Can You Lighten Hair Without Bleach? This Expert Says Yes

Over the years as the grey in my hair has increased, I’ve felt a constant battle of trying to embrace the grey and ageing gracefully – and spending hours looking in the mirror trying to hide it. Just another constant battle women have to endure as they get older. I’ve also had this deep down desire to embrace positive ageing, preferring to avoid injectables and trying to get on board with the wrinkles on my forehead rather than hide them. This has also made the internal dilemma of what to do with my hair feel even more important.

I went through a stage of an all over colour in the attempt to hide the scattered greys appearing all around my head, however I found due to my naturally dark brunette hair this was actually quite ageing and made my skin look a bit flat. I also tried bleaching the front and putting baby lights throughout, which I loved initially but found after a few months the health of my hair was suffering and the grey patches were still very noticeable at the front. I also worried about adding more bleach, without it lightening my hair further and ending up on a slippery slope of broken fragile ends. I realised this was a one-time fix that looked amazing but in all honesty you would never get the same results on repeat. I have reached for root cover-up kits to help combat the grey at the hairline, but this is neither a long term solution or the answer to my woes.

I decided to head to Buller & Rice to discuss all the above with one its owners and specialist colourists Anita Rice, as I heard she had an alternative that may be just what I was looking for. Read on to find out why it is possible to colour your hair (not “dye” – Rice told me quite sternly apparently we colour hair and dye clothes) without using any bleach at all.

Experts Featured in This Article

Anita Rice director, hair stylist and specialist colourist at Buller & Rice

Is it Possible to Lighten Hair Without Bleach?

As far as I was always aware when it came to colouring hair – especially if you’re a dark brunette like me – it was almost impossible to lighten the colour without bleach. However, according to Rice this is incorrect. “When dealing with natural hair we can use tint to lighten,” she tells PS UK. “This is a softer approach and works with natural underlying pigment.” Although before you think this means you can turn brunette into platinum blonde it unfortunately does not. “The options and outcome are more limited than when lifting with bleach,” Rice tells PS UK. “As a rule we can generally only lift four shades with a tint. So, if you had dark brown hair, we could lift to a light soft caramel. if you were a lighter brunette, we could lift to a golden honey tone or if you were already naturally quite fair we could then lift to a blonde,” she explains.”

Who would Benefit From Using Tint Over Bleach to Lighten Hair?

One of my biggest concerns when colouring my hair is how it will affect the condition, I find that after a few weeks and definitely after some time on holiday in the sun, any bleach in my hair starts to change colour dramatically and the condition deteriorates considerably. Rice believes this method could be the answer to my worries. “This is an excellent option for clients who wish to preserve condition as this is a far less aggressive option than lifting with bleach,” she tells PS UK. “It also also a great choice for someone who was recently experiencing greys, but did not want to commit to a full head of colour.”

As this was my main concern, it was the reason I decided it would be the best option for me. I also felt like I wanted to give it a go and I didn’t have anything to lose. Rice recommended using tint in a similar way as you would use bleach, by adding colour to different sections rather than covering the entire hair. “By foiling small amounts this can help cover the grey and add dimension is an excellent subtle alternative,” she tells PS UK.

What Should You Consider When Using Tint Over Bleach to Lighten Hair?

If you were looking for a dramatic change, then this method is probably not for you. It also works best if you haven’t got any previous colour on your hair. “If you already have coloured hair, we cannot apply a tint to make it lighter,” explains Rice. “In this case it would require bleach to remove the old colour.”

Fortunately for me I didn’t have any colour in my hair so I was able to go for this approach. “If you have natural hair and wanted a subtle sun kissed result or you were looking at preserving the condition of your hair as much as possible or blending in grey hair, this is an excellent option for you,” says Rice.

I found this type of colour quite different from other experiences, there is no doubt adding bleach gives you the wow factor and dramatic difference as you leave the salon, which this does not. However, after a few weeks I really began to love the colour, it is like a no-makeup makeup technique for your hair – it looks better but you can’t quite put your finger on why. I also noticed that the condition of my hair is still pretty good a few weeks later.

Lauren Ezekiel is an associate editor at PS UK, where she writes about all things beauty and wellness. With a degree in journalism and 12 years’ experience as a beauty editor at a leading Sunday supplement, she is obsessed with skincare, hair and makeup, and is often found offering advice to innocent bystanders. Her work has been published in Grazia, OK, Health and Beauty, The Sun, ASDA, Dare and Metro.