you are introducing your hair as they can also affect the outcome of your hair. Finally, read the instructions carefully to avoid unnecessary procedures and to follow the guidelines correctly.

Type and Volume of Bleach

Just like hair developers, bleaches too have volumes, the higher it is the more concentrated it is. Again, if you’re looking to bleach sooner rather than later, go for low volume bleaches, and vice versa.

Recommended Reading: How Long to Leave Bleach in Hair Vol 40, 30, 20, and 10

How Long Should One Wait Between Bleaching Sessions?

The recommended time is approximately one month but it could be sooner or later. The greatest factor here is the state of your hair. If it still feels damaged after your previous bleaching session, more time is needed before you can bleach again.

If you’re looking to shorten the time frame between your bleaching sessions, there are a few things you could do for your hair;

• Care and nourish your hair daily, whichever products and regimen you use, be consistent with it to ensure your hair recovers faster.
• Deep condition weekly to reintroduce moisture. Don’t forget to pre-shampoo the hair with oils like coconut oil to prevent stripping the hair of its natural oils even further.
• Oil your hair daily or at least three times a week. This brings back the shine into your hair cuticles.
• Avoid heat sources at all costs. Don’t flat iron or blow-dry your hair

Nonetheless, if the state of your hair isn’t that damaged or you’re an extremist when it comes to hair care, then one week can suffice for you to bleach again. Moreover, for those who may want to bleach their hair two tones, you could wait at least 10 days to pass till you bleach again.

This is because the first exposure to hydrogen peroxide in the first procedure wasn’t that long hence less damage to the hair.

Can I Bleach My Hair Twice?

Yes, you can bleach your hair twice, just not on the same day. Bleaching the hair twice extends the exposure of hydrogen peroxide in your hair. This means you are at an even greater risk of hair damage.

No matter how urgent it is for you to bleach, wait at least one or two days before your next session. That time will allow the hair to maintain its strength plus it can prepare for your next bleach.

Toning and bleaching the hair the same day twice can cause the second bleach to lose its ability to hold color properly moving forward.

Nonetheless, some people have bleached their hair twice a day. It’s not unheard of but it’s not recommended.

For those who do bleach twice a day, the hair must be dry before the second session of bleaching. Follow the right routine which is;

1. Wash and condition the hair after bleaching.
2. Towel dry gently without rubbing the hair back and forth. Simply wrap the towel and let the towel absorb the water.
3. Examine the color after the first bleach and let the hair dry before the next session.

Also, if you’re to bleach the hair the same day, use low volume bleaches to avoid frying your hair. Low volume equals less stress.

How Often Can I Safely Bleach My Hair?

For any chemical procedure, whether it’s to dye, bleach, relax, or texturizing the hair, the safest time limit is two to three times a year. This should be enough time for your hair to regain back its strength ready to be manipulated again.

This is just a theoretical point of view. The matter remains that you have to check your hair’s condition to ascertain if it’s ready for your next procedure. Check your ends for any split ends and bristling. You may also be due for a hair trim. All these should gauge how strong your hair is.