We love bleached hair; striking and bold, bleached hair is a super cool way to experiment with color and change your overall look. But one of the few downsides to lightening your hair is that it can cause someโor a lotโof damage.ย
โBleach can break down the protective layer of the hair (a.k.a. the cuticle). This causes the hair to be stripped of its natural oils and proteins, causing the hair to become brittle andย frizzy, and more likely to break over time,โ says Olivia Casanova, colorist and co-owner of IGK salon in New York City.ย
โBleaching hair damages the hair through its natural chemical process, which involves oxidation [and causes] it to disrupt the hairโs natural structure and [weaken it],โ adds Julie Fortiz, hair colorist at Jenna Perry Hair Studio. โThe most common con of bleaching your hair is the lack of moisture, which means your hair has lost some of its shine and [can] appear dull.โย
Does that mean you should stay away from bleaching your hair altogether? Not necessarily. There are a few ways to prevent damage from happening and to treat hair if you get to that point. Below, Casanova and Fortiz break down their best tips on how to care for bleached hair. Scroll down to learn more.ย ย
How should I take care of my hair after bleaching?
How to take care of bleached hair isnโt too difficult; it just requires the right bleached hair care to hydrate hair and consistency. โMoisture is key,โ says Casanova. โI always suggest my clients incorporate a conditioning mask into their routine at least once a week. In some cases, you may need to also include a bond builder. Lastly, avoid heat styling as much as possible.โ
Fortiz agrees and emphasizes the importance for being consistent with the routine that works for you. She also recommends incorporating a hair oil into your regimen and if you have to style hair with a hot tool, use a good heat protectant to keep damage at a minimum.ย
Something like Cecredโs Reconstructing Treatment Mask is perfect for color-treated hair. It contains antioxidants, vitamin E, sea buckthorn oil, and a patent-pending Bioactive Keratin Ferment to visibly repair damage, nourish hair and help to reduce breakage. For a full at-home treatment system, you can opt for the Cecredโs Fortifying Treatment Kit, which provides the Reconstructing Treatment Mask, Fermented Rice & Rose Protein Ritual, and Nourishing Hair Oil, to give you everything you need to take consistent care of color-treated hair.
What is the best treatment for bleached hair?
Both Casanova and Fortiz recommend coming into the salon for maintenance appointments to help neutralize pH levels and strengthen strands, and getting regular trims to remove any dead ends or split ends. For at-home solutions and the best hair care for bleached hair, she says youโll want to use protein treatments and bond builders to restore the structure and health of the hair and a good conditioning mask.ย
Casanova agrees. โConditioning masks work for the majority of people who bleach their hair; because thereโs different types of masks for all types of density, texture, etc.โ As for bond builders, she says this is the perfect solution for people with moderate to severe damage and safe for all hair types, textures, and lengths.ย
What should you not use on bleached hair?
The biggest thing to avoid is excessive use of hot tools. โAvoid using heat,โ says Fortiz. โAir drying will be your best friend. If you must certainly have to style your hair with heat, use a protectant before and keep your hot tool on a low setting.โ Casanova adds that styling your hair in extremely tight ponytails and buns can be harmful as well because those styles can cause breakage.ย
Youโll also want to avoid applying harsh chemicals like relaxers and straightening treatments, as those are also damaging for your hair. โThe chemicals in these treatments can make your hair break because of the combination with heat tools or too much combing through the hair,โ says Fortiz.ย
How long does it take for bleached hair to heal?
If you do experience damage on your bleached hair, the good news is that it can heal (for the most part). How long it takes just depends on a couple of different things. โThis is really circumstantial,โ says Casanova. โSomeone with mild damage can repair their hair within a matter of just a few weeks.โย
For extreme damage, Casanova says that it can take up to two years for hair to completely grow back healthy, and you may need to wait for the over processed hair to grow out or cut off the dead ends. To prevent this from happening, make sure you consult with your colorist for best upkeep practices andโmost importantlyโto get their input on whether bleaching is the right option for you. โAlways trust your coloristโs recommendation; they donโt want to damage your hair,โ says Fortiz. โIf they say a certain shade isnโt possible, itโs probably because it realistically isnโt.โ
