Very nervous about bleaching roots

your hair was actually triple processed as demi permanent dyes also use peroxide.

you shouldnt be scared of bleach, the only reason your hair broke off was because it was triple processed. It is more likely that the damage was done by the box dyes as they tend to contain high volume peroxides as the developer cream.

since your hair is already a blonde color, you dont need to leave the bleach on for very long. you can either do a low volume bleach bath for a few minutes or even just get a very low volume peroxide (i have seen as low as 3vol. ) and put that straight onto the roots with NO bleach powder. Leave it on for a maximum of 5 minutes then rinse and shampoo before dying.

Ah man if only I knew then what I know now! Tbf my hair was very dry from 10 years of Live xxl so I'm sure the condition of my hair didn't help! The lengths of my hair feel great after dying with directions 🙂

The only developers I've seen near me are 30 or 40vol. Would a 30Vol bleach bath for like 3 mins work to make my roots more porous?

Also I've read a few things about using coconut oil beforehand. Is this massaged into the scalp first before the bleach? Also, if I accidentally overlap onto the dyed hair a tiny bit will it be mega bad news for my hair or ok?

Thank you for your help  😉

If you want to avoid damage dont use strong peroxide! 20 vol MAX, diluted by half with shampoo is all you need. That will be far less damaging than a box dye. I have used 10 vol to bleach bath, it doesn't lift much but will open the cuticle.
Bleach isn't the enemy, it doesn't automatically damage your hair, it is the level if peroxide and the time left on. Many many people wreck their hair with box dyes, because they believe them to be safe, but are still terrified of bleach.
Cover all your hair with coconut oil to protect it. Let it soak in for a couple of hours then bleach straight over.
If your hair is very damaged close to the regrowth you will have to be careful not to overlap. Usually this part of our hair isn't too damaged as it was virgin when it was dyed.

Thanks so much for your advice, good job because I still had a bottle of 30vol left over I was thinking of using!
So for my light strawberry blonde roots is it best to use 10 or 20vol? And straight bleach or bleach bath, if my main goal is to open the cuticle not lighten?

You are very right there, for years I was using live xxl every single month and putting it all over my hair, and wondered why my ends were always so fried and dry. I always had it in my head that bleach in any form is so much worse than perm dye, good job I've found this forum!

The hair next to regrowth is fine, it's just on the back I have some shorter lengths (4/5") compared to the rest which is past my shoulders. These broke off previously so I want to be careful not to accidentally cover those.

I would just use 10 vol in a bleach bath, or try the 30 vol on its own to pre-soften.
Most permanent dyes use 20 vol, but many use 30 (I suspect that the XXL reds have 30) and some blonde shades use 40 vol, which is ridiculously damaging.

Ok will probably go with 10vol bleach bath! Will 5 mins be long enough to ensure the directions dye takes to my hair? And is there any particular brand that's good? I haven't seen 10vol in the shops and have only previously used jerome russel bblonde kits.

Sallys will stock it, or you can order online. The only way to be certain with timing is to try on a strand test

Ok I did a strand test last night, 10vol bleach bath left on about 7/8mins. After washing it out and drying, applied the dye and left for an hour and a half. It wouldn't stick! Hasn't really made any difference to the re growth area that was bleach bathed 🙁

So you had 10 vol peroxide and diluted the bleach mix by half with shampoo?
Either use stronger peroxide, less shampoo, or leave it on longer.
10 vol in a bleach bath is super mild, your hair may need something a little stronger, everyones hair is different just because it is blonde doesn't automatically mean it will lift easily

Also, make sure you keep the sample at body temp. If it gets cold it won't work properly.

Thanks both! I did another test strand today with straight bleach (10vol again) for 8mins and it seemed to work this time 🙂 might give my hair a rest and wait another week then just use straight bleach on the roots before re-dyeing. Even though it's straight and not a bleach bath, I'm guessing 10vol won't be too damaging?