They say blondes have more fun, but what isn’t said is that bleaching your Hair for this coveted look can cause damage if not proper care is not applied. Learning how to care for your hair before and after bleaching should be your priority before even setting foot in a salon.

How Does Bleaching Work?

The key to bleaching is oxidation It removes the color from your hair pigments using oxidizing agents, such as a mixture of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide. The longer these products are left on your hair, the lighter the color achieved. If you bleach your hair quite often, it may end up with a yellow tint to it, which is the natural color of the keratin protein in your hair. To become a platinum blonde, you will also need to tint your hair after bleaching.

There are manufacturers who claim their products are peroxide-free and therefore safer for your hair, but they will still need to replace the peroxide with another oxidizing agent that will achieve the same goal, according to the experts at Phillip Kingsley. All oxidizing agents can be damaging to your hair, so it is necessary to prepare your hair before you bleach it as well as following a few simple steps to care for it afterward. It is important to do this so the damage is kept to a minimum, and your hair looks and feels healthy instead of brittle and weak.

Prepare Your Hair Before You Bleach

Because bleaching your hair is more damaging than other coloring methods, it is important to prepare your hair before the process begins to be sure your hair is as healthy and strong as possible and will sustain the least amount of damage. Alex Rose from Bellatory offers a few tips on how you can do this, all with products you can purchase at your local drugstore or make at home yourself with natural products in your own kitchen.

The first thing you should do is condition your hair regularly, using a deep conditioner. This will give your hair the moisture and protection it needs to survive the bleaching process. Using a hair mask once a week is also a good idea. This highly concentrated conditioning cream will add to the strength of the deep conditioners. You can use a store-bought mask or make your own with extra virgin olive oil. Just leave it on for half an hour and then rinse it clean.

A leave-in conditioner is also a great option for extra moisture before bleaching. Any brand will do or you can mix a bit of your regular conditioner with water to make your own. You can use one or two of these conditioning options before you hit the salon for your bleaching appointment, but for the strongest, healthiest hair, it is best to use all three to be sure your hair doesn’t suffer any unnecessary damage.

Tips for Between Bleaches

Depending on how dark your hair is, it may take more than one application to achieve the color you want. You may be unhappy with how your hair looks in between these appointments, but do not rush them. They are spread out for a reason to keep the hair damage to a minimum. That’s why Alex Rose suggests keeping your hair moisturized with a leave-in conditioner and refraining from any heat styling since hair dryers and straighteners will only dry it out even more than it already is. Keep in mind that you only need to wait a minimum of four days for your second bleach application, so style your hair very carefully or hide it under a hat until the process is complete and save yourself the trouble of brittle, unrepairable hair from rushing your appointments.

How to Care for Your Hair After Bleaching

Whether you only need one bleaching application or multiple appointments, your hair is likely to suffer from dryness and possible split ends no matter how thoroughly you care for it before and during the process. That’s why you need to choose your after treatments carefully, so you can restore it to its previous healthy beauty rather than damaging it further.

Some tips from the ladies at TotalBeauty.com include continued use of a leave-in conditioner as well as regular haircuts to remove any split ends before they damage too much of the hair shaft. It is also a good idea to make sure you are using a regular shampoo and conditioner for colored hair as these will have more moisturizers and be much milder on your hair, helping to repair the damage and giving it more strength.

Use a hair mask, either purchased or homemade. Apple cider vinegar, avocado, and eggs all can be used to make one and will not contain the chemicals that could be found in store-bought brands. If you like to spend a lot of time outside, consider purchasing a hair sunscreen or wear a hat to protect your hair from the sun’s harmful UV rays. For more tips on how to care for your hair after bleaching it or just coloring in general, check out this video by Ellie Jayden.

Bleached Hair Final Thoughts

While bleach blonde is a coveted hair color, the upkeep is imperative if you want soft, healthy hair. By following the tips in this article, you can avoid the dry, brittle outcome most people have when they bleach their hair. If you have consistent dry hair from bleaching, you may want to discuss options with your hair stylist. If you are looking for more hair care articles check out our blog and our hair care buyer’s guides.

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