The Best Products for Bleach Damaged Hair

April 15, 2020 33 Comments

If you have bleach damaged hair like me, you need these products in your life. They will bring life back to your dull, damaged hair.

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In the past 4ish years, I have had red, black, auburn, and white-blonde hair. Each time, I have returned to blonde. And 95% of the time, I color or bleach my hair at home.

The results: sad, bleach damaged hair.

But also, an ongoing quest to find hair products that actually work to repair my hair. I think, at this point, I have tried every DIY hair mask and repairing product on the market.

From cheap hydrating masks found at Walmart to more expensive hair treatments found at Sephora and Ulta.

And finally, I have found a routine and hair care products that actually work to repair my bleach damaged hair.

So, I want to share this information with you because I know how stressful and discouraging it can be to have hair that is frizzy, breaks off, and looks unhealthy.

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Hair Care Products for Bleach Damaged Hair

Olaplex No. 3

First on my list is Olaplex No. 3. I have been using this hair strengthening treatments for over a year now and have nothing bad to say about it.

Olaplex No. 3 is made for people with damaged hair. It helps to strengthen the hair and restore a healthy appearance and structure. That being said, this is not a conditioning treatment. Your hair will not “feel” noticeable smoother after using it.

Instead, it works to actually repair the bonds within the hair for stronger hair.

I use this roughly every two weeks. After showering and towel drying my hair, I apply around a quarter size amount to my hair, massaging it into my ends and working up. Then, I use a brush to work the product through all of my hair.

After that, I apply a shower cap and allow the product to sit on my hair for around an hour. The directions state that the product is effective up to 45 minutes, so there is no need to sleep with it in your hair.

Olaplex Bonding Oil

I put this second on this list because it has the same price point as Olaplex No. 3, above. But, also because this product has multiple benefits and has proven to be a must-have in my hair care routine for damaged hair.

The Olaplex Bonding Oil helps to repair broken bonds in the hair for stronger, healthier hair. But, it also conditions and softens all hair types, and acts as a heat protector up to 450ºF.

The formula is ultra-lightweight. Because it’s labeled as an oil, I was scared it would leave my hair looking greasy. But my hair always looks clean and feels soft after application. It has also helped with detangling.

You only need to use a few drops, meaning your money will go a long way with this product. I always start by massaging it into my tips and then working it up and through the shafts of my hair.

Buy at Sephora

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Coconut oil may be the holy grail of beauty. It’s used for dry skin and works like magic on bleach damaged hair.

Here are some fun facts about how coconut oil works on the hair:

• Coconut oil is primarily a medium-chain fatty acid called lauric acid. The structure is easily absorbed in the hair.
• It can prevent damage to your hair before washing by decreasing the amount of water that is absorbed by the hair. Note: hair is most vulnerable to damage when wet.
• Coconut oil can reduce the amount of protein lost in the hair while washing if applied beforehand.
• It can assist in hair growth because it protects and moisturizes the hair. But also because it moisturizes the scalp and has antimicrobial properties.

To use coconut oil on your hair, I suggest putting a couple of tablespoons in a small bowl and heating it in the microwave in 10-second increments. Only heat until the coconut oil has just melted; you don’t want it too hot.

Stand over a towel or on a hard floor. Use either a hair tint brush or your hands to apply the coconut oil all over your hair. Then, use a comb to evenly distribute the product.

I like to cover my head with a shower cap and then sleep with the coconut oil in my hair.

Hair Cholesterol

I first bought Hair Cholesterol at Sally’s Beauty Supply over a year ago. Upon opening it, it looked and smelled a bit strange. It’s very thick and creamy.

But it only took one treatment after severely damaging my hair with a double process bleach at home disaster for me to be hooked.

My hair was silky soft and felt stronger immediately. If you have over-processed your hair with bleach you know what I mean when I say “rubbery hair” that snaps when your brush it while wet.

Yeah, this stuff eliminated that and I didn’t have to worry about breaking off huge chunks of hair while brushing.

It is formulated with aloe and keratin amino acids. Both of which are amazing for overall hair health. I will note that there is methylparaben listed in the ingredients.

However, upon reading more about methylparaben, it appears to be one of the safer parabens. It does not accumulate in the body and is quickly flushed out. You can read more about methylparaben on Healthline.

Argan Oil

Argan oil is yet another oil that is absorbed well into the hair and has amazing benefits. It contains both fatty acids and Vitamin E, which are hard hitters in the hair care game.

For those of us with extremely bleach damaged hair, argan oil helps to condition the hair, protect it from further damage, and decrease frizziness.

While there isn’t a ton of evidence to back it up, argan oil is thought to help with hair growth. When applied to the scalp, it nourishes and moisturizes the scalp. And it contains antioxidants to provide a healthy environment for hair to grow.

While I don’t use Argan Oil as frequently, I try to include it in a hair mask once or twice a month. When I remember, I also use a couple of drops on the ends of my hair before blow-drying or styling with heat tools.

Conclusion

After bleaching and coloring my own hair for over a decade, I know how important it is to have a good hair care routine.

Much like skincare, you should try to dedicate time each week to caring for and strengthing your hair. This could include a hair mask, either store-bought or homemade.

And if you want your blonde hair to look fabulous and not fried, you will need to invest some money into quality products that help repair and strengthen the hair.

With severely bleach damaged hair you should also be cautious about applying heat tools. Use a lower temperature when you do use heat styling tools, and try to limit it to once or twice a week.

Wearing your hair in braids can help to minimize further damage as well. This is because you aren’t playing with it or having to brush it as frequently.