Off-The-Scalp Lighteners Overview

Off-The-Scalp Lighteners

• Off-the-scalp lighteners are popular choices for hair lightening applications.

Cream Lighteners

• Contain conditioning agents, bluing agents, and thickeners to ensure easy application and prevent running or drying.
• Conditioning agents protect hair during the lightening process.
• Bluing agents neutralize unwanted red and gold tones in hair.
• Thickeners provide application control and prevent overlap.

Powder Lighteners

• Also known as paste, speed, or quick lighteners, they contain oxygen-releasing boosters for rapid results.
• Stay in place but can dry out quickly.
• Generally stronger than cream or oil lighteners, making them less suitable for direct scalp use.
• Directions must be followed carefully for safety during applications.

Oil Lighteners

• Less popular than cream or powder lighteners, primarily consist of hydrogen peroxide with sulfonated oil.
• Mildest on-the-scalp lightening option, suitable for one to two levels of lift.
• Types include:
  • Color Oil Lighteners: Add temporary tones while lightening:
    • Gold: Adds golden tones depending on base hair color.
    • Silver: Minimizes red/gold tones; effective on gray or white hair.
    • Red: Introduces red highlights during lightening.
    • Drab: Adds ash tones and reduces warmth in underlying pigments.
  • Neutral Oil Lighteners: Remove pigment without adding color, useful for pre-softening hair.

Contribution Of Underlying Pigment

• Achieving the correct lightness stage is crucial as remaining pigment influences final color results.
• For instance, lightening to a yellow stage with a blue-based tint can result in a green hue due to color mixing principles.

Contributing Pigment (Undertones)

• Lightest blond: Pale yellow
• Very light blond: Yellow or gold
• Light blond: Yellow/orange
• Medium blond: Orange
• Dark blond: Red/orange
• Light brown: Red
• Medium brown: Red/violet
• Dark brown: Violet
• Very dark brown: Blue/violet
• Black: Blue

Toners

• Toners are permanent haircolor products applied to pre-lightened hair to achieve desired tones or neutralize unwanted undertones.
• Effective against brassy red tones by using complementary color theory (e.g., green-based toners).
• Toners deposit pigment but do not lighten hair; typically available in pale blonde shades.
• Ingredients may include aniline derivatives, requiring a patch test 24-48 hours before use.
• Toner colors in the bottle can differ from final results; they undergo color changes during oxidation.
• Used in double-process applications:
  • First process: Lightener application
  • Second process: Toner application
• Proper lightening stage is essential for effective toner results, with manufacturer's guidelines on contributing colors to achieve various hues.