Article: If you fall into one of these categories, there’s no getting around pre-lightening with bleach before going lighter. If you have virgin hair, you can usually go a few shades lighter with a high-lift boxed dye. Going from dark brown hair to blonde with hair dye alone is probably unrealistic, but you can definitely lighten up virgin hair without bleach.  For example, if you have light brown hair that’s never been dyed, you can dye it blonde without using bleach. If you have dark brown virgin hair, you can dye it light brown or red without using bleach. Buy the dye that depicts the hair color you want to achieve on the box; you don't need to amend anything to account for darker hair as long as it's virgin. If you have red, light brown, or medium brown hair, use vol 20 developer. If you have black or dark brown hair, use vol 30 developer. If you aren’t sure, err on the side of caution and get the lower vol 20 developer. You can always bleach again if you need to! Avoid vol 40 developer, which is the strongest developer available. It’s too harsh to use all over your head and is typically used by professional stylists or for highlighting small sections of hair. Bleach can irritate and even burn your scalp, but the natural oils that build up when you don’t wash it can add a layer of protection. At minimum, avoid washing for 48 hours before bleaching. You may also want to do several conditioning masks in the 2 weeks prior to bleaching to minimize damage and breakage. Go with intensely hydrating masks and conditioners with nourishing ingredients like shea butter and Argan oil. Part your hair down the center, vertically, from the crown to the nape of your neck. Then divide those sections in half, horizontally, from ear to ear. Clip each section in place on top of your head with a plastic hair clip.  Don't use metal clips when you're bleaching your hair. Dividing your hair into 4 manageable quadrants makes the bleaching process easier and helps to ensure the color is stripped evenly. Your bleach kit will contain both powder and developer, as well as an applicator and pair of plastic gloves. Put on the gloves and an old-t-shirt before you start mixing. Then, measure and pour both ingredients into a bowl. Mix them together until they’re thoroughly incorporated.  Make sure you follow the mixing directions on the packaging. You may need to combine them in a ratio of 1:1 or 1:2. Use the bleach immediately after mixing it. At this point, drape a towel around your shoulders to protect your skin during the process. You can also add a swipe of petroleum jelly along your hairline to protect the skin around your forehead and face. Start with the bottom sections before moving on to the top ones. As you work, separate each section into several smaller sections. Remove the clip to release the first section of hair, section it, and use the applicator brush that came with your kit to apply the bleach mixture onto each section from root to tip. Get as close to the roots as possible without touching your scalp.  Once the section is saturated with the mixture, clip it back up and out of the way. Work as quickly as you can, since the bleach mixture loses strength the longer it sits out. The bleach will still work if you let it sit out for a few hours, but it will take longer to process your hair and generally be less effective. Dividing your hair into smaller sections will help you evenly apply the bleach. If your hair is thick, it's especially important that you make many small sections. Unclip the next section and apply the bleach mixture from root to tip. Clip it back up and continue the same process until all 4 sections are thoroughly saturated. Try to apply the bleach in thin layers to small areas at a time so that all of your hair gets coated evenly. Check the bleach kit packaging for instructions about timing. In general, the darker your hair is, the longer the bleach mixture should sit on your hair. 30 to 45 minutes is pretty typical.  You can put a clear, plastic cap over your hair while it processes. This helps control the bleach so it's less messy. Also, the cap traps in your head's natural heat. Be sure to check your progress every 5 to 10 minutes to avoid over-processing your hair. Never leave bleach on your hair for longer than 1 hour. The cold water stops the bleach from processing your hair, so try to rinse quickly and thoroughly for even results. Follow the rinse up by shampooing your hair twice in a row, rinsing thoroughly with cold water in between, to make sure you remove all of the bleach.
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Bleach your hair first if you have black or previously dyed hair. Purchase a vol 20 or 30 bleach kit from a beauty supply store. Avoid washing your hair for several days before you bleach. Divide your hair into 4 sections. Mix the bleach powder and vol developer together in a large bowl. Use the applicator to apply the bleach to the first section of hair. Saturate the remaining 3 sections of hair with the bleach mixture. Let the bleach sit on your hair for the suggested amount of time. Rinse out the bleach thoroughly with cold water.