How To Use Shimmer Lights Plex Lightener and Plex Treatment
The Shimmer Lights Plex Lightener (also called a bleach - they’re the same thing) is designed to lighten your hair up to 7 levels while protecting your hair from damage - when used with the Shimmer Lights Plex Treatment.
After reading this guide, you’ll know exactly how to use the Shimmer Lights Plex Lightener and Treatment.
The Essentials
First, you need to make sure you have everything you need to tone your hair at home. You will need:
- Shimmer Lights Plex Lightener
- Shimmer Lights Plex Treatment
- Developer
- Tint Bowl
- Tint Brush
- Gloves
- Foils and/or Processing Cap (optional)
What Does The Shimmer Lights Plex Treatment Do?
The Shimmer Lights Plex Treatment is the second step to be used after the Shimmer Lights Plex Lightener. This treatment allows you keep the bonds of your hair strong and reduces the breakage normally associated with lightening by up to 97%*!
This treatment can also be used on its own as a weekly treatment to keep your hair silky and smooth.
*When using No2 after rinsing No1 vs. Clairol Professional Basic White
How Many Sachets Of Shimmer Lights Plex Lightener Will I Need?
For fine/medium shoulder length hair, you will need one to two sachets of the Shimmer Lights Plex Lightener - depending on what you’re looking to do. For a half head of highlights, or roots that are 2-3cm long, one sachet should be enough. For all over bleaching, you will need at least two sachets. Thicker and longer hair will require more sachets.
How Many Sachets Of Shimmer Lights Plex Treatment Will I Need?
You will need one sachet of Shimmer Lights Plex Treatment for fine/medium shoulder length hair. Thicker and longer hair will require more sachets.
Which Developer To Use With Shimmer Lights Plex Lightener?
All Lighteners need to be mixed with developer. Developer (sometimes also referred to as peroxide) is used to activate your lightener. Without it the lightener will do absolutely nothing!
There’s a balance between mixing your lightener with a strong enough developer to get a good lift, but not too strong so you can keep your hair strong and healthy. I recommend mixing your lightener with 20 Vol Developer.
20 Vol Developer is my recommendation with lightener. This is strong enough when mixed with a high quality lightener to significantly lighten your hair - promise! You will just need to leave the lightener on for longer, which is much safer for your hair.
Using a high strength developer essentially “blows” open your hair cuticle, which leaves it very vulnerable to breakage. Leaving lightener on longer with a lower strength developer allows the cuticle to open slower, causing less damage. We call this the low and slow method - there’s a lot to read about online if you’re interested!
At Tint Department we use and recommend Hi Lift Developers and have found these give perfect, consistent results. The Hi Lift Developers are Australian made and are much more gentle on your scalp than others we’ve tried.
How Much Developer To Use With Shimmer Lights Plex Lightener?
You generally need double the amount of developer to lightener. The easiest way to measure this at home is with a scoop or spoon (plastic!). For every one scoop/spoon of lightener you will need two scoops/spoons of developer.
You want to make sure your mixture is the right consistency - not too thick and not too thin. Think of a yoghurt like consistency - easy to apply but not so thin that it drips off your hair. You can always add a little more developer or lightener if needed.
One bottle of Hi Lift Developer should be enough for 2 sachets of Shimmer Lights Plex Lightener.
How To Use Shimmer Lights Plex Lightener and Treatment
Here are your easy to follow instructions for the Shimmer Lights Plex Lightener and Treatment:
Step 1: Put on gloves.
Step 2: In a tint bowl, mix one part Shimmer Lights Plex Lightener to two parts developer (this means double the amount of developer to colour). You can use more lightener / developer if needed - you want a yoghurt-like consistency. Ensure you thoroughly mix to combine - you can use your tint brush for mixing.
Step 3: Ensure your hair is combed through so it’s tangle free. Apply the Shimmer Lights Plex Lightener to dry hair.
Step 4: Apply using a tint brush in your desired application method. Keep in mind that the hair around your face is usually the most fragile, so apply to this section last.
Step 5: After you’ve applied your lightener, pop on a processing cap to keep the lightener from drying out.
Step 6: Allow your lightener to process (sit in your hair) for up to 50 minutes. Check every 5 minutes by scraping some of the lightener off a small section.
Step 7: After your desired lightness is reached, thoroughly rinse the lightener out with lukewarm water - do not shampoo.
Step 8: Apply the Shimmer Lights Plex Treatment to towel dried hair, making sure your hair is fully saturated. Leave on for at least 10 minutes and then wash out with shampoo and conditioner.
If toning your hair, you can choose to tone after lightening and then do the Shimmer Lights Plex Treatment as your last step.