The notion of an identity reset is always tempting. A reinvention that wipes the slate clean. Nothing
achieves this quite like a full bleach, erasing all colour to make way for a fresh start and a new era. A little blue powder mixed with a little peroxide can allow your tresses a whole new look.

It seems harmless, right? How much damage can a little bleach really do? Unfortunately, the impact can be colossal. If strands are pushed too far, they can be left brassy, brittle, burnt with the texture of barbed wire. In extreme cases, gone all together.

With so much at stake, a blonde transformation can feel intimidating. However, with the right guidance and knowledge, the process doesn't have to feel that way. To save you hours of searching the internet for tips that may or may not be accurate, we've compiled everything you need to know right here.

Whether you're willing to brave the process yourself, leaving it to the professionals or looking to maintain your already bleached strands, you'll find everything you need to reach your blonde aspirations below.

It can be tempting to pick up a neatly packaged and seemingly easy to follow boxed bleach of the super market shelves. In reality, it's contents can lead you down a long road of damage, breakage and heartache.
Next time you're hypnotised by the clever marketing and the blonde wig on a boxed bleach, here are a few factors to consider:

TREAT YOUR BLEACH LIKE DYNAMITE
You're on a time limit. That creamy blue paste is like a ticking time bomb, as soon as it comes into to contact with your strands, it will start lightening. Application must be quick and efficient, this is the only way to achieve an even, clean result. Wherever you choose to start, is where your hair will be the blondest, making the last area, the darkest (or brassiest).

THERE'S NO CHEAT CODE TO BLEACH BLONDE
In the salon, a full bleach service is taken seriously every single time. The professional prices are high for a good reason. A thorough analysis is carried out prior to the service to ensure your hair is safe to be bleached before a customised method is tailored to your desired results. Without this, your
blonde could end in a patchy, tricoloured, gummy (yes, gummy) mess.

IS YOUR CANVAS EVEN?
Think of your hair as a wall you wish to paint, without an evenly primed base, the result will be clunky and unappealing. Hair that contains old dye jobs or grown out colours will disrupt an even result.

CLEAR THE CALENDAR (AND BRING SNACKS)
A full bleach can take hours… and hours and hours. Remember when Kim K went Marilyn blonde for the Met Gala? That took her glam team a whopping 14 hours to complete. Expect to be in the salon chair for most of the day if you're undergoing a blonde transformation.

BLEACH BLONDE IS A MARATHON NOT A SPRINT
In a perfect world, achieving a clean and even shade of platinum in a single session would be possible. However, the process of lightener removing your hairs pigment is lengthy and should never be rushed. Cutting corners can leave hair damaged, fragile and dry. If your stylist
recommends more than one session to achieve your desired result, trust that it's for good reason.

BLONDE IS AN INVESTMENT
Whether you want to be Courtney Love or Gwen Stefani blonde, an even blonde requires a thorough application to be done with care. If being blonde is part of your tong term goal, it's worth investing in someone who looks after your hair to avoid breakage, bands and undesired tones, along with offering advice on what you can do at home to provide your blonde with longevity.

A blonde transformation requires a thorough consultation. Sit back and relax while you tell your stylist all about your hair. The trials and tribulations, any toxic traits, tell them about good days and bad, it all matters. Your full hair history can help your stylist guide you in the right direction to maintain a healthy relationship.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN USING?
The hair products and tools you use can have an impact on how accepting your hair is to a big blonde change. Buildup of cheap silicones can sometimes have a chemical reaction with bleach, resulting in what stylists call a 'chemical haircut' (it's as bad as it sounds). Excessive use of heat tools or slicking hair back repeatedly can weaken the hair, you may be advised to change up some of your habits in order to achieve your dream blonde.

DO YOU SMOKE?
Although there's no better duo than a blonde blowout and a cheeky cigarette, nicotine can yellow blonde hair. Similar to teeth and fingers, residue can build up and tarnish pale blonde shades. If you do smoke, a detoxifying or clarifying shampoo may be recommended.

GHOSTS OF YOUR HAIRS PAST
To all the colours you've loved before, open up about all of them. Whether they were brief, recent or long term, they're worth mentioning. Some of the ingredients in henna and box dyes can react with those in lighteners, the consequences can get hot, as in burning hot not sexy.

When it comes to hair and bleach, each texture has a best before date. All of them are different, some hair types can comfortably be blonde for years whilst others may suffer damage from just a few sessions. It's important to take your hairs density and texture into account prior to a bleaching service.

FINE
When strands are fine, they can be delicate to work with. With a small diameter and less protein, bleach can break down bonds, resulting in less structure to support the strand. This may mean your stylist needs to adjust the intensity of lightener being used and manage your expectations.

POROUS
The cuticle around a porous hair strand isn't tightly sealed, meaning bleach will penetrate the hair shaft more aggressively, yet toner or colour will fall out and fade quickly.

CURLY
Moisture is a curls best friend. Curls rely on moisture for structure, bouncy and overall health. Excessive bleaching can dehydrate curls. Without proper care and precaution, curls can be left limp, weakened and frizzy.

DARK
Deep hues, natural or synthetic, can be stubborn to lift. Medium or light browns only have a few levels of lift to achieve a bright blonde. However, dark brown or black hair have a slightly longer journey ahead. Depending on how dark, can determine how many applications of bleach your hair may need.

So, you've completed your blonde transformation and now you're living out your hair's blondest dreams, now what? Here are 10 ways to allow those dreams to live on.

I. THOU SHALT NOT OVERUSE PURPLE SHAMPOO
Although it may be tempting to reach for your purple shampoo with every wash, there is such thing as too much. The violet tones of a purple shampoo only counteract yellow, if there is no yellow present, you may be left with purple rather than blonde.

II. THOU SHALT USE A BOND REPAIRER
Just as the name suggests, bond repairers contain ingredients that help to repair that may have been broken by bleach. Next time you see K18 sitting amongst a product shelf, it'd be in your bleached strands best interest to purchase one.

III. THOU SHALT PROTECT HAIR FROM HEAT
Think of your freshly bleached hair as freshly lasered skin. It's glowing yet highly sensitive, making it more prone to damage. When exposing it to heat, be sure to use proper protection.

IV. THOU SHALT NOT OVER WASH HAIR
Treat your blonde like your favourite garment. Try to avoid excessive washing. This will help retain its colour and condition.

V. THOU SHALT NOT SKIP TRIMS
Bleaching can lead to more split ends. Untreated or untrimmed can send those split ends further up the hair shaft, regular baby trims will keep your blonde ends full and healthy.

VI. THOU SHALT NOT IGNORE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE
Sun, chlorine, pollution and smoke can weaken platinum hair. When managed early, blonde hair can easily bounce back. Book in to see your stylist when any signs of damage occur.

VII. THOU SHALT DEEP CONDITION
Platinum hair loses moisture easily so weekly masks help to keep it soft and reduce breakage.

VIII. THOU SHALT UPKEEP TONERS
Platinum toners fade over time, salon toners are designed to even and freshen your blonde between root touch ups.

IX. THOU SHALT NOT USE HARSH SHAMPOO
You wouldn't wash a Ferrari with dish soap, your platinum blonde is a luxury car and needs to be cleaned using high quality ingredients.

X. THOU SHALT BOOK REGULARLY
When it comes to booking root touch ups to maintain your blonde, there's a sweet spot. Too regularly can cause overlapping and breakage, leaving it too long can require two applications, which can also result in overlapping and breakage. Around the 8 week mark is usually best, talk to your stylist about what's right for you.