If your hair is already extremely light in color, near a level 9 or 10, you can skip ahead directly to dying without having to wait. Your hair doesn’t have to be naturally platinum blonde to go straight to dyeing it gray. If your hair has already been bleached and does not have a dye on top of it, then it’s ready to go. If your hair is already dyed, you may need to have the current color removed since color can’t lift color. You can do that at home with bleach, but you’ll get much better results by visiting a professional stylist.
In addition to permanent dyes, certain pale purple and blue semi-permanent dyes and hair toners will also turn platinum hair gray. However, keep in mind that these types of coloring only last a couple of weeks. Luckily, since these treatments are very gentle, you can simply reapply them as needed without having to wait.
The exact instructions for your deep conditioner will vary. Check the product’s packaging for details. In general, you will apply a large dollop to clean hair and massage it in as you would shampoo. Leave it to set under a bathing cap for 10 to 30 minutes before rinsing. Allow your hair to air dry afterwards. Semi-permanent dyes and most toners are unlikely to dry out hair. These products do not penetrate the hair’s outer layer and instead simply deposit pigment to only the surface of the hair.
Follow the instructions on your kit if they are different from what is described here. Developers come in different strengths rated by numbered “volumes. " If your hair is already fairly light, use volume 10. Volume 20 is for darker blondes, volume 30 for light browns, and volume 40 for darker browns and black. [8] X Research source Higher volumes can be more damaging to your hair, but they can also lighten it faster.
If your hair is not light enough after an hour, you will need to do multiple rounds of bleaching. Rinse the bleach away between rounds and reapply it. To minimize damage, do not leave bleach in your hair for over an hour.
Start from the very back of your head and work your way forward, leaving the sections of hair that frame your face for the end. If your hair is thick, flip up each section to expose the next layer of hair underneath and apply there, too. Leave about a one-inch section around your roots to do last, after the face-framing strands. The heat from your scalp will cause your roots to bleach a little faster than your normal hair. Try to go as quickly as possible to ensure an even color. [10] X Research source
If you aren’t immediately moving on to the next step, allow your hair to air dry. Blow drying can further strip your hair of moisture,[12] X Research source potentially exacerbating any damage the bleach has caused.
If you didn’t bleach immediately before this step, remember that your hair should be unwashed. Color will grip dirty hair better than it will hair that is clean. [13] X Research source
Wear gloves when applying toner to avoid staining your hands. Begin with damp hair. If you haven’t just done the bleach step, use a spray bottle to spritz your hair with some lukewarm water. Dip a tint brush into your toner. If your toner is packaged in a bottle, squeeze it into a bowl first. Brush the toner on from roots to tips. Start with the hair in back of your head and work forward. Make sure all of your hair is evenly coated. If your hair is thick, clip already-coated hair to the side to get to the layer underneath.
If you’re using permanent hair dye, allow your hair to air dry first. If your dye is semi-permanent, apply it while your hair is still damp. [16] X Research source
Wear gloves when applying dye.
Remember that each hair dye brand may vary in application. Always check your dye’s packaging for specific instructions.
