Misconceptions

• Stripping and bleaching are similar processes but perform very different functions.
  
  

Function

• Hair stylists will choose to either strip or bleach hair depending on the current color and the client's desired result. Clients whose hair is not currently dyed and wish to have a lighter color hair will need to have their hair bleached first. It is not possible to dye hair lighter than its current color.
  
  

Stripping

• Stripping is method that makes the hair more porous so that unwanted hair color can be removed. It usually preludes dying hair a new color.
  
  

Bleaching

• Bleaching removes melanin, which is responsible for giving the hair shaft its specific color. Extremely dark hair may have to be bleached several times before the desired color result is reached. Bleaching hair is considered to be a permanent dying option.
  
  

Warning

• Bleaching and stripping increase the fragility of the hair shaft and can lead to dry, dehydrated, "hay-like" hair that may not be desirable to some clients.