If you're considering going blonde but find the terminology confusing, don't worry, you're not alone. Terms like foils, highlights, and scalp bleach can be overwhelming, especially if you're not familiar with them. In this blog, we'll demystify these hairdressing techniques and help you understand the difference between scalp bleach and highlights. So, whether you're looking for a vibrant, fashion-forward look or a low-maintenance, natural blonde, we've got you covered.

Scalp Bleach: Going All-In for the Ultimate Blonde

Scalp bleach, also known as lightener or bleach, is a powder typically mixed with peroxide to lift the pigment from the hair. While some hairdressers prefer the term "lightener" to make it sound less intimidating, at Birdie, we call it what it is: bleach. Bleach is the only way to achieve significant lightening, surpassing four shades of your natural hair color.

The bleach powder, usually blue or white, combined with peroxide, can lighten hair by 8-9 shades, depending on the brand and strength of peroxide used. For instance, if you have medium brown hair (level 4), bleach can lift it to a pale yellow tone at level 12-13. This lightness provides the perfect base for toning and creating a platinum blonde look.

Scalp bleach involves applying the bleach mixture to all of the client's hair, resulting in a block color effect. This technique produces a distinct regrowth line as the hair grows out, which some people embrace as a rockstar look. The results of a scalp bleach are vibrant, fashion-forward colors, making it the ideal choice for achieving very light blonde shades, such as platinum.

Highlights: Blending for a Natural Blonde Look

In contrast to scalp bleach, highlights offer a softer, more blended look. With this technique, selected strands of hair are either spliced or weaved, leaving some natural hair out of each foil. By strategically placing the highlights, a hairdresser can create a more natural, sun-kissed effect.

Highlights take longer to achieve a very blonde result compared to scalp bleach. The blending of darker and lighter strands creates an overall more subdued color, giving a more natural appearance. Half head highlights are a popular choice for those dipping their toes into the world of blonde. Another option is stretch lights, where each piece of hair is individually foiled, resulting in a block blonde effect with softened regrowth.

Maintaining and Enhancing Your Blonde Look

Regardless of whether you choose scalp bleach or highlights, there are ways to soften the regrowth line and enhance your blonde color. One method is a root stretch toner, which can blend the roots and make the regrowth less noticeable. This technique is worth exploring and will be covered in a future blog post.

Conclusion

If you're contemplating going blonde, it's essential to understand the difference between scalp bleach and highlights. Scalp bleach offers a bold, vibrant result with a clear regrowth line, making it ideal for those seeking a fashion-forward, very light blonde look. On the other hand, highlights provide a softer, more blended effect, offering a low-maintenance, natural blonde appearance.

When discussing your desired outcome with your hairdresser, make sure to communicate your preferences and lifestyle. Whether you opt for scalp bleach or highlights, both techniques have their merits and can help you achieve the blonde look you've always wanted. Embrace your inner blonde, and enjoy the transformative power of hair color!