10 Simple Steps to Restore Hair Damaged by Bleaching – Plus, Top Product Recommendations!

Continue reading to discover the causes of bleach-induced hair damage, whether it is possible to repair damaged hair, and the most effective hair treatment for remedying such damage.

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So, let's delve into the topic of how hair bleaching operates. Our hair obtains its color from a pigment called melanin, which resides within the hair shaft. The hair shaft is enveloped by a safeguarding layer of protein scales called the cuticle. When you bleach your hair, the bleach unravels this cuticle to modify the melanin found inside the hair. However, during this process, the hair bleach strips away the hair's natural protective fibers and oils.

While ideally, the cuticle should reseal and return to its original state, hair bleach has a tendency to disrupt these scales, preventing them from lying flat. This explains why bleach-damaged hair often appears more voluminous than untouched hair, as each strand takes up more space. Consequently, moisture escapes from the inner regions of the hair shaft, leaving the hair parched, fragile, and vulnerable to breakage. This encapsulates the concept of bleach-damaged hair succinctly!

Now, how can you determine if bleaching your hair has indeed resulted in bleach-damaged hair? Here are a few indicators to watch out for:

1. Diminished Natural Luster

Typically, the hair cuticle lays flat, allowing light to reflect off of it, giving the hair a healthy, radiant appearance. However, bleach-damaged hair possesses disrupted cuticles, resulting in a lackluster appearance.

2. Hair Entanglement

The rough cuticles of bleach-damaged hair tend to adhere to one another, resulting in tangles.

3. Brittle and Dehydrated

Since the protective cuticle is compromised, bleach-damaged hair loses its internal moisture, leading to brittleness and dryness.

4. Frizzy Flyaways

Brittle and dry bleach-damaged hair is more susceptible to breakage, often manifesting as flyaways and frizz.

5. Split Ends

Similarly, breakage can cause frayed split ends.

These symptoms certainly do not bode well. Therefore, if you are pondering how to repair damaged hair, read on.

If you have never subjected your hair to bleach, it does not necessarily imply that you are exempt from damage. Heat-damaged hair shares several similarities with bleach-damaged hair. Similar to bleach, excessive heat styling tools can deplete the hair's moisture and permanently harm its protective cuticle layer. If you have heat-damaged hair, many of our recommendations for repairing bleach-damaged hair will also be applicable to your situation!

Now that you possess a comprehensive understanding of damaged hair, continue reading to ascertain whether it is possible to rectify damaged hair.

Chances are, you have unknowingly adopted one or more of these detrimental hair habits. The most effective approach to treating damaged hair is, in fact, prevention. Therefore, if you are committing any of these mistakes, be sure to correct your course to evade bleach-damaged hair (and heat-damaged hair as well) in the future, thereby eliminating the need to repair damaged hair.

1. Improper Shampoo Selection

Firstly, ensure that you are utilizing a shampoo designed specifically for blonde hair. Blonde hair, particularly bleached blonde hair, necessitates specialized cleansing.

This is where Enriched Blonde™ Silver Shampoo comes into play. This nourishing and gentle silver shampoo has been meticulously formulated with the moisturizing Aquaxyl™ sugar complex and organic plant extracts derived from aloe vera, mango, and cloudberry. These ingredients effectively hydrate bleach-damaged hair while offering protection against further harm.

Additionally, it contains active violet pigments that effectively counteract unwanted brassy tones. The Enriched Blonde™ Silver Shampoo also boasts a pH level that closely resembles that of human skin, ensuring a soothing and irritation-free experience for your scalp.

2. Omitting the Use of Conditioner

We cannot stress enough the importance of using conditioner, regardless of your hair type. This is particularly crucial for individuals with hair damaged by bleaching or heat styling.

Although any conditioner is better than none at all, we recommend opting for a conditioner specifically formulated for bleached hair, such as the Enriched Blonde™ Silver Conditioner. This silver conditioner contains organic ingredients like aloe vera, licorice root extract, apricot kernel oil, and sweet almond oil. These nourishing components not only moisturize and protect your strands, but also promote healthy hair growth by treating the scalp. Make it a habit to condition your hair after every wash to prevent future damage and repair existing damage.

3. Neglecting Deep Treatments

The protective cuticle scales of your hair are composed of proteins. Therefore, if your hair has been damaged by bleaching or heat, it is imperative to incorporate a deep conditioning treatment with protein as a key ingredient. This will strengthen the protective coating on your hair.

The Enriched Blonde™ Silver Hair Mask is a specialized deep conditioning and repairing treatment specifically developed for bleach damaged hair. In addition to its silver hue, which helps maintain cool tones, this hair mask contains two types of micro-proteins that penetrate deeply into the hair cuticle. These proteins replenish the lost protein, provide hydration, and enhance the hair's ability to retain moisture.

For a more intensive protein treatment, consider using the Protein Repair™ Hair Mask. This mask utilizes hydrolyzed vegetable and yeast proteins to reconstruct key hair proteins, resulting in stronger, shinier, and less breakage-prone hair. To achieve optimal results, use this mask 1 to 3 times per month, depending on the extent of damage.

4. Using Inappropriate Tools on Wet Hair

Did you know that wet hair is more fragile and susceptible to breakage? This is especially true for hair damaged by bleaching. Therefore, it is crucial to use the correct tools when detangling wet hair. A regular hairbrush simply won't suffice!

Instead, we highly recommend using the Wet Hair Detangler Brush, which features soft silicone bristles that gently untangle knots without causing breakage. Moreover, its ergonomic design ensures a smooth and effortless detangling process.

5. Avoiding Regular Trims

In an effort to maintain long lengths, you might have neglected regular hair trims. However, this is a grave mistake, especially if your hair has been damaged by bleaching or heat styling. These types of hair damage often lead to split ends, and when left unattended, these split ends can travel up the hair shaft, resulting in breakage closer to the scalp. This, in turn, leads to frizz and flyaways.

Make it a priority to schedule a trim at least once every three months, and even more frequently if you notice split ends. If you are determined to repair damaged hair, this step is absolutely essential.

6. Skipping Heat Protection

As mentioned previously, heat styling tools can cause significant damage to the hair, even in its natural state. Therefore, if your hair has already been damaged by bleaching, subjecting it to additional heat damage is a recipe for disaster. Trust us, combining bleach and heat damage is a situation you want to avoid at all costs.

That does not imply that you must bid farewell to your straightener indefinitely, but it is advisable to employ a form of heat protectant like Thermal Shield™ Heat Protectant before styling your hair.

Did you have knowledge of the fact that insufficient protein can render your hair lackluster and parched?

Sofie Tidemand - Chief Operating Officer & Co-founder, Hairlust

Regrettably, no. There is nothing you can do to genuinely restore damaged hair. Once the harm has occurred, that is essentially the end of it. Fortunately, hair possesses a remarkable ability to grow! If you are dealing with bleach damaged hair or heat damaged hair, you will simply have to provide your hair with extra tender loving care as you await the growth of fresh, undamaged strands.

Another measure you can take is to control the damage before it exacerbates. This will assist in alleviating some of the unpleasant effects of bleach damaged hair and heat damaged hair, such as breakage and split ends.

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Now is the moment you have been anticipating! What is the most effective treatment for damaged hair?

When it comes to bleach damaged hair or heat damaged hair, there is no quick fix that will "repair" it. Nevertheless, adopting healthy hair habits will ensure that you mitigate any existing damage and prevent further damage in the future. Keep in mind that your scalp is constantly generating new hair! If you treat your hair kindly, it will eventually reward you with health and shine. Therefore, the best treatment for damaged hair is truly a wholesome hair care routine. Here are our recommendations:

1. Reduce the Frequency of Bleaching (Or Avoid it Altogether)

It goes without saying that the less frequently you bleach your hair, the less damage it will incur! Try extending the time between touch-ups for your roots and refrain from bleaching already treated sections of your hair. Even better, consider avoiding bleaching your hair altogether!

2. Preparatory Measures Before Bleaching

Hair that is already healthy and robust has a lower likelihood of sustaining damage during bleaching. Prior to visiting your colorist, utilize a protein-infused hair treatment like Protein Repair™ Hair Mask to ensure optimal hair conditions.

3. Exercise Caution with Overprocessing

Overprocessing arises when you subject your hair to an excessive number of chemical treatments without adequate intervals to allow for rest and recovery. Examples of overprocessing include double bleaching or combining bleaching and perming. This is a major hair care faux pas and can result in sticky and excessive hair loss.

Seek advice from your hairstylist, but we recommend waiting at least a week between treatments and incorporating plenty of strengthening hair masks in between.

4. Handle Chlorine with Care

Natural blondes are already aware of this, but it is crucial to be extra cautious when exposing your hair to chlorine, a chemical often found in swimming pools. Why? Firstly, chlorine has the potential to turn your hair green (not desirable!). Additionally, it can exacerbate dryness in bleach damaged hair and contribute to further breakage.

Although the best course of action is to refrain from submerging your hair in water while swimming, you can also safeguard it from absorbing chlorine-laden water by rinsing it with fresh water before taking the plunge.

5. Shield Against Sun Damage

You are familiar with how UV rays can harm your skin, right? Well, they can also damage your hair, particularly if you already have bleach damaged hair or heat damaged hair.

Develop the practice of using Sun Defense Hair Mist on your locks before exposing them to prolonged sun exposure. This enriching leave-in mist contains organic aloe vera, açai berry fruit extract, and Phytessence™ french oak extract, which has been scientifically proven to naturally shield your hair from UV damage.

6. Abandon Heat Tools

While utilizing a heat protectant like Thermal Shield™ Heat Protectant does serve to mitigate damage, the optimal approach for preventing heat damaged hair is to completely forgo the use of heat tools.

Pro Tip: Instead of relying on a curling iron, experiment with the Bamboo Heatless Curls Kit to achieve ravishing curls without any harm to your tresses. The outcome will be just as fabulous without causing damage!

7. Enhance Your Nutritional Intake

Recall our previous mention of waiting for your hair follicles to generate new, healthy strands in order to eliminate the ravages of bleach damage or heat damage? Well, the most effective way to support the growth of new hair is to consume a nutritious diet rich in lean proteins, healthy fats, and an abundance of fruits and vegetables.

To ensure comprehensive nutrition, it may be beneficial to incorporate a hair growth supplement like Hair Formula Gummies for Women or Hair Formula Tablets for Women into your daily regimen. These supplements are formulated with all the essential nutrients required to optimize hair growth, guaranteeing the development of robust, healthy locks.

If you seek the finest treatment for damaged hair, this step is undoubtedly indispensable.

8. Invest in High-Quality Hair Ties

If you have bleach damaged hair or heat damaged hair, you might be inclined to simply throw your hair up in a bun and consider it a day to avoid using heat on your tresses. However, traditional elastic hair ties can do more harm than good. Why, you may ask? Well, these hair ties tug at your hair, causing delicate, bleach damaged strands to break. Instead, opt for Hair Rings, which gently secure your hair without causing breakage.

9. Replace Your Cotton Bath Towel

Another effortless modification you can make is to swap out your standard cotton bath towel for a Bamboo Hair Towel Wrap. Bamboo fabric is softer and smoother than cotton, reducing the risk of hair pulling and minimizing breakage and frizz.

10. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!

Bleach damaged hair and heat damaged hair desperately crave hydration, and incorporating hair-friendly oils is the ideal way to nourish your strands.

While we don't exactly recommend dousing your hair in olive oil from your kitchen pantry (although you may if desired!), we suggest using our deeply moisturizing, 100% natural Moisture Hero™ Hair Oil or Moisture Hero™ Pre-shampoo Hair Balm. These products are enriched with shea butter, organic olive oil extract, jojoba seed oil, and sunflower seed oil to provide comprehensive nourishment to your hair from the external surface.

If you're in search of the ultimate remedy for those unruly tresses, be sure not to overlook this miraculous find!

What, perchance, do you deem as the most superior hair treatment for those delicate strands? Kindly grace us with your opinions and insights in the section designated for comments below!