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- 10 Best Tried and True Japanese Hair Bleach in 2023 (Hair and Makeup Artist-Reviewed)
10 Best Tried and True Japanese Hair Bleach in 2023 (Hair and Makeup Artist-Reviewed)
Dark Asian hair needs to be bleached to dye it any other color other than brown. And when it comes to Asian hair, you can’t beat Asian products, which is why Japanese bleaches are particularly effective, especially since Asian hair is thicker than other ethnicities. While formulated primarily for Japanese users, they place minimal stress on hair and can also be used with other hair types, and often come packaged with hair care products to treat your hair after bleaching.
However, there are a lot of choices out there, and they all work to varying degrees. That's why we ordered the 11 most popular boxes of hair bleach from Japan’s e-commerce giants (Amazon, Rakuten, and @cosme) and tested them all.
We tested each product for the following:
- Power (How Much Color It Removed)
- Gentleness (How Little It Damaged Hair)
Then, based on our tests, we ranked the 10 best Japanese hair bleaches in 2022. We also put together a buying guide to help you choose the best Japanese hair bleach for you. Keep on reading to find out more!
Miyuki Okishima is a hairstylist and makeup artist who's also an active hair diagnostician, providing expert advice on how to care for your hair. After working as a deputy manager at a beauty salon in Tokyo, she became heavily involved as a freelance hairstylist for magazines, theatrical performances, and weddings. She also works as an advisor for magazines, online shows, and hair product manufacturers. Additionally, Miyuki is also engaged in styling the elderly and for those with disabilities, in addition to promoting medical wigs.
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
What Makes Japanese Hair Bleach Different?
Japanese hair bleaches are formulated with the intent of being used primarily on dark, thick, Asian hair. On average, Asian hair is typically thicker than Caucasian or African hair in terms of diameter, as well as has a thicker layer of cuticles, requiring stronger bleaches to penetrate the cuticles. If you've ever found western brands of hair bleach to be too weak, requiring several coats of bleach to get the lightness you desire, then Japanese hair bleach may do the trick.
Japanese hair bleach manufacturers often formulate their products with ingredients that help minimize damage or even nourish your hair. These boxes of Japanese hair bleach can even come packaged with hair treatment products intended for use after you bleach your hair, so there's no need to go out and get some if you don't have any!
How to Choose Japanese Hair Bleach
① Choose Between Different Types of Bleach for Different Effects
Japanese hair bleach can come as a cream, mist, or powder. They’ve all got things they’re better and worse at, which we'll go over in this section.
Cream Naturally Brightens a Whole Head of Hair
The thinner a cream is in texture, the easier it’ll be to bleach long, think hair. Some cream products will come in a bottle topped with a comb-shaped nozzle, so application becomes as simple as dragging a comb through your hair.
You may sometimes come across products that are made up of three parts: formula 1, formula 2, and bleach powder. Bleach powder is largely made up of persulfates–two examples are ammonium persulfate and potassium persulfate. These help along chemical reactions and serve to strip your hair of even more color.
Some cream bleaches have a soft consistency, so if you prefer your hair bleach to be softer or have long hair, products with a comb-shaped nozzle are easy to use since you can apply the bleach as if you're combing your hair.
Powder Helps Rid Your Hair of Color and Prep It for Dyeing
However, power always comes with a price. Because powdered bleach is so strong, it deals a lot of damage to both your hair and scalp. If you do decide to purchase powdered bleach, see if you can find one that includes moisturizing and restorative ingredients. It won’t prevent the damage, but it can help minimize it.
Finally, not all powdered bleach works the same. Depending on the specific formulation, some lines and brands can be more effective than others. If you want a dramatic change, you should still take a look at reviews and determine how well a product is going to work before purchasing.
Like creams, powder bleaches require you to mix the product with a hydrogen peroxide solution, turning it into a cream-like consistency. However, they can be more watery than cream bleaches, so be careful of any running bleach.
② Look for Included Treatment to Repair Some of the Damage
Every home bleaching kit will differ in content, but try to get one that includes some kind of treatment or serum. Some even offer treatment that will last you a few uses, so check how much product you’re getting as well.
If you’ve set your sights on a kit that doesn’t provide anything in the way of care, then purchase something on your own–but do not just leave your hair as is and assume everything will work itself out.
Bleaches can significantly damage your hair, so always treat it afterward. Some boxes include hair treatment products that can be used multiple times, so it's good to consider how much treatment is included.
10 Best Japanese Hair Bleach
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | hoyu Beauteen Base Up Bleach | | So Effective It Looks like You Double-Bleached Your Hair | |
2 | Manic Panic White Bomb High Bleach Set | | Bleaching Power That’s a Notch Above the Average | |
3 | Henkel Japan Freshlight Mega Mega Bleach | | Comes Out to a Nice, Uniform Finish | |
4 | Y.S. Park Professional White Bleach | | Uniform Finish, but a Little Darker Than the Before-and-After Images | |
5 | Dariya Palty Mecha Flash Bleach | | A Pretty Average, Normal Bleach | |
6 | Dariya anna donna every Shiny Bleach | | Not Super Powerful, but Includes Plenty of Aftercare | |
7 | Dariya Men’s Palty Energy Bleach EX | | Whitening Power is Pretty Average | |
8 | Mandom Gatsby EX Hi-Bleach | | Works Decently Well as Bleach, but is Rough on Hair | |
9 | Royd White High Bleach Powder | | Brings Black Hair to a Standard Brown Tone | |
10 | Dariya Palty Natural Bleach | | Doesn't Lighten the Hair Much, but is Super Gentle |
hoyuBeauteen Base Up Bleach
So Effective It Looks like You Double-Bleached Your Hair
Despite its whitening power, we were also impressed that this kit took pains to help cut down on damage. It came with a pH controller meant to be used before coloring sessions; it helps protect hair and offset breakage, perfect if you’re prepping for a vibrant dye.
We left the bleach in for the maximum amount of time; if you want to go darker, you can adjust for color by simply washing out the product earlier. So you can use it to naturally brighten your hair as well–there’s hardly anything we wouldn’t recommend this bleach for.
Manic PanicWhite Bomb High Bleach Set
Bleaching Power That’s a Notch Above the Average
We only wish it were a bit gentler. Hair didn’t turn out parched or stiff, but it did feel rougher to the touch, so make sure you help your locks repair with treatments and serums.
※Manic Panic’s White Bomb is produced in Japan and is thus included on this list.
Henkel JapanFreshlight Mega Mega Bleach
Comes Out to a Nice, Uniform Finish
The formula contained liquid paraffin, which improves the texture of hair. Our sample didn’t have any of the kinks or roughness typical of dyed locks. Treatment was also included, which will help your hair maintain its natural shine and silkiness.
Y.S. Park ProfessionalWhite Bleach
Uniform Finish, but a Little Darker Than the Before-and-After Images
Y.S. Park also has a second product out, called White Bleach Double. It gives you enough bleach for two separate applications, so if you’re looking to go from black to blonde, then it’s worth checking out.
Just make sure not to do two sittings in one day, as it’ll cause a lot of damage. We recommend waiting at least 72 hours before commencing the second round of bleaching.
DariyaPalty Mecha Flash Bleach
A Pretty Average, Normal Bleach
Dariyaanna donna every Shiny Bleach
Not Super Powerful, but Includes Plenty of Aftercare
Dariya Men’s Palty Energy Bleach EX
Whitening Power is Pretty Average
MandomGatsby EX Hi-Bleach
Works Decently Well as Bleach, but is Rough on Hair
It came with no treatment–you’ll have to purchase things separately so you can trim and apply masks and do everything you can to help your locks heal.
RoydWhite High Bleach Powder
Brings Black Hair to a Standard Brown Tone
DariyaPalty Natural Bleach
Doesn't Lighten the Hair Much, but is Super Gentle
How We Tested the Boxes of Hair Bleach
We tried out each of the 10 products and tested them for how much color they removed and how gentle they were. Then we gave each one a final grade.
We gathered the 11 most popular products on e-commerce sites that are popular in Japan, like Amazon, Rakuten, and @cosme Shopping, and tested them all.
- Depigmenting power
- Gentleness
Test ① Depigmenting Power
First, we looked at each product's depigmenting power.
We followed all the instructions provided and bleached several samples of hair. We then ran the bleached samples through a machine that measures gloss. The more light a sample reflected, the “whiter” it was, and the better we judged it to be bleached. We also made sure to leave all the products in for the longest recommended time.
Look for Potassium Persulfate, Ammonium Persulfate, and Persulfates for Strong Bleaches
Generally, persulfates are listed in the ingredients list as bleach powder and hydrogen peroxide solutions as OX water. If you want something that’s really going to lighten your hair, see if you can ascertain whether you have a 3:1 ratio of OX water and bleach powder.
Test ② Gentleness (How Little It Damaged Hair)
We attached a fine-toothed comb onto a machine that calculates friction. We then ran it through our samples of dyed hair and measured how much friction was produced.
We determined that less friction meant smoother hair and smoother hair meant less damage–therefore, products that produced low values received higher scores on this particular test.
Our Highest Ranking Product Contained Two Types of Paraffins
Liquid paraffin’s an emollient. It’s often used in hand creams and lotions, as it coats skin (and hair!), making it feel soft and helping it retain moisture. Liquid isoparaffin acts in much the same way, coating strands of hair, smoothing down texture, and adding shine.
There are, of course, doubts as to how hydrating these ingredients are as they work by adding an oily surface over hair, rather than penetrating it with moisture. However, it did improve texture and shine, so if you’re really worried about damage, consider getting a bleach with paraffins, as well as purchasing a deep-moisturizing serum or treatment to use afterwards.
How to Bleach Your Hair and Have It Look Good
Next, apply bleach first to hair on the back of your head and at the nape of your neck. Product applied to your bangs and hair that grows at your temples and around your face heats up quite quickly, thanks to your body temperature. If you start off with those sections, they may end up lighter than the rest of your hair.
And before you even start the bleaching process, make sure you have enough bleach, especially if you have long or thick hair. Nothing ruins a finish more than running out of product, so as a precaution, we recommend preparing more boxes than you think you’ll need.
More Japanese Hair Products to Consider
Now that you've bleached your hair, what's next? You now have the perfect canvas to color your hair in all colors, and if so, check out our article on Japanese hair dyes. You can also leave your hair simply bleached, too. In any case, what's important is that you take care of your hair with the proper shampoo and conditioner.
Top 5 Japanese Hair Bleach
When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
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