Bleaching

Bleaching is a process that lightens the colour of the facial hair. It works best on soft hair that grows on the face and arms. This is a very common treatment used by women and men as well.

Types of Bleaches

  1. Powder or Paste Bleach: It is an inexpensive method of bleaching. This paste can be prepared by mixing bleaching powder, ammonium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). It can be used on the face, body, arms and legs.

  2. Cream Bleach: It comes in a cream form. This cream contains H2O2 while amomonium hydroxide is packed in a salt form. The mixture can be prepared by mixing both according to the manufacture’s direction. This can be used to bleach facial and body hair.

Cream bleach is most popular and commonly used in the parlours.

Allergic Test / Patch Test

People who have a severe physical reaction to a particular substance that has no effect whatsoever on most other people are said to have an allergy. Some chemicals harm the skin of some people whereas it has no such effect on other’s skin.

Beauty Therapist has to be very careful before using chemicals on clients. He or She should always perform an allergy test before using the chemicals. In bleaching as we use chemicals, so an allergy test or a patch test should be performed.

Patch test should be performed behind the ears or the inside of the elbow. Prepare a bleach pack in a small quantity and perform an allergy test 24 hours before giving a service. This is done because sometimes it can take 24 hours for the body to react. After performing an allergy test, if you find any redness, swelling or itching then don’t do bleaching on the client.

Procedure for Powder Bleach

After you have ensured that your client is not having any allergy, you can proceed to the next step.

  1. Arrange all the material required for bleaching on a tray.

  2. Make the client comfortable and remove the jewellery.

  3. Cleanse the face and neck thoroughly.

  4. Prepare the client using head band and wrap a towel or a neck cape.

  5. Prepare the bleach pack as per the manufacturer’s directions.

  6. Cover the client’s eyes with cotton dipped in rose water.

  7. Apply bleach pack in upward and outward movements. Leave for 10 to 15 minutes depending on the lightness desired and clean the face with tap water.

  8. Apply moisturizer.

Precautions for bleaching

There are several precautions that should be kept in mind before using bleach for lightening of facial or body hair:

  • Use bleach meant for facial or body hair.

  • Do patch test at least 24 hours in advance.

  • Don’t use near eyes, inside nose, ears, scar tissue, warts, moles. Bleach shouldn’t be used over sunburned, irritated, inflamed or chapped skin, or on an area that is freshly tweezed or shaved.

  • Don’t use on extremely exfoliated skin.

  • Keep packaged product away from heat and sun. Store bleaching products in a cool, dry place.

  • Don’t use a metal dish to mix bleach or apply bleach using anything made of metal.

  • Keep bleached area out of direct sunlight for at least 24 hours.

  • Always make sure the area you are using bleach in is well-ventilated.