No, hair bleach is not permanent in the sense that the bleached hair will eventually grow out. However, the bleaching process itself is permanent to the specific hair shaft that is bleached.
Understanding Hair Bleaching
Hair bleaching permanently alters the hair shaft's structure. The process involves removing melanin, the natural pigment that gives hair its color. This removal is irreversible for the individual hair strand. Once the melanin is stripped, it cannot be restored through washing. The reference provided accurately highlights this: “In comparison to other dyes, hair bleaching is a permanent process which cannot be washed away over time. This is because the melanin, which gives your hair its colour, is stripped away from the hair during the bleaching process.”
However, new hair grows from the root, containing its original melanin. This means that bleached hair will gradually grow out, revealing your natural hair color. The bleached portion of the hair will remain lightened until it is cut off or otherwise removed.
What Happens During Bleaching?
- Melanin Removal: Bleaching agents break down and remove melanin from the hair shaft.
- Irreversible Change: This change to the hair's structure is permanent for that specific hair strand.
- Regrowth: Natural hair color will grow back from the roots.
Key Takeaway: The Bleached Hair vs The Bleaching Process
It's crucial to understand the distinction: the chemical process of bleaching is permanent for each hair strand, but the visual effect of bleached hair is temporary because your hair continuously grows.
