10 Best Bleaches for Dark Hair to Attain Lustrous Highlights

Written by Alvira Dsouza, Hair Expert
Updated on Feb 22, 2024
 best bleach for dark hair
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Bleaching, coloring, or highlighting your hair is among the hot topics of conversation for women who love to follow the ever-changing beauty and fashion trends. However, booking an appointment or visiting a salon frequently is an expensive and time-consuming affair. But, you need not worry! We have got you an inventory of the best bleaches for dark hair that will help you achieve salon-like professional results just by sitting in the comfort of your home. 

Our contributor Ghanima Abdullah suggests ways to get your hair bleached, saying, “It's best to get a bleach treatment done in the salon because home bleach kits can be very harsh. If you decide to bleach your hair at home, make sure you've waited two months since your last treatment and that your hair is in good condition. Then use coconut oil in your hair as an overnight treatment before you start to strengthen your tresses.”

Dark hair has a highly pigmented color, and in order to transform it into a bright blonde shade, you need to look for the least damaging hair bleach brand and its range of products promising everything that you desire. For this, there are some best at-home bleach kits as well as blonde bleach powders available in the market that feature fast-performing, and gentle formulas backed with mess-free application abilities. Make sure you prioritize them all to enhance your look and experiment with your hair without burning a hole in your pocket.

Ahead is the list of the top 10 hair bleaches for dark hair that we highly recommend! 

 

10 Best Bleaches for Dark Hair

This high-performance powder bleach from L’Oreal Paris comes with a rich, no-drip formula for easy application. And, if you often hit the salon to treat your hair, then this is definitely a good hair bleach to save some of your hard-earned pence. All you need to do is mix the powder well with a developer of the desired level and begin coloring your hair. Depending upon your needs, you can let it rest for some time and then rinse it. All in all, it is extremely easy to use and causes minimal hair breakage or damage.  

Pros
  • Pack of 2
  • Affordable
  • Convenient packaging
  • Perfect for sensitive scalp
  • For on and off-scalp application
Cons
  • Unsatisfactory quantity
  • Best Hair Bleaching Kit

    Splat LIGHTENING BLEACH

     Splat LIGHTENING BLEACH
  • Be it for highlighting, creating that gorgeous ombre effect, tip lightening, or all-over bleaching, this hair bleach kit can be entrusted as and when required. In this, you will find a shampoo, conditioner, lightening bleach, a pair of gloves, and of course, an instruction sheet to nail your hair game by sitting in the comfort of your home. There is something more that this kit offers — it restores the natural pH levels of your hair strands post use and provides overall nourishment to your mane. 

    Pros
    • Vegan
    • Paraben-free
    • Sulfate-free
    • Also suitable for men
    • Nourishes the hair follicles
    • Semi-permanent formula
    • Available in multiple colors
    Cons
    • Watery consistency
  • Best for Chemically-treated Hair

    SCHWARZKOPF PROFESSIONAL BLONDME BOND ENFORCING PREMIUM LIGHTENER 9+

    SCHWARZKOPF PROFESSIONAL BLONDME BOND ENFORCING PREMIUM LIGHTENER 9+
  • If blonde hair makes your heart sprint, then this Schwarzkopf Professional’s powder lightener is all that you need to undergo a drop-dead transformation. It has the power to lift your natural as well as colored hair straight up to 9 levels. And, the credit goes to its anti-yellow agents that offer much-needed neutralization to your treated hair. Last but not the least, it directly targets the hair pigments causing warm yellowish undertones, making the product the best bleach for hair. 

     

    Pros
    • Great texture
    • Smells good
    • Flexible mixing ratio
    • Can be used with silver foils
    • Apt for chemically-treated hair
    Cons
    • Unsatisfactory packaging
  • Best for All Hair Types

    Blonde Forte PERFECT BLONDE

    Blonde Forte PERFECT BLONDE
  • With great powers to transform your dark hair into blonde comes this premium powder lightener serving you impeccable results. Blonde Forte has crafted it with coconut oil that locks moisture and leaves behind healthy and lustrous hair. Moreover, its creamy consistency allows you to evenly apply it as desired. And, right from touch-ups to highlights, this best hair bleach works wonders and lends you up to 7 levels of reliable lift. 

     

    Pros
    • Gentle formulation
    • Concentrated
    • No-drip formula
    • Coconut fragrance
    • Works on all hair types
    • Doesn’t damage your hair
    Cons
    • Flimsy container
  • Best At-home Hair Bleaching Kit

    KNIGHT & WILSON COLOR-FREEDOM CREAM BLEACH

    KNIGHT & WILSON COLOR-FREEDOM CREAM BLEACH
  • If you are looking out for the best bleach for dark hair at a drugstore price, then here is your pick – Color Freedom cream bleach from Knight & Wilson. It features a creamy, sulfate, and powder-free formula. Talking about its ingredients, it is enriched with corn protein that replenishes and strengthens your hair from root to tip. Adding to that, it is designed to lighten your dark tresses up to 8 levels for the bright blonde results of your dreams. 

     

    Pros
    • Pocket-friendly
    • Ammonia-free
    • Professional results
    • Nourishes hair and scalp
    • Best at-home hair bleaching kit
    Cons
    • Greasy
  • Best Long-lasting Results

    SCHWARZKOPF PROFESSIONAL Got2b BLEACH IT

    SCHWARZKOPF PROFESSIONAL Got2b BLEACH IT
  • This product by Schwarzkopf Professional deserves to be awarded the best hair bleach for dark hair because of its smooth gel-like formula, anti-brass purple mask, and its icy-cool platinum results. While applying it to your hair, it also doesn’t burn or itch your scalp. Plus, you need not worry about its longevity as the results last long and you can seamlessly show off that sassy blonde style wherever you go after applying it. 

     

    Pros
    • Budget-friendly
    • Ensure easy application
    • Creamy consistency
    • Lightens hair up to 8 levels
    Cons
    • Doesn’t smell nice
  • Best Professional Bleach for Dark Hair

    BRAE WANNA BE BLOND BLEACH POWDER

     BRAE WANNA BE BLOND BLEACH POWDER
  • Fast bleaching action, utmost hair protection, and 9 levels of lift — these are the three primary reasons that make Brae’s Wanna Be Blond bleach powder the best at-home hair bleach. Plus, it is gentle, safe, and also regarded as a safe hair bleach that prevents yellowing, gaps, and unwanted shades. Furthermore, being a high-quality and professional bleach powder, it undertakes the task of protecting your capillary structure with a rich combination of oils that also impart shine to your brittle, thin, and weakened hair. 

     

    Pros
    • Collagen-rich formula
    • Very easy to apply
    • Minimizes hair damage
    • Enriched with a protective supercomplex
    • Protects the natural moisture levels of your hair
    Cons
    • Unsatisfactory packaging
  • Best for Highlights

    MASIL DUAL GLAM HIGHLIGHT BLEACH

     MASIL DUAL GLAM HIGHLIGHT BLEACH
  • With the simplest and quickest DIY bleaching procedure, Masil’s Dual Glam Highlight bleach grabs all the hearts of women who love highlighting their hair every now and then. All you need to do is pour the powder into the bottle, shake it, and begin with the application. Trust us, it works wonders on any hair texture, making its way to the list of fantastic hair lighteners for dark hair. After investing in this, we promise you will hardly feel the need to hit the salon because this bleaching product is powdered to deliver professional salon-like results at home. 

     

    Pros
    • Easy to use
    • No chemical smell
    • Suits all hair types
    • Prevents hair damage
    Cons
    • Might make your hair a little stiff
  • Best Fast-lightening Power

    NK PROFESSIONAL CARE DiCOLOR BLOND BLEACHING POWDER

     NK PROFESSIONAL CARE DiCOLOR BLOND BLEACHING POWDER
  • This is the best bleach ever to attain the perfect pearl-like blonde results of your dreams. NK Professional has crafted it with great care using protective agents, argan oil, and hydrolyzed keratin. Moreover, this bleaching powder lightens your dark hair up to eight levels. Its blue-violet shades also help in avoiding the annoying orangish residue in your hair. The plus point of splurging on this product — it leaves your hair feeling smooth, soft, and silky. 

     

    Pros
    • Tames frizz
    • Lovely mint scent
    • Available in 3 sizes
    • Fast-lightening power
    • Prevents the activation of the dust
    Cons
    • Doesn’t dye the roots of your hair
  • Best Vegan & Non-irritating

    ARCTIC FOX BLEACH PLEASE

     ARCTIC FOX BLEACH PLEASE
  • This bleach kit for hair lightening comes with a vegetable-based cream and a 35-volume developer that takes your hairstyling game to the next level. The brand Arctic Fox has crafted this duo with castor oil, mango seed butter, cocoa, sunflower oil, and papaya to take good care of your hair. On the other hand, the violet base helps in preventing unwanted yellow tones while the Polycare Split Therapy is the cherry on the cake aiming to reduce split ends. 

     

    Pros
    • Vegan
    • Cruelty-free
    • Non-irritating
    • Contains gloves
    • Recyclable packaging
    • Strengthens the hair
    Cons
    • Too hard to mix

    This was our list of some top-notch bleach products that you can think of investing in for a flawless at-home transformation. And, if you are unable to decide which one to pick, scroll down and read our informative buying guide. 

     

    How to Choose the Best Bleach for Dark Hair?

    Here are a few aspects to consider while vouching for a good-quality bleach for dark hair. 

    Undertones: Make sure you consider the undertones of your mane before investing in a really good bleach for hair.  Dark hair has more orange and red undertones whereas blonde hair possesses a yellow undertone. Bleach is responsible for lifting up the surface pigments of your hair strands that indirectly reveal these original unwanted tones. Hence, when it comes to what bleach to use for dark hair, it is recommended to use one that is infused with neutralizing properties or agents in order to prevent the brassy tone post-bleaching. 

    Level of Hair Color: Always take note of the hair color levels that you possess. In total there are 10 levels that indicate the hair color, 1 being the darkest to 10 being platinum blonde. In short, hair color level denotes how dark or light your natural hair color is. So, while bringing home the best bleach for black hair, ensure that it offers a minimum of 6 to a maximum of 8 levels of lift. 

    Stages of Bleach: It goes without saying that the darker your hair, the more bleaching stages you need to go through for achieving desirable results. All those who wish to attain the lightest blond hair will have to undergo multiple bleaching stages as dark hair is intensely pigmented. These stages are highly dependent on the ability of your bleaching product, color base, developer’s volume, and its potential for lifting. Hence, it is necessary to take all of these aspects into consideration before making the final payment. 

    After taking note of the above three main aspects, anyone can bring the best bleach for dark hair home. With accurate information and knowledge, you can also easily attain salon-like results without having to spend more money and go through all the troubles of booking an appointment well in advance. Simply pull out your favorite bleaching powder for hair and mix it well with a high-grade developer. But if you are not comfortable with powder-based formulation, don’t worry, you can find a cream or gel-based bleaching kit from our list. Now, undergoing a hair transformation will not only be a matter of minutes but also a pocket-friendly job! So, happy shopping!

    Contributor: Ghanima Abdullah, Cosmetologist, The Right Hairstyles

    FAQ's

    Which is the best bleach to use on dark hair?
    L'oreal Technique Quick Blue Powder Bleach and Splat Lightening Bleach are the best bleaches to use on dark hair.
    How do you bleach dark hair without it turning orange?
    Use a blue shampoo or purple base bleach to prevent your dark hair from turning orange.
    What level of bleach should I use for brown hair?
    You may choose a bleach level ranging between 3 to 5 for your brown hair.
    Is blue or purple bleach better for dark hair?
    Depends on the undertones of your dark hair. Blue bleaches help you prevent orange and brassy tones whereas purple ones aid in getting rid of the yellowish brassy tones.

    Why Trust Pinkvilla

    Alvira, our in-house hair expert had a phase where she would get a new hair color with every changing season! And, as a natural dark-haired beauty herself, she is a walking manual for bleaches for dark hair! Before beginning her research on this topic, she broadly categorized bleaching products based on their formulations — cream, liquid, powder, etc. Then, dug up the internet to look for products that are gentle, easy to use, non-toxic, odor-free, and suitable for optimal results. All the products on the list above have been carefully evaluated by her, some of which she has even tried herself in the past. 

    Our product experts study the specifications of every product we suggest and try them out to bring what’s proven to be worthy of your money, time, and energy. We also have subject matter experts from various fields like Fashion, Skincare, Haircare, Home Decor, and Health & Fitness onboard to make sure our suggestions are credible and trustworthy. You can trust select to be your faithful shopping guide for all the right reasons!

     

    Author BIO
    reviewer
    Alvira Dsouza
    Hair Expert

    With a keen eye for detail and a passion for hairstyling, Alvira is a certified Hair Expert who brings the latest tre More