Can I bleach my beard? We have been noticing this question for quite a while and in this post, we are doing justice to that. Find all the answers you need here.
What have you heard about bleaching one’s beard?
There was a time last year when top celebrities started bleaching their beards, and now, it has metamorphosed into a trend. Most men are starting to lighten their beard, forgoing the regular black for a lighter colour. While the risk of Beard bleaching is very little, it may look surprising to many. In any case, I did some researches about beard bleaching for you. Whether you are looking to bleach your beard for a one-off event, to change your look, to play a role in a movie or for the Christmas period, then there are a few things you should be aware of.
If you have been considering changing the colour of your beard lately, Here’s a friendly guide to tell if you can bleach your beard while giving you some helpful tips so that you go about it in a way that most benefits your beard health. However, If you don’t it, you can easily shave your beard off and move on with your life.
Now, the reasons why a man may wish to bleach his beard are countless. And I strongly believe they are gratifying. However, before you do, there are some important things that you should know.
Is Beard Bleaching Same As Beard Dyeing?
Many guys find it difficult to discern the clear difference between beard bleach and beard dye. This is because they actually do not know what these products are used for respectively.
Of course, there is a difference between beard dye and bleaching. While both bring about changes in the beard colour, one can be preferred for a more desirable result to the other. Let’s take a look at the difference.
Beard dyeing
This process simply works by coating the hair shaft with a different colour. You can have your beard dyed temporarily or permanently. Permanent hair colouring has a higher peroxide content which means they bleach the hair as the dye is being deposited and the bonding process is stronger, which means that you cannot easily remove them by washing. Permanent hair dyes are designed to penetrate deeper into the hair strand and are sold in a variety of colours and shades.
Temporary dyes, on the other hand, are the least harmful since they basically coat the hair with colour (they are likely to fade quicker)
There are several ways to adopt in order to maintain a dyed beard. You may need to often use shampoo for coloured hair to keep the vibrancy and lustre of the colour
Avoid Swimming in chlorinated water ; it causes chemical reactions with the dye
Beard bleaching
This is our central focus in this article, it turns out to be the most adopted technique of colouration of Beard lately. But it is only suitable for those who prefer lighter shades than the natural colour of their Beards. If this is what you want, then you are looking at bleaching your beard. We got you covered.
How does it work? It actually strips the hair of its natural colour so that the darker colour turns lighter, allowing you to apply another colour in its place. This is done by the interaction between the bleach and the melanin (what gives colour to your beard).
While it is possible for you to DIY bleaching, it is generally advisable to consult a pro. Most hairstylists that I’ve met always use bleach to turn dark hair into a pale yellow colour. Well, we can say that quite a number of guys may be satisfied with this colour but this colour also serves as a great base for other light shades.
Bleach will continue eating at the hair until the hair strand completely disintegrates. Hence, It is important to know when the bleach must be removed (we will show you how)
Common Reasons why Men bleach their Beards
Like I mentioned earlier, the reasons why a man may wish to bleach his beard are countless. And I strongly believe they are gratifying. Here are some reasons why a man would want to bleach his beard.
1. When your facial hair doesn’t match the hair on their head
How would you like to have blonde hair and a vibrant red beard? Unusual yeah?. Hence, bleaching one’s beard may be the next thing that comes to the mind
Some men may choose to dye their beards because their facial hair doesn’t match the hair on their head.
2. Personal Style
Some men simply prefer a different colour. And so, they like to colour their beard.
3. Grey strands
This can be referred to the most common reason why any man would opt for beard bleaching — development of grey hairs that come with age.
If a man is dyeing the hair on his head, it’s very likely that he’ll be colouring the hair on his face as well for a natural consistency.
How safe is it to Bleach Your Beard?
Our beards are very sensitive in that the strands are more prone to damage than the hair that’s on our head. The fact is, no matter the type of colouring products involved in the process, there is going to be some form of damage to your beard hair, even if it’s mild. This means that dyeing your beard regularly can lead to split ends and dehydrated strands.
Bleach is the harshest colouring product out there and bleaching your beard regularly can actually lead to your facial hair falling out.
However, if you really want to colour your beard, there are some ways that you can go about it in order to experience as little damage to your facial hair as possible. Read on to discover more.
Interested in bleaching your beard? Here’s how you could do it.
So you have ZERO ideas on how to bleach your beard but you really want to do it? Don’t fret. we have created this friendly guide to help you out.
If you’re tired of your dark beard, you can always play around with bleach. If you end up not liking it, it’s super easy to shave it off
Just before we dive in, read this precaution
There are different types of bleach available on the market, and using them can be harmful if not done correctly. Since bleach has an ingredient called hydrogen peroxide, it can be a little strong — although it’s good to note that the bleach created for face and body hair has a gentler formulation.
Depending on the product that you use (see tip below) the instructions may vary a little but this gives you a general idea of the process.
CAUTION: These methods I’m sharing with you is completely done on your own risk! You can always let a barber do the bleach If you’re not 100% sure what you’re doing. If you’re still unsure if you can pull it off, you can always go to the barbershop to have it done. Otherwise, gear up and prepare to colour.
So are you ready? Now, it’s time to bleach.
How to properly bleach your beard – step by step process
Your beard requires a more sensitive bleaching process than the hair on your head, as facial skin is more easily irritated. Duly follow the bleaching process below and lighten your beard at home. Easy pizzy!
Here’s a quick rundown of the best way to bleach your beard, some risks to be aware of and a product you could try. These step by step process have been shared to many and the feedbacks are awesome. The step by step process of bleaching your beard is as follows:
Step 1
Pick up a quarter-sized amount of petroleum jelly, and smooth it over the skin that is next to your beard on your face and neck. This will protect it from being tinted or dried out by the bleach.
Step 2
Place a sheet of newspaper on a flat surface and set a plastic bowl on top of it. Pull on a pair of rubber gloves, and mix the bleach and developer together in the bowl. Use a bleach that is safe for the face, and follow the directions on the packaging.
Step 3
Dip a colour brush into the bleach, and brush it over your beard. Coat your beard once, as bleach is very strong and typically removes colour with one application.
Step 4
Leave the bleach on your beard for the minimum amount of time indicated on the packaging. Look into the mirror to see if the hair has lightened to the desired shade. When it has, use your rubber gloves to expose the root of the hair and brush a thin layer of bleach onto it. Let the bleaching process stay for the maximum amount of time indicated on the packaging.
Step 5
Rinse your beard with warm water until the water runs clear. Coat your beard in the provided toner, and allow it to sit for 20 minutes. Toner will remove any orange or yellow tones from the beard while helping to condition the hair.
Step 6
Rinse the toner from your beard with warm water. Soak a cotton cloth in warm water and use it to wipe the petroleum jelly from your skin.
You can try out these bleaches for your Beard
Manic Panic Flash Lightning Hair Bleach Kit
Perfect Blond Extra Strength Professional Hair Lightener Bleach
Risks of bleaching your beard
Like I have mentioned, it is important to be aware of some very little risk that is associated with bleaching your beard. If you were to use the same bleach for hair on the head as for your beard, then you would likely end up with red raw skin at best and at worst you could end up with blisters all over your face, not a great look and very painful to boot.
You should also check the products of any product that you choose to use as they do contain some known allergens. If you are prone to allergic reaction then its best to use the small patch test. Apply a small amount of the product to a small section of skin and wait to see if you have a reaction.
There is a small chance that once you bleach your beard some of the effects may be permanent. This is only likely to occur if you regularly bleach your beard, so you are safe to give it a go and see if you like the look. Just be aware that if you keep it up you may not be able to go back to your original colour.
Bleaches are often quite pungent. This makes sore eyes another risk. These pesky fumes can make your eyes water, or cause them to become irritated and red.
If there’s no sign of pain or redness after a couple of days then you know that you are safe to dive in and get the whole of your beard bleached.
How Often Can I Bleach My beard?
Now that you’ve been able to bleach your beard at home. You may ask, how often can I bleach my beard? My answer remains that There should be at least 15 days in between each time you bleach facial hair to avoid your skin becoming overly irritated.
Whether you bleach your facial hair every two, three or four weeks will depend on the length of your facial hair’s growth cycle. You’ll be able to determine this after a few sessions of bleaching. At a minimum, to remain effective, bleaching your beard will likely need to be done every four weeks.
So over to you! Have you ever bleached your beard on your own? , let us know about your experiences in the comments section. I will also be glad to answer any questions you have.
Check out some of our interesting articles here:
How Often Should A Black Man Wash His Beard
How to Take Care of Your Beard When Eating
In most cases, you will want to stay away from hair treatments and products that contain chemicals like parabens, DEA or sulfates.
I have a full goatee (or what Americans call a goatee) and I bleach it with Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Color Nourishing Hair Color Creme, color “Mascarpone Creme PL2”. It’s widely available for under $10. I use the same technique you detail in your instructions and it comes out great. You can store the unmixed chemicals in the refrigerator and get about 4 bleachings from one kit. If you’re tempted to bleach your eyebrows, DON’T. One tiny flick of dye can blind an eye.