Bleached Knots 101: Everything You Need to Know for a Natural-Looking Hair System
- Written by Maisie Martin
- | Published Oct 6, 2026
- |
- 4 min read
Listen to the full textBleached knots are one of the most popular ways to make a hair system look natural. They are exactly what they say on the tin: using bleach to lighten the dark knots created when attaching the hair to the base of the system. If the knot is not bleached, it may appear as a small black dot, which can ruin the illusion of hair growing straight out of your own scalp. Dark knots on a lighter system can result in a less natural look, especially if you wear your hair in a brush-back style. By lightening with bleach, the knots become almost translucent, therefore helping to camouflage them to a degree. This is why bleaching the knots on hair systems is becoming more and more popular.
In this blog we will go into further detail about why and How we bleach knots as well as discussing if bleaching your dark knots is the best idea for you!
Key Takeaways
- Bleached knots lighten the small dark dots where each hair is tied to the base, so the hairline looks more invisible.
- Knot bleaching only works on lace and mono bases.
- Bleach weakens the hair at the knot, so a fully bleached system sheds sooner. Bleaching only the front hairline, and sometimes the crown, keeps most of the realism without cutting lifespan as much.
- Bleached knots work best on brown shades. Jet black and off-black can't be lifted without damaging the hair, and blonde shades show very little difference.
Understanding Bleached Knots
There are some choices to be made when bleaching knots on a hair system; for example: it is not necessary to bleach all of the knots on every system. We actually recommend only bleaching some knots to keep the hair and the base of the system in the best shape possible.
Most Commonly:
Knots along the front hairline and around the crown are Deep Bleached whilst the rest of the knots are only Light Bleached or not bleached at all.
It is all about finding the correct equilibrium between realism and longevity. If we were to deep bleach all of the knots, the overall lifespan of the system would be significantly reduced. For this reason, we tend to only deep bleach the knots that are most visible.
Unbleached Knots
Bleached Knots Hairlines
Note: Please note that these pictures are intended for use as a result for bleached knots only; bleached knots are only applicable to lace based systems. Skin units and monofilament units have no need for knot bleaching.
Knotting method plays a key role in a hair system's naturalness and durability. If you want to learn about how wig knotting affects a hair system, read this article Wig Knotting Explained: What They Mean for Your Hair System.
Lordhair Bleached Knots Hair Systems
Many of our Stock Systems come with only the knots along the front hairline bleached. We do this as we have found this is the favoured choice of our customers; it is very important to them to achieve the most realistic hairline possible.
When creating a Custom Hair System, you have full choice over which knots are to be bleached.
Bleaching knots is less important when you have selected a darker hair colour as the knots will naturally be much less visible. For Light-Brown hair we suggest it more strongly.
For a detailed introduction to bleached knots, watch this video tutorial.
How We Bleach Knots on A Hair System: A Step-By-Step
- Turn the Hair System over to reveal the underside
- Prepare the solution by mixing equal parts of Bleach Powder and Developer (Hydrogen Peroxide) in a plastic bowl
- Mix thoroughly to ensure No Lumps
- Using a brush, dab a very small amount of your mixture onto the knot. It is best to start at the front and work your way backwards as this will ensure you have not missed any knots
- Allow the mixture to sit on the knot for around 20-30 minutes, or as long as the bleach manufacturer recommends
- Frequently monitor how the bleach is processing to confirm it is not over-developing as this will damage the hair resulting in breakage
- Thoroughly rinse out the bleach mixture under cold running water
- Completely dry and style the system
That's basically how our technicians bleach knots. We're sharing the steps so you can see how it's done, but we don't suggest trying it at home. Bleach is strong, and even a small mistake can weaken the knots, damage the lace, and make the hair shed early. If you'd like bleached knots, pick them when you order, and our team will take care of it for you.
Best-selling Lordhair hair systems with bleached knots.
Deciding If Bleached Knots Are For You:
Hair Colour
- If your hair colour is Blonde, bleaching the knots may result in very little difference therefore it is usually not worth it. The lighter the hair, the less visible difference bleaching the knots will make.
- If your hair colour is Jet Black (Lordhair Colour #1), the knots cannot be bleached. This is because the hair starts so dark that it is not possible to lift the colour of the knot to the desired effect without damaging the hair too much. This is similar for Off-Black Hair (Lordhair Colour #1A) so we do not recommend this either.
- If your hair colour is Brown, bleaching knots will be most effective.
Complexion
- If you have a darker skin tone, bleaching knots is not recommended as the contrast against your skin may cause the knots to appear yellow or white. This in turn will actually cause the knot to appear more visible which is the opposite of the desired effect.
Lifespan
- The bleaching process uses extremely strong chemicals which can damage the hair. Damaged hair will break much more easily meaning the system will shed faster. This is exactly why Lordhair recommends bleaching the knots along the front hairline, but not all over; we aim to keep the lifespan of the system as high as possible.
- When ordering your hair system, you will need to make a decision: Which would you rather prioritise? Extra Natural Look? or Durability? If you place more importance on a natural appearance and do not mind the lifespan being shorter than usual, bleaching the knots all over may be a good choice for you.
Pros and Cons of Bleaching Knots
|
Aspect |
Pros |
Cons |
|
Appearance |
Knots become close to invisible, giving a more realistic hairline |
Can look yellow or white on darker skin tones |
|
Styling |
Makes open styles like brush-backs and side parts easier to wear |
Smaller benefit if you wear your hair forward over the hairline |
|
Lifespan |
Hairline-only bleaching keeps most of the system's durability intact |
Bleach weakens hair at the knot, leading to earlier shedding, especially with full bleaching |
|
Hair color |
Most effective on brown shades |
Not possible on #1 or #1A; little visible difference on blonde |
|
Base type |
Works only on lace bases |
Not available on mono and skin bases |
|
Maintenance |
Permanent result with no daily sprays or concealers |
Can't be reversed once done |
|
Ordering |
Custom systems let you choose exactly which knots are bleached; most stock systems already have the front hairline bleached |
Bleaching at home after purchase risks damaging the system |
Bleached Knots Compared to Alternative Techniques
|
FEATURE |
Bleached Knots |
Lace Tint Spray |
Knot Concealer |
|
Realism |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
⭐⭐⭐ |
⭐⭐ |
|
Maintenance Needed |
Medium |
High |
High |
|
Damage Risk |
Medium |
Low |
None |
|
Best For: |
Human Hair, Lace Bases |
All Hair Types, Only Lace Base |
All Hair Types, All Base Materials, Only For Quick Fixes |
Bleached Knots: Final Thoughts
So now that you know what bleached knots are and how we create them, you can make a more informed decision as to whether they are the best choice for you!
The main thing to remember is that bleaching knots aims to establish a flawless and natural look to your hair system. Knots on very dark black and very light blonde hair cannot be bleached as it is not possible to achieve the desired effect. And finally, there are both pros and cons to bleaching knots: in order to achieve realism, the lifespan will be slightly affected.
Overall, it is entirely your own opinion; many customers have said they feel their hair system looks extremely natural even without bleached knots.
Not sure which hair system is suitable for you? Talk to our hair system experts for free advice, and they'll help you pick the best option.
FAQs
Shall I choose bleached knots or unbleached knots?
It depends on your base type, hair colour, and skin tone. If you want a skin hair system, you don't need bleached knots. For lace bases, bleached knots suit brown hair styled brushed back.
What are the benefits of bleached knots?
Bleached knots make the tiny dots where hair is tied to the base much harder to see. This gives you a more natural hairline. It also means you can wear open styles, like a brush-back or side part, with more confidence.
Do bleached knots shorten the life of a hair system?
Yes, a little. Bleach weakens the hair at the knot, so bleached areas can shed sooner. Bleaching only the front hairline keeps this effect small.
Can I bleach the knots on my hair system myself?
We don't recommend it. Bleach is strong, and a small mistake can damage the knots and the lace. It's better to choose bleached knots when you order and let our team do it for you.
