Bleaching your hair is a harsh process for you hair to undergo, even if you bleach it using the best possible methods. The process uses a chemical, hydrogen peroxide, in order to remove your hair of most of its natural pigmentation and colour so that you end up with a lighter shade of your natural hair colour. A toner is applied after bleaching the hair, and this is done to obtain the desired shade. Bleaching therefore consists of two processes, both of which can be damaging to your hair. Special care needs to be taken of bleached hair to keep it from getting worse.

If you have bleached hair, then switch to a mild shampoo, and the strongest conditioner you think you can use that doesn’t make your hair go limp. Wash your hair only when necessary and try not to overdo it. A deep conditioning should be carried out on your hair at least once a week. Taking other small steps, such as detangling long hair with your fingers first, and not combing wet hair, can all go a long way in helping to take care of bleached hair. Keep any heat styling tools on minimum heat if you intend to use it on bleached hair. A few drops of any silicone serum can smooth out hair cuticles and also make your hair shinier. Use it sparingly so as to avoid it building up.

Don’t bleach your hair many times. Every time you bleach, you are only going to create a greater difference between your natural colour and your desired colour, which means that the roots will start to stand out more each time you bleach your hair, and thus you will need bleaching even more frequently.

After bleaching your hair you should be able to have your colourist give you a deep conditioning treatment before you leave the salon. If your hair still feels damaged and dry, then buy a deep conditioning treatment and use it at least once a week by yourself at home. There are conditioners that you can purchase that are made specifically for use with bleached hair and for daily use.

Be doubly careful when using styling products on bleached hair, as it is already damaged. When curling, straightening or blow drying your hair, use the lowest temperature that you can and always be sure to use a protective serum on your hair beforehand so as to reduce the damage done. Wait until your hair feels completely dry before curling or straightening it. Buying ceramic styling tools will also cause less damage to bleached hair, but they are a bit more expensive than non-ceramic tools.

Taking good care of your hair before and after a bleaching treatment will allow you to have bleached hair that is still healthy, soft and shiny. Remember that damaged hair can always grow back, and so don’t be afraid to experiment with your hair. There are various tips and products to improve the quality of hair no matter how brittle, dry and damaged it may seem.