I was not someone that had much of a hair care routine until I started highlighting my hair with bleach. When using strong chemicals it basically becomes a necessity to treat your hair right, or else you risk dryness, damage, breakage, etc. Throughout the years I have tried many products and have finally got myself down to a stable routine that works for me. I am not a hair dresser or professional of any sort. Everything I know is from my own experience, as well as videos that I have watched, and articles that I have read. I am simply sharing what I find successful in hopes that you will take something valuable away. I will not really get much into the bleaching aspect, but more of the day-to-day life of my hair. To give you my hair story, my hair has been outrageously frizzy my entire life, even before bleach. It is natural, and something that I try to combat with good habits and products. Time to jump right in.
Give it a Good Wash
A hair care routine cannot not exist without some shampoo and conditioner! My go-to for quite a few years now is Tresemme’s Color Revitalize shampoo and conditioner for color-treated hair. My hair is actually bleached, which is permanent and cannot be washed out with regular shampoo. However, I use the kind for color-treated hair because I heard that it is a healthier option. It is made for hair that goes through the ringer, so why not! I wash my hair every other day because daily washing strips your hair of vital oils and nutrients. I know that trying to cut down washing even more is a good idea, but I have not put forth the effort. First I wet my hair, then I apply the shampoo only to my head, NOT on the lengths. This is supposed to help with dryness and frizz. Do not worry, as you wash the shampoo out it will cleanse the lengths. I work the shampoo into a lather and rinse. I then apply conditioner ONLY to the lengths, once again to help with frizz. Also, your hair produces it’s own oils, so conditioning the top of your head is unnecessary. If anything, it can help your hair look more oily. I let my conditioner stay in my hair while I complete washing my face and body. The very last thing I do in the shower is rinse out my conditioner. The longer you leave it in, the better!
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| Tresemme Color Revitalize Shampoo and Conditioner |
Detangle
While in the shower I use a detangling brush by Conair. The first time I used it, it was so gentle that I was convinced I was not gliding it through my hair! I only brush while the conditioner is in to help work it through evenly. You can also buy wide-toothed combs that hang in the shower if a brush is not your thing. You can find them at Dollar Tree.
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| Conair Shower Brush |
Keep Blonde Looking Blonde
Whether your hair is naturally blonde or made so by chemicals, you can experience brassiness. Blonde hair has the tendency to get an orange-red cast over time, which can be corrected with purple shampoo and conditioner. Purple is on the opposite side of the color wheel, so it cancels out the brass. I like Loreal Ever Pure Blonde because it is less expensive than similar products. I use it every now and then as needed, and especially right after bleaching! You can find it in drugstores.
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| Loreal Ever Pure Blonde Shampoo and Conditioner |
Detangle, Dry, & Smooth
When I get out of the shower I squeeze the excess water out of my hair. I then wrap my hair in one of those “turbie twist” towels. Those are the microfiber towels that are made to fit your head and have a button with a loop. I like them better than a full-sized towel because they do not put weight on my neck. You can get a knock-off towel at Dollar Tree. When I remove the towel I take my Goody QuickStyle brush and brush out my hair. This brush is very unique because it has strips of microfiber in-between the bristles to help remove excess water.
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| Goody QuickStyle Brush |
Next in my hair care routine I use a 100% cotton t-shirt that you can find at Dollar Tree (I swear this post is not sponsored!) and use it to squeeze the excess water from my hair. Cotton is supposed to help reduce frizz, but remember that you do not want to rub, only gently squeeze. Next, I work a quarter-sized amount of Suave Sleek Anti-Frizz Cream into my damp hair. I follow this step by applying a pump of BTZ Split Mender only to my ends. Bleach leads to split ends, so I need all the help I can get. You can get the frizz cream in drugstores, and the BTZ Split Mender at Sally’s. I always let my hair air dry; it is rare that I use a blowdryer.
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| Suave Sleek Anti-Frizz Cream |
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| Beyond the Zone Split Mender |
Once my hair is dry I apply a hair oil. My absolute favorite is Ouai’s Rose Hair and Body Oil. Unfortunately, it is very pricy at $30 a bottle. I have yet to find a suitable dupe, but you can experiment to see if a cheaper oil works for you. To start, I part my hair into two sections. Next, I fill my palm with oil, rub my hands together, and work on one side of my hair. I work my hands through the ends, then continue all the way up the section. I do this because the ends of your hair need the most moisture. Then I repeat these steps on the other section. I will say it takes some experimentation to figure out how much oil to apply to your hair. You will probably start out by applying too much and looking oily for a day. It happens.
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| Ouai Rose Hair & Body Oil |
Tame Tiny Hairs
I have a bunch of tiny hairs that stick up around my face and on the top of my head. My secret for taming them is a drop of hair gel. Any cheap gel will do. I squeeze a pea-sized amount (if that) onto my fingers, rub my hands together, then smooth the gel over the tiny hairs. I try not to overdo the gel because I do not want my hair looking crispy and matted down.
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| Hair gel |
Brushing
I brush my hair daily with a standard hair brush. Wide-tooth combs are a good option as well, especially if you are concerned about frizz. To brush my hair I part my hair into two sections, just like when I apply hair oil. I then brush the sections out individually. It just makes it easier for me since my hair is on the longer side.
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| Hair brush |
Heat Protection
Any time you are using heat on your hair you want to make sure that you are protecting it from damage as part of your hair care routine. I use Suave’s heat protection spray because it is inexpensive and gets the job done. You can use any heat protectant that you have on hand. I spray it all over and comb it through for even distribution. You can find this product in drugstores.
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| Suave Heat Protection Spray |
Tough Detangling
I want to make sure that I mention in my hair care routine what I use when I encounter stubborn knots and tangles. Mane ‘n Tail detangler works like magic. I spray it onto the section giving me trouble, let it sit for about a minute, then brush. This spray also works as a leave in conditioner! You can find this product in drugstores and at Sally’s.
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| Mane ‘n Tail Detangler |
This concludes my hair care routine. I do not think it is anything too over-the-top or expensive (aside from the hair oil). Frizz and split ends are still an issue for me, but I must say that my hair is very soft and shiny considering that I bleach it. People do comment about how nice my hair feels, despite the highlights. If you try out any part of my hair care routine, please let me know in the comments. Also, please ask questions and share your thoughts about my hair care routine. As always, continue to let your true beauty shine.
