Ingredients Matter: Light Scale Charcoal Bleach
Light Scale Charcoal Bleach lifts up to 10 levels that creates perfect blonde and leaves hair healthy and hydrated.
Of all the hair color products we have at our disposal, bleach is probably the most versatile— whether a client wants to add subtle highlights or go from pitch black to platinum blonde, professional hair bleach helps us achieve the clean slate we need to work our magic. If you’re like me, you may have learned in school that bleach is bleach regardless of what a brand may claim about its formula and that all bleaches are the same. But, despite what we may have been told, the formula we choose to use is important and some are better than others.
Ingredients Matter
When you think of ingredients that can help lighten the hair, charcoal probably isn’t the first one that comes to mind. Despite its dark exterior, however, charcoal has been widely used for years in skincare and dental products for its lightening benefits. Charcoal is an eco-friendly ingredient with purifying, cleansing and detoxifying properties, and you may have even seen teeth whitening products advertised with charcoal to help lighten and whiten teeth. Likewise, charcoal also has a similar effect on the hair when added to professional hair lighteners. The Lisap Light Scale Charcoal Bleach uses the lightening power of charcoal by adding a Charcoal Sugar Complex to a professional hair lightener. These dual-action sugars work on the surface of the hair cuticle to protect the integrity and structure of the hair by keeping it hydrated throughout the entire lightening process. In addition to the Charcoal Sugar Complex, the Light Scale Charcoal Bleach is also formulated with a blend of natural oils that leave the hair looking healthy after processing. Its gentle, progressive lightening formula that lifts up to 10 levels and can be left on the hair for up to 90 minutes—longer than the standard maximum processing time of normal bleaches.
My New Go-To
The Light Scale Charcoal Bleach is my favorite professional hair lightener for several reasons. For starters, charcoal bleach is the perfect choice for all techniques, including those that can be more drying and irritating than others such as on scalp and all over bleaching, freehand techniques, foils and balayages. With this bleach, there is no swelling or leaking when I use foils which keeps the hair hydrated during processing. There’s also no solidifying or drying with the Light Scale Charcoal Bleach when left uncovered if I’m using a freehand technique or as an all-over lightener. Another reason that I prefer to use this charcoal bleach is because of its ultra-smooth consistency. How many times have you had to mix your bleach for what feels like forever to get rid of any clumps? With its smooth, easy-to-mix formula containing nourishing oils, the charcoal bleach blends easily with my developer so I don’t have to worry about any uneven application that will affect my client’s color. Lastly, it lightens up to 10 levels in comparison to normal professional hair bleaches that only lighten up to seven, giving me the ultimate lightening results of any bleach I’ve tried. It can also be safely used to process hair for up to 90 minutes with or without heat thanks to its gentle formula, longer than other bleaches on the market. And, if 90 minutes isn’t enough, it can be reapplied for another 20 to 30 minutes. This processing time combined with its ability to lift up to 10 levels allows me to go lighter on my clients with darker hair who I would have previously had to lighten over more than one session!
How to Use Charcoal Bleach
Every time before use, I make sure to massage the bag to activate the blend of oils inside that helps nourish the hair during bleaching. Then, I mix the hair lightening paste with either a 10, 20 or 30 volume developer with a dilution ratio of 1:1.5 to 1:2 based on the results I wish to achieve. I apply it to dry hair and leave it on for up to 60 to 90 minutes, making sure to check after 40 to 45 minutes to see how the hair is looking. While it’s not necessary, I have the option to put my clients under heat If I want to speed up the processing time. If I’ve left it on for the full 90 minutes and I still don’t see the results I’m looking for, I’ll reapply the charcoal bleach directly on the hair without rinsing the product off and wait for another 20 to 30 minutes. Once I’ve reached the desired level, I massage their hair with a little water and rinse the bleach out completely. If there's any leftover brassiness, I’ll use a shade of the Light Scale Hair Color Cream to tone my client’s hair. The Light Scale Charcoal Bleach works with all lightening techniques, but I especially love it for the following since its gentle, non-irritating formula means I can take my time: Balayage I love using charcoal bleach for all of my balayages, especially a halo balayage! I can control each section to achieve the level of lightness that I want since I can leave it on for up to 90 minutes and reapply for another 20 to 30. Babylights Babylights are great for my clients who want to add some depth and brightness with an easy grow-out, and the charcoal bleach is perfect for the babylights that I do with foils. I don’t have to worry about the sections swelling which means I can take my time to get each and every section I want! Foilyage This combination of foils and balayage can be used to achieve that hand-painted look on your darker-haired clients who need the lightening power of foils. With its gentle formula, the charcoal bleach can be applied and encapsulated within a foil without having to worry about over processing or drying out the hair, allowing you to achieve ultimate lift up to 10 levels. All Over Bleaching I don’t know about other stylists, but for me, bleaching a full head of hair can stress me out. Since it has a processing time of up to 90 minutes, I can go at my own speed with the charcoal bleach without worrying about overprocessing my client’s hair as I apply it all over before moving onto the roots.
Aftercare
Whether my client wants to go from a level two to 10 or simply add a few highlights, the charcoal bleach gives me the lightening power I need. And for the finishing touch, I always send them home with the proper aftercare to prolong their results until the next time they come in. I recommend that all of my clients use the Light Scale Care Anti Yellow Spray when styling their hair to protect against brassiness and heat damage. Then, depending on how prone they are to brassiness, I may recommend they also use the Light Scale Care Anti Yellow Shampoo followed by either the Light Scale Care Anti Yellow Mousse or the Light Scale Care Anti Yellow Mask. Not only does this keep my clients happy with their hair, but it makes it easier for me to maintain their color the next time they come in!
Rebecca Byrne started her cosmetology journey in Atlanta, Georgia, where she received her license in 2015. After working several years in the salon and then for herself, she now writes educational content to help other professionals make the most of their services.
