If you are wondering whether you can have soft and silky bleached hair, the good news is it is possible.
Importantly, you need a routine that meets your specific needs. This should involve a combination of hydration, nutrients and toning to encourage long-lasting colour. Using products with these characteristics will also prevent damage and bleached hair breaking off when wet.
Let's start by describing how to repair bleached hair and how to repair colour-damaged hair. We will also cover men's bleached hair, curly bleached hair, toner for bleached hair and Olaplex for bleached hair.
Why You Need A Proper Bleached Hair Care Routine
After a bleach application on the whole scalp, the fibre structure of your hair will change and require special attention. Bleached hair is different to virgin or even colour-treated hair because of the following characteristics:
- Changed texture.
- Removed melatonin.
- Swelling and voluminous strands.
- Dryness and brittleness.
- Vulnerable to UV rays.
A full head of highlights and foils will have similar characteristics to bleached hair so read on for tips to maintain healthy hair with foils. Remember, healthy hair is what you need to make all those stunning hairstyles.
How Long Does Bleached Hair Last?
Unlike dyes, bleached hair is a permanent change. You cannot wash the effect away and will need to wait for complete regrowth. However, touching up your roots will be necessary every month if you want to maintain the look.
How Can You Prepare Hair For Bleaching?
We all know the saying "prevention is better than cure," and this applies to bleached hair.
There are a few simple steps you can take to prepare your hair without risking bleached hair breaking off when wet.
- Take a break from harsh chemicals: At least a few weeks before bleaching, you should stop any chemical treatments, such as perming, dying or highlighting.
- Take a break from heated styling products: You should also take a break from heated styling products, which can cause damage and dryness.
- Do not wash your hair: For a day or two, you should avoid washing your hair. This will allow natural oils to accumulate and provide a small amount of protection during bleaching.
- Apply restorative treatments: To avoid bleached hair breaking off when wet, you should use restorative treatments in the weeks beforehand. One of our top recommendations is Moroccanoil Restorative Hair Mask 500ml.
7 Expert Tips For Keeping Bleached Hair Healthy (And How To Avoid Hair Breaking Off When Wet)
After bleaching, you will need to give your hair a lot of extra love. This will prevent the dreaded "fried" appearance and hair breaking off when wet. If you're not sure where to get started, we recommend browsing our list of expert tips below.
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Reduce shampoo frequency: Keep hair washing to a minimum. You don't need to use shampoo every day. Skip a day or two and replace the shampoo with a mask or a conditioner.
- Use specialised colour care product lines: Use not only colour-preserving shampoos but also colour-preserving conditioners.
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Eliminate heat styling tools from the bleached hair care routine: Unless absolutely necessary, stay away from straighteners, flat irons and blow dries. You can wrap your head in a towel to absorb any unwanted moisture instead.
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Avoid brushing and combing hair when wet: Wet bleached hair is brittle, prone to breaking and prone to split ends. This is why you should wait until hair is dry rather than brushing when wet.
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Use a microfibre towel: Replace your rough cotton towels with a highly absorbent and smooth microfibre towel.
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Use silk satin or silk cotton pillowcase: Satin pillowcases are more gentle on your hair and keep your hair from getting in touch with synthetic pillow stuffing.
- Apply dry shampoo: Excessive wash days are a major enemy of bleached hair, which is why a dry shampoo could be a nice break for your stressed strands.
7 Hydration Tips For Bleached Hair
Apart from the advice above, you can also moisturise your hair. Remember if dry hair is left untreated, it can become brittle and break away more easily.
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Coconut oil or argan oil: Put organic coconut oil on your hair and keep it in for at least 20 minutes. Make sure you stay away from the roots to avoid flattening the hair. Rinse thoroughly afterwards.
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DIY hair mask: Beneficial homemade mask ingredients for blonde hair include chamomile tea, avocado, egg yolks, lemon and honey, banana, olive oil and almond milk.
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Rinse with cold water: Cold water closes cuticles and scalp pores to pave the way for lustre and shine. Although those winter mornings and nights will be challenging, you should start finalising every wash with cold water.
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Leave-in conditioner: Even if you are in a hurry, a leave-in conditioner will save the day, especially during rough weather conditions.
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Avoid chlorine: Did you know chlorine can pull off moisture from hair and make it even more brittle and dry? Wear a shower cap every time you don't need to wash your bleached hair.
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Keratin treatment: If you want to restore lost protein and achieve vibrant blonde hair, we recommend a keratin treatment.
- Intense hydration: Once or twice a week, use an intense hydrating treatment. This is a wonderful way to rejuvenate the most damaged blonde hair.
How To Make Bleached Hair Soft & Silky? Try Olaplex For Bleached Hair
If all of the above hasn't made your hair soft and silky, there is an advanced solution you can count on.
Olaplex is a name you have probably stumbled across before. This brand is celebrated for its ability to repair damaged hair using an exclusive formula. Positive reviews are endless, and "Olaplex for bleached hair" is one of the top searches for anyone struggling with this type of damage.
For home use, we think Olaplex Intensive Bond Building Hair Treatment Kit 30ml will get the job done. This kit is designed to reverse damage in no time at all. You will experience 68% more repair and 3x strength after one use. Even the texture of the hair will be transformed.
It's no wonder everyone is obsessed with Olaplex for bleached hair.
Is Men's Bleached Hair Different?
The major difference between women's and men's bleached hair is the length.
Men often have shorter hair than women, which can be more difficult to bleach without getting harsh chemicals on the scalp. Although we recommend everyone visit a professional for dramatic transformations, anyone with short hair should take this advice to heart.
Men should also remember to use plenty of restorative products after bleaching. Our favourites are:
- American Crew Daily Deep Moisturising Shampoo 250ml.
- American Crew Daily Moisturising Conditioner 250ml.
- Vitaman Leave In Hair & Beard Moisturiser 250ml.
What About How To Care For Bleached Curly Hair?
Separately, we know bleached hair and curly hair are difficult to maintain. They are even more challenging when combined. Think damage and dryness galore!
After bleaching, we recommend applying plenty of restorative haircare products specifically for curly hair, such as:
- Devacurl CurlBond Shampoo 946ml.
- Devacurl CurlBond Conditioner 946ml.
- Muk Kinky Muk Curl Leave In Moisturiser 200ml.
How To Repair Hair Damaged By Bleach Or Colour
The reality of bleaching and colouring is it’s hard to avoid damage. When hair is coloured or bleached, it is typically exposed to harsh chemicals. Those chemicals alter the cells of hair leaving the follicles more porous and filled with tiny holes.
Damage is much more likely in this state, but you can breathe a sigh of relief. Whether you're seeing minor deterioration or you're noticing bleached hair breaking off when wet, there are plenty of options to repair your look.
7 Expert Tips To Repair Bleached Or Colour-Damaged Hair
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Use a specialty shampoo and conditioner: Regular shampooing can cause dryness, but specialty shampoos and conditioners are made with a difference. These shampoos work their magic to preserve colour intensity and enhance shine. One of our top recommendations is Natural Look Colour Art Shampoo 1L, which uses the power of botanicals to minimise fading.
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A hair mask or treatment: Bleached and dyed hair will be desperate for moisture and strength, which is why treatment masks should be your new best friend. We've heard the rising star K18 Detox Shampoo 250ml + Leave-In Repair Mask 50ml Pack is the perfect candidate for this mission.
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Avoid products with silicone and sulphates. Silicone dimethicone is a non-water soluble that creates a coating over hair. This initially gives a soft and smooth appearance, but build-up will prevent essential oils and other moisturising ingredients from penetrating the hair shaft.
Alternatively, sulphates are an additive to shampoos and conditioners that cause them to lather up. The most common type is sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS). It is also a surfactant, which helps the shampoo loosen and remove grease and sebum from the hair. It may, in fact, be so effective at doing this that it can strip the hair of essential oils. Yikes!
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Be merciless when trimming: You can prevent breakage and split ends from causing further damage by considering a trim during your appointment. This gives hair the chance of grow back healthier than ever.
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Choose the correct brush to prevent further damage: If hair is already damaged from chemical processing, one of the worst things to do is snag and pull. Aside from avoiding brushing when wet, you should invest in a boar bristle brush or wide-tooth comb. Brush gently by first untangling the ends, then brushing the root to mid-section.
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Avoid washing hair too frequently. You may hate the idea of not being able to wash your hair frequently, but sometimes the best way to preserve hair health is to reduce washing until necessary. This allows the hair to produce its own nourishing and replenishing natural oils.
- Avoid hot styling tools. Heat is the worst thing you can apply to colour or bleach damaged hair. Steer clear of hot styling tools that will worsen the damage. If you must use a hot tool, be sure to use a heat protection spray. This will not offer full protection against heat damage, but will not strip the hair of its natural moisture.
When you make the decision to invest in bleaching or colouring, make sure you budget for products that take care of your hair. With proper preparation and ongoing maintenance, your hair will thank you.
Types of Toner For Bleached Hair
Orange, brassy and yellow tones are common side effects of improper bleaching. You will need specialised products to return your hair to those gorgeous cool tones once again.
How To Fix Orange Hair
There are several ways to remove unwanted orange tones, such as Fanola No Orange Vegan Duo Pack Sulfate Free 350ml. Your solution depends on the result you want to achieve, as well as on the shade you get after the initial hair lightening.
Yellow and Brassy to Beige and Silver
If your hair is a yellow or brassy tone, you can neutralise with Fanola No Yellow Shampoo 1L and Fanola No Yellow Mask 1L. These contain purple pigment to transform hair into a stunning ash tone.
Turn Orange into Copper and Red
If you dislike yourself as a blonde, use an orange base to get a darker red or strawberry blonde colour. If you are into redheads, you don't need additional lightening. You can accomplish the result by using demi-permanent colours. Remember that you may need to reapply as red tones are prone to fading.
Rainbow Toner For Bleached Hair
Another solution to bleached yellow hair is a vivid colour toner. Mint, indigo blue and rose gold are popular choices that will make your eyes become centre-stage and that new lipstick pop. You don't need a dramatic change. Bleached blonde is light enough to use subtle overtones as well.
How To Darken Bleached Hair?
We are happy to report darkening bleached hair is easy! The bleaching strips away the natural pigment and leaves behind a blank canvas. You can go as dark or as light as you want!
Simply choose the colour you want and watch your hairdresser bring your look to life.
Can You Perm Bleached Hair?
Although bleached hair can be permed, extreme care is needed.
You should begin by consulting with a hairdresser to find out whether your hair will handle a perming solution. No matter what, it is usual to wait around two weeks after bleaching to achieve those beloved curls.
Final Thoughts
By the end of this article, you should have a solid idea of how to care for bleached hair and prevent bleached hair breaking off when wet. We covered all the essential topics, such as men's bleached hair, curly bleached hair, toner for bleached hair, Olaplex for bleached hair and more.
Now, there is no excuse for dry and damaged hair!
