Let’s talk about how to keep bleached hair healthy, because yes, blondes really do have more fun… until your hair starts feeling dry, brittle, or fried.
I’ve been bleaching my hair since I was 12. I’m in my 40s now, and even though I flirt with dark hair every once in a while, I always come back to blonde. It just makes me happier and brightens up my face.
That said, I’ve made every blonde hair mistake possible over the years.
At one point, I completely fried my bangs off. I had to wear headbands each day to keep them from sticking straight up.
But these days, I know how to handle it. Years of trial and error taught me how to keep bleached hair healthy without constant damage. Everything I’m sharing below is based on real experience, not guesswork.
If you want to know how to keep your bleached hair healthy without sacrificing length or softness, this guide is for you.
Table of Contents
What Bleaching Does to Your Hair (And Why Damage Happens)
To truly understand how to keep bleached hair healthy, it’s helpful to know what bleach does to your hair at a structural level.
Hair lightener works by opening the outer layer of the hair, called the cuticle, so it can penetrate deep into the hair shaft and remove pigment. While this is what allows dark hair to turn blonde, it also comes with a cost.
Bleach not only removes color. It also strips away moisture, protein, and some of the hair’s natural strength.
Bleach relies on an alkaline ingredient to lift the cuticle, followed by an oxidizing agent that breaks down color molecules inside the hair. When hair is properly processed, the cuticle can settle back down afterward. But when hair is overprocessed, that cuticle stays raised and uneven, which makes the hair more vulnerable to damage.
This is why bleached hair can start to feel dry, rough, or brittle.
With the cuticle left open, moisture escapes more easily, protein loss increases, and the hair becomes prone to breakage. Over time, this leads to dullness, split ends, and a fragile texture that is hard to manage.
In other words, damaged bleached hair is not weak simply because it is blonde. It becomes weak because its internal structure has been altered, which is exactly why bleached hair needs extra care and a different approach than virgin hair.
Why Bleached Hair Needs Different Care
Bleached hair does not behave like virgin hair.
Once hair has been lightened, its structure changes. The cuticle becomes more porous, the internal protein balance is disrupted, and the hair becomes far less forgiving when it comes to heat, friction, and chemical stress.
Because bleached hair is more porous, it loses moisture faster and absorbs everything more easily, including water, oils, and product buildup. This is why bleached hair can feel dry one day and heavy or coated the next.
It also means that damage happens faster and shows up more dramatically than it would on untreated hair.
I’ve gone from platinum blonde to dark and back again more times than I care to admit. For a long time, I kept trying to treat my hair the same way I did when it was natural, and it never worked.
Eventually, I realized that if I wanted healthy bleached hair, I had to stop fighting my hair and start working with it instead.
Once you commit to blonde, maintenance matters more than speed or perfection. Slower processing, gentler handling, and consistent care make a much bigger difference than chasing the lightest possible blonde in the shortest amount of time.
When you respect what bleached hair can and cannot handle, it becomes much easier to keep it healthy long term.
How to Keep Bleached Hair Healthy
If you want bleached hair that actually looks and feels healthy, it comes down to habits, not luck. These are the exact things I’ve learned through years of trial, error, and very damaged bangs. None of this is complicated, but it does require consistency and a little patience.
#1: Wait longer in between touch-ups
It is hard to keep bleached hair healthy if you are constantly damaging it. Bleach is not something hair can easily bounce back from, especially when it is used too often.
I try to go as long as possible between processes to give my hair time to recover. Having darker roots is not always ideal, but letting your hair grow out helps prevent unnecessary damage and breakage. When you have more outgrowth to work with, you are far less likely to overlap bleach on hair that has already been processed.
In today’s world, roots are actually very popular. Styles like balayage or ombre are great options if you want to stay blonde while buying yourself more time between appointments.
#2: Only touch up the outgrowth
When you bleach your hair, apply the bleach only to the new growth. Leave a small buffer, about one eighth of an inch, from the previously lightened hair since bleach expands slightly as it processes.
The more often bleach is applied to the same area, the more damaged that hair becomes. It is very easy to push hair to the point where it breaks off or has to be grown out completely. If bleach is only applied to virgin hair, maintaining healthy bleached hair is much easier long term.
#3: Use lower volume developer
If you want to keep bleached hair healthy, sticking with a lower volume developer is important. Common developer strengths include 10, 20, 30, and 40 volume.
Higher volume developer works faster and lifts more aggressively, but it is also far more damaging. In most cases, bleached hair only needs 20 volume developer to process properly. If you are bleaching roots, 20 volume is usually perfect since the warmth of your scalp helps the bleach process efficiently.
Processing may take longer than with stronger developer, but healthy hair should always be the priority over speed.
#4: Refresh color between bleaching sessions instead of re-bleaching
No matter how careful you are, bleached hair tends to turn yellow over time. This usually happens because of mineral buildup, environmental exposure, and product residue.
Purple shampoo is one of the easiest ways to maintain blonde hair. Purple and yellow sit opposite each other on the color wheel, which means they neutralize each other. Purple shampoo does not lighten hair or dramatically change the shade. It simply deposits a small amount of pigment to counteract yellow tones. Using it too often, however, can dry out bleached hair, so moderation matters.
Toner is another option for refreshing blonde hair. Toner works similarly to purple shampoo but is stronger and more targeted. If your hair starts to look dull or overly warm, toner can bring it back to life. Just keep in mind that every time you tone your hair, you are adding pigment. Over time, frequent toning can slowly darken blonde hair.
Soap caps, also known as color balancers, are the most aggressive option and should be used sparingly. A soap cap involves mixing bleach, low volume developer, and clarifying shampoo, then applying it briefly to the hair. When done correctly and followed by deep conditioning, it can brighten blonde hair with minimal damage. This should be an occasional refresh, not a routine step.
#5: Use a deep conditioner regularly
Bleached hair loses moisture and protein during the lightening process, which makes deep conditioning essential. A deep conditioner should be used at least once a week to help restore softness, strength, and manageability.
Bond building and reconstructing treatments can be especially helpful for bleached hair. Deep conditioners penetrate the hair shaft more effectively than regular conditioner and help improve the overall feel of damaged hair rather than just coating it.
#6: Be gentle with your hair
The strength of your hair has been compromised by bleach, which means it needs to be handled more carefully. Rough brushing or aggressive styling can easily cause breakage.
Never rip a brush through knots, especially when your hair is wet. Use a wide tooth comb and start detangling at the ends, slowly working your way up. This simple habit makes a noticeable difference over time.
#7: Minimize heat damage
Heat damage from blow dryers, curling irons, and flat irons affects all hair types, but it is especially harsh on bleached hair. Since the cuticle is already more open, excessive heat can quickly lead to dryness and breakage.
If you do use hot tools, always apply a heat protectant and keep temperatures as low as possible. Whenever you can, let your hair air dry or blow dry just the roots for volume while allowing the rest to dry naturally.
#8: Alternate hairstyles
Wearing your hair in the same tight ponytail or bun every day puts repeated stress on the same areas. Over time, this can cause breakage, especially around the hairline and crown.
Switching up hairstyles, changing where you place ponytails, and choosing looser styles helps distribute tension more evenly and protect fragile hair.
#9: Replenish both protein and moisture
If you really want to keep bleached hair healthy, using the right products matters. Bleached hair needs both protein to strengthen it and moisture to keep it flexible.
Using protein focused products for a few weeks and then alternating with moisturizing products helps prevent hair from becoming brittle or overly soft. Leave in conditioners that contain keratin can also help improve the overall condition of bleached hair.
#10: Trim split ends regularly
Split ends do not fix themselves. If they are left alone, they can travel up the hair shaft and cause more breakage. Trimming a small amount regularly helps preserve length and keeps bleached hair looking healthier overall.
#11: Let your natural oils work for you
Your scalp produces natural oils that help protect and condition hair that has been damaged by bleach. Washing too often strips these oils away and can leave hair feeling dry and brittle.
Bleached hair is porous and absorbs oil quickly, which means it does not need to be washed every day. Washing only when your hair actually feels greasy and using conditioner between washes can help maintain softness and shine.
Healthy bleached hair is not about pushing your hair to its limits or chasing perfection. It comes down to patience, consistency, and understanding what your hair needs to stay strong over time.
FAQ
How do you keep bleached hair healthy long term?
Keeping bleached hair healthy long term comes down to minimizing damage and being consistent with care. That means spacing out bleach appointments, avoiding overlap, using lower volume developer when possible, deep conditioning regularly, and limiting heat styling. Bleached hair will always need more maintenance than virgin hair, but with the right habits, it can still look and feel healthy.
Can bleached hair ever fully recover?
Bleached hair cannot return to its original virgin state because the hair structure has been permanently altered. However, you can significantly improve how it looks and feels with proper care. Bond-building treatments, deep conditioning, gentle handling, and regular trims can restore softness, strength, and manageability over time.
How often should you wash bleached hair?
Most people with bleached hair do better washing less often. Bleached hair is more porous and absorbs oil quickly, so washing too frequently can strip away moisture and make dryness worse. Many blondes find that washing once or twice a week, or using conditioner-only washes between shampoos, helps keep hair healthier.
Is purple shampoo bad for bleached hair?
Purple shampoo is not bad for bleached hair, but it can be drying if overused. It’s best used as a maintenance product once or twice a week rather than daily. Purple shampoo neutralizes yellow tones but does not lighten hair, so it should be paired with moisturizing products to prevent dryness.
What products are best for bleached hair?
The best products for bleached hair focus on moisture, protein balance, and bond repair. Look for sulfate-free shampoos, deep conditioning masks, bond-building treatments, leave-in conditioners, and heat protectants. Rotating between moisture-based and protein-based products helps prevent hair from becoming brittle or overly soft.
How often should you trim bleached hair?
Regular trims are important for bleached hair, even if you’re trying to grow it out. Trimming every 8 to 12 weeks helps prevent split ends from traveling up the hair shaft and causing more breakage. Small, consistent trims usually help preserve length over time.
Why does bleached hair feel dry even after conditioning?
Bleached hair feels dry because the cuticle is more open and porous, which causes moisture to escape more easily. Even with conditioning, bleached hair may need heavier treatments, leave-in products, or sealing oils to maintain softness. This is normal and doesn’t necessarily mean your hair is unhealthy.
Is heat styling worse for bleached hair?
Yes, heat styling is more damaging to bleached hair than to virgin hair. Bleached hair is already weaker, so excessive heat can cause breakage and dryness much faster. If you use hot tools, always apply a heat protectant, keep temperatures lower, and limit styling to occasional use.
Final Thoughts
Bleached hair will always require a little more intention than virgin hair, but that doesn’t mean it has to be dry, brittle, or constantly breaking. The biggest shift happens when you stop chasing perfect blonde and start focusing on long-term hair health instead.
Once you slow down, space out your services, and support your hair with the right care, healthy bleached hair becomes realistic and sustainable. It’s not about never making mistakes. It’s about knowing how to recover from them and treating your hair in a way that actually works with its current state.
If you’re committed to blonde, consistency matters more than shortcuts. Give your hair time, be gentle with it, and prioritize maintenance over speed. Your blonde will look better, feel better, and last longer because of it.
Until next time,
Your Turn: Did you enjoy this post? I’ll love you forever if you share it with your friends on your favorite social media website!
Do you know any other great tips on how to keep bleached hair happy and healthy? Have you tried any of these tips? I’d love to read your feedback in the comments section below…
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I love your blog and I totally agree! Thanks for sharing this information on what’s the best prenatal vitamins to take. Have a great day!
great page thank you for the info ok my hair now is a ash blonde i am naturally a dark brown hair chick but i wanna keep my hair health as ever i am trying to reach to platinum blonde but i down want to damage it while doing so i did the process of color removing my hair and got it to the lightest color possible and then after i did that i added a toner and i got to the lightest blonde but before i got to platinum blonde without a problem an now i need help because i don’t know what else to do and what is also a great product for my hair to stay healthy as well i also been using a shampoo and conditioner hair lightener and it been helping out but i want platinum blonde and long healthy hair its up to my shoulders hope to hear from you
I’d recommend Pro Naturals
Hi there, I wonder if u can help me….
2 months ago, i got my hairdresser to bleach my dark brown hair from my eyes to the tips of my hair to create an ombre look…
After a week of brassy bleached hair from my eyes down, i then home-box-dyed my hair a very light ash blonde all over, including my dark brown tops of my hair…
I was really pleased with the result after using Pro Voke: Touch of Silver twice a week lightening shampoo and conditioner (purple shampoo). My bleached parts of my hair turned a dark blonde with light ash highlights, and my dark brown parts turned a medium brown…
I now really wanna change all my hair colour to light ash brown, I know it might be difficult coz i have 2 different colours in my hair!
Would you be able to give me some advice on how to achieve this? xx <3
Love Alex 😀
Hi. Great information on your site! Wanted to ask a quick question about toner. I have reddish brown hair with grey (naturally frizzy and curly) I like my hair blonde (a level 9N I think), so my stylist gets my roots lightened and colour deposits at the same time. once in a while they throw a toner on for toning down brassiness. My question is: is toner healthy for your hair? I was told a clear toner always good to throw on after my hair service. Reason I ask is because last few times I had the formaldehyde-free keratin smoothers done, they seemed to not work very well at all and my hair now is fragile and looks like doll hair. Will toner help? I have used everybkind of sulfate cree shampoo/conditioners too….
Toners are basically just color… they work by depositing pigments to cancel out unwanted tones… they shouldn’t damage your hair too much… it’s probably being damaged from the lightener. Clear toner doesn’t really make too much sense, but some color lines have a clear shine you can do after a color service and most of them actually protein treat the hair and should do minimal damage. Hope it helps 🙂
Great article. Have you ever noticed that your bleached hair is slower to dry? I just bleached my hair recently and it takes FOREVER to dry, even with a blow dryer. It doesn’t really seem like it’s in bad condition or anything but I’m kind of concerned. What do you think?
Bleached hair becomes more porous… think of it like a sponge. It is going to hold more water molecules… good observation! 🙂
Really? My bleached streaks dry the fastest cuz its there so over processed.. my natural brown (underneath and inbetween the streaks) take forever! So funny we hve the opposite !
Human hair does not contain blue molecules…
Genuinely the best article on caring for bleached hair I have ever read. Thank you!
Do you have any suggestions for how to best deal with hair that is very blonde? I’m naturally dark blonde/light brown, but have been a bleach and tone for about 4 years. I moved to a new city a year ago and went to a colorist who was listed in Allure magazine as being the best – she overlapped and over processed my hair. A TON of it fell out in the salon and 8 months later it’s started to break off. My new colorist (who costs a fortune) seems better, but my hair still looks so thin and damaged. I want blonde hair still but don’t know if I should give up the bleach/tone? Is it possible to switch to highlights after all the bleach? I really want to grow my hair long, but after all the trauma it’s been through, don’t know if that’s possible.
I was just reading this for product ideas and noticed your comment. I’ve had white blonde hair on and off for the past 4 years and you would never realise from its condition how often I bleach it (which is a lot). Personally I bleach my hair at home using freeze bleach which has a silver toning agent built in to prevent your hair ending up yellow and since I started using that I dont even need to tone it afterwards, I use 30vol (I have dark brown hair naturally) and leave it on for approx 45 mins but if your hair is naturally lighter I would recommend sticking with 20vol as it causes less damage and should only take around 30 mins. The best aftercare products I have found so far are a decent purple shampoo (I would recommend schwarzkopf bonacure or fudge as they work best at maintaining your tone) which you can use daily as normal or if you feel like an extra boost leave it on for a few minutes (helpful if you are beginning to notice a yellow tinge). For conditioner look for a moisturising conditioner with keratin (personally I use l’oreal elvive full restore 5 repairing conditioner) and leave on for around 2 minutes after shampooing as this will help replenish and lost moisture and close the hair cuticle. Another good conditioner for bleached hair if you’re willing to spend a bit more is TIGI Bed Head Dumb Blonde which is specifically designed to provide deep moisture and repair on bleached hair. A good heat protection is always good especially when paired with a decent hair oil which will coat each strand providing further protection. The best oil I’ve found so far is morrocan oil (their shampoo and conditioner is also amazing for over processed hair… but its expensive) which is generally around £30 for 100ml, if this is too much for your budget there are cheaper versions available which will do the job however they often take longer for you to notice a difference. I would reccomend wella professional reflections oil as your best alternative, its available at salon services for around £16 for 100ml or a decent argan oil (beware there are many copies on the market which are watered down with other oils so don’t risk anything under £10) . There are much cheaper versions available from any drug store but they are generally weaker so only use these if your desperate! Oil should be applied under heat protection before blow drying and I would let it sit for a few minutes to allow your hair to absorb the moisture. I find using these leaves my hair super soft and managable. You can also add a small amount of the oil to your bleach mixture before applying as well as smoothing some over dry hair as this prevents your hair being overly dried out during the bleaching process. Only straighten your hair if you need to and allow to air dry if your not leaving the house. When straightening do so in layers as this will stop you repeatedly going over the same bit too many times. If you feel your hair needs a good boost you can make your own hair mask by mixing your conditioner with a small amount of oil, apply to towel dry hair and leave it on for as long as you can stand before rinsing thoroughly! I hope this helps because its certainly been an absoloute lifesaver for me… before this my hair wouldnt grow and I had to cut it really short multiple times and now its at my collarbone and growing steadily. I could never get rid of my blonde now and im just glad I found a way to keep it super healthy! If you have any questions feel free to send me a message on facebook as I am constantly trying and reviewing new products and I have a lot of experience with the many fun aspects of blonde hair! http://www.facebook.com/kirstynnnx
COco, One time, many years ago, I had a perm on very heavily bleached hair. From about 24 inches, I was able to salvage a this 5 inches but a beauty school instructor, He used Aphogee Treatment for Damaged Hair. Wash the hair. Towel dry. Add the chemical liberally and work through with fingers. THen, pile the hair LOOSLEY. I put a big plastic claw or two and try to get air flow underneath the pile. NO cap. Under the dryer until it is dry.l It will be hard as plexiglass. DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT touch it at all. If you do, it will break like cheap glass at this stage. Get under the shower and wet it down., letting the movement of the water remove the excess material. Once that is gone, moisturize with companion products, esp with Keratin. What this does is deposit a polymer of some sort into the shaft and cuticle and close it up for a smooth hair shaft. I have been bleaching my hair myself since 1954, including prebleaching and foiling with 4 different colors (my really beautiful hair time). Various toners, Super blue lighteners etc. Now, I am 74 and have to deposit onto grey…but, that is another issue. Grey hair is more delicate. I have had 3 episodes with perms that destroyed my hair, 2 at salons and 1 at home. Aphogee always saved my hair. I swear by the products since 1966.
Hi! I have been platinum since 2009 and I have been through the wringer as far as damage goes.I FINALLY got the nerve to start doing my own roots and toning my hair to save all that money and my hair is healthier than before. One MAJOR thing that has helped my hair to get strength and length is ROUX Porosity Control Shampoo and Conditioner. When we are blonde( like the article states) our hair becomes more open, and POROUS so this porosity shampoo really boosted my hair volume and helped to close up the hair strands. I have to use the porosity products especially in the summer months because high humidity really opens up my hair and it starts to get fragile and break. This has literally SAVED my hair. I went from above the shoulder length hair to a year later it is below y shoulders just slightly. Another pair of products that have helped the strength is ROUX Repairing shampoo and conditioner. This stuff is cheap( at about 8.00 a bottle where I live) and it works better than any other salon brand I ave tried.Give it a shot for a few months and you will see a difference.
Awesome! Thanks for the tip!
i bleached my hair and it turned light pink. what should ido
Try and use a toner. It should take out any pink tones in your hair 🙂
I’ve been bleaching my hair since October of 2012.. I’ve bleached it times before, but I’d always switch back to brown.. However, like you, I love my hair blonde. I’m the happiest at that state. The blonder the better. I just had bleached my hair again yesterday, and it’s really dry. Lol. I seriously need to get back to deep conditioning it once or twice a week again!! Ahh. So much work to being a blonde lol.
Hi I bleach my dark brown hair and the colour result is golden blonde so now I wana know can I use a light ash blonde to cool down brazzy colours in hair or can I just buy purple shampoo don’t wana damage my hair further
i have resonantly bleached the crap out of my hair going from black to almost white (the ends of my hair have turned strawberry blonde). if found your article on google while i was looking for good shampoos/conditioners for my hair because it is fried and frizzy as hell!!! i really need to baby my hair for a while and was very thankfull for your blog. i have been using nexus leave in conditioner but it hasnt seemed to help all that well, iv been wanting to try the bed head dumb blonde products but its really really expensive. thanks to your article i have decided to use baking soda and water for shampoo and bed head conditioner to save some money. i also have secretly been wanting to skip out on shampoo also because it makes my hair feel like the bottom of a broom when i rise it out but i never thought about actually doing it or using an alternative.. im a clean freak so ill use the baking soda alternative but if it doesnt go as planned i do have back up shampoo. i also am thinking about buying a bed head leave in conditioner since the nexus doesnt seem to be work all that well. let me know if you have any further suggestions and thank you for your blog =) soon my hair will be thanking you too lol
I go back & fourth between blonde & dark leave both for a year or 8 months then change. I’ve decided that I want blonde so I went blonde my cousin is a hair stylist so I bought the bleach she does. I died it & half went blonde half went orange so I tried dying it 2 more times & each time it goes a lil more. But this last time I was brushing threw & some was coming out!! I don’t know what to do. I need help.
Hi Hollee, I am just about to bleach my hair, by myself, because it’s too expensive at the salons here. My hair is medium brown colour, shoulderblade-length. Just a few questions before I start – Should I start at the roots, or mid-length – I am 44, so have a few grey/white hairs mixed in the re-growth, (especially at my temples). Also, is it ok to comb the bleach through during the processing time? Thank you. Cheers, Sue.
It’s better and easier for your hair if you don’t wait as long as possible when all over blonde. You scalp will only heat up the first 1/2 inch or so of the strand. Waitin longer can cause bands and may make you have to leave the bleach on longer.
hello there.. i loved the info i found it extreemly helpful.. anyways my question.. humm where to get started.. okay first my hair is long.. really really long.. like down half my butt long. i have always done red on my hair sence i was 16.. i am now 26 and my bf wanted to see what it would look like to go back to my natral dark brown shaid.. so i did.. this was 6 months ago… i of cource wanted my red back so i baught a bleach kit from the store made for dark hair.. i only got one box because i just did streeks down it to lighten it up and give it texture befor going back to red.. not compleatly lighting it only trying to give the red a fighting chance againced showing in the brown. he came home from work after i applyed it and what was suppost to be a quick car ride to drop him off turned to be a 3 hour one.. the bleach didnt satrate all of my hair just in little streeks it also dryed on my hair.. when i washed it out it didnt even get close to blond but turned a orangy brown which is fine because im going over it with red ..hopefully.. after i rinsed and conditioned i noticed it was courced dryer then it has ever been and seamed really brittle… my hair is all diff shades of orange right now annd not the kind i would be able to pull off ether.. im doing an over night deep condition as i type and plan on a milk egg and olive oil mask tomorrow… but my question is if i can one how long do i wait to do the red.. trust me it looks bad right now.. i dont wanna leave my house. and with 2 kids i have to… and how bad can i damige it by not waiting the recomended 3 weeks on the box.. it looks horrible.. please help me..
before and after bleaching, I use eggs and milk on my hair and cover that with coconut oil. Helps A LOT.
Thank you so much for this wonderful information..It really has given me some courage..Don’t laugh now,but I was an entertainer many years ago,(abouot 50,I said don’t laugh),but as the years went buy I have remained blonde most of the time..You have aolready guessed my age no doubt..I had Chemo a year ago and lost all of my hair..when it came in , it was pretty much 80/20 white with grey..I colored my hair as I always have since the 70s and it came out a beautiuf Light Ah Blonde thanks to ION…I used a 1o vol peroxide…but in two or three weeks it has faded ato white for the most part and I thought maybe just adding a capeful of a toner 2 shades darker than it is now (maybe on the gold side and not the ash to my shampoo would work…no perioxide with it…Does that sound sane?:?People tell me I look great and hope to live to be 85 and when I do it will still be with dyed hair and makeup…Thank you for all that you and all the other beauticians do…
Hi. I need help! I’m the opposite of you. I have snow white hair and I want it to be a 9N blonde. I just did a root touch-up with Age Beautiful 9N permanent dye. There is banding (1/4-1/2″) where the new growth overlapped the previously colored hair. I know, I know — I find it IMPOSSIBLE to just get the hair color on the new growth ONLY! My question is…how can I touch up the roots and not get the banding?? I love the color. I leave it on the roots for 45 mins., add a bit of water to the remaining color and then put on the rest of my hair for another 5 mins. Looks good except for the darn banding! Any suggestions?
Buy a bottle of protein filler from Sally’s. bam.
hey i bleached my hair but stupidly missed patches. i’ve gone over it with a light golden blonde dye but the patches are still noticable. will it be ok to just bleach the bits i missed?
Yeah, you should be fine! Just try not to overlap it onto the blonde hair!
I’m a guy with fairly long hair, and I bleached & toner’d it as white as possible recently, but it seems so lifeless and frizzy. It used to always have nice natural curls, but now it’s just frizzy. I feel like I look like Doc Brown. Someone recommended a try Wen conditioner, so I bought some, but after one use I stopped because it looked like maybe it was putting yellow back into my hair (although maybe it was my imagination). The salon ladies gave me the Paul Mitchell platinum blonde products. Should I stick with those, or should I use the Wen? Am I imagining things, about it making my hair more yellow?
P.S. .. Don’t go by that picture in answering my question. It’s yellow in that picture because I had only bleached it at that point, I hadn’t yet used the toner. It is much more white now.
It is possible that the wen is making your hair more yellow. Yellow is the color of keratin, the protein your hair is made of, so maybe that is a good thing. What I would probably do is use the platinum blonde shampoo to tone it down, and maybe alternate between the two. Hope it helps 🙂
Do you put the coconut oil on when its wet
I’m with Jennifer, your article is concise and so so full of great advice, one of the best I have read on bleaching! You rock! My hair’s been through 2 bleachings with 20 vol thus far and I will be taking to heart your advice, thanks Hollee! 😀
Thank you for your advice. I have been bleaching my hair for 2 years now and I’ve always been concerned how much damage I’m doing. Your advice has really helped me see the difference a few additional treatments can make to keep it healthy 🙂
Hi, thanks for a great article! I gradually went from black to blonde but couldn’t go all the way to platinum like I wanted because only the top half of my hair is strong enough – the lower half (my hairs last my shoulders) is damaged from dying it so often for ten years, but now the blonde dye has made it sooo stretchy and brittle I’m terrified its going to all snap off, I don’t wash it daily, I only use a wide tooth comb and I have purple toned John Freida shampoo and conditioner, what do you recommend I use to help fix the stretchy weak brittle hair?? Also I dyed it about two weeks ago, if I dyed it darker when my roots come through would that help the condition do you think? I’m scared to use blonde again! It’s taken me forever to grow my hair this long and I don’t want it chin length!!! Thanks 🙂
I just wanted to thank you for all the good information you posted about bleached hair. The way you broke it down really helped me understand the process. Everything you said made so much sense. I. Will be useing your advice with confidence. Thanks again,
Jennifer
I just bleached my hair out Saturday, They cut the top of my head down to about 2 1/2 inches because of damage, but I was able to keep the rest of my hair. however, I’m taking Prenatal Vitamins just to make it grow! I have an appointment for them to wash it Thursday and do the deep conditioning mask. Do you have any tips to make it grow fast? and i’ve been wearing a fedora hat since saturday because of the grease and mullet look haha. and how long should i wait to style it? The top 2 1/2 inches will look AMAZING if I can tease it, but i dont want to break it.
I’ve heard mixed things about prenatal vitamins… Some people argue that it is the hormones from pregnancy that make your hair grow.. Not the actual vitamins… I would take “hair, skin and nail” vitamins with biotin in them, that are formulated to promote hair growth. I think you should wait a little bit before styling your hair to let it get stronger. Usually hair is really brittle right after bleaching it, but it will get stronger! Invest in some good deep conditioner with keratin in it, along with gentle shampoo (sulfate-free) and good regular conditioner.. Preferably with keratin in it. When your hair starts to feel better, you can style it but try to keep it as minimal as possible. I would only use heat when you absolutely need to. I would stimulate your scalp with massaging and scientific brushing and try to cut down on anything that would cause breakage! Hope it helps! Good luck!
Thanks for the great advice!
Coconut oil is amazing! I put it on over night sometimes and while bleaching! read this it works I promise 🙂 http://chloeshere.blogspot.ie/2012/07/how-to-protect-hair-while-bleaching.html
Great article, what do you recommend as a toner brand?