How to bleach fur: step by step and essential tips

For some women, dark hair, especially in large amounts and on highly visible body parts, is a nuisance. Therefore, the method of discoloring them has been widely used for a long time. It is suitable, in fact, both for those who suffer just thinking about waxing to remove hair from the arms, belly and thighs, and for those who like to show off more golden hairs, especially in summer.

Bleaching is usually done in a simple way, but, in any case, it requires special care not to have negative consequences for the skin and to cause an effect that really pleases.

It is worth noting that hair bleaching (basically done with hydrogen peroxide and bleaching powder) is not permanent and the time it will last varies a lot from person to person, for around a month.

The hair can be discolored in the beauty salon/aesthetic clinic or even at home – as long as, in this case, care is redoubled.

The main advantages of bleaching are that it is an inexpensive, quick and painless method.

4 methods you can use

Check out the main ways used to bleach hair below:

1. Hydrogen peroxide

Lívia Lemos, beautician (from Rio de Janeiro), comments that this method consists of applying a little hydrogen peroxide and exposing yourself for a few minutes to the sun. “However, it is not a method that works for everyone. Some women comment that without the bleaching powder the hair does not lighten. That is, it depends a lot on the color of the person’s fur. In addition, it is essential to use hydrogen peroxide and expose yourself to the sun for a few minutes only if you are sure you are not allergic to the product,” she says.

Marta Ferreira, beautician at Walter’s Coiffeur, highlights that, to discolor the hair only with hydrogen peroxide, it is necessary to use a paraffin-based cream first, “which is extremely important for skin protection, and a volume of 40 hydrogen peroxide” .

Hydrogen peroxide can be used on the hair on the arms, legs and belly. Never use it on the face.

2. Bleaching powders

They are easily found in pharmacies and, added to hydrogen peroxide, are the best known and guaranteed way to bleach hair.

Marta explains that it is necessary to put the bleaching powder together with hydrogen peroxide (usually 10 volumes) and always remember to protect the skin beforehand (with a paraffin-based cream, for example).

In a container, place a sufficient amount of hydrogen peroxide (taking into account the parts of the body you want to bleach) and then add the bleaching powder. Always follow the directions on the product packaging. Using a spatula, mix the two components well until smooth.

You can apply the product with the spatula itself or with your hands using gloves (being careful not to get them on your face, stain your clothes, etc.) or even with those synthetic hair dye brushes (which you can also easily find at any pharmacy).

Leave the mixture for about 15 minutes (not more than 45 minutes) on the hair, or simply until you see that your hair is very light. Then just remove with warm water and wash with neutral soap and, preferably, apply a moisturizer to the skin later.

It is worth remembering that it is essential to carry out the touch test beforehand, to make sure there is no allergy to the product. To do this, simply apply the product to a small area of ​​your body and wait at least 20 minutes to check if there has been any reaction.

Also, never use hydrogen peroxide above 10 volumes on unprotected skin.

The mixture with bleaching powder is usually used on the hair on the arms, legs and belly. Never use on the face.

3. Moon bath

Moon bath or golden bath is the name given to the most “complete” technique of bleaching hair with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and bleaching powder. It is usually made in beauty salons, but you can also find “moon bath kits” in pharmacies.

Marília Barboni Luz, physical therapist at L&L Espaço Vida ao Corpo in São Paulo, explains that, in the moon bath, an exfoliation is performed first. “Then, we apply paraffin used to prevent the bleach from causing itching or stinging of the skin.”

“Over the paraffin we apply a mixture made of hydrogen peroxide with bleaching powder and apply it in the region where we want to lighten the hair. We wait about 15 to 20 minutes (or until the hairs are light). We remove the excess of the mixture with a spatula and clean the skin with a damp cloth in water with bath salts, (or the client takes a bath and removes everything). After removing all the bleach, we finish the procedure with a moisturizing cream”, explains Marília.

The moon bath is usually done on the arms, legs and belly.

4. Chamomile tea

You may have heard that chamomile tea helps lighten hair. Well, there are those who also use it to lighten the hair on the belly, legs or arms. Chamomile is easily found in natura or in sachets (ready to prepare tea).

It is worth emphasizing, however, that the method is very time consuming and in some people it may not even offer results. Apply the tea to the desired region and wait for about an hour. Then just wash your skin with water.

“Chamomile doesn’t bleach it, it just lightens hair that already tends to be light. Therefore, the substance is ineffective on darker hairs”, highlights Marta.

Chamomile tea can be applied to the hair on the legs, arms and belly in an attempt to lighten them, and even the eyebrows (provided proper eye care is taken).

Top care and tips for bleaching hair

It is important to take some precautions to prevent the procedure from being harmful to your skin, check out:

Beware of skin reactions

Bleaching the hair with hydrogen peroxide and bleaching powder is a chemical procedure and can end up causing allergies, itching and irritation in some people. Therefore, never do the discoloration without first doing the touch test: just apply the product on a small area of ​​​​the body and wait at least 20 minutes to check if there has been any reaction.

“There can be a very strong allergic process if the skin test is not performed before discoloration”, recalls Marta.

Gently pass the product

“The application of the bleaching product can be done with a brush of those used to dye the hair, for example, but do it gently and do not rub the area too much, because the skin will already be sensitized, especially if the exfoliation has been done before”, alert Livia.

Extra care for pregnant women

In the case of pregnant women, care must be redoubled. “It is up to the doctor whether or not she can bleach the hair, as he already knows the patient’s history. I, in particular, do not perform this type of procedure knowing that the sensitivity of the pregnant woman tends to increase during pregnancy”, highlights the beautician Marta.

Attention to injuries and certain parts of the body

“If the person has any skin wounds, they should not bleach their hair! The procedure should not be performed on an open wound, even using paraffin-based cream before discoloration”, guides Marta.

Bleaching products are abrasive; so, don’t even think about discoloring areas with mucous membranes (such as the upper lip or private parts). Also, always be careful not to (unintentionally) get the product into your eyes or mouth. Children should not bleach their fur either.

Be careful when opening the bleaching powder packet, as if you vacuum it, it can cause nose irritation.

Keep an eye on the tone you want your hair to look like

Dark-skinned women can also bleach their hair without problem, according to Marta. The only care is in “dosing” the time that the product will be on the skin to choose the tone that the hair will be. The longer you leave the bleach on, the lighter the hair will be. And this tip goes for all women, regardless of skin tone. It’s all a matter of taste, as Livia recalls.

Don’t mind the myths

Marta points out that it is a myth to say that the hair thickens when the person bleaches it. “He doesn’t thicken at all. Another myth that is very common to this type of procedure is that the hair is born blacker and in greater quantity. This is also just a sensation, because the truth is that the fur, even if dark, is not born with the same shade as before”, says the beautician.

Use trusted products

A valuable tip is to use only dermatologically tested products and never exceed the usage time limit indicated on the package.

Some people choose to bleach their hair with the “help” of the sun, this habit, however, generates controversy. There are professionals who are against it because it can attack the skin twice: with chemistry and with the sun’s rays. Therefore, preferably, do the discoloration with moon bath in a salon you trust or at home and avoid unnecessary exposure to the sun. After all, bleaching powders are independent of sun exposure.

Bleaching: where to buy

Check out the gallery below for examples of bleaching agents. Many are sold as a hair bleaching product, but are popularly (and more safely) used to bleach hair. Always make sure you are not happy with the product you choose and follow the instructions on the package.

Care after bleaching

In addition to the fundamental care before and during the procedure, it is important to take care of the skin after bleaching the hair. But this is very simple:

• Completely remove the product from the skin with water and neutral soap;
• Keep your skin super hydrated. “Bleaching is an extremely aggressive chemical process, so you need to take good care of your skin. A good urea-based moisturizer is what I always recommend”, concludes beautician Marta.

Marília points out that, if the bleaching product is well removed from the skin, there is no problem in sunbathing after bleaching.