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Question: What Should You Not Do After Bleaching?
Answer: What you shouldn’t do after bleaching is expose your hair to heat styling, harsh shampoos, or chlorine. Avoid further chemical treatments and sun exposure as well, to prevent damage and maintain hair health.
Protecting Your Hair After Bleaching: Essential Aftercare Tips
Bleaching lifts your hair’s natural pigment, creating a lighter shade. This process can also make hair more porous and susceptible to damage. Proper aftercare is crucial for maintaining healthy, vibrant hair after a bleaching treatment. Understanding what to avoid after bleaching is as important as knowing what to do. This guide outlines key practices to avoid to keep your bleached hair looking its best.
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Avoid Hot Water
Hot water strips hair of its natural oils, essential for moisture and shine. This effect intensifies after bleaching, as the process already compromises the hair’s protective layer. Wash your hair with lukewarm or cool water to preserve moisture and minimize color fading. Cooler temperatures help the hair cuticle to lay flat, resulting in smoother, shinier hair. This simple change in your hair-washing routine can significantly impact your bleached hair’s long-term health and appearance.
Washing your hair with hot water can also lead to increased breakage and split ends. This is especially problematic for bleached hair, already weakened by the chemical process. Consider incorporating a final cool water rinse into your routine to seal the cuticle and further enhance shine. This extra step provides added protection and contributes to your hair’s overall health.
Related Article: What Should You Not Do Before Bleaching Your Hair?
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Refrain from Harsh Shampoos
Many shampoos contain sulfates, detergents that create a rich lather. While effective cleansers, sulfates can strip away natural oils, leaving bleached hair dry and brittle. Opt for sulfate-free shampoos specifically designed for color-treated or damaged hair. These gentler formulas cleanse without removing essential moisture, helping to maintain hair health. Carefully read product labels to identify shampoos that support your hair’s recovery after bleaching.
Switching to a sulfate-free shampoo is an investment in your hair’s long-term health. It’s particularly important for bleached hair which requires special care. These specialized shampoos provide gentle cleansing while preserving your hair’s color and minimizing further damage. Look for products that incorporate nourishing ingredients to replenish moisture and strengthen weakened strands.
K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Clarifying
Best Overall
Olaplex No.4P Blonde Hair Hydrating
Best for Blonde Hair
Vegamour HYDR-8 Hydrate and Repair
Best for Brown Hair
Limit Heat Styling
Heat styling tools, such as straighteners, curling irons, and blow dryers, subject hair to high temperatures. This added heat can severely damage already-fragile bleached hair, leading to breakage and dryness. Allow your hair to air dry whenever possible. When using heat styling tools, apply a heat protectant spray beforehand to minimize damage. Reducing the frequency of heat styling will significantly contribute to your hair’s health and maintain its vibrancy.
Excessive heat styling can drastically weaken the hair shaft, leading to split ends, frizz, and decreased elasticity. Embrace air drying as a gentler alternative and explore heat-free styling methods, like braiding or using rollers. When you do use heat, choose lower temperature settings and limit exposure to minimize the potential for damage.
Minimize Sun Exposure
Prolonged sun exposure can fade color and dry out bleached hair. Protect your hair from the sun’s harmful UV rays by wearing a hat or using hair products with UV protection. This preventative measure helps maintain your color’s vibrancy and prevents further damage caused by the sun. Similar to how sunscreen protects your skin, UV-protectant hair products create a barrier against the sun, shielding your bleached hair from its damaging effects.
Just as the sun can damage your skin, it can also harm your hair, especially bleached hair, which is more susceptible to dryness and color fading. Taking proactive steps to protect your hair from the sun is crucial for maintaining its health and appearance. Look for leave-in conditioners or styling products that offer added UV protection for your bleached hair.
Postpone Chemical Treatments
Immediately after bleaching, your hair needs time to recover. Avoid additional chemical treatments, such as perms or other color services, for several weeks. These treatments can further stress and damage already-compromised hair, potentially leading to breakage. Allow your hair ample time to regain strength and moisture before subjecting it to any further chemical processes. Consult with a stylist to determine the optimal timeframe for subsequent treatments.
Over-processing hair with multiple chemical treatments can severely compromise its integrity, especially after bleaching. Giving your hair adequate time to recover between treatments is crucial for preventing further damage and ensuring long-term health. Patience is key to restoring your hair’s strength and resilience after bleaching.
Avoid Chlorine
Chlorine, commonly found in pools, can dry out and discolor bleached hair, often giving it a greenish tinge. Before swimming, wet your hair with clean water and apply a leave-in conditioner to create a barrier. Wearing a swim cap provides additional protection. After swimming, rinse your hair thoroughly with clean water to remove any chlorine residue. This helps minimize the drying and discoloring effects of chlorine on your bleached hair.
Protecting your bleached hair from chlorine is essential for maintaining its health and color. By taking preventative measures, like pre-wetting and applying conditioner, you can minimize chlorine’s damaging effects and keep your hair looking its best. If you swim frequently, consider using a clarifying shampoo periodically to remove any residual chlorine or mineral buildup.
Conclusion
Bleaching transforms your hair but requires specific aftercare to maintain its health and vibrancy. By avoiding these common pitfalls, you can protect your investment and enjoy beautiful, healthy-looking bleached hair. Remember, consistent care is key to preserving the results of your bleaching treatment and ensuring long-term hair health. Following these guidelines will help your hair recover from the bleaching process and stay healthy and vibrant.