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Patience is a must.
Stocksy
Dont get us wrong, we love a great hair transformation just as much as anyone else.
Stocksy
But sometimes, with a drastic change comes some unexpected hiccups, especially when there’s bleach involved.
My own quest for a dramatic hair transformation did not go quite as planned.
In fact, it involved me disbelievingly watching my just-bleached strands quite literallyfallfrom my burning scalp.
Meet the Experts
Keep reading for 13 helpful steps to take when you suffer a bleached hair disaster.
Adding more product to your hair, or trying to remedy the disaster yourself, could prove more problematic.
“I would recommend calling a professional ASAP,” says hairstylist Nikki Lee.
They’ve seen it all and are used to treating clients forcolor corrections.
The last thing you want to do is make things worse.
“Dont touch it again,” she says.
“And stay away from YouTube tutorials!
Be Patient
It’s super important to allow time for your hair to recover.
Again, easier said than done.
But, time is the only real cure for allowing hair to heal.
Patience also goes a long way during theblonding processas well.
If you’re in a rush to lighten your hair, that’s often when disaster strikes.
My personal over-bleaching nightmare occurred when I expressed disappointment after ahighlightappointment.
As soon as she began brushing out my newly-bleached strands, they began to fall out.
Worried, she suggested I go home and wait for it to dry before any more brushing.
Crying and struggling, I had no clue where to start.
Ultimately, I made an appointment at another nearby salon for the next day.
So, ever-so-carefully pulling my tangled hair into a scrunchie, I went to sleep hoping for a miracle.
If you must style your hair, tryheat-freealternatives, like loose braids for waves andheatless curlers.
those that can be applied topically) can do a world of good.
Find a hair serum that targets hair repairwith strengthening, nourishing, and reparative properties.
If your hair is wetanddamaged, that means brushing it can very easily lead to aggressive tugging and breakage.
To avoid this, always condition your hair post-shampoo because that will detangle your hair and keep it smooth.
If you find that your hair is still dry and brittle, add a topicaloilas well.
Treat with Protein
For me, an intensiveprotein treatmentwas key.
Its purpose was to help stop the breakage and prevent more from happening.
(FYI: Most salons have a multitude of hair treatments that range in strength and purpose.
I still alternate between moisture- and protein-packed treatments every couple of months to help maintain my hairs integrity.
I recommend this for anyone who frequently styles with heat or gets regular color).
There are also plenty ofprotein treatmentsavailable for at-home use.
After I received my first post-bleach treatment, the stylist slowly began to comb through my hair.
Then came the cut.
“It responds best to formulas that are nourishing, strengthening, repairing, and extra gentle.”
To fix this, simply wash your hair with lukewarm water.
Can you say win, win?
Bleach damaged hair can be repaired with the right treatments, patience, and proper aftercare.
Reach for hydrating treatments that can trap moisture into the hair like oils and leave-in treatments.
Hydrating masks and overnight treatments can also help rehydrate bleached hair.
ensure to stay away from hot tools during the process because they will strip moisture.
