Bleach Damaged Hair 101: Causes, Symptoms, and Solutions
Bleaching is a new trend among people, especially youngsters. But with the fantastic colors, it also brings hair damage.
There are many harmful effects that it may cause to your beautiful hair, majorly due to an ingredient called Hydrogen peroxide.
Bleaching products may contain 6-9% of this ingredient.
If you are among the people who have applied bleach to their hair and now searching for savior options, you are at the right place.
This article will discuss some of the best ways to repair and care for bleach damaged hair, but first, let’s discuss bleach and its properties that damage hair.
Bleach damage causes
Bleach is a chemical agent used on your hair to remove the pigment from your hair strands.
Melanin, your natural hair color, is dissolved with alkaline and oxidative agents. It’s the easiest way to strip off the natural color of your hair.
Ammonia provides the alkaline property, whereas Hydrogen Peroxide powers the oxidative property.
Ammonia
Ammonia is an alkali used in your hair during the dying process. It makes your hair dye last longer but pulls apart layers of the hair’s proteins.
It opens your hair’s cuticles (outer layer) so the color deeply deposits in the cortex (inner layer).
But due to this process, the hair may lose moisture which is essential for preventing hair problems that may lead to hair loss.
Moisture content in your hair helps in preventing hair breakage and tangles. Also, this can help retain your hair’s length and continued growth.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a colorless liquid chemical used as an oxidative agent in the bleaching process.
It works in the hair cortex, the middle layer of the hair shaft, made of keratin fibers and holds the pigment that gives hair its color.
Under alkaline conditions provided by Ammonia, Hydrogen peroxide chemically breaks down the Melanin molecule, leading to oxidative deterioration.
This process results in Melanin pigments dissolving.
Hydrogen peroxide may cause scalp issues and, in severe cases, may also lead to hair loss.
Symptoms of damaged hair by bleach
As mentioned above that the key ingredients used in hair bleaching are not suitable for your hair health; it may cause severe hair issues like:
Brittle hair
Approximately 15% to 20% of the hair’s protein bands break due to bleaching.
The main proteins that make up your hair are Keratin.
Hence, the structural integrity of the hair strands is compromised, and they become brittle when Keratin breaks.
Brittle hair gives the appearance of lifeless, dull, dry, and frizzy hair.
Scalp irritation
When Hydrogen peroxide is applied to your hair, you may feel irritation on your scalp.
It may feel like a burning sensation.
The irritation can even be felt on the hairline.
It is best to keep this bleaching agent for as little time as possible, resulting in less damage.
Damage to the hair cuticle
Your hair cuticle is the outermost layer of the hair that provides strength and protects the hair.
Bleaching your hair with Hydrogen peroxide can harm the cuticle because it must pass through to color the hair.
Damage to the cuticle can cause broken ends and frizz.
Hair breakage
As the name suggests, hair breaking occurs when your hair becomes damaged in between.
Healthy hair requires an inner cuticle with overlapping scales that binds your hair strands together.
If these scales eventually detach and dry out, your hair may sustain damage.
Permanent hair dye containing bleach is a high-risk factor for hair breakage.
Hair loss
As mentioned before, Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidative agent; it can cause oxidative stress for your hair.
If you have had oxidative stress for quite a long time, it can damage your DNA and other vital molecules. Sometimes it even leads to cell death.
A study conducted in 2018 stated that oxidative stress can lead to premature hair loss.
How to fix bleach damaged hair
Fixing or repairing bleach damaged hair may take some time.
The effects that hair bleach has caused will not go away in a few days.
You may follow the following tips and tricks to protect your bleached hair:
Use sun protection
Blonde hair, which has lighter pigmentation, is more prone to photodamage than hair with darker pigmentation.
After 300 hours of exposure to simulated sunlight, black hair lightens, but blonde hair turns yellow.
It lightens after exposure to 300-1200 hours of simulated daylight.
Consider donning a wide-brimmed hat or a hair wrap to protect your hair and scalp.
You can also use a UV protection hair spray to protect hair that peeks out.
Limited or no bleach at all
Bleaching your hair will always cause some damage, no matter how much you take care of it.
Bleach will weaken your hair strands, so be assured your hair can handle another bleach process.
It is better to limit the use of bleach, or even better if you don’t bleach your hair.
The break will give your hair time to heal and protect it from further damage.
Avoid heat
Your hair has already become dry and brittle due to the hair bleach. It is advised not to further indulge in activities that may dry it even more.
You may notice your hair has become dry and dull due to the following:
- Living in a warm environment
- Spending a lot of time in the sun outside
- Blow-drying your hair frequently
- Using electric straighteners or curling irons
You may use a blow dryer in a cool setting or try the best way, which is air-drying your hair. Moreover, don’t heat style your hair daily; use it only when necessary.
Get a trim
You may have skipped a few hair trims to keep your lengths as long as possible, but this is a big mistake.
Split ends are common in hair that has been bleach damaged.
Without regular trims, split ends can advance up the hair shaft and cause breakage much closer to the scalp.
Depending on how long your hair is, you should trim it every 12 weeks, between 1/4 and 1/2 inch.
Moisturize your hair
Taking care of your dry hair from bleach damage is very important.
As mentioned before, the moisture content in your hair is essential to keep it healthy and growing, so moisturize your hair timely.
You may use castor oil to lock in the moisture as castor oil seeds contain moisture.
Takeaway
Bleach damages hair because certain key ingredients, like Ammonia and Hydrogen peroxide, are used in the bleaching product.
It deeply penetrates your hair and causes damage to the scalp and hair cuticle.
The damages lead to dry, brittle, and frizzy hair, making it more prone to breakage.
It can sometimes even lead to hair loss.
The main question asked is how to fix damaged hair from the bleach.
You can care for your bleached hair in several ways, like moisturizing, sun protection, limiting or eliminating bleach use, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you treat damaged hair from bleach?
There are several ways in which you can treat damaged hair from the bleach. One of the essential things is to provide moisture to your hair, as it may have become dry, brittle, and frizzy after bleaching. You may use oil, conditioner, or hair masks for the same.
How long does it take hair to recover from bleach damage?
Depending on your hair, it may take up to two weeks to get over the severe damage caused by bleach. Before your hair feels smooth and lustrous again, you may need to take care of the hair for a month. Sometimes, the dryness and hair breakage may take time to recover.
Is hair permanently damaged by bleach?
According to some hair professionals, bleaching may permanently alter the texture and integrity of your hair’s natural structure. However, you can repair the damages caused by hair bleach by reducing heat use, providing moisture, etc.
How can I rebuild my hair after bleaching it?
Bleaching your hair leaves hair dry, brittle, frizzy, and prone to breakage. You can use moisturizing masks, conditioners, shampoos, oils, etc. You must also protect your hair from sun and heat as it may increase damage.
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