
Episode 66
The do's and don't of Scalp Bleaching
with Belinda Keeley

What we'll be talking about
Do you have clients that are dying to be platinum blonde? In this episode, we’ll be talking about the do’s and don’t of scalp bleaching and why you need to understand the theory behind this before you try to paint your next client platinum.
I am chatting with Belinda Keeley, the Onscalp Bleach and Colour Queen in Melbourne Australia. She is the co-owner of Chumba Hair with hairdresser husband Carl Keeley and one of the most passionate and talented educators I have ever worked with. We are colour buddy friends & have taught alongside each other many times as part of the Colour Queen's Aussie live demonstration tours.
This podcast is going to be sharing the do’s and don’ts of scalp bleaching. Belinda and her salon team are booked months in advance with their loyal clients for bleaching, unicorn colours and creative customised approaches for hair. They have a reputation for fixing bleach jobs that have gone wrong and attract loads of new clients seeking to be blonder than Madonna in her Blonde Ambition Tour.
Show notes for podcast episode 66
The Do’s and Don’t of Bleaching
I am thrilled to be talking with Belinda about her education and approach to scalp bleaching because it is a service that can feel overwhelming, scary and challenging for all levels of Hairdressers. We plan to help you understand why the technical details are so important in this colourful podcast interview.
“We are always trying to balance the result with client calmness and quality” – Belinda Keeley, the OG Bleaching Queen of Melbourne, Australia
Belinda Keeley and her salon team are Bleach Masters & they have specific tools, bleach preferences, peroxide choice and so much more to ensure their clients avoid breakage and leave with gorgeous healthy blonde or Unicorn Haircolour. Belinda never overlaps, and in fact, has a special language used in their salon to be clear when clients are in the process of being bleached.
She trains her team to know her lap line vocabulary. There are lap lines, underlap, overlap and to the lap. If you underlap or join the lap a non-swelling bleach will stay at the lap line. What’s a lap line you’re thinking?
Listen to episode 66 of the Colour Kristina Talks Podcast to learn the fundamentals of scalp bleaching & everything you must consider before your next scalp bleach request at your salon.
Pro Tips for Scalp Bleaching:
- Avoid using bleach that swells like a marshmallow
- Try to use an oil-based bleach for on scalp applications
- Use a spatula brush for root application
- Use a standard (soft-medium bristle) colour brush for bleaching off scalp
- Toners are not designed to fix patchy bleaches – make sure your bleaching is perfect before toning
- Sectional rinsing regime will help to create a beautiful even canvas
- Don't drag product up the hair to check if it is ready to rinse to avoid overlap
- Always get a visual image of what your client is asking for
- Listen to learn more about the fundamentals of bleaching in salon for clients
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