Bleaching powder for hair
Lightening powder (otherwise it is also called bleaching powder or bleaching powder), like any other lightening agent for hair, is intended for complete or partial lightening of hair pigments. Moreover, this group of drugs effectively works with both natural and artificial pigments. Lightening powder is a very aggressive and strong product with a very alkaline pH that can deteriorate the hair structure and damage the skin. It is mainly designed for professional salon use. View here for more info: bleach to developer ratio
How does the clarifying powder work
The principle of operation of powder and other lightening preparations is based on a strong oxidation reaction, which leads to the gradual destruction of the pigment granules. With every second the reaction proceeds, the clarifying mixture breaks down and dissolves the granules. The remaining pigment particle becomes smaller, and therefore lighter, and forms a lightening background.
As a result of complete discoloration of the hair, instead of all the pigment granules, voids are formed in the hair and such hair is considered porous. Usually these hairs are white.
In the hair lightening reaction, it is usually not the pure powder for lightening the hair itself that takes part, but its mixture with an oxidizing agent. The oxidizing agent creates a strong clarification reaction. Non-oxidizing brightening powders are also used for light pickling (color removal) mixed with hot water. In such a mixture, they lighten much weaker, but nevertheless they work, since they contain persulfates, which are oxidizing agents.
It is technologically correct to mix a bleaching powder for hair with an oxidizing agent in the ratio recommended by the manufacturer immediately before use. This triggers the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, at which water and active oxygen are formed. Active oxygen just interacts with pigment molecules and begins to destroy them.
If the mixture is not applied to the hair, a similar reaction takes place in the bowl, albeit much more slowly. And all the active oxygen generated is spent on the environment.
In its composition, all bleaching powders have alkaline components, which force the hair to swell and loosen during the first 10 minutes of work. This allows the lightening mixture to get inside the hair and work inside.
If the composition is applied to the hair, but does not have time to penetrate the hair, then all active oxygen is spent on hair damage. And this continues until the composition penetrates inside. This is usually observed when working with 9 and 12% oxidants.
For this reason, these oxidants damage the hair more than 3% and 6%. But it is worth noting that no matter how high-quality the bleaching powder is, there is still slight damage to the hair even on low-percentage oxidants. This is a constant lightening side reaction. Hair after lightening always requires more careful care and is damaged .