The 10 Best Hair Bleach Kits
This wiki has been updated 24 times since it was first published in November of 2018. Bleaching is one of the toughest dying jobs for a person to perform on themselves. When done incorrectly, it can leave you hiding from the world for days. Fortunately, we found kits that contain everything you need — often with detailed guides — to make sure you achieve the ideal light blonde you're after, minus the mishaps. Some are even powerful enough to bring brunettes to platinum. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Schwarzkopf Blondme
2. Revlon Color Effects
3. Schwarzkopf Igora Vario Plus
Editor's Notes
October 09, 2020:
Our latest update saw an overhaul of our selections, gutting half the list in favor of new, improved options or to supplant those that had become unavailable. The thing to bear in mind with bleach kits is that even if you follow directions to the T you might not get the results you want, as everyone's hair is unique and has endured a different range of treatments. Those with uneven bases or compromised structures might get a better outcome from something like Schwarzkopf Blondme while people with virgin hair will get what they want out of Wella Charm. Bleaching your locks is not the same as using a typical hair dye and it's important to take the proper considerations into account before attempting this at home. That being said, lightening your hair several shades is possible with excellent results when done the right way using the proper kit.
While most of the selections here are kits, we kept the Schwarzkopf Igora Vario Plus despite only being bleach powder, as it's a very high-quality option that works extremely well and is pretty simple to use. You'll still need gloves, a mixing tray, and a brush though. We also brought on the Bond Angel Plex Effect, which technically is missing the third step of the process, which is bleach powder, because we felt it was important to have at least one option on here meant to prepare and reconstitute hair that's about to get stripped of its natural color. People who are serious about maintaining the integrity of their locks and willing to invest in higher-end selections (that are still cheaper than a trip to the salon) will want to go with this one.
For those who are already fair-haired but want to go full-on platinum, we added Revlon Color Effects, while Beyond The Zone Radical is ideal for use before adding a bright color like purple, blue, or pink. We also brought the Sally Hansen Extra Strength into the mix for those looking to lighten facial and body hair to extend the time between waxes or just lessen the visual effect of dark hair.
November 07, 2018:
We were diligent in finding kits that users say offer consistent results and fulfill their promises. It was also important that our selections would be easy for beginners to use, while producing salon-quality lightening. We included a range of products so that those hoping for the whitest blonde and those hoping for a yellower tone can get what they're after.
Special Honors
Arctic Fox Bleach Please Coming from well-known brand Arctic Fox, Bleach, Please comes with the tools needed to lighten hair in preparation for pastel colors like cotton candy pink, lilac, or platinum. It includes a vegetable-based cream bleach made without beeswax, with a violet base that helps cool yellow tones. It's also got a mango, acai, and cocoa seed butter-infused developer and a pair of latex-free gloves. arcticfoxhaircolor.com
Overtone Overtone has handy kits designed for those with a variety of hair colors who want to lighten or completely revamp their locks, whether you want to go silver, jet-black, or bright pink. They'll help you get to your desired hue and maintain it thanks to coloring conditioners that gently deposit semi-permanent color while deeply moisturizing. Their website is a rich resource for beginners, as it answers lots of commonly asked questions, provides a color quiz, and offers plenty of advice on transitioning and maintenance. overtone.co
4. Bond Angel Plex Effect
5. Manic Panic Flash Lightning
6. Splat Null
7. Beyond The Zone Radical
8. Wella Charm
9. Sally Hansen Extra Strength
10. L'Oréal Paris Super
Born in Arizona, Gia is a writer and autodidact who fled the heat of the desert for California, where she enjoys drinking beer, overanalyzing the minutiae of life, and channeling Rick Steves. After arriving in Los Angeles a decade ago, she quickly nabbed a copywriting job at a major clothing company and derived years of editing and proofreading experience from her tenure there, all while sharpening her skills further with myriad freelance projects. In her spare time, she teaches herself French and Italian, has earned an ESL teaching certificate, traveled extensively throughout Europe and the United States, and unashamedly devours television shows and books. The result of these pursuits is expertise in fashion, travel, beauty, literature, textbooks, and pop culture, in addition to whatever obsession consumes her next.