Soap Cap: Everything You Need to Know

If you want to have a perfect, light-colored hair that doesn’t have any brassy tones, then bleaching it might be your best choice. All you have to do is prepare a soap cap and soak your hair in it. You will definitely look like a blonde goddess in no time.

But, what is a soap cap exactly? And how does it work?

In this article, I will tell you everything you need to know about it. From how it works to how you can take care of your tresses after bleaching, I got you covered.

What is a soap cap?

The traditional hair lightening process uses bleach powder and peroxide to lighten strands. This is a very effective method; however, it has destructive after-effects to your hair. It can make your tresses dry, brittle, frizzy, and damaged over time.

Soap cap, on the other hand, may also be a hair lightening method but it’s different from the traditional one. Instead of only using peroxide, a specialized shampoo will also be used. This is a much gentler method than only using bleach powder and peroxide.

Why is it a better option?

Applying bleach to strands is often risky because it can cause dryness and damage, especially if your tresses are quite fragile and thin. Soap cap uses bleach and peroxide as well, however, a specialized shampoo is mixed in it.

It has a much milder formula, making it more gentle on hair. That is why it’s a better option than the traditional process nowadays.

A soap cap is safe for almost any type of hair, causing little to no damage. But, when is the right time to use it?

When to use it?

This is recommended if you are going to:

• Lighten thin and fragile tresses
• Fix your over-toned strands
• Remove your current hair color
• Make your locks one shade lighter

If you are trying to remove your current hair color and it won’t come off, a soap cap is a good option. It is very useful in removing hair dye, either it’s temporary or permanent. Even the traces will be removed as well.

It is also a good option for fragile and thin strands. It may not be as effective as the traditional hair lightening method, but it is less damaging.

Read also: Best shampoo and conditioner for bleached hair

Soap Cap at Home

Now that you know everything you need to know about a soap cap, it’s time for you to do it at home.

The first thing to do is to get the three essential things used in this method – clarifying shampoo, developer, and bleach.

After gathering the essentials, here’s what you should do:

Preparation

1. 1. Is it your first time to use a soap cap for your hair? If your answer is yes, then you should do a skin test first to make sure that you’re not allergic to it. Get a cotton ball and dip it into the developer and bleach. Then, apply it to your hand. If it starts itching or becomes red, there’s a big possibility that you’re allergic to it. You can wait for up to 48 hours to check. If no itching or redness occurs within that period, you can proceed to the next step.

2. In a 1:2 ratio, mix the bleaching powder and developer, respectively. Try to check the volume of your developer. If it has a high volume, then the peroxide content in it is high as well. The lowest volume would be 10%, while the highest is 40%. For a bleach bath, you should only use a developer with a 10% volume. After combining bleach powder with the developer, add one part of shampoo in it. Make sure that the amount of shampoo is equal to the amount of bleaching powder you put in the mixture.

You can also experiment with the ratio of the mixture by decreasing or increasing its intensity. But, you should remember that the bleach will get subdued when you add shampoo, so make sure to always add an equal part of it.

If you want to make your locks softer after the process, you can also add a conditioner to the mixture.

Application

1. Before applying the mixture, make sure that your tresses are damp. To do this, you have to wet your tresses with cold water. Then, let it air-dry for a couple of minutes. You shouldn’t bleach your strands when it’s dripping wet because the solution won’t get absorbed fully. You can also use a towel to damp your tresses.

2. Get a towel and put it around your shoulders. This will serve as your protection against accidental drips coming from the applied solution. You can also opt to wear an old T-shirt so that any mishaps can be avoided. Use latex gloves when applying it as well to prevent burns and protect your hands.

3. It’s time to start applying the bleach. You should start with the tips. Then, work your way up to the roots. Once all the strands have been covered, you can apply the rest of the solution to the strands like you’re shampooing it.
4. Secure your locks. Clip it and cover it with a shower cap. This will help prevent any drips coming from the applied bleach and also to make the bleach bath more effective.
5. You should check the progress every 5 or 10 minutes to know if it’s taking effect. If the color is already even and you’re satisfied with the result, you can now wash it.

How long should you leave it on?

 This depends on the volume of the developer you used and your hair type.

Is your hair bleached already and just want to retouch and remove its brassiness? Then, you should just leave the solution for 10 minutes.

On the other hand, if you have natural, dark tresses, you can leave the solution for up to 30 minutes to get the best results. However, you shouldn’t leave it that long if your developer’s volume is 30 or 40%.

Soap Cap Tips

 Here’s how you can take care of your lightened hair:

• If you’re going out or styling your tresses using a flat or curling iron, you should apply a serum or heat-protectant spray in it first. This can help prevent damage from UV rays and heat.
• Your tresses can still dry out a little even if you used a soap cap for bleaching it. That is why applying leave-in and using conditioner frequently is important to avoid dryness.
• Deep condition your locks every two weeks. This can help keep them moisturized.
• After the bleaching process, you should avoid using curling irons, straighteners, or hair dryers to avoid brittleness and damage.

Final Thoughts

A soap cap is a great alternative to lighten your hair. It might not be as effective as traditional bleaching, but it’s still a good choice for those who want to have a damage-free, gorgeous-looking blonde hair.