Did you know that bleaching your hair can be quite detrimental to your hair? Well, it is. Bleaching your hair can cause a lot of breakages and can leave your hair a lot drier than before you lightened it. You can also experience a lot of breakage after using a hair straightener or curling iron. If you want to hydrate your hair after bleaching or straightening, then you have to do it right if you don’t want to cause more harm than good. Here are some tips on how you can hydrate your hair after bleaching.
How Does Bleaching Work For Your Hair?
Bleach is a chemical solution that removes color from the outer layer of your hair (the cuticle). It breaks down the bonds between strands of keratin, which are made up of chains of amino acids called peptides.
When these bonds break, the keratin separates from each other and exposes a new layer of protein called cortex. The lighter color reflects more light off your scalp, making it appear lighter than its natural shade.
Bleach comes in two forms ammonia-based and peroxide-based.
Ammonia-based bleaches are effective at removing color from black or dark brown hair but less effective on reds, coppers and blondes because they contain low levels of peroxide (a chemical compound consisting of one oxygen molecule bound to two hydrogen atoms) that reacts with melanin (a pigment that gives skin and hair its color).
Peroxide-based bleaches work best on all shades.
Peroxide is a stronger oxidizing agent than ammonia, meaning it can oxidize more melanin at a faster rate than ammonia.
The level of peroxide in a bleach determines how light your hair will become. The higher the peroxide content, the lighter your hair will turn out after bleaching.
How You Can Hydrate Your Hair After Bleaching?
If you want your hair to stay healthy and beautiful, then there are some things that you need to know about how to hydrate your hair after bleaching.
Here are some valuable tips and methods that will help you in maintaining the health of your hair after bleaching and will also help to keep your hair hydrated.
Hydrate Your Hair After Bleaching With Some Natural Oils
No matter how much you love the look of your bleached hair, it often leads to dryness and damage. Fortunately, there are some natural oils that you can use to hydrate your bleached hair.
1. Hydrate Bleached Hair With Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is one of the best natural ingredients that you can use to hydrate your bleached hair.
Coconut oil is a great source of fatty acids and it’s rich in vitamins and minerals.
It’s also an excellent moisturizer, which means it will help your hair retain its moisture.
When we say “hydrating” we mean that coconut oil will keep your hair moisturized throughout the day, so your bleached hair won’t become dry or brittle.
Put a few drops of coconut oil on your palms and run your fingers through your hair starting from the roots to the tips of your strands. You can also apply it directly on your scalp where you have experienced dandruff or hair fall problem so that it gets absorbed into the skin easily without leaving any greasy residue behind.
2. Hydrate Bleached Hair With Olive Oil
Olive oil has been used for thousands of years to moisturize and soften skin, but did you know that it can also do wonders for your hair?
The antioxidants in the oil help heal bleached hair while also adding shine and softness.
Olive oil contains vitamin E, which helps keep the cells in your hair healthy. It also has a low pH level, so it won’t strip away the color from your hair like other products with high pH levels might.
To use olive oil for bleached hair, simply put a few drops into your hand and rub it into the ends of your hair. You can also use an applicator bottle to make things easier on yourself when applying the oil to individual strands of hair.
3. Hydrate Bleached Hair With Almond Oil
Almond oil is a wonderful way to hydrate your hair. It is especially good for bleached hair because it works to strengthen and repair the hair shaft.
Almond oil is made from almonds, which are natural oils that are high in vitamin E and other nutrients that are essential for healthy hair.
It’s also extremely nourishing and moisturizing, so it works great on dry or damaged hair.
To hydrate your hair pour some into your hands, rub them together vigorously until they’re warm and then run them through your strands from root to tip until all of your hair is coated with almond oil. This will seal in moisture while protecting against damage caused by heat styling tools like curling irons or straighteners.
4. Hydrate Bleached Hair With Argan Oil
Argan oil is a great choice for bleached hair because it contains antioxidants that can protect the hair from free radical damage. This means that your hair will stay healthy and strong for longer, which is exactly what you want from something like this.
Use this oil as a weekly deep conditioner by applying it directly onto clean, wet hair and massaging it into the scalp until all of your strands are coated thoroughly with this product.
Leave it on for 15 minutes before rinsing out thoroughly with water followed by shampooing again using an extremely mild shampoo (such as baby shampoo) and then conditioning your hair with a gentle conditioner that doesn’t contain any silicone ingredients.
5. Hydrate Bleached Hair With Castor Oil
Castor oil is a great natural moisturizer that can help hydrate the hair and make it shiny, healthy, and strong.
You can also use castor oil as an overnight treatment for damaged hair or split ends. Simply apply a small amount of castor oil to dry, clean hair and allow it to sit overnight before washing out in the morning with a gentle shampoo and conditioner formula.
Hydrate Your Hair With Some DIY Hair Mask
One of the ways through which you can keep your hair healthy is using a hair mask. A hair mask is similar to a face mask. It will keep your hair hydrated and nourished.
Here are some DIY hair mask recipes that you can follow.
1. Coconut Oil And Aloe Vera Gel Hair Musk
This can be used twice or thrice a week, depending on your hair type.
Ingredients:
1 tbsp coconut oil
2 tsp aloe vera gel or juice
Method:
Warm the coconut oil a little bit to make it easier to mix with other ingredients. Add aloe vera gel and mix well so that everything gets mixed properly in the coconut oil.
Apply this mixture on your dry scalp and massage it gently for 2 minutes before leaving it on for 30 minutes or more if you want maximum results from this treatment. Wash your hair thoroughly with shampoo after 30 minutes and apply conditioner as usual.
2. Olive Oil And Honey Hair Mask
The combination of these two ingredients makes an effective deep conditioning treatment for damaged hair from bleaching or coloring treatments, which often leads to split ends, dryness or frizziness.
This treatment will help you achieve soft, silky tresses without weighing down your style so it’s perfect for those who like their curls big and bouncy.
Ingredients:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp honey
Method:
Mix the two ingredients until you get a smooth paste. Apply this mixture on your hair, starting from the roots and then moving down towards the ends. Leave it on your hair for about 20 minutes, after which you can rinse off with water.
3. Yogurt And Olive Oil Hair Mask
This yogurt hair mask will not only hydrate your hair but also protect it from further damage. This mask can be used as an overnight treatment or as a weekly deep conditioner.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of plain yogurt (you can use Greek yogurt for extra protein)
2 tbsp olive oil
Method:
In a small bowl, mix the yogurt and olive oil (you can also use other oils like avocado or jojoba). Once mixed well, apply the mixture onto your clean scalp and leave on for 20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.
You can do this once or twice per week depending on how dry or damaged your hair is.
4. Avocado And Olive Oil Hair Mask
This mask will help maintain the moisture and the elasticity of your hair, making them shiny, soft and silky.
Ingredients:
1/2 avocado (ripe)
1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
Method:
Mix the ingredients together until you get a smooth consistency. Apply the mask to clean, towel-dried hair and leave it on for 30 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.
You can use this treatment once every week or as often as needed.
Follow a Healthy Lifestyle To Keep Your Hair Hydrated After Bleaching
Your lifestyle is a huge factor in the health of your hair. Follow a healthy lifestyle to keep your hair healthy and hydrated after bleaching.
1. Add Leave-in Conditioner
Add leave-in conditioner to keep bleached hair hydrated. A good leave-in conditioner will help restore the moisture in your hair without weighing it down too much. It should also have some sort of heat protection since bleached hair is more susceptible to heat damage than any other type of hair.
2. Use Cool Water
If you’re bleaching your hair, it’s important to use cool water when washing and conditioning it. Warm water opens the cuticle of your hair shafts, which causes them to lose moisture. Cooler water will close the cuticle and lock in moisture.
If cold water isn’t an option for you, try using a cool setting on your shower head or simply rinse with cold water rather than hot.
3. Avoid Heat Styling
If you’re looking to keep your hair healthy and vibrant after bleaching, then you’ll want to avoid heat styling at all costs.
Heat styling tools such as blow dryers and curling irons can cause all sorts of damage to your hair and its color, so if you’re looking to keep that gorgeous bleached color for long, then you’ll want to avoid heat styling as much as you can.
4. Protect Your Hair From The Sun
The sun can be your friend and your enemy. A lot of people love it, but it can have a negative impact on your hair.
The sun strips your hair of its natural moisture, which can lead to dryness, breakage and frizz. That’s why it’s so important to protect your blonde locks while they’re out in the elements.
Wear a hat or scarf when you’re outside during peak sunlight hours. Saturate your hair with a hydrating spray before going outdoors, and reapply throughout the day as needed.
5. Protect Your Hair From Chlorine
Chlorine and other pool chemicals can be harsh on your hair. Chlorine is not only a bleaching agent, but it also dries out your hair and scalp.
Try to avoid swimming in pools as much as possible, especially if you have bleached hair.
If you do go swimming with bleached hair, try to rinse out as much chlorine as possible by using a clarifying shampoo after swimming.
If you don’t have one on hand, use shampoo that has a moisturizing formula instead of an anti-frizz formula or one with too many chemicals in it.
6. Use Silk Pillow Case
Silk pillowcases can help prevent split ends and breakage in the hair shaft. When you sleep on a silk pillowcase, your hair is less likely to tangle because the fabric doesn’t snag or pull at your hair like cotton or synthetic fibers do.
When your hair tangles during sleep, it causes more breakage than regular wear and tear on dry hair would cause.
The silky texture of the fabric also helps keep oils from your scalp from transferring onto your pillowcase during sleep, which can lead to breakouts on your face if you regularly use cotton or synthetic wools as linens.
Using a silk pillowcase will also help reduce frizz in curly hair types because it has a low static charge so there’s less flyaway hairs than with other fabrics like cotton or wool.
7. Maintain Healthy Diet
With the rise of fast food restaurants, the amount of fat and calories in the average American diet has increased significantly. Eating healthy is an important part of a balanced diet, but it’s not enough. Hair needs a healthy diet, too.
A nutritious diet gives your body enough energy to grow strong, shiny locks. When you eat healthy, you’re also going to feel healthy.
You’ll notice your hair is shinier and more manageable. You’ll also have more energy to work out and keep your hair looking its best. Healthy hair is hair that has been hydrated.
If your hair is dehydrated, it will feel dry and brittle. Dehydrated hair is also more prone to breakage and hair loss.
8. Drink Lots Of Water
Drink lots of water. Water helps keep your body hydrated, which is especially important when it comes to keeping bleached hair healthy. Since bleaching strips your hair of its natural oils, it’s important that you replace them with something else, like water.
You need to drink at least eight glasses of water every day to keep your body hydrated. This will help prevent dryness and breakage in your hair.
Conclusion
Now that you’re educated on how to hydrate your hair after bleaching, it’s time to put what you’ve learned into action. By taking these steps, your bleached locks will be back on the path to health in no time.
In the meantime, keep a lookout for signs of damage so that if and when they appear, you can act quickly. Don’t panic at every little thing—your hair will tell you when it needs help. If a particular treatment doesn’t work for you or your hair gets worse after using it, then chances are good that this isn’t the right course of action for repairing damaged strands. But if something works well and makes sense within context, why not give it a shot?
