The key difference between bleaching and dyeing hair is that bleaching strips the hair of colour, whereas dyeing hair changes the colour of your hair.
Both bleaching and dyeing change the colour of your hair and damage and weaken it. The more you keep the product on your hair, the more damage and hair breakage it will cause. If you want a lighter shade for your already dyed hair, you have to first bleach it and then apply the required shade. In both these procedures, proper aftercare is a must to retain the lustre and vibrancy of hair.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Bleaching Hair
3. What is Dyeing Hair
4. Bleaching vs Dyeing Hair in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Bleaching vs Dyeing Hair
What is Bleaching Hair?
Bleaching is stripping the hair of colour. We can change our hair from a darker shade to a lighter shade by bleaching. Just like applying bleaching on the skin to strip away the melanin from the skin, bleaching removes melanin from the hair, making it lighter and yellowish.
If you want a lighter hair colour, bleaching is the solution. You cannot get a lighter shade from a darker base without bleaching. After bleaching, the natural hair colour gets removed, and then you can either keep the bleached shade or apply any other desired colour in its place.
The more time the bleach is on your hair, the more damage it will do to the hair because the product opens hair cuticles, which will make the hair weaker. Therefore, it is necessary to do this under professional guidance. After washing away the product, remember to dry your hair gently so that the hair will not get completely damaged. The only solution to remove bleached hair is by cutting off the bleached section.
What is Dyeing Hair?
Dyeing hair involves changing the colour of the hair. Earlier, people dyed hair to cover their grey hair, but now it has become a fashion statement. Dyeing can be either permanent or temporary.
When the hair is dyed temporarily, it fades away gradually with every wash. It will only last for about 4-5 weeks. Strong and harsh chemicals like ammonia and hydrogen peroxide are used when dyeing hair permanently. The chemicals used to colour the hair temporarily are mild, so the damage done to the hair is lesser than when colouring the hair permanently. Though it is called permanent hair dyeing, it will last for about 6 months only. After that, it will fade away.
When we dye our hair, a colour coat is applied to our hair shaft. If it is permanent, it penetrates deeper into the hair, and if it is temporary, it is just on the surface of the hair. Before dying hair, it is important to do a patch test and follow the instructions properly. After this process, it is important to maintain the hair well. You should use shampoo for coloured hair to maintain its lustre, and it is also necessary to avoid swimming in chlorinated water or any reaction with the dye.
What is the Difference Between Bleaching and Dyeing Hair?
The key difference between bleaching and dyeing hair is that bleaching strips hair of colour while dyeing hair changes the colour of your hair. Moreover, bleaching is permanent, whereas dyeing can be either permanent or temporary.
The below infographic presents the differences between bleaching and dyeing hair in tabular form for side by side comparison.
Summary – Bleaching vs Dyeing Hair
Bleaching involves stripping the hair colour. It gives a lighter shade to your hair. It is a must to bleach when dying hair lighter if you have a darker base. Dyeing hair involves changing the colour of the hair. Dyed hair can be changed by applying another colour, but bleached hair cannot be removed except by cutting it short. Thus, this is the summary of the difference between bleaching and dyeing hair.
Reference:
1. “Hair Bleaching.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.
2. “Hair Coloring.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.
Image Courtesy:
1. “A Hairdresser Coloring a Woman’s Hair” (CC0) via Pexels
2. “Woman Having Her Hair Done by the Hairdresser” (CC0) via Pexels