Blond, brown, red, black, silver: Coloring your hair is undoubtedly a fun way to try different looks and renovate your style from time to time, especially if you are someone who isn’t afraid of change. According to the wanted color, your hair might need to go under bleaching, especially if you want to go lighter than your natural hair color, or be adventurous with a bright color like purple, blue or pink. And this part, bleaching, is the reason why so many men and women are scared of dying their hair, fearing it would ruin it.
First, let’s understand what hair bleaching is.
Bleaching is a chemical hair dye technique that strips off the natural color of your hair through a process of oxidization, disrupting the cuticles to allow hydrogen peroxide, a key component of hair bleach, to penetrate the shaft. Bleaching increases porosity so that the new color can be absorbed. The truth is bleaching can make your hair brittle and prone to damage if done poorly, hence it is always recommended to leave your new style in the hands of a professional, so you don’t end up with an overly-processed hair. Other ways your hair could get severely damaged are perming and using heat-styling tools.
How bad can hair get from bleaching?
Hair dying does not inhibit hair growth, but it can cause hair loss by weakening the hair shafts. Permanent and semi-permanent hair coloring products contain peroxide and ammonia, the chemical components responsible for making hair dying possible by opening up the hair cuticles — this change in the hair integrity is what makes colored hair become dry and brittle.
Disaster can come if your strands get over-bleached. The wrong amount of bleach and developer, as well as leaving it in the hair for too long, can quickly make hair extremely fragile and stringy, and even burn your scalp. In the worst-case scenario, a person can experience losing chunks of hair (yes, chunks!) at the slightest touch right after the bleaching is done; this can be even more noticeable when brushing the hair or while manipulating it in the shower.
So, how to fix damaged hair?
Many products promise to repair damaged hair, but the majority of them won’t help much to make your hair as healthy as it once was before coloring. Hair is not a living tissue with regenerative ability, so it cannot heal and repair. Products like oils, deep conditioners, masks, and oil treatments can improve the texture and appearance of hair, but won’t fix the problem from the roots. The lack of nutrients and reduced elasticity of hair after chemical color processing makes it more prone to breakage and eventually splitting. What can you do about it?
- Take vitamins. Biotin (Vitamin B7) has been shown to boost hair growth and strength. Other supplements that could also help are vitamins D, A, C, E, and folic acid (make sure to ask your doctor before starting to consume any supplement).
- Cut it. Yes, we know it’s something you might not want to hear, but if your hair is damaged to the point of having split ends, there’s no way you’ll ever get a healthy mane again if you don’t cut them first.
- Use minoxidil. This FDA-proved medication stabilizes hair shedding and creates an ideal growth environment for your existing hair follicles. This topical treatment is commercially known as Rogaine and it can be used by both men and women.
- Take a break from heat styling tools. If you’ve put your hair through continuous heat by using a flat iron and a blow dryer every single day, it’s time to take a break. They are great to achieve different hairstyles, but the high temperatures are damaging to the hair (even more for overly-processed hair!). You can leave your hair to air dry and use tools like rollers or mousse to style it.
- Get hair biostimulation teraphy with enriched blood cells. “These enriched blood cells are loaded with proteins called growth factors that stimulate hair follicles to grow stronger and thicker”, Jimena explains. Blood is extracted from the patient, passed through a centrifugation process, and then injected back into the scalp, on all thinning areas.
Enjoying healthy hair again after a hair dye nightmare is possible. At DHI Mexico, we offer different treatments to help you fight back against hair loss due to coloring or other causes, such as androgenic alopecia, medications, and nutritional deficiencies. Get a FREE diagnosis of your degree of hair loss, and we will help you choose an effective solution!
