ou want to know How to Reduce Hair Loss after Bleaching, check out this article. We’ve also included what to do if you want to stop hair loss.
I’m sure that there are a lot of you guys out there who love experimenting with dyeing your hair with different colours.
But in order to make the hair dye look bold and more vibrant, you will require to bleach your hair to strip away any pigments of your current hair colour in order to unveil the essence of the shade you’re planning to get.
Does bleaching increase hair porosity?
While one’s hair is everybody’s crowning glory, hair loss is something that is very disheartening to face. Well, with bleaching, I’m sure you will have to expect a certain amount (if you’re lucky) or maybe even extensive hair loss as part of the process.
But guess what? There are multiple methods you can use to help repair your damaged hair and prevent further hair loss and here’s everything that you need to know about it!
What is bleach and how does it affect your hair?
Bleach is a substance made of chemicals that are used in the lightening of hair to help get rid of the hair’s existing colour pigments, completely, by breaking down the proteins in the hair.
The longer the bleach is kept on the hair, the lighter will the hair colour become. So people with darker hair shades usually will have to keep the bleach on for a longer time.
But it is essential to note that the bleach shouldn’t be kept on the hair for longer than 30 minutes in one session because it can cause your hair to get seriously damaged and brittle, after which there would be a possibility that the hair damage could be irreparable and permanent.
Ways to reduce hair loss once the hair is bleached:
How to Reduce Hair Loss after Bleaching
Begin with using natural methods
Natural hair oils when massaged into the scalp can not only help stimulate the dormant hair follicles towards new hair growth, but can also help keep the hair sufficiently moisturized and reduce hair dryness, brittleness and frizziness (further leading to hair loss) that occur when the hair is bleached.
Wash your hair right
After your hair has been bleached, the hair cuticles become more susceptible to damage.
This means that in case you wash your hair with hot water, the cuticles on the hair shaft will open up and increase the chances of further damaging the hair.
Therefore, once your hair has been bleached, using cold water to wash your hair is something that is recommended because cold water will help seal the cuticle and lock in moisture.
That being said, it is important not to wash your hair too often once it has been bleached because it will strip the hair off all the remaining moisture from the hair and make the hair become even drier.
Dry hair becomes brittle and rough, causing it to fall out. So it is recommended that you wash your hair around once in two to three days, with of course, the right shampoo.
Well, the best shampoos to use on bleached hair are purple shampoos or any other regular shampoos that are mild and also free from parabens and sulfates, as any harsh chemicals can strip away the hair’s natural oils.
Once your hair has been washed, make sure not to use a blow dryer to dry your hair, instead let it dry naturally. Blow dryers, just like any other heat styling tool will expose the hair to heat and further damage the hair.
Avoid using heat styling tools
The usage of hair styling tools like hair straighteners, curling irons or even blow dryers, on bleached hair is definitely a big no!
This is because bleaching is one of the most damaging processes you can put your hair through and thereafter using any sort of heat treatment on the hair can cause the hair to dry out, and become brittle, fragile and coarse.
If required, you could use options like hair diffusers on the cool setting to dry your hair, while you could curl your hair with hair rollers and straighten it temporarily using a serum meant for hair straightening.
Use a deep conditioning hair mask
Hair masks are one of the best methods to prevent hair fall once the hair has been bleached.
Once the hair has been bleached, it strips away all the hair’s natural oils and protein and can change the hair’s texture to a certain extent making the hair become dry, coarse and frizzy.
Hair masks are those that can help replenish the hair’s lost proteins that have been stripped away by the bleach.
Since hair masks are left on the hair for at least 30 minutes, they will penetrate into the hair shaft and promote hair repair from within.
So for those who have recently bleached their hair, I’d recommend you use a deep conditioning hair mask at least once a week until your hair begins to regain its lustre, elasticity and shine.
You can also deep condition with heat in order to get the best effects of the hair mask.
Here’s a tip, you could shampoo your hair and rinse it with plain cold water before putting on the hair mask (as the shampoo will help open up the hair cuticles) and only use a conditioner (without shampooing your hair) once you have washed off the hair mask, so that the hair cuticles will close and trap in the nutrients.
Make sure to keep the hair protected
Our hair is always exposed at all times and it is important that it is kept protected from even environmental factors like sun damage, pollution etc.
The sharp ultraviolet rays of the sun can damage the hair shaft by stripping away all the hair’s moisture and making it lose all its hydration.
Remember that bleached hair that is not sufficiently hydrated will definitely lead to hair fall. So using sun protection sprays specifically made for the hair, is recommended.
You can also consider other options like using a leave-in-conditioner, hair oil, serum or maybe even a rice water spray (as rice water is one of the best natural ingredients for the hair) that will penetrate into the hair shaft and help rejuvenate the hair.
How to Reduce Hair Loss after Bleaching: FAQs
Is it true that the hair could fall out in clumps once bleached?
Yes, there are chances that people who have recently bleached their hair may find that their hair is falling out in clumps.
The reason for this could be because of the incorrect amount of peroxide or developer used in the bleaching process. Another reason why this can occur is that you haven’t left a sufficient gap between two bleaching sessions.
Should hair be bleached when wet/damp or dry?
Bleaching wet/damp hair definitely works better and helps assist the lightning process. But it is important to note that you need to be extra precautions while applying the bleach on your wet hair, as hair that is wet is very fragile and more prone to damage.
What’s the ideal gap to be maintained between two bleaching sessions?
Ideally, a gap of around two to three weeks has to be maintained between sessions of hair bleaching.
Therefore, if you have to get your hair dyed for any major event, then it is important that you need to start the bleaching process well in advance so that you have sufficient time to leave in between sessions.
You can keep in mind that your hair can be lightened up to three tones in each session.
Is the hair loss after the hair is bleached temporary or permanent?
Usually, the hair that has fallen out as an effect of bleaching is temporary because the bleached hair that is damaged may weaken and break off or fall out, but the new hair that will emerge from the roots will grow back as healthy hair. This process should ideally take around 6 to 8 weeks.
But it is important to note that in case the bleach had caused any chemical burns on the scalp, it could damage the hair follicle and result in no further hair growth in that area.
Is there a difference between toning and bleaching?
Well, yes there is, because they are two different things. Bleaching is a process that will lighten your hair while a toner will simply help neutralize any brassy tones on already bleached hair, refreshing the bleached hair colour.
This means that toner cannot be used to lighten hair like bleach would.
Are purple shampoos and toners the same?
Purple shampoos and toners are similar because they practically serve the same purpose of neutralizing any brassiness in the hair. So they can be considered similar, with just different methods of use.
The Final Takeaway
Remember that the hair bleaching process can cause a lot of damage to your hair and therefore should be done only if necessary.
In case you are bleaching your hair at home, make sure to follow the instructions perfectly and use the right proportions of peroxide or developer in the mix.
That being said, if you have bleached your hair, remember to follow a good hair nourishing after-care regime and also make sure to leave sufficient gap before you go in for the next bleaching session, if you have to go in for another one.