According to "The Science of Hair Care," bleach damages hair by stripping it of its vital nutrients as it strips the color out of the cuticle. Though the level of damage varies, damage always occurs when bleaching hair, according to "Hair and Hair Care." By replenishing the protein and vitamins that were stripped from the hair, you can restore your hair's health, according to "Hair Care: An Illustrated Dermatologic Handbook."
Step 1
Avoid bleaching, coloring, perming or toning your hair for at least two weeks. According to "The Science of Hair Care," hair that has been damaged by bleach needs at least this amount of time to reabsorb enough protein to be strong enough to avoid breakage when styling.
Step 2
Apply a protein mask, which can be purchased at a beauty supply store or salon, to your hair for 20 minutes, three times a week for two weeks. According to "Hair and Hair Care," your hair will absorb the protein from the mask, increasing the strength of your hair and decreasing the chance of breakage.
Step 3
Apply a leave-in conditioner to your hair daily. According to "The Science of Hair Care," this is necessary to prevent your damaged, brittle hair from becoming further damaged by environmental factors such as pollution.
Step 4
Avoid hair styles that will stress your hair such as tight ponytails and braids. According to "Hair Care: An Illustrated Dermatologic Handbook," these hair styles can cause hair damaged by bleach to break.
Step 5
Dye your hair with the assistance of a qualified cosmetologist if your hair color was left an unattractive color when it was damaged by the bleach. Do this after caring for your damaged, bleached hair for two weeks to ensure your hair is strong enough to process the chemicals in the dye, according to "The Science of Hair Care."
Things You'll Need
- Protein mask
- Leave-in conditioner
References
- "The Science of Hair Care"; Claude Bouillon and John Wilkinson; 2005
- "Hair and Hair Care"; Dale H. Johnson; 1997
- "Hair Care: An Illustrated Dermatologic Handbook"; Zoe Diana Draelos; 2004
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