How To Care For Your Hair After A Bleach Treatment
Julia is a professional hairstylist that worked in different hair…
Bleaching your hair can give you a stunning new look, but it also requires special care to maintain its health and vibrancy. Bleaching opens up the hair cuticles and removes pigment, making the hair more susceptible to damage and dryness. To ensure your bleached hair stays healthy, it’s crucial to follow a post-bleach hair care routine. In this article, we will discuss essential tips and guidelines on how to care for your hair after a bleach treatment.
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Haircare Tips After A Bleach Treatment
Wash Your Hair With Cold Water
Cold water is the best option for washing your hair after a bleach treatment because it helps keep your scalp cool and reduces the chance of irritation. Hot water dries out your hair, which makes it prone to breakage. When you use hot water, you also increase the risk of damaging your hair follicles. If you want to keep your hair looking shiny and soft, you should avoid using too much heat while washing your hair. Hot water dries out the scalp and causes dryness, which leads to frizziness.
Avoid Using Products That Contain Sodium Hydroxide
You should never use products that contain sodium hydroxide (lye) when washing your hair. This chemical can damage your hair and cause it to dry out. Instead, use a mild shampoo and conditioner that won’t strip your hair of its natural oils.
If you want to protect your hair from damage caused by harsh chemicals, try switching to a gentle shampoo and conditioner. The best option is one that contains no lye. Instead, look for shampoos and conditioning products with “no Sodium Laureth sulfate” on the label, meaning they don’t contain harmful detergents in most commercial shampoos.
Avoid Using Too Much Heat
It’s important to avoid getting your hair exposed to too much heat after a bleach treatment. Styling tools can damage your hair and cause it to break faster than normal. If you’re going for a more natural look, try applying coconut or olive oil to the ends of your hair before drying them with a towel. This will help seal in moisture and prevent frizziness. Use a wide-toothed comb when detangling wet hair.
Deep Conditioning Treatments
If you want to keep your hair shiny and vibrant after a bleach treatment, you should follow up with at least one deep conditioning treatment. A deep conditioning treatment helps to restore the natural oils and proteins in your hair, which makes it easier to maintain a healthy shine. You can use a leave-in conditioner or a shampoo/conditioner combo.
Use Hair Masks Weekly
Try using hair masks weekly if you’re looking for ways to protect your hair from damage caused by the harsh chemicals of the bleach treatment. Make sure the hair mask you choose contains natural ingredients such as honey, avocado oil, egg whites, and coconut oil, which nourish your hair while protecting it from further damage. You can use them before washing your hair or after shampooing. The best thing about hair masks is that they’re easy to apply and won’t weigh down your hair.
Consider Protecting Your Hair
Protecting your bleached hair from environmental factors and further damage is crucial. Here’s what you can do:
- Sun Protection: Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can fade hair color and make it dry and brittle. Wear hats or use leave-in conditioners with UV protection to shield your hair from the sun.
- Chlorine and Saltwater: Before swimming in a pool or the ocean, wet your hair and apply a leave-in conditioner. This helps create a barrier between your hair and the chlorine or saltwater, minimizing damage.
- Trim Regularly: Schedule regular trims every 6-8 weeks to remove split ends and prevent further breakage. This will keep your hair looking healthy and prevent the spread of damage up the hair shaft.
Conclusion
Bleaching your hair without taking proper care of it can leave it looking damaged, dry and lifeless. Following some basic hair care tips, you’ll be able to bleach your hair without damaging it. In short, you should take care of your bleached hair to maintain its health and beauty. Just like everything else in life, it takes patience, effort and time to keep your bleached hair healthy. Luckily, following a well-balanced hair care regimen, along with regular hair maintenance tips, can restore your lifeless bleached hair back to its former glory.
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Julia is a professional hairstylist that worked in different hair salons in the U.K and Australia. Julia has worked with some of the greatest hair care brands and attended many Hairstyling fairs in Europe and North America. Julia is here to share her tips and knowledge with you, to help you get that "dream hair" you want.