How to Get Your Hair Healthy After Bleaching It

Bleaching your hair strips away natural moisture, making it vulnerable to breakage. Damage to the cuticle, which protects the cortex where your natural hair color is, can result from over bleaching. The cuticle is left extremely rough and breakage may damage your hair from the root. Discover tricks, tips and products to help strengthen and restore the health of your hair after bleaching.

woman with healthy looking bleached hair (Image: Fuse/Fuse/Getty Images)

Conditioning Shampoos and Rich Conditioners

shampoo and conditioner bottles (Image: Steve Lovegrove/Hemera/Getty Images)

Keep your hair hydrated with a conditioning shampoo and a rich conditioner. Products that are formulated for dry, damaged hair imparts much-needed moisture to chemically damaged strands. Look for the active ingredient dimethicone, available in shampoos and conditioners, that boosts shine, improves manageability and lessens static electricity.

Deep-Conditioning Treatment

woman having conditioner washed out of hair (Image: Jacob Wackerhausen/iStock/Getty Images)

Twice a week, use a deep conditioning treatment. Your hair's elasticity will improve because of the emollients and moisturizing ingredients. Many deep conditioning treatments contain oils, including olive oil, sweet almond oil and jojoba oil. Using heat speeds up the penetration of the conditioner. Apply the treatment and put on a shower cap for the last 15 minutes of your shower or use a dryer on its lowest heat setting for best results.

Olive Oil

spoonful of olive oil (Image: Inácio Pires/Hemera/Getty Images)

Olive oil is a natural way to super-charge your hair with moisture. After shampooing, soak up excess water by squeezing your hair with a towel. Saturate entirely with olive oil. Wear a shower cap or plastic bag on your head to trap the heat. Leave in for 15 minutes. Rinse out completely until there is no greasy residue left. Condition, then style as usual.

Apple Cider Vinegar

jar of apple cider vinegar (Image: YelenaYemchuk/iStock/Getty Images)

Unfiltered, raw apple cider vinegar is rich in enzymes and balances your hair's pH level. Mix 1 cup of apple cider vinegar with 2 cups of warm water. After shampooing, massage the vinegar into your hair. Leave it in for 15 minutes. Rinse well and then condition as usual.

Sunblock

blonde woman applying hair spray with sun protection factor (Image: BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty Images)

Being outdoors under the sun can leave your hair looking brittle and dehydrated. Use of hair care items containing sunblock help maintain its health. Look for hair gel, mousse, hair spray and spray-in conditioner that contain a high sun protection factor. Apply these products throughout your hair each time you will be outside in the sun or wear a hat.

Hair Serum

blonde woman looking at hair serum product (Image: Jacob Wackerhausen/iStock/Getty Images)

Hair serum coats each hair strand for protection against the elements and heat styling. Serums may contain silicone, that helps smooth hair and prevent frizz, or oils such as argan oil, infusing moisture into dry locks. Hair serums with sun-block help prevent your hair from sun damage. After shampooing, take a few drops of hair serum, and then smooth the serum on your wet hair. Carefully distribute the hair serum evenly, starting near the ends and working up to your scalp.