Having bleached your hair a few months ago, you’ve noticed it transform into a dry and fried texture resembling straw. It’s evident that your hair has undergone significant damage, and now is the opportune moment to shower it with some much-needed care. Below, you’ll find ten efficient tips to repair your bleached and damaged hair swiftly:
1. Choose the Right Shampoo
Refrain yourself from using shampoo, at least for the first week after bleaching. When you bleach your hair with peroxide, natural oil is stripped off. Also, if you use sodium lauryl sulfate (one of the most common ingredients of regular shampoos) on raw hair, you will build plaque. Well, it is tough not to cleanse your hair for as long as seven days, but you have other options in natural shampoos.
Also Read – 11 Ways to Keep Bleached Hair Soft and Healthy
Here are some of the DIY recipes for natural shampoos:
Egg Yolk Shampoo
Ingredients you need:
- One egg yolk
- 1-2 tablespoons water
- Five drops of peppermint essential oil or any other refreshing oil
- One teaspoon aloe vera or lime juice and one tablespoon Shikakai powder
If you have super oily hair, then add the whole egg. And in case you have dry hair, use only egg yolk.
Method:
Add all the ingredients to form a consistent paste. Now rub it on your scalp and hair. Putting this paste on dry hair is better if you want a clean scalp. Massage your scalp for 2 minutes and work through your hair. Let it sit for 5 minutes. Now rinse it with lukewarm water.
Additionally, to give a shiny boost to your hair, you may opt for an herbal tea rinse. Boil herbal tea and strain it. Let it cool. Give the last rinse with this to your hair.
1. Homemade Protein Shampoo (for Shiny Bouncy Hair)
Ingredients:
- Two tablespoons Chickpea flour (besan)
- One tablespoon of orange peel powder
- Two teaspoons of fenugreek powder
- Two teaspoons honey
- water
Method:
Add all the ingredients until you get a smooth and lump-free paste. Massage the paste slowly on wet and sectioned hair and keep it for 15 minutes. Rinse completely. Again, you may complete it with an herbal tea rinse.
After one week, you are ready to shampoo your hair; now, you may opt for good quality natural shampoos available in the market. Look for a shampoo with natural herbal ingredients. You can make your hair routine a little greener. These shampoos will not be harsh on your color or chemical-treated hair.
Also Read – 11 Ways to Keep Bleached Hair Soft and Healthy
2. Go for Deep Conditioning
Bleached, damaged hair needs a super dose of deep conditioning to restore its natural moisture. Hence, finding a deep moisturizing conditioner to treat your thirsty hair efficiently, at least for the first 30 days, is essential. Then, if possible, go for a leave-in conditioner treatment enriched with moisture and protein. Using it daily will make your hair strong, soft, and shiny.
During these seven days, you can use natural conditioners. After seven days, choose a nourishing conditioner made explicitly for chemical-treated hair; if you have an oily scalp that must always be kept clean, opt for a cleansing conditioner rather than a regular one (1).
3. Massage, Massage, and Massage
Massage your scalp and hair with extra olive oil and let the shafts get saturated completely. Leaving the oil for hours will repair the brittle hair to the core and make it softer, smoother, and more manageable naturally. You can also use other oils, like cold-pressed coconut oil, mustard, and sesame oil.
Oils are known to help rehydrate the hair and smooth the cuticle (2)
- Mix oils like coconut, olive, almond, sesame, and a few drops of essential oils.
- Apply the mixture and give steam to your hair.
- Keep this for 30 minutes, and then shampoo. It will leave your hair extra soft and shiny.
4. Use Your Hair Tools Cautiously
Using a hair curler or flat iron can cause even more damage to bleached straw-like hair. In addition, overheating makes your hair strands porous. No matter how much heat protection you use, it will easily break off your hair and increase hair fall. So, strictly stay away from all sorts of heat treatments.
If you wish to blow dry your mane, do it from a distance. This distance should be 15 centimeters. As per the study, this distance is safe for your hair (3). Furthermore, always use heat protectants before any heat treatment. In this way, you prevent split ends.
Another point to remember is that you blow-dry your bleached damaged hair partially. After shampooing and conditioning the locks, let them dry naturally for the whole night. Then, blow dry or blow out in the morning using a boar bristle brush. This method will prevent too much application of heat on your hair and spread the natural oils all through the scalp evenly.
5. Go for Homemade Protein Hair Masks
To restore your locks’ natural health, there are many simple kitchen ingredients, like egg, yogurt, almond oil, mayonnaise, avocado, coconut, olive oil, etc. All these are known to be packed with protein. So prepare a rich, creamy mask with any of them and give your hair a significant protein boost.
Some of the hair masks recommended by experts are:
Milk and Honey Hair Mask
Honey is enriched with keratin and has anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe your scalp and prevent irritation. It helps strengthen the hair, stops breakage, and promotes cell regeneration. In addition, this mask has a combination of proteins, amino acids, vitamins, B12, iron, and zinc. This helps soften the hair and give it structure.
Take 100 ml of milk and add two teaspoons of honey. Apply the mixture to your moist/wet hair for 30 minutes. Then, rinse it off with a gentle shampoo.
Also Read – Top 5 Natural Facial Bleach Recipes For A Pigment-Free, Polished Skin
Banana-Olive Restorative Mask
This mask will leave your hair unimaginably beautiful by hydrating and moisturizing your tresses deeply. Bananas are rich in vitamins and minerals, while olive oil has abundant Vitamin E content. This will give a shiny and glowing look to the hair.
Mash a banana and add one tablespoon of olive oil to make this homemade mask. Then, make a smooth paste. Now, apply the mask throughout the hair and scalp. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes, and then rinse.
6. Diet and Supplements
Nothing can repair your damaged hair as fast as a balanced diet can.
- Take omega-3 fish oil tablets to nourish your hair’s healthy fat. Include this supplement in your daily diet for better results. In addition, you may add omega-3-rich foods to your diet by including salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines, egg yolks, and walnuts (4).
- Try to incorporate zinc-rich foods on your plate. Zinc is known to strengthen hair follicles. Even studies suggest that zinc deficiency may result in alopecia areata.
- B-complex vitamin (Biotin & B5), the most advertised vitamin for hair growth and repair, reverses hair loss. You can get them from your diet. Have eggs, beef, chicken, avocados, legumes, nuts, bananas, etc.
- Take enough Vitamin C – Food sources are citrus fruits, broccoli, kale, red pepper, etc. Vitamin C fights oxidative stress, which causes grey hair and hair loss, thus keeping your hair young.
- Similarly, have more iron and vitamin D in your diet. Row sources are spinach, swiss chard, collard greens, egg yolks, beefsteak, and beans.
7. Chop Them Off
If your hair has become spoiled after bleaching, cut off its damaged ends as much as possible. Otherwise, salvaging the rest of your hair will become practically impossible. You will get rid of split and damaged ends. Also, you will instantly feel the bounce in your curls. It would be easier to detangle them. And the most beautiful part is that your hair will grow back healthy and glossy.
8. Balance Your Lifestyle
The first thing to look out for is not feeling stressed over the damaged hair. Think less and work more.
- Always make a point of sleeping at least for 7-8 hours. Liver detoxification is high during this time. Nothing can repair your hair better than your body itself.
- Have dinner early in the evening, at least an hour before you are in your bed. This habit does not overburden your liver.
- Exercise daily. Try exercises like cardio, strength training, and, most importantly, Yoga. There are certain asanas like Sirsasana, Adho mukha svanasana, Vajrasana, Uttanasana to calm down your your stress level.
9. Try Rosemary Essential Oil
Try this essential oil if you have damaged your hair to the extent of bald patches or excessive thinning. When applied to the affected area, it stimulates cellular metabolism. It causes hair growth and regeneration. Clinical efficacy has been proved in humans through a study conducted in 2015.
Rosemary, Cedarwood, and Sage Hair Thickener
Ingredients:
- 1½ ounces grapeseed oil
- 1½ ounces jojoba oil
- 30 drops of pure cedarwood essential oil
- 30 drops of pure sage essential oil
- 30 drops pure rosemary essential oil
Mix them all and blend thoroughly. Massage it on your scalp. Leave for at least 20 minutes or longer. Rinse. Do this thrice a week.
10. Let Your Hair Relax
Finally, stop experimenting with synthetic hair care and styling products. Instead, focus on diet and a few hair masks to let them grow back stronger and healthier.
Summary
Damaging your hair after a bleaching session can be a painful experience. Just relax and plan to repair your damaged tresses. Change your shampoo and conditioner and minimize hair treatments that use heat tools. Nourish your hair through hair masks and diet. De-stress your lifestyle. If needed, cut down your hair short. Let them regrow and breathe. Drink enough water and, most importantly, do not forget to smile.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the signs of chemically damaged hair?
You will notice more hair fall, hair thinning, and dried and curly hair. In addition, your hair will become lifeless with lost shine. Sometimes, small bald patches may also appear due to excessive hair loss.
What chemicals are harmful to hair that should be avoided?
One must avoid the following chemicals while buying any hair product:
- Parabens
- Sodium Lauryl Sulphate
- Diaminobenzene
- Lead acetate
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Formaldehyde
- Silicones etc
How do you choose a hair dye that minimally damages hair?
According to professionals, choose hair dyes within the three shades closer to your hair color. Lighter hair color shades include too much hair bleaching agent and may result in frequent hair touch-ups. Also, wash less often to avoid periodic hair touch-ups. Make sure you avoid too many treatments like perming and straightening post-hair dye. Give a few weeks between hair treatments.
References –
- “22 Tips to Hydrate and Repair Hair After Bleaching” – healthline.com
- “Effect of oil films on moisture vapor absorption on human hair” – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “Hair Shaft Damage from Heat and Drying Time of Hair Dryer” – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “Best Vitamins for Hair Growth (Plus Herbs and Foods)” – draxe.com
