You did it. You sent late night inspo pics to your BFF, re-watched the seasons of KUWTK where the sisters go through their respective blonde phases, and you booked the bleach appointment. Whether this is your first go at blonde, or your last “I’ll just go light for one more season”, you’ll wanna plan how to hydrate hair after bleaching.
Despite the higher end ranges of bleaching products, hair lightening products will always make hair more fragile, more dehydrated, and more susceptible to severe breakage. While you’re in the salon chair (because we all agreed DIY bleaching is non-negotiable) your hair’s cuticles open up making them more vulnerable to external aggressors. As a result, you get varying degrees of straw-like texture and dryness which is why we’re here: finding the best products, tips, and natural remedies in the search for how to hydrate hair after bleaching.
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Apply a (Natural) Protein Treatment to Prevent Hair Loss
After bleaching, keeping your hair healthy will require two main upkeeps: hydration and hair loss prevention. Because hair becomes so much more delicate post-process, it’s crucial for those with already thin hair to find ways to hydrate hair naturally after bleaching. To prevent hair loss, opt for a cuticle-strengthening protein treatment. Often grouped together as “keratin treatments”, these can be done in a salon, but often at high prices with hefty chemical ingredient lists. Opt for a protein-packed hair treatment at home like this egg and olive oil hair treatment.
Use a Hydrating Shampoo and Moisturizing Conditioner
There’s a big different between hydrating vs. moisturizing hair, but when hair is dry and damaged, both together are crucial! Grab a shampoo that has humectant ingredients like glycerin and honey to penetrate deep layers of the hair’s cortex. A moisturizing conditioner, focused on mid-length to ends will seal in that hydration by coating your hair shaft in emollients. For both, always look for paraben and sulphate-free, as these harmful ingredients are seriously drying on delicate hair.
The Ones We Love:
Shea Moisture, Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intense Hydrating Shampoo sold HERE; Rahua, Hydrating Shampoo sold HERE; ELEVEN, Hydrate My Hair Moisture Conditioner sold HERE; Aveda, Nutriplenish Conditioner (Deep Moisture) sold HERE.
Use a Silk Pillowcase When Every Night
A silk pillowcase doesn’t just feel luxurious, but it’s one of the most important steps in diminishing further damage (for all hair journeys)! When buying silk, it’s important to spend a little more in the right areas: 22 momme mulberry silk is the best overall, but finding a charmeuse weave is extra beneficial for its smoothness. ICYMI: cotton pillowcases are built with moisture-sucking fibers that cause friction and breakage while you sleep. Top tip: only use silk and satin hair ties!
Make DIY Deep Conditioning Your Thing
When colourists offer any advice on how to hydrate hair after bleaching, you’ll often get a shopping list of high tickets products–-some of which we love, like Olaplex–-but you can find deeply nourishing treatments in your kitchen just as well! A few of our beloved pre-wash oils are castor oil, coconut oil, and jojoba. Focus at the root for a scalp treatment and run through to the ends for a DIY deep condition.
READ NEXT: The Super Guide to Castor Oil and Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Find Out What Bond Builders Are (And Use ‘Em)
The new cool girl of accessible haircare, bond builders are perf for those navigating how to hydrate hair after bleaching. Like a hair mask on steroids, these serums penetrate deep down with protein-building power that helps hydrate and strengthen from the inside out. Salon protein treatments can work wonders if you want to splurge on rehydration, but Olaplex and other mid-range brands like these are amazing for creating that glossy, sealed moisture effect.
The Ones We Love
IGK, Antisocial Overnight Bond Building Dry Hair Mask sold HERE; COLORWOW, Dream Cocktail Kale-Infused sold HERE; Olaplex, No.0 Intense Bond Building Treatment sold HERE; Amika, The Kure Multi-Task Repair Treatment sold HERE.
Use a Heat Protectant when Using Hot Styling Tools
You got your dream blonde (or you’re closer than ever) and now you want to style it in all its glory. Ideally, after bleaching, you should give hair a break from heat styling now and again, or at least air dry as much as possible for your hair type. In any case, douse hair in heat styling every. time. you. style. and choose higher end tools–yes, there is a difference between $100 and $400 blow dryers.
Trim Your Hair Every 6-8 Weeks
Told like an old wive’s tale, when asking how to hydrate hair after bleaching, a routine trim is always suggested. This won’t magically rehydrate locks, but it will make them look more hydrated and healthy! The ends of our hair are usually where breakage can first show up and when those splits haven’t been trimmed in a while, the breakage works its way up the strands. Since processed hair is more susceptible to splitting, make sure you trim your hair every 6-8 weeks to maintain a healthy head of hair.
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