To bleach your hair, you will need the following materials:

• Bleach powder: Decide what shade youre aiming for, then head to your local beauty store. Bleach powder comes in either packets or tubs; it can be more economical to buy a tub if youre planning on bleaching your hair more than once.

• Developer: This is the liquid base to your bleach mixture. The volume of developer you need depends on your natural hair color. Use a 20-volume developer if your natural shade is blonde or light brown, and go for a 30- or 40-volume developer if your hair is very dark or black.

• Tint brush: For applying products.

• Bowl: For mixing the bleach and developer.

• Plastic wrap: To cover your hair while the bleach is processing.

• Gown: To protect your clothes from bleach stains.

• Brush and mixing tray: To mix the bleach and developer.

• Purple toning shampoo and/or conditioner: To help tone hair in the days and weeks after bleaching. You probably don’t need both at the same time; the toning can come from one or the other.

Its important to understand your current hair color situation before bleaching. If your hair is already processed, if you have used any type of box dye, or if you have virgin, unprocessed hair, these can cause variations in how your hair will lift with the bleach.

Its also important to read the specific instructions on whichever product you buy, as there is no universal advice that works for everyone.

Finally, its recommended to have good lighting while bleaching your hair, as natural sunlight is much better than artificial light for seeing the true color of your hair.