When it comes to hair bleaching, you think that it is harmful to your mane. But with small amounts of bleach, it is safe. Are you familiar with the bleaching process? Have you ever wondered how long to leave bleach in hair? What will happen if you leave the chemical to exceed the recommended time? Below, find out how long to leave bleach on hair to get sun-kissed hair. 

How long does it take to bleach hair?

In fact, there is no official rule about the time you should leave the bleach on your head. Depending on each product, manufacturers have their own rule on the amount of time. Thus, you have to follow the general limitation on the label. Make sure that you don’t leave the bleach for longer than the recommended time. 

Do you know how long to leave bleach in hair 30 vol and  20 vol? Never let it sit overly long. Here’re simple steps on bleaching your natural locks: 

You wet your hair or can apply the bleach on dry hair. As long as your hair is clean enough, chemicals will quickly soak into your hair strands. 

— Prepare yourself by wearing an old T-shirt and a pair of gloves.

— Section your hair so that you can put the bleach evenly on your hair. 

— Take bleach and developer products. You stir them to create the mixture, no clumps. Read the instruction on the label to take the right amount of solutions. 

— You put the mixture on your locks. Start from the hair tips, then move upward to the middle and the roots. 

— How long does it take to bleach hair? Based on how bright you desire your hair to be, you can leave the bleach for about 15-30 minutes. Don’t exceed the recommended time.

— Rinse your mane with water and deep condition. Allow your hair to air dry. 

Factors deciding how long to leave bleach in hair

There are different factors that affect the time of leaving the bleach on your curls. Bear all the following in mind if you plan to lighten the hair color. 

Hair type

Are your curls processed or raw hair? Remember that different hair types decide the amount of time of placing the chemicals. For example, unprocessed hair is more likely to lighten quicker than the processed ones. If you are a first-timer, don’t leave the bleach too long as it may cause damage. 

Developer you use

How long to leave bleach in hair 20 vol or 30 vol developer? The higher level the developer is, the quicker your hair lightened. If you use a developer 20 volume, you have to leave it longer than using the 30 volume one. It means that the lower volume developer requires more time to lighten your mane. 

If you are unsure about the bleaching process, go to a hair salon near you and ask for colorists’ help. They know how long to leave bleach in hair to help customers achieve good hair. 

Your desired hair color

What hair color do you want? We claim that your hair hue goals also decide the amount of time you leave the bleach. You would like a dramatic change, such as blonde, it would be better to let the bleach sit longer. 

You want to get an ombre hairstyle, apply more bleach on the hair ends, and leave the bleach on your hair for about 30-45 minutes. 

What happens if you leave the bleach too long

With all the above details, you may have your answer to the question «How long to leave bleach in hair?» If you let the bleach sit on your hair too long, it may result in some side effects. Here they are:

Dry and damaged hair

In the main, it leads to dry and damaged hair since the bleach contains chemicals. That’s why you have to follow the instruction on the label. And don’t lighten your curls too frequently; otherwise, your hair looks frizzy and lifeless.

Less than your desirable results

The longer you leave the bleach on hair, the lighter your hair becomes. Yikes, you have to wait at least two weeks to fix it. If you want a subtle change, plan and check the time to get your sun-kissed hair. 

Generally, the bleaching process plays a vital role in achieving a nice hair look. How long to leave bleach in hair? You don’t let it sit longer than recommended time on the pack, and you can get the hair shade you’re dreaming of.