Bleach fails are practically a YouTube sub-genre at this point, but every so often a video comes along that makes even the most hardened hairdresser wince.
In this episode, popular stylist and YouTuber Brad Mondo reacts to a string of catastrophic DIY bleach jobs—including one particularly dramatic case where a woman’s hair literally starts breaking off mid-process.
It’s equal parts shocking, educational, and (if we’re being honest) morbidly fascinating. Let’s break down what happens in the video and, more importantly, what we can learn from it.
Table of Contents
The Setup: Black Box Dye Meets Bleach
The video begins with a woman who has been coloring her naturally blonde hair jet-black with box dye. Already, this is a red flag. As Brad points out, dyed black hair is one of the most difficult shades to lighten—especially when layered over and over again.
Expert Tip: Box dye often contains metallic salts and heavy pigments that don’t lift out easily. If you’re considering going blonde after black box dye, prepare for a long journey—not an overnight miracle.
Round One: Color Remover Hope
She starts with Color Oops, a color remover designed to pull artificial pigment out of the hair. To her credit, it actually works better than most—lifting the black to an orangey red.
Brad notes that this is already a “win” compared to most attempts.
What She Did Right: Using a color remover before bleach.
Where It Went Wrong: She didn’t rinse long enough. With removers, you need to rinse extensively to properly flush out dye molecules—otherwise, they can re-oxidize and darken again.
Pro Advice: Always rinse for at least 15–20 minutes with hot water after using a remover, then shampoo thoroughly. Skipping this step sets you up for patchy results.
Round Two: Tiny Bleach Packets, Big Problems
Next, she moves on to bleach—but only has two small packets. As Brad points out, this is nowhere near enough product for her long hair.
The result? Patchy, uneven coverage, with some areas lightening and others staying dark.
Expert Tip: When bleaching, saturation is everything. You need enough product to fully coat every strand. Under-applying bleach is like painting with a dry brush—you’ll never get even results.
The Second Bleach & Hair Fallout
Determined, she tries again with a violet-based bleach. This time, the hair starts to break. She wraps it up tightly, which causes heat buildup and accelerates damage. Soon, she notices hair literally coming out in clumps.
Brad’s reaction says it all: “Your hair is melted.”
Why It Happened:
- Overlapping bleach on already fragile strands.
- Wrapping the hair (never do this—the heat cooks it).
- Not giving the hair a recovery break between sessions.
Pro Advice: If your hair feels like “wet noodles” after bleaching, stop immediately. No toner, no more bleach. Switch to protein masks, bond builders, and give your hair several weeks (if not months) to recover before touching it again.
Toner Trouble
Despite the damage, she attempts to tone with a demi-permanent product containing developer. On her porous, fragile hair, the violet tones grab unevenly, turning sections dark gray or greenish.
Stylist’s Note: On severely compromised hair, toners can “over-grab” and leave muddy or unexpected tones. The safer option? Semi-permanent direct dyes—no developer, just deposit and condition.
The Rescue: Professional Intervention
Thankfully, she eventually seeks professional help. The stylist chops her hair into a chic bob, tones it into a cool ash brown, and completely transforms her look.
The difference is night and day—proof of what trained hands can do.
Takeaway: Sometimes the best haircare decision is knowing when to stop and call a pro.
Final Thoughts — Lessons From the Bleach Fail
This video is a cautionary tale wrapped in entertainment. Yes, it’s easy to laugh at the chaos, but anyone who’s tried a DIY bleach knows how quickly things can go south.
Top 5 Takeaways for Safe Bleaching:
- Never bleach over box dye without pro guidance.
- Always use enough bleach for full saturation.
- Take thin sections—thicker = patchy lift.
- Stop if your hair feels gummy or starts breaking.
- When in doubt, go to a stylist.
At the end of the day, her transformation proves that even the worst bleach disasters can be salvaged with the right expertise. But wouldn’t you rather skip the tears and keep your hair intact?
Found your perfect shade? We’d love to see it! Tag us on Instagram @coloredhaircare or Facebook and share your hair color stories. Looking for more hair care tips? Check out How to Look After Colored Hair: 11 Expert Secrets For Long-Lasting Color.
Our Research & Review Process
To ensure our recommendations are as comprehensive and reliable as possible, we’ve undertaken an extensive research effort.
We cite scientific evidence and journals, collect real user reviews and gather impartial perspectives from hair stylists, users, and experts in the field.
Additionally, we conduct hands-on testing by using products and applying hair dyes not only on our own locks but also on real human hair extensions and hair pieces of different hair type, textures and lengths.
This rigorous approach allows us to provide you with insights into which products genuinely live up to their promises.
As always – please consult with a professional hair colorist or stylist for advice on how to color your own hair at home. It’s different for everyone!
