How to Slightly Darken Bleached Hair | Step-by-Step Guide

Jump to:

Many people are curious to know how to slightly darken bleached hair. Furthermore, dyeing bleached hair is not hard.

But it entails several steps, especially if you want to add warm tones to your hair. Here is a step-by-step guide on how you can darken your bleached hair.

Slightly Darkening Bleached Hair: A Summary

You can achieve your desired dark color with the right dye concentration. Here is a list of the steps you should follow:

1. Assess your hair’s condition.
2. Choose the dye color.
3. Wear protective gear.
4. Mix the dye based on the written instructions.
5. Divide your hair into four parts and clip them.
6. Apply the dye in each section.
7. Leave the dye to process.
8. Rinse the dye with lukewarm water until the water is clean.
9. Dry your hair.
10. Keep up with aftercare.

Let’s discuss these steps in detail.

You Might Also Like:

How to Slightly Darken Bleached Hair in 10 Easy Steps

Below is a detailed discussion of the steps.

1. Assess Your Hair’s Condition

You should never color your hair before assessing it. This entails checking your hair for damage, such as hair breakage. Your assessment should involve checking the hair cuticles to ensure they are not compromised.

Furthermore, checking the hair’s porosity and elasticity is imperative before you start the coloring process. Hair porosity is the rate at which your hair absorbs and retains moisture and oils.

Thus, if your hair is very porous, it will quickly absorb the coloring dye. Additionally, check your hair texture since it plays an essential role in how you dye it.

For instance, those with curly hair have a rough cuticle, which makes it easy to absorb the dark color quickly. Assessing your hair’s condition is essential since it ensures that the hair color adheres evenly.

2. Choose the Dye Color

The next step is to select your preferred hair dye color. You should choose a dark color that is a few shades lighter. This is because bleached hair is very porous and absorbs dark colors more than healthy hair.

Ultimately, your hair may be very dark, which is not intended since you want it slightly darkened. Thus, select a color that will balance this absorption.

For instance, you can choose various shades of black, such as charcoal, cool black, black pepper, black olive, and black bean. Ultimately, the hair dye color you choose should meet your coloring needs.

3. Wear Protective Gear

You should wear protective gear before you start mixing the dye. For instance, you should wear latex gloves when mixing the dye since they will prevent you from staining your hands and fingers.

Furthermore, wearing gloves prevents the dye from staining your nails, which can be difficult to remove. This protective gear also protects those with sensitive skin because the chemicals used in hair dye may irritate your skin.

You should also cover your shoulders using a towel to protect your clothes from dye stains. This is essential because it can be difficult to eradicate these stains when washing your clothes.

Wearing protective gear is not mandatory, but it helps you avoid the hassle of washing off the dye stains from your hands and clothes.

Read Next: How to Remove Permanent Hair Dye From Skin

4. Mix and the Dye Based on the Written Instructions

Mixing the hair dye is easy, and it depends on each manufacturer’s instructions. However, you will need an applicator brush, a plastic bowl, and a plastic spoon.

Here are the general steps you should follow when mixing the dye.

• Tear the dye’s package and place it in the plastic bowl. Make sure you have the hair developer since you will mix it with the dye.
• Mix the dye and the hair developer in the bowl. Depending on the manufacturer’s instructions, you should mix the dye and the developer in a ratio of 1:1 or 1:2. You need the developer to activate the dye color to ensure it easily penetrates the hair cuticle.
• Add water to the mixture. You shouldn’t add much water to the mixture to avoid diluting it completely. However, water is essential, especially if you want your hair to be slightly darkened.
• Stir the mixture. Use the plastic spoon to stir the mixture until the color and texture are smooth and consistent. Finally, use the applicator brush to level this mixture.

5. Divide Your Hair into Four Parts and Clip Them

You should divide your hair into four sections using a comb to apply the hair dye easily. Pat your hair from the middle and comb it sideways towards your ear before clipping it.

Repeat the same process until your hair divides into four sections with four clips. The main advantage of dividing your hair from the middle is that you can easily see the roots.

6. Apply the Dye in Each Section

You should apply the dye separately in each section. Unclip the first section and apply the dye to the hair using the applicator brush. Paint the hair’s roots first before spreading the dye to the other parts of the hair.

However, you should not touch the scalp when applying to avoid darkening it. You must spread the dye evenly to avoid having dark patches of dye on your hair. Furthermore, use a mirror when applying the dye to ensure you paint the hair properly.

Repeat the same process in all four sections to ensure your bleached hair coats correctly. However, if you notice that some sections are darker than others, you can repeat the process in these sections to evenly darken your bleached hair.

7. Leave the Dye to Process

Leaving your dye to process is a very crucial step. The timing determines how long your bleached hair takes to darken. Although as a precaution, you should ensure that you follow the instructions listed and stated on the dye package.

For instance, most dark-colored dyes require about thirty minutes to process. In other instances, when getting your bleached hair darkened by a professional, they may choose to use professional-grade dyes that may take up to forty-five minutes to process.

However, to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible, consider checking the hair’s progress every five to ten minutes until the required time is up.

8. Rinse the Dye With Lukewarm Water Until the Water Is Clean

Rinsing the dye with lukewarm water is easy and quick to do. Here are a few steps you should follow when rinsing the excess dye from your hair.

• In a shower or sink, run lukewarm water. While running the water, consider running your fingers through your hair to remove the excess dye. Repeat this process for a few minutes
• Apply a color-protecting conditioner and shampoo. This process allows your hair to look shinier and more even. It will enable you to eliminate the harsh chemicals that may linger on and damage your hair. Additionally, the conditioner will help seal your color, preventing it from entirely washing off.
• Re-run the water. This helps eliminate the shampoo and conditioner used and any excess dye until the water runs clean.

Note that you need to use warm water instead of cold or hot water because it is just the right temperature allowing your scalp, hair cuticles, and pores to open up.

9. Dry Your Hair

Soon after washing your dyed hair, let it dry. However, avoid using a blow drier because heat can be too harsh, and may quickly cause hair damage. Thus, it is best to gradually pat your hair with a dry towel to absorb the excess water and let your hair air dry naturally.

10. Keep Up With Aftercare

Ultimately, the goal after getting freshly dyed hair is to keep it healthier, beautiful, and the color looking fresh for as long as possible.

Thus, to succeed, the best way to keep your hair looking healthy for longer is by using unique products that meet your hair color and needs and following these simple tips:

• Only wash your hair after 48 hours: In the first 48 hours, the dye may still be settling in your hair. Thus, washing it early may cause you to revert to your bleached hair.
• Consider wearing a shower cap while taking a bath. This will help keep your hair dry when you need to wash your hair.
• Adjust your weekly washing routine. Remember that dyed hair may become faded over time after constant wash processes. Thus, only wash it approximately every three days to ensure the dye does not wash off.
• Always use sulfate-free conditioner and shampoo. While having a hair wash day, use these particular products to ensure that your hair color does not fade.
• Avoid exposing your hair to excess sunlight: Too much UV exposure can fade hair color and cause brassy tones to appear on your hair. Thus, you may need to wear hats, scarves, or use UV sprays as available options to protect your hair from sun damage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are frequently asked questions regarding how to slightly darken bleached hair.

Should one cut their hair before or after darkening it?

It is not a secret that most salons do a slight trim on their client’s hair before a color treatment. However, if you plan on doing a major cut, such as shaving your hair bald, a pixie, or bob cut, consider cutting it another day. If in doubt, ask your stylist about the best plan of action before darkening your hair.

Can you darken your hair without using dye?

You can darken your hair without using dye. For instance, some of the commodities you can use to slightly darken your hair include strong coffee and black tea that helps with staining your hair a darker color. The henna powder will work wonders for those seeking a darker reddish-brown undertone.

Does your hair volume affect the amount of dye used?

The amount of dye used should be directly proportional to the amount of hair during application. Thus, consider using a small amount of dye mixture if you have less hair. On the other hand, people with voluminous and coarse-textured hair should use a higher dye mixture.

Can darkening your hair damage it?

As much as dyeing your hair a darker color is an enjoyable way to change your look, it poses some risks. Your hair may feel drier and damaged because of chemical dyes. Without the correct aftercare products, your hair may be prone to getting split ends and breakage. Thus, consider moisturizing and applying a hair mask frequently to ensure it stays nourished.

How long will the hair color last?

Darkening your hair means you may choose permanent, semi-permanent, or temporary hair dyes. However, though all these chemicals differ in time duration, none lasts forever. Research shows that most high-performance hair dyes are permanent; however, they only last a few weeks.

So How Do You Slightingly Darken Bleached Hair?

You can slightly darken bleached hair by using a desired dark-colored dye of your choice. However, assess your hair’s condition before color application.

Also, consider choosing a dye color that is a few shades lighter, wear protective gear during the application, rinse off the excess dye with warm water, air dry it and lastly, follow the simple tips for caring for colored hair.

These simple steps will help you on the journey of achieving healthier-looking hair. Happy coloring!