How I Touchup, Bleach and Tone My Blonde Locs

I'm going to walk you through the bleaching process I do every 2 to 3 months. As my hair grows the process changes a little. The longer it becomes the harder it is to  prevent overlapping so protection with ponytails and foil to keep it in place is a must. I use towels that are very thirsty and a light color as a darker towel can leave dark lint in my hair.

This article is for your understanding of how bleach and toners work together. If I just used bleach my hair would show more very light red tones. This brassy tone is not attractive to me and the purple shampoos don't remove as much of it as I would like. 

I use the blonde toners with a low cream peroxide because it deposits the type of blonde you are looking for whether cooler or warmer tones while turning purple and removing the red tones. 

I have had the color turn out to cool and almost grey. All I did was add a 20 volume to bleach into a loose mixture for 3 minutes to remove the toner quickly leaving me with blonde to platinum hair that I love or could live with; after-all the red tones had already been removed 

3 Month Color Retouch On Locs

After lightly dampening locs and applying conditioner and oil before the bleaching process. 

Products:

PREP

• rice water
• olive oil
• small black rubber bands
• conditioner (not instant)

PROCESS

• application brush/bottle
• plastic gloves
• plastic cap/foil
• blue bleach
• 40 volume cream peroxide
• toner
• 20 volume cream peroxide

STYLING

• Wax
• clips
• dryer

WARNING: Do not shampoo hair, scratch or pull hair before using chemicals.

Step 1. Before the touchup process I am sure not to have any tight or pulling hairstyles for a few days before the touchup process. I apply rice water, conditioner or olive oil to my previously processed locs and let it dry completely before beginning my touch up. Immediately before the application I line my hairline with olive oil although this is not necessary

I mix my powder and peroxide in a bowl adding 5 drops of olive oil. I make the solution a little thicker than a cake mix.

Step 2. I prepare my locs by placing my hair into 8 to 10 ponytail with bands every 20 inches to keep each section from falling onto the bleach. (Now that my hair is longer I cover each ponytail with foil for added protection.) This allows me to easily apply with less chance of over-processed previously processed hair.

I always start in the front working my way to the back as I want my front to end up lighter than my back. You can start in the back as I know this is easier.

Step 3. I apply using an application brush or bottle. If I use the bottle I make my bleach solution a little looser by adding more 40 volume peroxide. I use my fingers to press the product into my hair to assure total coverage.  I use a mirror to assure complete coverage. I then cover my hair with a large plastic cap. (Use a plastic grocery bag in a pinch.) 

Step 4. I allow my hair to process for 15 minutes then check every 5 minutes until I am satisfied. Now that My hair is a very light color I am lightening up my new-growth a little less, which means less time. 

Step 5. Time to rinse well!! Remove all foil but NOT the rubber bands. Remember, rinse very well. Wrap hair with towel and allow the towel to do the work. No rubbing and pulling.

Step 6. I mix the toner with  1 part toner to 2 part 20 volume peroxide.  Always follow the manufacturers instructions. My toner turns purple because I use type that removes the red brassiness giving me a more golden look. 10 to 15 minutes is all I need. This time varies for me depending on how much red I have left. This is why I prefer blue bleach. 

After the bleaching and toner is finished I rinse very well and pour some prepared rice water over my hair, squeeze most out and apply my conditioner. I know the cream conditioners make it hard for some hair to loc but what I do is give it an Braggs apple cider rinse to remove all traces of the conditioner. If your hair is very hard to loc don't use any cream conditioner, you can use a leave in liquid conditioner instead. In short. Use what works for you and your hair. 

I use Jamaican Mango and Lime locs styling wax because is seals in moisture, keep my locs soft and firm and shampoos out easily. I used to use the cream but this gives me everything I want.

My biggest tip to you is to twist your locs all in the same direction. This will make it easier as you retwist your own hair to keep it neat. I hope this article has made it more understandable how each component is used during the locing maintenance process. 

How I Safely Bleached My Short Locs| Blonde Locs

BLEACHED With WellaT16: 6 MONTHS SHORT LOCS

Hi my name is Darlene and I manage "Get Dreadlocks". As someone that has done others hair for years I have no problem maintaining my own. I decided to go blond after growing more grey hair around my hairline. Until it grows throughout my hair I've decided to just go blond and maybe platinum in the future.

STEP 1.

PREP - How I Prepped My Natural Hair Before Bleaching

• 2 Weeks before I bleached my hair I used sulfate free shampoo and retwist my hair with Jamaican lock wax. 
•  Night before the bleaching I applied olive oil to my scalp and locs.
• Optional: I use rubber bands to separate my locs into 7 to 9 ponytails for touch ups. 

STEP 2.

 I mixed my blue bleach, 3 drops olive oil, 40 volume peroxide in a plastic color applicator bottle.

NOTE: Always wear gloves to protect your hands. This product activates once mixed and can cause a chemical burn.

Apply to roots and cover with plastic or foil for best results. I allowed mine to sit for 40 minutes.

Rinse this product very well from your hair. Rinse well and towel dry..Your hair may be very red and brassy. No worries.

STEP 3.

Tone Color (to get any red out) i use Wella T15 or T16 for a more platinum color

A toner will give you the desired blonde you want faster and more efficiently. However with T16, do not leave on too long or your hair will pass the desired blonde you want but the red will be out.

• One part color
• two part 20 vol pero
• Take T16 out by 15 to 20 minutes
• T15 can stay in longer

When you think you have it all out rinse it again. It WILL dry your hair out eventually if even a little is left in
SIDE NOTE: Chemicals should be done by a professional.
STEP 4.
Prep for Retwist. Remember that rice water from the prep? Well, after rinsing your hair well and using paraffin free shampoo or co-washing product. (I use a clear paraffin free shampoo without moisturizers that will prevent my hair from becoming too soft making my hair resistant to locking). Dredge your hair with the rice water and leave for 1/2 hour to 1 hour. (I add 2 drops of peppermint to my rice water)  You can rinse it out if you wish. (Refrigerate any remainer without the rice; it will go sour if you don't.
Here I am below two months later with a freshly cowashed hair which is soft, strong and healthy as you can see my hair is giving me a little "hang time". I loved it really short but now I have a little more confident with  more length. 

I twist my hair with a mix that sets my hair and keeps it from frizzing. I use clips if I want them thinner and tighter. Air dry or go under a medium dryer to dry well.

As you can see the top of my hair has not been retwist yet but the sides have. They will begin to fill back out as the week goes on. But not too much. By the way, I sleep with a satin bonnet. I'll show you how in another article. But here are the ingredients to my mix. I staturate my wet hair well until the end.

• Aloe Vera gel
• clear gel
• locs wax

In the "before" and "after" pictures my hair has become thicker and healthier even with bleaching with high volume peroxide. I only bleach every 2 -3 months or so
.

1 YEAR OLD BLEACHED with newgrowth
 and toned with Wella T15 

How To Moisturize and Keep Bleached Dreadlocks Healthy

How to Maintain and Wash Your Dreads

Beginning the dreadlock journey properly will guarantee you beautiful glorious locs. They may look carefree but if you want great dreadlocks you have to put in a lot of work during the first year.

You have to know how to maintain moisture to prevent breakage.Shampoo dreadlocks properly to avoid bad smells from product, smoke, or perspiration. Learning to secrets to care and style for your dreadlocks is a must to prevent breakage from dryness.

How To Repair Broken Dreadlocks In 3 Easy Steps

 

 



Get your crochet needles from Amazon.

Broken dreadlocks can be embarrassing and scary. Learning how to repair damaged dreadlocks are not as hard at you may think.

Please relax, broken damaged dreadlocks happens to the best of us. The important thing is your about to learn how to easily fix your broken dreadlocks in minutes. 

Dread Maintenance- How To Moisturize Your Dreads

Hair Care Tips For Dreadlocks During the high heat and cold temperatures our hair becomes very dry. You have to make dreadlocks moist by hydrating your dreads with moisturizer.

1.) Condition dreadlocks with oil treatments and oil treatments. Make sure you spend at least 15 minutes with a plastic cap under the dryer to allow moisturizers to reach the core of each hair shaft.

Dreadlock Maintenance Products For Neat And Healthy Dreadlocks

Dreadlock Maintenance Products

The right products for dreadlocks keep your style looking good.Short dreads on kinky hair are sexy,odd and bold for the different people that wear them.

Keeping your dreadlocks  neat is excepting the fact that you have to chose the right products for your dreadlocks and be commited to using them properly.

You will have to  use dreadlock gel, spritz, oils and tie it up every night. Finding product for your baby dreads will take trial and error. Every  head is not the same you will have to consider :

• scalp
• lifestyle
• affordability

If you are proned to dandruff you will have to use a product that is helpful to your scalps issue and if you work in a dusty environment you will have to consider how easy it is to rinse products from your hair and the cost to go with it.

Dreadlock Maintenance On Skinny Dreads

When Can Dreadlocks Be Too Small?

There are a lot of beautiful dreadlocks styles on all types of people. Who is to say what is right or wrong to another person that has their own unique taste. I will however tell you my opinion as a stylist that has dreaded and braided all types of hair in my over 25 years of experience.

How To Remove Dreadlocks

How do you remove  your dreadlocks? So many people ask if dreadlocks can be removed and I have to say yes. You see I have dreadlocks and removed them myself. It took a long process and I lost the hair that was normally shedding. It was scary but my hair looked just fine after it was conditioned and groomed afterwards. Once you decide to take out your dreadlocks you must be commited. It is easy to change  your mind when you think of all the work ahead of you.

How To Retwist or Touch Up Dreadlocks

When it's time to retwist your dreadlocks you don't need anyone to tell you; it's puffy and strands are  keeping it from looking it's best.  Retwisting is a real job when you are first growing your locs because the whole loc may try to unravel if your hair is newly twisted,  too soft or hard to lock.

Don't worry this is normal and will take some patience on your part. If you have been using a softening and moisturizing shampoo that may be one of your problems. You see that shampoo helps the hair to become coated with conditioners that prevent locking.

You actually want your hair to intertwine together. So you should not a deep moisturizing shampoo and use a deep cleansing shampoo that will remove dirt and product from hair and prevent your dreadlocks from detangling. That being said, use a shampoo without sulfates or use the trusted baking soda and vinegar mixed in warm water for a shampoo or rinse after shampoo. Trust me your hair will bind together better during twisting a after. Makes since? Good!