For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be blonde. But after hearing so many horror stories from my unnatural blonde friends, I was horrified of bleach, which is why I claimed so long. I went as light as possible without bleach for a while– which on my really dark hair was simply a chocolate brown– but eventually I succumbed to my blonde desires and went into the beauty parlor seeking to start.
However if I was going to do this, I was determined to do it right. I like my hair long (I view it as a security blanket of sorts), and everyone understands long blonde hair is tough to preserve. That indicated I would need to go the least harmful route possible, which I feared was an impossible task. Thankfully, I understood some remarkable colorists that provided their assistance, consisting of Michelle Hong, professional colorist and founder of NYC The Team Hair Salon, who was my fellow Asian blonde hair specialist and helped keep my strands blonde and healthy.
Here are the questions I asked– and what I discovered.
The length of time does it take Asian hair to go blonde?
The first thing you ought to understand if you have naturally extremely dark hair is that it’s not going to be completed in one go. Simply put, if it’s your very first time in the chair, don’t anticipate to leave as a blonde. That’s an advantage though– you want to separate the bleaching procedure into multiple sessions to keep your hair healthy and avoid significant breakage.
” The number of sessions you will need to attain blonde hair will vary depending on if you have color in your hair versus natural virgin hair,” states Hong. “Asian hair is normally very dark and the texture is thicker. The darker and thicker the hair, there is more red to raise out to accomplish neutral blonde and non-brassy highlights.”
As somebody with medium-thickness black hair (not to point out existing color on half of it), it took me about four sessions for me to get to the shade of blonde I wanted. It’s typically advised to wait at least 2 weeks between sessions to allow your hair to rehydrate (I waited a month to be safe).
Why does Asian hair tend to turn orange or red– and how can I prevent this?
The greatest problem with Asian hair is that it tends to turn blonde with an orange or red undertone when bleached. “Asian hair naturally has underlying red and orange pigments, so this is essential for the colorist to consider when at the beauty parlor,” says Hong. “How Asian hair is lifted is necessary– you require to think about the strength of lightener, timing, and application to get the best shade.”
I recommend doing your research study and going to a colorist who has experience with Asian hair specifically. Even the most skilled colorists may not be accustomed to lightening Asian hair, and the color might turn out different compared to their other clients. You wish to avoid any possible surprises at the sink, so take a look at beauty parlors’ Instagrams and find one that includes before and afters comparable to your preferred appearance.
What is the best method to keep Asian blonde hair?
Regardless of how well you bleach your hair, bleach is naturally destructive. “Make sure to use bond builders, reinforcing masks, and anti-breakage serums to help repair your hair.
Another upkeep factor is brassiness, which is bound to take place no matter how stunning the blonde is when leaving the hair salon. This is where purple shampoos and masks enter play. Include them into your shower routine 2 to 3 times a week to neutralize orange and red colors.
The last thing to do is establish a maintenance schedule with your colorist. You want to go as long as you can between visits (root sprays can help extend this time), however the sweet area is every 6 to eight weeks. Hair typically grows about half an inch per month, so in that timespan, your hair will have to do with an inch longer. Anything longer than that and the color may develop unevenly due to the distinction in heat from your scalp, resulting in bands or “hot roots” (when the root color is brighter than the remainder of the hair).
” The longer the root, the harder it is to lighten,” states Hong. “Hair will have to be lightened two times over anything more than an inch of regrowth– this will cause more damage on the overlapping of already lightened hair.
Takeaway
While going blonde on Asian hair is challenging, it’s absolutely doable. Do your research study and make sure to find your own Michelle (i.e., an expert who can assist you through the steps). Display expectations and anticipate several sessions to turn into the bombshell blonde you’re searching for (going from black to blonde is no easy feat). And lastly, prepare for some upkeep. Although there’s a lot of it because Asian hair turns orange so easily, it’s definitely worth it for the extra enjoyable I can vouch for having as a blonde.
