All You Need to Know About Keeping Your Platinum Blonde Hair Healthy
The More You Know, the Better You Glow: Understanding Hair's Journey Through Bleaching.
By Katie Muirhead
Updated on July 1st, 2023
The platinum blonde hair color has never been out of style, as seen by the wide variety of celebrities, such as Marylin Monroe, Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus, who have worn it. For Spring Summer 2023, platinum blonde hair color is making a comeback with warmer hues as a look that is very much of the moment throughout this months of euphoria, just as it does every year at this time.
When it comes to having double-processed or platinum hair, you have a variety of options to choose from; nonetheless, it is essential to be well-prepared for the significant life changes that will follow.
Before you embark on this style upgrade, there are a few things you need to be aware of, such as the way that bleach acts on your hair, how to plan your aftercare products, and how to protect your freshly bleached hair from the stresses of everyday life. Here is what you need to know.
Understanding What Happens to Your Hair When You Bleach It
When bleach is applied to your hair, the hair cuticle is opened and stripped of color, or melanin. This is how your hair becomes lighter, but in the process the protein bonds, or keratin, are damaged. No matter your hair type or texture, you can expect that the longer the bleach is left on your hair, the more damaging it will be.
This process changes the porosity and elasticity of your hair, so you may notice changes to your hair’s natural texture and characteristics. More porous hair means that the cuticle, the outermost layer of the hair, becomes more open - your hair will be able to absorb more moisture, but it will also lose it faster.
While this may sound scary, the management of bleached hair is really just about understanding that the cuticles have been shifted from their natural alignment. There are some advantages to bleaching your hair, too:
The process of bleaching your hair can cause it to get thicker because it raises the porosity of your hair, enabling each individual strand to expand. Highlights or a full bleach may help add volume to fine hair, so consider getting them if you want to make your hair look thicker.
Your hair will be easier to style as a result of the increased porosity because it will be able to keep curls and waves with less effort on your part.
Bleaching your hair will slow down the rate at which it produces oil even if it has a natural propensity to do so quickly. Because porous hair is better at soaking up the natural oil that is produced by the scalp, it means that you may wash your hair less frequently and that your styles will continue to look great for longer.
Strategize Your Hair Care Products
Your newly bleached hair not only has a new color, but it also has a different texture, porosity, and elasticity than it did before. You will probably need to switch to completely new products from what you have been using in the past, beginning with your shampoo and conditioner.
There are a few things to look out for because you are the only one who can determine if you are using the appropriate shampoo and conditioner for your hair. The effectiveness of a shampoo can initially be judged by whether or not it prevents the hair from becoming tangled or knotted while it is being washed. Keep in mind that because your hair now has a high porosity, products like sulfates and harsh detergents will strip it even more than they used to. If you are able to comb or run your fingers through your hair after using the conditioner, this is a good indication that you are using the appropriate product for conditioning your hair. This indicates that the conditioner is providing nutritious elements and doing its intended function of sealing the cuticle.
Mix and match shampoos & conditioners
While using high-quality products is essential to preserving the health of your hair, we suggest making an investment in two shampoos and two conditioners, both of which are designed specifically for bleached hair but have varying levels of nourishing ingredients.
One of your shampoo-conditioner combinations should be mild enough for your typical wash day, while the other should be somewhat more active and oriented for deep conditioning. While caring for bleached hair, it is essential to establish a balance that provides sufficient nourishment without making your hair feel weighed down. Keep in mind that hair with a high porosity is extremely sensitive to water, climate, and frequent washing; as a result, you will learn to "read" what your hair requires on any given day and adapt the products you use accordingly.
Pay attention to labels
Pay close attention to the ingredient list when you are out shopping for items to care for your hair. In the short term, ingredients are frequently added to improve the look or feel of the hair. However, in the long run, these ingredients may be further detrimental to your freshly bleached hair because of the way they interact with the bleach. Sulfates, parabens, formaldehyde, polyethylene glycol, and dimethicone are among ingredients that should be avoided in cosmetics goods.
3 Steps to Reverse Hair Damage Caused by Metals in Water
Hard water is water that contains a high concentration of minerals and metals such as calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, nickel, mercury, chromium, and zinc. The level of hardness of the water in your area is determined by the location of your home.
Mineral and metals contained in the water have the potential to react with the components of your shampoo, lowering the efficacy of those components to clean your hair. It is possible that foaming your shampoo will take longer, that you will need to use more of it, and that your hair will never be as clean as it would be if you washed it in soft water. Mineral and metal deposits are notoriously difficult to remove entirely, leading to a buildup that can give bleached hair unattractive brassy tones of yellow or orange.
Protect it with a treatment before shampooing
When you can’t control the water hardness in your shower, such as when traveling, you can prevent a mineral build up in your hair by using the Blonde Restoring Hair Oil. This all-natural, vegan formula works to protect your hair health and color from hard water - simply apply it on dry hair from the roots to the ends one hour before shampooing.
Use a shower head filter to prevent it
If you live in an area that has hard water, you should consider investing in a shower head filter. This will prevent the minerals from even reaching your hair, and has added benefits of protecting your skin from hard water.
Avoid it by using metal detox shampoo
The manufacturers of hair care products such as L'Oreal and Davines are already aware of this issue, and as a result, they have developed specific shampoos that detoxify your hair from minerals and metals that are in excess.
Good Things Happen Overnight
You could be doing everything right to care for your freshly bleached hair during the day, only to lose the benefits overnight. We spend about a third of our lives asleep, meaning that these nighttime hours should be harnessed to work for, rather than against, your hair’s health.
Your hair’s natural oils can absorb into your pillowcase and sheets overnight, so color-treated or bleached hair is more likely to become dried out while you sleep. Adding moisture to your hair before bed is one of the best things you can do for your hair’s health.
Choose The Right Product
If you are already in the habit of adding a treatment to your hair before bed, you’re on the right track. It’s important, however, to choose a product that is safe to leave on for long periods of time. There can be a huge difference between using oils and some protein treatments overnight, the latter of which can be damaging if left for too long.
Hair Masks
While some moisturizing hair masks may be safe to use overnight, protein-rich formulas could end up leaving your hair brittle and prone to breakage. Many masks formulated for colored or damaged hair contain proteins to help rebuild the keratin in the hair, however these come with a risk of delivering too much protein.
While they may work wonders if left on for the suggested 20 minutes, leaving them overnight can actually dry your hair out and leave it in a more fragile condition. When it comes to hair masks, leaving them for longer doesn’t always mean a better result. Pay attention to the label and use only as directed, and be aware that many masks may have “hidden” proteins in their ingredient list that may be hard to initially spot.
Hair Oil
Natural Oils are formulated with only natural ingredients, and when applied to the hair actively deliver vitamins, minerals, plant proteins and botanical extracts to your hair. Over time, they can increase the hair’s ability to retain moisture, enhancing the overall texture and health of your hair. They are gentle on the hair, meaning they can safely be left in your hair for 5-8 hours or more. When in doubt, always choose the moisture of hair oil over a protein-rich hair treatment.
Wrap Your Hair While You Sleep
While you’re applying an overnight treatment to your hair, it’s possible for the product to shift and affect your skin and eyes. There are some things you can do to avoid a sensitive reaction:
If you have extra long hair, tie your hair into a secure (but not too tight!) ponytail. Then apply the treatment to just the lengths, wrap it in a silk scarf, and secure the scarf with a knot. Finish by adding a few drops of oil to the sides of your hair, keeping it 3 inches from the hairline.
If you have medium - short hair or a layered cut that is hard to tie back, apply the product throughout your hair before putting on an adjustable silk cap . This will keep the products 3-4 inches from your scalp, preventing it from migrating onto your skin or into your eyes.
Switch To A Silk Pillowcase
Thanks to the super smooth texture of this natural fiber, hair glides easily over silk without getting snagged. This reduction in friction means you’ll be less likely to wake up with the frizzy hair, tangles or bedhead that can come from a cotton pillowcase.
Sleeping on silk is a habit learned from women with textured and curly hair that has been adopted for a wider range of hair types, and is perfect to protect bleached hair from further damage overnight.
Going platinum blonde can be one of the most fun and expressive ways to change up your look. Always in style, there is a bleached blonde look for everyone. While bleach can be damaging to your hair, by preparing for the change and adopting healthy hair habits at home, your hair will be shiny, bouncy and fabulouslessly blonde for as long as you want it to be.
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