What to do right after bleaching hair

By: | Last Updated: November 27, 2021

Whether you’re a natural blonde or a brunette, you probably have considered going for lighter hair color at some point.  

Nowadays, people have been dying their hair blue, pink, purple, or even gray. Hair bleaching has become so popular that almost everyone is doing it! 

But despite how aesthetically-pleasing lighter and colored hair looks, the process can be damaging to your hair. 

Dry hair, frizzy, brittle, and breakage are common results of bleaching. 

However, hope is not lost. You can still hop on the bleaching trend by simply following preventive measures that will keep your bleached hair healthy and hydrated. 

Keep reading to know what to do right after bleaching your hair.


Do’s and Don’ts after bleaching hair

Keeping your mane healthy should be your number one priority after hair bleaching. Take note of some bleach do’s and don’ts listed down below:

Do’s and Don’ts after bleaching hair

DO wash your new bleached hair with cold water 

Rinse your hair with cold water right after the bleaching process. Chemicals used in bleaching can penetrate your hair’s cuticle, which damages the tresses. Rinsing your hair with cold water helps close the cuticle and helps protect the inner layer of your hair. 

CHECK OUT: How to wash bleach out of hair

DO protect your hair from the sun 

Your bleached hair is more vulnerable to heat damage. Hence, constant sun exposure can make them dry and brittle. 

So it is best to use an SPF spray or any sunblock specifically designed for the hair. Aside from preventing dryness, this will also help protect your scalp from the scorching heat of the sun. 

DO avoid chlorine exposure as much as possible

​​Well-water and swimming pools contain “copper”, which is oxidized by chlorine.

When this oxidized particle sticks to your hair’s proteins, it will likely leave unwanted color to your bleached hair, which can be very unappealing to look at.

So if you don’t want to end up having a greenish hue or brassy blonde hair, avoid contact with chlorine. 

But if you must, rinse hair with cold water before and right after slipping into the pool. 

Also, don’t forget to put on a generous amount of conditioner before going for a swim. This will prevent chemicals in the pool from damaging your bleached hair. 

For added protection, it’s also best to use a swimming cap. 

DO use products that will help seal your hair

After bleaching your hair, your cuticle will open. Hence, it is best to use products that can help seal it. 

You can use olive, almond, argan, or coconut oil to help close the cuticle and protect hair from further damage.

CHECK OUT: Best Bleach for Dark Hair 

DON’T use heat styling tools all the time

As mentioned earlier, bleached hair is more susceptible to heat damage since the cuticle is left open.

So refrain from using heat styling tools 2 to 3 weeks after bleaching. 

After the 3 weeks, you may go back to heat styling but do it once or twice a week.

DON’T skip your hair care routine

Adopt a healthy hair care routine to prevent further damage to your bleached hair. 

Give your hair the extra moisture and protein it needs through deep conditioning hair masks, hair spa treatments, and leave-in conditioners. Add these to your hair care routine to help get your healthy hair back. 


Do you shampoo hair after bleaching?

The answer is a HARD NO. You should avoid applying shampoo 24-48 hours after bleaching. 

Do you shampoo hair after bleaching

Shampooing closes your hair cuticle and stops the toner from doing its job. 

Wash your hair with just cold water instead. This allows your hair to sip in the new color and close the hair cuticle. 

Make sure to completely rinse off all the chemical solutions to prevent scalp burns and further damage to your tresses. 

After 48 hours, you can use a sulfate-free shampoo. But use shampoo sparingly and condition your hair more often. 


Should I let my hair rest after bleaching?

Yes. You should give enough time in between bleaching sessions. 

It’s no secret that bleaching can be damaging. The bleaching process will wreak havoc on your hair as it penetrates and opens your hair’s cuticle. 

So it’s important to give your hair ample time to regain its healthy state and rebuild its strength. 

Wait for your hair to recover before bleaching once again. The waiting period can take up to four to six weeks, depending on how dry and frizzy your hair is. 

Patience is a virtue when it comes to re-bleaching. Otherwise, you’ll only cause severe damage to your mane and tresses. 


What to do after bleaching hair

Again, post-bleaching care is necessary to repair damaged hair, so here are ten things you need to do after bleaching:

  • Shampoo less, condition more
  • Apply deep conditioner every week
  • Invest in hair repairing masks 
  • Protect your hair from the sun 
  • Always wash your hair with cold water
  • Gently brush your hair when wet
  • Avoid heat-styling tools
  • Dry your hair with a microfiber towel
  • Hydrate with hair nourishing oils
  • Wait for 4 to 6 weeks before bleaching again

Coconut oil after bleaching hair

Coconut oil after bleaching hair

Coconut oil treatment is a must right after bleaching your hair. 

The hair has fatty acids that are likely to break down during bleaching. This is one of the reasons why your hair becomes very dry after bleaching.

Applying coconut oil can help combat this dilemma. 

Coconut oil, composed of fatty acids, particularly superior lauric acid, will help add fatty acids back into your hair strands. 

This hydrates and protects the hair cuticle, thereby preventing frizz. 

You can incorporate this hair oil treatment into your hair care routine a week after bleaching. 

I recommend that you do this once or twice a week until your hair becomes healthy again. 

When applying coconut oil, leave it on overnight. Make sure that you thoroughly coat your hair strands so the coconut oil can effectively penetrate.

The next day, rinse your hair with a mild shampoo and conditioner.

CHECK OUT: How to Make Bleached Hair Soft and Silky


The bottom line

Rocking a variety of hair colors indeed comes with a cost. Most of the issues when it comes to hair bleaching is after-care. 

It’s no secret that bleaching breaks apart the hair’s proteins, making hair strands weaker and more prone to frizz and damage. 

And although the damage is permanent, you can still promote healthy hair growth by developing a strict hair care routine after the bleaching process.

So unless you’re ready for a whole new level of commitment, then go for that hair goal! 

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