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Why should bleached knots matter to you? Two words, "Barbie Head."

Barbie. A pop-cultural icon known the world over as the “perfect” girl. Hmmm. Ever take a look at her hairline? About as undetectable as a hook rug. Nobody wants that "pluggy" look. So bleaching is a popular way to make those ugly knots disappear.

Now don’t go throwing your hair system in with your next load of whites. Bleaching knots is the process of removing color from the hair at the point it’s tied to the base. Done properly, a bleached knot hair system will vanish into the scalp when attached. (Emphasis on the "done properly")

The downside to bleaching

First, you’ll take a hit in durability. Bleaching is a harsh treatment that weakens the knots. And that reduces the lifespan of your unit by speeding up shedding. And by the way, you can’t bleach all hair systems. Synthetic hair? Out. Plus, the darker the hair or the thicker the density, the tougher it is to lighten.

Not to mention, factory bleaching isn’t always perfect (yes, including ours). Part of the problem is that no real “bleaching standard” exists. Most factories don’t have bleaching specialists and just put the first available worker on the job. In an auto plant, that'd be like turning a lifelong door panel installer into an engine inspector on-the-spot.

Now for some good news

If necessary, you can bleach your own knots at home. In fact we'll make it easy, watch this quick video on how-to bleach your own knots and you can learn how to do touch-ups or an entire unit in minutes. (Of course, if you order hair from us we hope you'll never need this video!)

Bleached knots look great and they make the hair look like it's growing right out of your scalp. But just remember that like most guilty pleasures, the key is moderation.

At least Ken doll had it easy... he came off the line with perfectly molded plastic hair ;)

Get your at-home bleaching kit today (less than $7) »

Attachment Products for Summer, August: Do you want to have summer fun but keep that strong bond on your hair system? There are tips & techniques in this article that help you get the bond you need.
Tips For Preventing Oxidation, June: Want to know more about preventing oxidation in your system? This article describes techniques and products useful to help prevent oxidation.
Keeping Hair Soft, May: What can be done to keep you hair softer for longer? This article describes techniques and products useful for keeping your hair soft.
Hard Bond vs. Soft Bond, February: There are 2 very different categories in hairpiece attachment. Are you the hard bond or soft bondy type? This article discusses the pros and cons of both.

Using Liquid Adhesives, November: Attaching your hair system using liquid bonding adhesives can be great. But there are some rules that every hair wearer should know beforehand.
Picking the Perfect Hairstyle, October: Did you know there are over 6 different face shapes amongst all humans? Knowing which is yours can really help when choosing the perfect hairstyle.
Meet the Family, September: Come take a look at our hair replacement message board. Ask questions, share ideas and learn from other hair wearers. Also take a moment and get to know the staff at Hair Direct.
Got Spare Hair?, August: Do you know why it's important to always have a spare hair system on hand? Every hair wearer should be ready for emergencies by keeping an exact duplicate of their hair system.
Maintain Your Front Hairline, July: We all know that small specs of dirt and dust can get stuck to the adhesive in our front hairline. Here we share a few helpful tips on how to best touch up your front hairline.
Cleaning Your Hair System, June: How do you clean the adhesive residues off your hair system when you take it off? Here we offer insight into a common process for cleaning your hair replacement.
Protect Your Hair for Summer, May: Hot weather, outdoor activities and that bright summer sunshine all present hazards to your poor hairpiece. Get some tips and tricks for protecting your hair for summer.
Hair System DO NOT DO Tips, April: We see the same mistakes made over and over again by hair wearers when they order their new hair systems. Join the discussion and pick up a few helpful tips on what to avoid.
Hair System Attachment Guide, March: Hairpiece tape, liquid adhesives and helpful ideas to get the strongest and most secure bond with your unit. We pack our attachment guide full of information essential to all hair wearers.

Tape & Liquid Adhesives, November: Learn a little bit about the differences, pros and cons of hairpiece tape vs. liquid adhesives and decide which is best for you.
04: Human Hair vs. Synthetic Hair, October: There are two main types of hair used in a hairpiece, human or synthetic. Find out the main differences and how to know which you should be wearing.
How the Hair is Attached, September: It's called ventilation and it's the meticulous process of tying the hairs to the base of your hair system. Get a quick lesson on the various types of ventilation and what the differences are.
Which Base is Best for You?, August: You've got a huge selection to choose from when selecting a base for your hair system. But how will you know which is right for you? Find out here.
Skin? Lace? All About Hair Bases, July: The fine materials that go into the construction of a hair replacement system can get a bit confusing at times. Here we talk about what's available and how to know the difference.
Detangling Tips for Your Hair System, June: Tangling is a problem that plagues all hair wearers. But de-tangling can be a dangerous move, we provide quick tips to try and get those tangles out as well as a step-by-step guide to the procedure the pros use.
Losing Hair in Your Hair System?, May: Premature hair loss and shedding from your hair system is annoying. But there are some easy things you can do to try and reduce the amount of hair that comes loose from your unit.
Prevent Oxidation in Your Hair System, April: The more time you spend in the sun the more likely your hair replacement system is to oxidize and change from its original color. Here you'll find some helpful info about what causes oxidation and how to prevent it.

Shampooing Tips, January: Shampooing your growing hair everyday is a good thing, shampooing your hair system everyday isn't. So make sure you're shampooing your hair system the right way when you do.

Lace Front Hairline Cleanup, January: Here's a quick and easy tip for cleaning the dirt and grime build-up from your lace front hairline.
Hair System Detangling, February: Tangles are inevitable if you have either long hair or high-density in your hair system. Luckily, we've made it easy for you to learn a professional detangling procedure.
Front Attachment w/Tape Markers, March: Learn how one of our community members, BrianD, attaches his lace hair system with razor-sharp precision using homemade tape markers.
Top 3 Ordering Mistakes, April: The materials, bleached knots and transitional density hairline arean't the only parts of your hair system that matter. What are the most common ordering mistakes in hair replacement?
Oxidation, June: What causes your hair system to fade and turn red after being outside under the Sun? It's called Oxidation and it's a reality, but you can prevent it.
Proper Scalp Preparation, July: Hair system attachment not holding for as long as it should? You might need some help with cleaning and preparing your scalp.
Hair System Removal, August: Topics about attachment usually get all of the attention, but proper and safe removal is just as important in protecting your investment.
Wisdom of Crowds, September: Our world is smaller now than it has ever been, allowing us all to connect in new ways and learn about hair replacement from each other.
Hair System Placement, November: Tapes and glues aren't very forgiving when attaching a hair replacement system, use this easy guide for safe placement every time.
The Baking Soda Bath, December: Product build-up got your hair system down? Try this easy and safe method for restoring the factory softness to your hair replacement.

Attaching with White Glue, February: White glue is popular because it is easy to use, safe and effective. Find out how to use it for lace front attachment.
Cleaning Lace with a Textile Gun, March: These ultra high powered spray guns are great for getting out every bit of toupee tape and glue adhesive stuck in your lace.
Common Ordering Mistakes to Avoid, April: You know you want a natural look from your hair replacement system, but do you know which ordering mistakes could stand in your way?
Fullfilment Center Grand Opening, May: Help us celebrate our brand new 4,000 sq. ft. fullfilment center with a giant, 20% off storewide sale.
Oxidation Protection & Correction, June: Don't let those summertime REDS get you down. Learn how to protect your hair replacement from harmful UV rays and color fading.
Meet Mike, the New Guy, September: Mike is our new content developer, he's been where you are and will make sure our site stays fresh with new articles related to hair replacement.
Hair Replacement Coloring, October: Getting and maintaining a natural, age-appropriate color blend with your growing hair can be tricky, get tips and advice here.
Hair System Styling Tips, November: Use these helpful tips and tools to determine which faceshape you are and what hairstyles will best compliment your hair replacement system.
Lace/Poly Base Tear Repair, December: Hair system base materials are very delicate but fixing small tears or holes is something you can easily and quickly do from home.

Top 6 Tape Configurations [VIDEO], January: Tapes come in all different sizes and shapes. Watch these six videos to figure out how to use them all to get a great hair system attachment.
Bleaching Knots [VIDEO], February: Knot bleaching will give you a more natural appearance, watch a do-it-yourself video and learn more about the pros and cons of this process.

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