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Does Hair Bleach Expire? | Yes It Does | Here’s Why

Every hair product has a shelf life. Shampoos, conditioners, masks, and even hair color and toners begin to degrade after opening, and hair bleach is no exception.

Everything you need to know, including the answer to the question — does hair bleach expire — is right here. Read on to learn more.

Does Hair Bleach Expire?

One of the primary reasons most hair bleach products don’t carry an expiry date is their long shelf life. However, this does not imply that they will always be good. Hair bleach that hasn’t been opened for three years may be used without fear of harming your health.

However, you may only use the product for the following six months after opening the bottle. As a result, marking the product with the date you first opened is strongly recommended.

You won’t have to discard perfectly good hair products. Remember that using expired hair products has potentially disastrous implications. It’s also essential to keep it out of direct sunlight and moisture once you open it.

Read Next: Does Hair Shampoo Ever Expire?

How Long Does Hair Bleach Last?

Gloved hairdresser mixing a bowl of color for a piece on does hair bleach expire

Adriana Syvanych/Shutterstock

After the box has been opened, the shelf life of hair bleach is relatively short. Hair bleach can go bad within six months under certain circumstances. 

However, you must read the product label very carefully since the expiry date might change depending on whether or not the product includes bleach powder or other commonly used chemicals.

With the many formulas that sometimes incorporate bleach powder and liquid developer, how long a hair bleach solution lasts is the most tricky to answer. If you mix up some hair bleach, you should know what you’re doing and where you intend to put it before you start.

This will allow you to add whatever you need before the bleach breaks down. If bleach or sodium hypochlorite is listed as an active component on the product’s label, then we advise using the product as soon as possible.

Signs that the Bleach Has Expired

Most hair bleach manufacturers do not indicate an expiry date on their packages because of the product’s lengthy shelf life, so you may open and use it within the following few months.

Suppose you’ve been keeping hair bleach around for a while and are concerned that it may be outdated. How can you verify that? In this particular instance, you must be cautious regarding its odor.

If you have unopened hair bleach that may have gone bad, here are a few extra things to look out for.

Defects in Packaging Are Present

To the untrained eye and nose, an unopened bottle of hair product may seem to be in excellent condition. There are, however, warning signals that it may have gone bad, including:

  • Unusual color and smell
  • Cracked or leaking bottle
  • Forming a cake around the top of the bottle
  • Dented, faded, or damaged packaging

Containers That Are Left Open for Too Long

Even if you keep the elements correctly, they may begin to oxidize if the containers have been opened but the contents have not been mixed. Hair products are susceptible to oxidation, a chemical process that has the potential to damage them.

Any unsealed product will decay and oxidize more rapidly in the presence of air, moisture, heat, or sunshine. Natural items that do not include chemicals or preservatives will likewise decay quickly once opened, regardless of how they are kept.

If you observe any of these, you should immediately dispose of the bleach and not give it another consideration.

Because hair developers are inexpensive items, it is better for the health of your hair to purchase a new one rather than risk damaging your hair by using bleach that has expired.

Effects of Using an Expired Hair Bleach

Remember that bleaching is a chemical procedure that absorbs color during coloring and aids in releasing color when applied to hair strands.

However, using expired products may also have the following unfavorable effects:

  • It’s possible that the developer you’re using won’t be able to live up to your expectations, so your hair won’t be as lightened as it should be, and the color won’t develop correctly.
  • Expired hair bleach destroys your hair, leaving it fragile and unstable to the point that you can hardly notice it.
  • Developers come in a variety of strengths. If not applied appropriately, they are aggressive and damaging to your hair.
  • After applying a volume 20 hair developer, your hair may become dry. Hair fiber will be damaged if you continue to use an expired product.

Expired bleaching chemicals may do terrible things to your hair. When this happens, the results might be disastrous. Your hair will freeze if your cuticles are damaged.

If you make this mistake, you’ll eventually have a whole haircut to correct it. Itchiness and a bacterial infection on the scalp are symptoms that might occur if your skin is sensitive or has been injured.

Therefore, we strongly suggest that you avoid using hair bleach that may be tainted or that has expired.

It will be cheaper to toss it away and purchase a replacement product than it was to treat your damaged hair. The essential thing to remember while storing hair bleach is to keep it out of direct sunshine or heat.

How to Store Hair Bleach Properly

Hair bleach may only be used for six months after opening. But once you prepare it, you can only use hair bleach for up to an hour. To preserve it in excellent shape, you must store it in optimal conditions.

Here are some tips for storing it:

  • It’s best to keep the room at a temperature of 7-20 degrees Celsius.
  • Avoid exposing it to direct sunlight.
  • Store it in a cool, dry location with low humidity.
  • Mark the date you opened the package to know when the six-month term is over.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following are some of the most often asked questions about hair bleach:

Does hair bleach expire?

Yes, like practically every other beauty product available, hair bleach has an expiration date. Unopened hair bleach should be used within three years after its production date, according to industry standards.

What happens if old hair bleach is used?

There is no indication that using expired hair bleach is hazardous. However, outdated hair bleach-containing chemicals may negatively affect the hair and scalp.

How can you tell whether bleach has expired?

One of the definite signs that your bleach has expired is if you open the container and don’t detect any form of bleach smell. This indicates that the bleach has broken down into a saltwater solution.

When should you discard hair bleach?

Products for your hair will eventually go bad, but the FDA doesn’t require manufacturers to put an expiration date on their products. As a general rule, discard any hair product that hasn’t been opened after three years. Once you’ve opened the product, you should throw it away within a year.

Does hair bleach lose its effectiveness over time?

If you think leaving the bleach on for fifteen more minutes will make your blonde hair brighter, you will be disappointed. After around 30 minutes, the bleach stops taking your hair color out and starts cooking your hair strands, leading to severe damage.

So, Does Hair Bleach Expire?

Bleach for the hair is a product that should never be taken for granted by anybody. It’s risky to experiment with it on your own, particularly if you are unsure whether it can still be used or has already exceeded its expiration date.

In case there is any uncertainty, they should be thrown away. If you use them after the expiration date has passed, you put the health of your scalp, face, eyes, and nose in danger. Happy coloring!