Bleaching
Lightening hair by breaking down its natural pigment with a chemical lightener.
Also: lightening
Bleaching removes colour from hair. A lightener, usually mixed with hydrogen peroxide, opens the cuticle and breaks down the melanin inside the cortex. Dark hair passes through red, orange and yellow stages as it lightens, which is why bleached hair is often toned afterwards. Bleaching raises porosity and can weaken hair, so stylists test strands and use bond-protecting steps. It is the first step for platinum blonde, pastels and bright fashion colours.