Is Colouring Your Hair Possible Without Bleaching? Myths Busted And Facts Explained

Hair colouring is mostly associated with mandatory bleaching. Scroll down to learn about the myths and facts about no-bleach hair colouring.

One of the most talked-about myths about hair colouring is bleaching. There is still a lot of confusion among hair colour enthusiasts about the necessity of bleaching before colouring. Very often, people are put off from getting a hair makeover simply because of bleach! ‘Is it good? Is it bad? Can I colour my hair without bleaching it?’ are just some of the concerns. Ritu Vijayvergiya, Co-Founder, 2.Oh!, busted myths about no-bleach hair colouring.

What You Need To Know About The Bleaching Process

Ritu said, “When you’re buying a semi-permanent or permanent hair no-bleach hair colour kit, you’ll find ingredients like Hydrogen Peroxide (oxidant) and ammonia or MEA (monoethanolamine) (alkalisers).”

“These are nothing but bleaching agents that work together to destroy the existing pigment of your hair! So, there! You’ve just bought a no-bleach hair colour kit which has the two most essential components that complete the bleaching process,” she added.

She highlighted that you cannot colour hair without breaking down the existing pigment, no matter which part of the world you are from.

How Do Different Levels Of Hair Colouring Work?

Hair colouring isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula, and yes, even when you’re going in for weekly touch-ups, you are still colouring your hair, said Ritu.

Whatever you want to get done—streaks, balayage, complete hair colour, semi-permanent or permanent colour—determines the techniques applied, the type of bleaching agent used and the time required for the final result.

She added that even touch-ups to cover up your greys involve bleaching agents. The longer the bleach stays, the brighter your browns, pinks, violets, reds, blues or steel greys will be. Fortunately, modern bleach formulas enriched with amino acids or Plex technology help strengthen hair, restore elasticity, and keep it healthy and manageable.

Post-Colour Hair Care Ritual

Here are some of the post-hair colour rituals you should consider:

Extra TLC

According to Ritu, coloured hair requires some extra TLC. You can’t neglect it once it’s done. So, don’t forget to follow up with a proper hair care routine with these products that work wonders on coloured hair.

Use Tri-Surfactant Based Shampoo

A Tri-surfactant-based shampoo deeply cleanses to remove product buildup, leaving your scalp feeling fresh and your colour lasting longer.

Use Hair Mask

Ritu recommends applying a high-quality hair mask infused with Behentrimonium Chloride after every wash, a conditioning agent that locks in moisture, smooths strands and reduces frizz. Leave it on for 15–20 minutes and rinse thoroughly. Finish your ritual with a leave-in conditioner infused with Panthenol and Argan Oil for shine, softness and instant detangling.

No matter what hair companies claim, always remember that you cannot permanently alter your hair colour without a bleaching agent, whether it is labelled as bleach, hydrogen peroxide or any other fancy term.

Image Courtesy: Freepik