Switching up your hairstyle can be fun. Often, it involves adding waves or cutting it short and changing its colour. But sometimes you can’t just colour your hair without bleaching it first, especially if you’re trying to achieve pastel or bold colour.
Unfortunately, you can pay a heavy price for changing your hair colour, as it can compromise your hair quality. Bleach is not gentle to your hair. It is a harsh chemical that breaks up hair proteins to remove its colour, leaving it lighter, significantly weaker and more prone to breakage. It also disrupts your hair cuticle, a layer that seals in moisture, making your hair look frizzy and dry.
How To Save Your Bleached Hair From Further Damage
Whether bleaching is done at home or in the salon, your hair can quickly turn brittle and break. But don’t let that stop you from achieving the look you want. Discover how to repair your bleach-damaged hair and restore its lustre and beauty by reading this article!
Keep Hair Moisture And Hydration Levels High
Bleaching agents raise your hair cuticle to allow the chemical to penetrate fully. Changing your hair colour regularly can permanently lift outer cuticles, resulting in continuous and rapid moisture loss from the strands. That’s why it’s never a good idea to do repeated bleaching.
You should allow your hair cuticle to rebuild, and while it does so, you can use other products to hydrate your hair and restore its shine and gloss. The following hair oils are superb at boosting hydration and moisture:
- Argan oil – use a few drops of argan oil after styling to lock in moisture and make your hair look shiny. It’s rich in essential antioxidants that help protect hair from further damage.
- Olive oil – many are convinced that this oil adds softness, shine and resilience to strands. A few drops of olive oil can also strengthen your hair by preserving moisture.
- Almond oil – rich in proteins and vitamin E, almond oil can make your hair stronger and healthier.
Use Bleach-Friendly Products
Bleached hair requires special care and attention, as it has gone through significant stress, so you can’t treat it the same way you would natural strands. You need to be particular about the products you choose and pick the ones specially formulated for dyed hair.
It’s best to stick with a sulphate-free shampoo designed for chemically-treated hair. Although sulphates are good at cleansing and removing excess oil and dirt from your scalp, they can cause your hair to dry out and look ‘fried.’
Be very selective when picking shampoo and avoid anything containing sodium laureth sulphate, ammonium laureth sulphate or sodium lauryl sulphate.
Avoid Heat Treatments On Coloured Hair
Bleached hair is more porous, making it vulnerable to both non-chemical and chemical hazards, such as heat-styling products and environmental factors. Avoid exposing your hair to heat, therefore, and allow it to dry on its own. Ditch straighteners and curling irons, as they can cause harm to your weak and damaged hair.
If you can’t avoid using heated products, use a heat-protectant when styling. Heat-protectant serums and sprays will help to prevent moisture evaporation caused by irons, tongs and blow-dryers. They can also keep your strands hydrated and protected from the sun, pollutants and other environmental contaminants.
Invest In A Quality Conditioner
We can’t stress enough the importance of proper conditioning technique and using the best quality products. Bleaching your hair leaves it highly brittle, dry and more prone to tangles. Using a conditioner causes the hair cuticle to flatten, sealing in moisture and reducing knots.
A deep conditioning treatment also plays a critical role in keeping your hair hydrated and healthy. It will give your strands long-lasting moisture and even enhance your new hair colour.
Be Extra Gentle
Show your strands some love by investing in a microfibre towel. This is gentler on your hair than a regular towel. Don’t rub but squeeze your hair dry and use a wide-toothed comb for best results. Gently detangle your hair from the ends, working up to the roots gradually to prevent breakage. Avoid pulling your hair too hard or your strands will snap, leaving you with split ends.
Conclusion
Hair damage from bleaching agents isn’t uncommon, so don’t stress if you notice some unpleasant changes to your hair structure. With extra care and proper nourishment, you can protect your bleached hair and restore its smoothness, shine and elasticity. In some cases, you might have to consult a professional to fix the damage but give it a few weeks to see if it recovers.
Returning your hair to its natural colour will allow you to get a better picture of its overall health and condition. If you notice a receding hairline or a widening part, it may be time to seek help from professionals. Vinci Hair Clinic experts are available to advise on a range of hair loss treatments. We offer a free consultation to help you find the one that best suits your needs. Get in touch and book yours today!
