DIY: How to Lighten Hair Without Bleaching

I've been coloring my hair since 2005, and bleaching is one thing I absolutely hate to do.  I love my hair lighter than my usual dark brown/black with red tones. 

Please note that I am not a professional hairstylist/cosmetologist, I posted this because I figured there are other people who want to try to do it on their own, or have had bad experiences having others do it. 

 This is the product I used which is found at Sally's Beauty Supply.  I have never had any "brassy" "orange" issues using lifting products.

 

"Lifting" hair is when you lighten hair in levels 20, 30, and 40.  Obviously the lighter you want it, the higher the number.

I usually buy Clairol's Soy 4Plex 30 Developer. My scalp is used to hair coloring so it's not so sensitive to developers.  If you find your scalp burns or itches a lot, try purchasing a developer made for sensitive scalps.

 

**The ratio for the developer is 1:1 so if the hair color is 2oz then you want 2oz of developer.  I used 2oz of developer with the hair color. 

 

 

Preparing to lift your hair, make sure you have gathered these products:

gloves
hair color applicator bottle
developer

hair color

a deep conditioner

 

 

My application process:

-turn on music

-part hair

-put gloves on

-mix developer and hair color, let it sit for a few minutes for the mix to process

**-start applying on ends, then roots last (because the heat from your scalp will cause the color to process faster on the roots leaving "hot roots")If you haven't colored your hair before, leave the mix on your ends for 15 minutes and watch the color develop.  Once you are achieving the color you want, apply on the roots.  If it's not lifting leave it in longer.