Quick Answer
The Manelli Scale is my 100-point bleach rating system. I score every lightener from 1 to 10 in 10 categories: dust, odor, viscosity, timing, swell, lift, integrity, neutralization, versatility and price. I have used it for 50 lightener tests on level 2 hair, and the top score so far is 85. Look at the category scores, not just the total, to find the right bleach for the way you work.
From my chair: there is no perfect bleach
Even after testing 50 bleach lighteners, I learned there is no such thing as the perfect bleach. Finding the right one comes down to preference, which is why I created the Manelli Scale, so you can know the pros and cons of each one. That is really why I tested them all. There are so many lighteners on the market, I just had to know how they all behave and work.
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What is the Manelli Scale?
The Manelli Scale is a hair bleach rating system I created to compare lighteners side by side. Every lightener gets a score from 1 to 10 in the same 10 categories, for a total of 100. A 10 is always the best score, so a 10 for odor means barely any smell and a 10 for price means great value.
| Category | What it measures | What earns a 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Dust | How much powder flies when you open and mix it | Practically dust free |
| Odor | How strong it smells out of the container and while mixing | Barely any smell |
| Viscosity | Consistency and control during application | Creamy, stays where you put it |
| Timing | How long you can safely process | A 60 minute window or longer |
| Swell | How much it expands in the foil or on the scalp | No swelling |
| Lift | Levels of lift on a level 2 swatch, and how even it is | The highest, most even lift |
| Integrity | Condition and elasticity of the hair after | Hair feels strong and healthy |
| Neutralization | How much it tones as it lifts | A blue base that cancels warmth |
| Versatility | Range of techniques and hair types it handles | On and off scalp, any technique |
| Price | Value per ounce | The best value |
Want to see how all of them scored? Jump to the interactive chart, or see my top 10 bleach ranking for dark hair.
Why I built it
I have been behind the chair since 1999, and I have tried more lighteners than I can count. For years I chose bleach the way most of us do, by feel and by how my clients’ hair turned out.
But when I recommended a bleach to another stylist, they would often get totally different results. Their water, developer, mixing ratios and processing were different from mine. Saying “this is a great bleach” did not mean much without the details.
So I started keeping notes on every lightener I tested, using the same 10 categories every time. Those notes became the Manelli Scale, and now every bleach review on my site uses it. It is how I can tell you one bleach scores a 9 on lift but a 5 on integrity, and why that matters for your client’s starting level and hair history.
From my chair: swatch vs real hair
Every lightener was tested on the same level 2 hair swatch, which gives me a fair baseline to judge them all. Real hair on a real head has natural warmth from the scalp, so some lighteners behaved differently, and even changed my opinion, once I used them on clients. The scores are the scores, and I share what I reach for behind the chair in my bleach ranking.
The 10 categories, explained
1. Dust
How much powder flies when you open the container and mix it. Heavy dust is unpleasant to breathe, and it can also mean the powder mixes less evenly. A 10 means it is practically dust free.
2. Odor
How strong it smells out of the container and while mixing. This is a big deal for anyone sensitive to smell, and for stylists working in a small studio. A 10 means barely any smell.
3. Viscosity
The consistency of the mix and how much control it gives you. For fine weaves and babylights, you need a lightener that stays exactly where you put it.
4. Timing
How long you can safely process. A 60-minute window scores high, and longer is even better. Blonde Solutions scored a 10 because it is rated for up to 2 hours, the only lightener on the market I have found that processes past 60 minutes. Who wants to foil highlights with anxiety?
5. Swell
How much the lightener expands in the foil or on the scalp. Low swell matters for on-scalp applications and tight foil placement, where swelling can bleed and leave spots.
6. Lift
How many levels it lifts a level 2 swatch, and how even that lift is. Lift is the one everyone asks about first, and it is only one of ten categories for a reason. Lift without integrity is just damage.
7. Integrity
The condition and elasticity of the hair after lightening. If your client has previously colored or fragile hair, look at integrity right after lift.
8. Neutralization
How much the lightener tones as it lifts. A blue-based lightener that does the job scores high. White-based lighteners usually score low here because they have no toning effect, which does not mean they lift poorly. A white base also shows you your true lift, so you never get fooled by blue pigment.
9. Versatility
How many techniques and hair types it can handle: on and off the scalp, foils, open air and balayage. High versatility means one lightener can cover most of your clients.
10. Price
Value per ounce. This is not about cheap versus expensive. It is about whether the performance is worth what you pay, because your product costs directly affect your profit. A 10 means the best value.
Why 100 points instead of a ranking
A ranked list is easy to read, but the number one bleach overall might be wrong for you. If it swells and you foil fine hair, if it smells strong and you work in a small studio, or if it costs too much per service for your prices, the total score will not tell you that. The category scores will.
How to use the Manelli Scale
Match your priorities to the categories that matter most for your work:
- On-scalp color (roots, all over): Swell and Timing
- Fragile or previously lightened hair: Integrity first, then Neutralization
- Fine weaves or babylights: Viscosity
- Busy salon: Price and Versatility
- Small or poorly ventilated space: Odor and Dust
- Dark hair clients (level 1 to 3): Lift and Integrity together
Have a bleach you want me to score? Send me a DM on Instagram and I will add it to my testing list.
Try the Manelli Scale
Browse all 50 bleach tests, search by brand, and tap any category, like integrity or lift, to rank the lighteners from best to worst. It works on your phone too.
The Manelli Scale: 50 Lighteners Tested
Tap any category to rank from best to worst. 10 is the best score in every category.
Scores from my level 2 swatch tests. Ties are ranked by integrity, then lift.
Want to see the lift testing for yourself? Watch me put lighteners to the test at Cosmoprof.
Ready to master lightening, toning and color correction? Every technique I use in my chair lives inside Hair B&B University. You get the step-by-step tutorials and the exact game plans I use on real clients.
Sign up for Hair B&B University and choose your lightener with confidence. 🎉
Manelli Scale FAQ
The Manelli Scale is a 100-point hair bleach rating system created by Mirella Manelli. It scores lighteners from 1 to 10 in 10 categories: dust, odor, viscosity, timing, swell, lift, integrity, neutralization, versatility and price.
Mirella Manelli, a hair educator and colorist who has been behind the chair since 1999. She uses it for every bleach review on mirellamanelli.com.
50 lightener tests on standardized level 2 hair swatches, done in the salon rather than a lab.
The highest score so far is 85 out of 100, earned by Alter Ego Blondego Ultra 9. Anything in the 80s is excellent, but the category scores matter most. A 9 on lift with a 4 on integrity tells a very different story than an even 7 across both.
It depends on your work. For dark hair, look at lift and integrity. For on-scalp color, swell and timing. For fine weaves, viscosity. For salon profit, price and versatility.
No. All testing is independent, products are not paid placements, and scores are not influenced by brand relationships.
cheers,
Mirella
