6 Ways to Keep Bleached Hair Bright and Healthy

There’s blonde, and then there’s bleached blonde. Peroxide lengths have long communicated a chic irreverence, the blanched shade (or non-shade) a mix of punk rock and chilly cool that tends to lean stylish every time. But while bleaching one’s hair may be a devil-may-care move, caring for bleached hair requires quite a bit of thought, the better to protect and preserve hair health while ensuring your color stays light and bright. 

“Bleaching is an oxidative process that lifts the cuticle of the hair to permeate the cortex and break down the hair’s natural melanin, which results in the hair lightening,” says hairstylist Phoebe Nathan. “It breaks through black, brown, red, orange, and then eventually yellow pigments in the hair to get to a pale yellow blonde.”

Hairstylist Cameron Raisic employs a helpful metaphor for visualizing the process. “When you put bleach or lightener on the hair it will cause the cuticle to open, giving access to hair color molecules inside—I like to think of it as a bunch of tiny small doors that open to one big room,” she says. When all the cuticle swells, or those doors open, it allows us to pull out all of the natural color molecules inside, leaving you with a lighter color underneath.” She notes that the cuticles' “doors” take several days to fully close post-coloring, which is why hair feels frizzy and why stylists avoid immediate washing. 

Once you go bleached, adopting a hair care routine designed to supplement that choice—from an adjusted product lineup to a shift in your styling routine—is essential. “Being blonde is hard work!” says Raisic. “Definitely think about the maintenance and what you are and aren’t willing to do at home, and just be honest. Your stylist will be able to take your lifestyle and your inspiration goals and combine them into the perfect hair color for you.”

Here, Nathan and Raisic, along with celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons, share six ways to care for bleached hair.

Install a Shower Filter

Investing in a shower filter may seem a tad arduous, but the extra step can help to protect your strands from chlorine and other minerals. And as bleached hair is more porous, protection—and a gentler temperature—is all the more important, minimizing unnecessary damage and maximizing brightness. “For brightness, do use a shower filter for hard water and use lukewarm water,” says Raisic. “These will help your toner last longer.”

Cut Down on Hot Tools

Bleached hair is fragile. Cutting through the cuticle results in strands that are more brittle and susceptible to damage—making applying excess heat a risky endeavor. “In order to maintain hair health after bleaching your hair, you want to decrease heat application as much as possible,” says Fitzsimons. Overuse of irons and the like can result in breakage, leading to a frizzy, frazzled mane.

“Never heat style your hair without heat protectant (this goes for all hair, bleached or not, but your hair is much more susceptible to heat damage after bleaching)” says Nathan. “When it comes to heat protection, for coarser textures prone to frizz I like the Color Wow Extra Strength Dream Coat, and for finer hair types I usually recommend the Sachajuan Styling Cream or Living Proof’s Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment.”

Invest in a Toning Routine

“Bleached hair will inevitably turn brassy after a few weeks post-coloring. To combat this, a purple shampoo is essential,” says Fitzsimons. “The Stainless Steel Color Enhancing and Toning Shampoo not only works to tone hair but also decreases frizz and increases shine.” That said, avoid using purple shampoo for every wash. “Purple shampoo will absolutely cancel out any yellow tones in the hair, but it will also make your hair darker,” says Raisic. “Violet is an ash tone and ash absorbs light, so if you purple shampoo your hair too often it will ultimately appear duller.”

Nathan agrees. “I think there’s a common misconception that frequently using purple shampoo and conditioner will make your bleached hair brighter when, in reality, over-using these products will have the opposite effect,” she says. “Use a toning conditioner (like Christophe Robin Baby Blonde) sparingly. I usually suggest only using it once or twice a month to my clients!”

Try a Bond-Repair Product

Products like K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask have a cultish following for a reason and will serve your lengths pre- and post-bleaching. In addition to ditching heat styling ahead of your appointment, Nathan recommends developing a bond-repairing routine to provide your hair some reparative defense—and keeping things up once you’ve gone platinum. 

“Bleaching breaks down the protein strand and disulfide bonds in your hair, so an effective and consistent bond-repair routine is necessary to keep your hair in a healthy condition,” says Nathan. “I love K18 in particular not only because I feel that it works incredibly well on all hair types, but also since it’s a leave-in mask, it’s great for anyone who doesn’t have as much time for an extensive in-shower routine.”

Mask Up

Your stylish, color-sapped strands need some extra nourishment to look their best. Fitzsimons suggests incorporating a weekly mask into your routine to rejuvenate lengths for added strength and luster. “I love the NatureLab. Tokyo Perfect Repair Treatment Mask to make hair soft and prevent breakage,” says Fitzsimons, who also recommends oiling the ends (try Kerastase Elixir Ultime or Oil Of Chébé Fortifying Hair Oil) to decrease the chances of splitting. While Nathan doubles down on bond-repairing masks, Raisic reaches for Amika’s Soulfood Nourishing Mask, applied every 3-5 shampoos. 

Be Gentle

To keep bleached strands intact, handle with care. While blondes are said to have more fun, becoming a bleached blonde comes with a certain amount of responsibility, lest your new hair requires more rehabilitation than celebration. Along with backing away from the hot tools (or at least turning down the temperature) and opting for extra moisture, pay attention to how you touch, comb, and style your lengths.

“Be gentle when detangling hair after the shower,” says Nathan. “Hair is at its most fragile while wet, and even more so after being bleached.” Invest in a wide-tooth comb, and allow yourself ample time for detangling and styling (rushing is the enemy of caution). Your menu of updos should be considered, too. “I recommend avoiding super tight ponytails or braids,” says Raisic. “When hair is worn the same way over and over again it can cause weak spots that break over time.” 

Whether you’ve already taken the peroxide plunge or are considering ditching your natural pigment, worry not—if you commit to caring for your bleached hair, it will reward you with brightened beauty.