Bleaching your hair is a risky endeavor – if it’s not done properly, you’re up for months of damage control. The chemicals used to get you that beautiful blonde color can burn your hair and leave it looking dull and dry.
If you’re planning on bleaching your hair, you’ll need to have a good aftercare routine ready. It’s the only way you’ll get your shining locks back to where they were pre-bleaching!
So, in this short guide, we’ll provide you with a couple of tips for maintaining bleached hair to help you keep it as healthy and shiny as possible.
1. Alternating between shampoo and conditioner
Your hair needs a good balance between moisture and protein – you don’t need to use shampoo every day. In fact, experts recommend that you keep your hair washing to a minimum. It has been treated with harsh chemicals during the bleaching process, so the last thing it needs is something to dry it out further!
If you have to wash your hair often for any reason whatsoever, try alternating between shampoo and conditioner – you don’t have to use both on a daily basis.
2. Use purple shampoo to keep your hair from looking too yellow.
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Invest in a purple shampoo and conditioner to keep your hair color in its post-salon condition for as long as possible. You don’t want it to turn too brassy or yellow – that would be everything but stylish!
Now, you can find many different brands of purple shampoo online or in your nearest beauty store. Make sure you do your research before choosing the products – quality should be your primary concern. Read up on every review and rating you can find online, or seek assistance from your hairdresser if you can’t find something that suits your haircare needs.
3. Don’t avoid the hair salon.
Yes, you shouldn’t do anything radical to your hair after you’ve bleached it – you don’t want to risk further damage. Still, however, this doesn’t mean you can’t get it cut! In fact, it’s what’s recommended by professionals worldwide.
Again, your hair is probably damaged after bleaching, which means you’re probably also dealing with split ends. These require your immediate attention – if you don’t cut them off right away, they’ll spread all the way to the roots. Once that happens, the only thing you’ll be able to do is to wait for your hair to regrow.
4. Avoid heat-based hairstyling tools.
Your straightener and curler should be off-limits after you’ve gotten your hair bleached! You need to let it „rest“ in order for it to heal properly. Heat tools can burn your hair even further, especially when it’s already damaged by bleaching.
So, unless it’s absolutely necessary, stay away from all hairstyles involving heat-based tools. You can always find heatless alternatives to style your hair as beautifully as possible. For example, if you want to give yourself some curls, you can do so using a pair of socks! There are multiple tutorials on how to do this online, so don’t be afraid to get creative! You can read more about it online, or visit the hairdresser for some pro tips.
5. Get yourself a silky pillowcase.
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Silk pillowcases may be expensive, but they’re also an excellent investment to make when the health of your hair is considered. Sleeping on silk isn’t just extremely comfortable, it also keeps your hair from breakage and unnecessary stretching. Trust us – you’ll know the difference once you’ve tried sleeping on one! Your cotton pillowcases will probably end up in the trash afterward.
So, yes, investing in a silky pillowcase is an excellent way to care for your hair after bleaching. It’s a simple change that can affect how your hair looks in more ways than one.
6. Use a shower filter
While this may seem like an excessive step to take, investing in a shower filter can help you recover your newly bleached hair quite quickly. Unfiltered water is probably one of your greatest enemies – the minerals and chemicals contained in won’t do any good to it.
If your main goal is to keep your color intact, purchasing a shower filter is certainly a great way to go about it. It will cost you around 100 bucks, but you won’t regret it at all!
7. Avoid ponytails
Ponytails are everything BUT healthy for your hair, especially if you tie them too tight. Since it is already weakened by the bleaching process, the risk of breakage will just grow higher. Instead of wearing a ponytail, wear a loose braid or pin back the top sides of your hair to prevent it from getting damaged even further.
There’s an alternative hairstyle for everything – you don’t need to wear a ponytail to keep your hair from getting in your way.
8. Pick your towels carefully
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Your old, worn-out cotton towels should be replaced with soft, microfiber cloths to keep that frizz at bay. These are not much more expensive than regular towels, but they can do wonders for your bleached hair.
As always, make sure to check out the brand before making your purchase. Not all towels are built the same, so don’t hesitate to do your research!
9. Seek advice from your hairstylist
Your hairstylist might be able to help you choose the best products for your specific needs and haircare requirements. Don’t hesitate to ask them to share their professional tips – it will make your journey to complete hair recovery much easier!
Besides that, make sure you’re honest with your hairstylist before they start bleaching process. If your hair has undergone any type of chemical treatment in the past, they should know about it!
The bottom line
Hair bleach can be extremely damaging to your hair, especially if you don’t have a haircare routine ready. So, in this article, we’ve provided you with a couple of tricks on keeping your hair as shiny and healthy as possible, no matter how damaged it is!
Keep in mind that you’ll need to trust the process – it may take a while to get your hair to recover, but it will all be worth it later on.
