Many girls spend their childhoods playing with Barbie dolls with golden blonde hair. Several years later, one of their lovely blonde classmates is crowned prom queen. They always say, “Blondes have more fun.” As a result, it’s no surprise that many brunettes and dark-haired ravens appear in the adult world wanting to experiment with blonde hair.
As a result, many women turn to bleach to achieve that light golden color that makes them appear cheeky and warm. However, it is not always rosy—bleach almost always harms the hair due to the damage it is known to cause. That means months of dry, brittle hair. Yikes!
Fortunately, in recent years, an innovation known as “high lift” color has emerged in the world of hair care. It’s a novel method of lightening and coloring your hair at the same time without the need for pre-lightening or bleaching.
Can you use high lift color on bleached hair?

If you have previously bleached and dyed hair, a high lift color will not look good on you. Even if you previously had your hair colored a bright white and now want to go blonde, it will not penetrate your hair.
That’s because it already contains artificial dye, and your new dye won’t be able to force the old one out. Only bleach can remove that old pigment from your hair.
Another issue with using high lift dye on bleached hair is getting the right undertone. To cancel out any brassiness, high lift dyes may contain some toning properties that give it a more purple or blue undertone.
However, if your hair is already bleached and doesn’t require any additional assistance, you may end up with lilac or pastel blue hair. No, thank you!
Furthermore, because bleached hair is already moderately damaged, the 40 volume developer could result in double the fragility, dryness, and brittleness of your hair.That’s something you never want to take a chance on.
If you’re still unsure whether your hair type is suitable for high lift color, you can always schedule a consultation with a reputable stylist.They can suggest other coloring options based on your hair type and condition, so you can choose the best method for you.
What is a high lift hair dye?
If you have naturally dark hair and have colored it at least once in your life, you’ll know that the only way to get lighter-colored hair is to bleach out your natural pigment.
You can’t just apply blonde or light brown dye to your hair and expect it to stain.
However, with high lift color technology, you can lighten and color your hair blonde without using the dreaded bleach.
Why is it so dreadful, you may wonder? Bleach, on the other hand, has a bad rep because of the damage it causes to hair.
Bleach aggressively lifts the cuticle of your hair, allowing your natural pigments to seep out and leave it a lighter shade. This is then dyed or toned to the desired color.
However, the harsh mode of action of bleach in lightening the hair leaves your strands brittle and weak.
Because there are new gaps in your cuticle, it is more difficult to retain moisture, leaving your hair lifeless. It also degrades the proteins that keep your hair strong and bouncy.
Because bleach is so powerful and chemically dangerous, it can even burn your scalp when applied. This is one of the most common concerns people have about it.
It’s difficult to restore your hair’s health after bleaching it. Even if you pour your heart and soul into moisturizing and strengthening it, it could take months before it feels as soft and shiny as it used to.
As a result, many women who prefer their naturally luscious hair avoid bleaching.
This apprehension can be alleviated by using high lift dye. Instead of needing to bleach your darker hair first, you can use this dye right away because it also functions as a gentle lightener.
This type of hair color is classified as permanent hair dye. It contains more ammonia and pigment than regular permanent dye to penetrate deep into your hair strands and allow the color to shine through.
It is then combined with a 40 volume developer, which is one of the most potent peroxide solutions for dye activation.
The developer lifts your cuticle, allowing your natural color to be stripped away while your new hair dye penetrates the hair strand. This allows you to lighten and color your hair at the same time.
It also helps to tone your hair, which cancels out brassiness and provides you with the proper undertone.
If you had gone to the salon first to bleach your hair, toning would take another half hour or so because it is an additional step after lightening. As a result, high lift dye can cut the coloring time in half.
How to use high lift hair color?

Now that you’ve learned everything there is to know about how high lift hair color works and how it differs from bleach, let’s take a look at how you can use it to lighten your hair!
What you need:
- High lift hair color
- 40 volume developer
- Hairbrush
- Old t-shirt
- Rubber gloves
- Bowl
- Hair dye brush
- Sectioning clips
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
How to apply:
- Begin by combining your high lift hair color and your 40 volume developer in a bowl in a 1:2 ratio using a hair dye brush (i.e., if you are using 1 oz. of hair color, add 2 oz. of a developer to it).
- Wear an old t-shirt to prevent staining your nice clothes.
- Put your rubber gloves on.
- Part your hair horizontally first, then vertically, to divide it into four sections.
- Pin up to three sections of your hair with sectioning clips, leaving the section where you want to begin applying the high lift hair color loss.
- Using a hair dye brush, begin applying the high lift hair color to all of your hair, picking up 1/4 to 1/2 subsections of hair at a time.
- Pull down and work the color through the length of your hair with your fingers.
- Allow the hair color to develop for the time indicated on the box (which should be between 45-60 minutes), checking the shade your hair has reached regular intervals.
- Rinse the high lift hair color out with warm water until it runs clear.
- Cleanse and condition your hair.
Who should and shouldn’t use high lift hair dye?
High lift dye should only be used on healthy, natural, virgin hair that has not recently been subjected to chemical processes.If this describes you, high lift dye is an excellent choice because it preserves the integrity and radiance of your hair.
That said, it’s critical to understand that, while it’s technically healthier and less dangerous than bleach, it still causes some oxidation, which necessitates proper aftercare.This is due to the fact that high lift dyes rely on a 40 volume developer, which can be very strong.
High-lift dyes can only be used on medium hair colors. This may suit you if you have dark blonde or dirty brown hair.If you use this dye on darker hair, you may end up with an extremely copper and brassy shade that is difficult to remove.
These dyes should also be avoided on coarse or super-curly hair. Because this hair type is more resistant to lightning, it may be more difficult to work with.
Restoring it to health may be difficult as well because coarse hair is already dry—you don’t want to add damage and fragility to that. You also can’t use a high lift color on previously dyed hair because there won’t be enough space in your hair shaft for new pigments.
Keep in mind that high lift dye only deposits pigment into your hair, not lifts it out. Only bleach is capable of accomplishing this task.
So, if you have rich, deep, chocolate brown hair or jet black tresses, high lift dye may not be as effective for you. These dyes only work to raise your shade by three to four levels, so you will not turn blonde if you use them. If you have very dark hair, bleaching it may be a better option. It can lighten your hair thoroughly and evenly, and you can customize your toning to get the shade you want without relying on a high lift dye that wasn’t designed for your hair type.
Will high lift color damage bleached hair?
No one can deny or even deny that high lift dye is a game-changer in the world of hair coloring. It’s fantastic because it opens up light and blonde hair to brunettes and those with a more medium natural base shade.But, sadly, it’s not for everyone—especially those with bleached hair.
Color with a high lift will harm bleached hair. It is not only ineffective on previously lightened and dyed hair, but it can also cause hair damage that is difficult to repair. So, if you’ve had a couple of bleaching and dye jobs in the last few months, do your hair a favor and avoid this trend.
Instead, take care of your hair and use more appropriate coloring methods if you want to change up your color. Don’t risk your bleached and damaged hair just to try out this new, trendy coloring method.
Stick to what you know is good for your hair’s health, and you’ll avoid a bullet of epic proportions.
When to use high lift hair color?
High Lift hair colors are ideal for creating light blondes without the use of bleach. Because PRAVANA’s HI LIFTS line contains more alkalinity than the brand’s other permanent colors, the shades soften the hair more, resulting in more lightening of natural pigment.
Here are some client scenarios in which HIGH LIFTS may be used instead of a traditional lightener.
- Client with virgin hair who does not want to use bleach but would like to try a blonding service
- Root retouching on Level 6 and lighter when bleach is not desired
- Breakthrough on Level 6 and lighter
How to evaluate bleached hair health before applying high lift color?

If your hair has already been subjected to harsh treatment, such as bleaching. So, before you apply the high lift color, you should first assess your hair. You can assess the health of your hair using a variety of techniques. The strand test is the most effective.
This test is performed in salons prior to coloring or bleaching to determine whether the hair will withstand these processes.
What do you require?
- High lift hair color and developer at the manufacturer’s recommended volumes.
- Gloves
- Container made of plastic
- Spoon made of plastic
In step by step details:
- Comb your hair and separate a strand of 2 or 3 centimeters, preferably from behind the ear or the back of the head.
- Because you only need to cover one strand, combine a spoonful of hair dye and a spoonful of developer in the plastic container. Cover and store the remaining hair dye and developer tightly so that they can be used within 24 hours.
- Put on your gloves. Apply the mixture evenly to the separated strand with the hair dye brush.
- Allow the mixture to act for the time specified. It will take between 45 and 60 minutes.
Note: Immediately rinse with plenty of cold water and soft soap if you feel burning, itching, or extreme heat during this time!
After the exposure time, thoroughly rinse the strand and apply a small amount of conditioner to restore its moisture. Allow the strand to air dry before inspecting it closely: does it appear damaged? Do the ends separate?Is it like chewing gum that stretches and returns? You can’t comb it? Is it rough and frizzy when you touch it?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, you should avoid using high lift hair color!
Just concentrate on moisturizing your hair. Those symptoms indicate that your hair will burn due to the strength of the hair dye. If this occurs, you will have to cut your hair. What you should do is put off applying the hair dye for 3 to 4 weeks. Meanwhile, apply intensive moisturizing treatments.
If your hair lacks any of these characteristics, you can use a high lift hair color.
Watch Using color to lighten hair | Video
Is it possible to lighten hair without using bleach?
It is absolutely possible to lift hair color without using bleach. If you have virgin hair, you can lighten it with blonde hair color or a high-lift dye. If you have color in your hair, a color stripper can be used to give it a new look.
Is it possible to use a high lift color on colored hair?
Because dye cannot lift dye, high lift color cannot be used to lighten dyed hair. As a result, it should only be used on virgin hair. If you have dyed your hair, use a hair dye remover before bleaching it.
Is it possible to use a high lift tint on white hair?
No. If you only use 6% with a high lift tint, it will expose the underlying warmth on darker hair but will not contain enough color pigment to adequately tone it. Depending on what you want to neutralize, you must bleach and then tone.
Is high lift blonde preferable to bleach?
Bleach vs. High Lift Hair Color It does this while also toning your hair, whereas bleach requires you to tone your hair separately as an extra step. High lift hair color provides an additional level of lightening on top of what a regular blonde dye can achieve.
What exactly is the distinction between Hi-Lift lighteners and bleach?
High-Lift Lighteners are essentially permanent colors that use “color” instead of bleach to permanently lighten your hair to the desired shade.
Can you use a high-lift lightener on natural hair?
High-Lift Lighteners are essentially permanent colors that use “color” instead of bleach to permanently lighten your hair to the desired shade. Color lighteners should only be used on natural or virgin hair – that is, hair that has not previously been colored.
Conclusion

No one can deny or even deny that high lift dye is a game-changer in the world of hair coloring.
It’s fantastic because it opens up light and blonde hair to brunettes and those with a more medium natural base shade.But, sadly, it’s not for everyone—especially those with bleached hair.
It is not only ineffective on previously lightened and dyed hair, but it can also cause hair damage that is difficult to repair.So, if you’ve had a couple of bleaching and dye jobs in the last few months do your hair a favor and avoid this trend.
Instead, take care of your hair and use more appropriate coloring methods if you want to change up your color.Don’t risk your bleached and damaged hair just to try out this new, trendy coloring method.
Stick to what you know is good for your hair’s health, and you’ll avoid a bullet of epic proportions.
Bottom up
Until the, Read about, How Can My Hair Be Wavy and Straight at the Same Time: Guide