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Bleached hair can often feel lacklustre and dry, particularly if it has undergone multiple treatments. But fret not, in this comprehensive guide we have broken down all the ways to spot damage from bleach and home remedies for bleached damaged hair as well as five in-depth steps you can take to protect your hair from further damage.
What Are the Signs of Bleach Damaged Hair?
To achieve the light blonde colour, bleach creates a chemical reaction that affects the hair follicles' structure and composition by breaking down the melanin and proteins in your hair. This degradation also causes the hair's elasticity and strength to be degraded as keratin is removed in the bleaching process, making your hair more susceptible to breakage. As a result, hair breakage from bleach is a common occurrence as your hair is left more porous due to raised cuticles, resulting in them feeling rough and coarse. Although your hair may take well to bleach, here are the telltale signs of bleach damage:
Dryness
Bleached hair is typically quite dry as the hair follicles lose moisture quickly, leaving them feeling dry and rough.
Brittleness
As bleached hair is quite fragile and prone to breakage, it is more likely to be brittle and have split ends.
Lack of Elasticity
Another sign of damage is a loss of natural elasticity, causing it to snap easily when pulled. If your hair is snapping easily, this can be a sign of damage from bleach.
Dullness
Bleached hair tends to have lost its natural shine and appear flat or dull.
8 Ways to Fix Bleach-Damaged Hair
1. Leave-in Conditioner
Using leave-in conditioner is a great way to bring moisture back into your bleached hair follicles and strengthen the hair shafts. When selecting a leave-in conditioner, look for one that is colour-safe and sulphate-free to not strip away your colour or moisture. Additionally, it should contain proteins such as keratin or collagen to strengthen and fortify the hair shaft.
2. Trimming
Regularly getting trims is going to get rid of any split ends which could cause further damage by travelling up the hair follicles. By trimming your hair you protect your hair from uneven splits, keeping your hair healthy and refreshed.
3. Avoid Heat Styling
Your hair has already been exposed to harsh chemicals so adding hot tools onto it is going to further exacerbate the damage. When heat styling, be sure to use a hair moisturiser spray before exposing your hair to hot tools. Additionally, when you blow dry your hair, make sure to use it on the medium heat setting and when you can, opt for air drying instead.
4. Protein Treatments
Because bleach has left your hairshaft vulnerable to damage and open, it benefits largely from protein treatments as hydrolysed proteins can penetrate the hair shaft and protect your hair from further damage.
5. Gentle Hair Care
Always opt for sulphate-free blonde-friendly shampoos and conditioners on bleached hair to hydrate and nourish your hair strands whilst not stripping away the ideal colour or its natural oils. Rinsing your hair with lukewarm to cool water will also protect your hair from further heat damage.
6. Regular Hair Masks
Using a deep conditioning treatment that contains argan oil or aloe vera will support your hair in rehydrating the damaged hair follicles and create a protective barrier around it. Opting for a hair mask that also contains purple pigments, such as a blonde hair mask, will add nourishment whilst still maintaining the ideal colour.
7. Overnight Oil Treatment
Leaving in natural oils overnight can deeply nourish and hydrate your hair. Choosing oils such as jojoba oil or argan oil are known for their lightweight and soothing properties. Alternatively, you can use a hair growth oil to deeply penetrate the hair shafts. Add the selected oil to your dry hair, focusing on the problem areas as well as gently massaging it into your scalp. Wash it out in the morning with a sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner.
8. Silk or Satin Pillowcases
Cotton pillowcases cause a lot of friction and moisture loss which can damage your hair even more. Swapping it a silk or satin pillowcase will prevent further damage as they are gentler on your hair and less absorbent. Alternatively, you can use a silk or satin hair wrap.
Home Remedies for Bleach Damaged Hair
Coconut Oil Mask
Using coconut oil is a great home remedy to bring moisture and nutrients back into your hair. To do so, begin by warming up a tablespoon in the palm of your hand and begin to distribute the oil evenly from the base up to the roots. You can leave it on for up to 30 minutes or overnight for a deeper treatment. Be sure to wrap your hair to prevent oil from spreading onto your pillow.
Avocado Hair Mask
Grab a ripe avocado and mash it with honey and a few drops of argan oil. Apply it to your hair and leave it for 30 minutes for a deep conditioning treatment; wash out with lukewarm water.
Aloe Vera Mask
Mix aloe vera with a couple of drops of your favourite hair oil for a soothing and nourishing mask. You can leave it in for 30 minutes or overnight for a deeper treatment.
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Banana and Olive Oil Mask
Begin by mashing up a ripe banana and mix in a tablespoon of olive oil. Apply it to the problem areas and leave for up to 45 minutes. Make sure to wash it out with cool to lukewarm water as hot water can cook the banana. Bananas are packed with potassium and vitamins that can rehydrate your hair and support growth.
Egg Yolk and Honey Mask
Mix an egg yolk with a tablespoon of honey and a couple of drops of your favourite hair oil such as Argan oil or coconut oil. Leave it in your hair for 20-30 minutes before rinsing with cool water. The proteins and fats in eggs can restore shine and moisture to your hair shafts.
Rosemary Water
Bring two cups of water to a boil and add in 3-4 sprigs of fresh or dried rosemary. Reduce the heat and let the rosemary steep for 5-10 minutes before letting the mixture cool completely. Once cool, strain and add the water into a spray bottle. From there, you can spray it in your hair, focusing on your scalp, after shampooing. Let it sit for five minutes before rinsing and continuing with the conditioner. You can also mix it in with your conditioner for a deeper, nourishing effect.
FAQs about Bleach Damaged Hair Repair
How do you make dead hair grow?
Promoting healthy hair growth starts on the scalp. By gently massaging and stimulating blood flow to your scalp, it will help promote a healthier environment for your scalp. Nutrients also play a large role in hair growth, so making sure you are getting enough key nutrients or including hair growth vitamins in your routine can make a world of difference.
How long does bleach-damaged hair take to repair?
The unfortunate truth is that it is dependent on how damaged your hair is. Although once your hair is bleached you can't revert the damage, you can take the steps mentioned above to protect your hair from further damage and support new hair growth. This can take anywhere from a few weeks or a few months to see results.
How do you stop blonde hair from breaking?
To prevent bleached hair from further damage, follow the key steps mentioned above: maintaining moisture levels, avoiding heat (from heat styling tools or hot water) and getting regular trims to keep your hair nourished and refreshed. Remember patience and gentle practice is the key here as you incorporate a new haircare routine to look after your gorgeous blonde locks. Also, check out our 7 tips to make bleached hair soft and silky.
How soon before you can bleach your hair again?
How quickly you can do another bleach treatment in your hair is dependent on the current state of your hair, how strong it is and how well it has recovered since the previous bleaching. As a general rule of thumb, waiting 6 weeks before bleaching it again gives your hair time to recover and regain some strength.
