The rumors are true: Having blonde hair is no walk in the park. Most of your habits from when you had unbleached hair are pretty much obsolete at this point, because now, you're dealing with delicate strands that need some extra TLC. But don't let that scare you—once you get the hang of it, maintaining those shiny platinum locks will be as easy as doing your daily skincare. To make it that much easier, here's a full beginner's guide to blonde hair care:
Do's and Don'ts for Blonde Hair Care
1. DON'T expose your hair to saltwater or pool water.
In case you were thinking of debuting your blonde locks at the beach, you might want to raincheck ASAP. "Never go to a swimming pool or the beach [after bleaching]," warns Joe Almakdesi, creative director of Basement Salon Rockwell. He explains that the salty sea water will strip your hair color, while the chlorine in pool water could turn your gorgeous golden strands green. Basically, swimming anywhere but your bathtub at home will put all those hours you spent in the salon to waste.
2. DON'T use or get a keratin treatment right after coloring.
Overprocessing your hair is never good, so try your best not to give into the temptation of treatments right after bleaching. For one, even if your locks are feeling a little dry, do everything except a keratin treatment. "It makes blonde hair turn yellow because of the wheat protein in the treatment," Joe explains. So unless your goal is add some more honey tones, avoid it.
Speaking of adding tones, for any color adjustments, try to consult your colorist instead of DIY-ing it, especially if you just dyed your hair. If you do want to get a keratin treatment, wait at least a month after bleaching or consult your hairdresser beforehand.
3. DO adjust your hair washing schedule.
It's often said that washing your hair a day after going blonde is a no-no. But in truth, Joe says that you absolutely can, provided that you have the right products (more on that later). Besides, if you just worked out and your strands are all sweaty and oily, you'd be much better off taking a shower than blotting the shine off with some dry shampoo.
That said, on the regular, feel free to skip a day or two when your hair is clean and your scalp isn't that oily. Basically, do what you feel works best for you—whether it be shampooing every other day or twice a week!
What You Need in Your Blonde Hair Care Routine
1. Gentle Shampoo
You shouldn't use just any shampoo now that you're dealing with bleached locks. For your day to day (or twice a week) cleansing, use a gentle shampoo that will wash off all the dirt and grime without stripping your strands of moisture. Any shampoo that's safe for colored hair will do, though sulfate-free shampoos are the popular choice for a mild cleanse. If you're curious why, it's because sulfates are strong detergents that could dry out your hair when used too often. It also fades your hair color quicker, which is enough of a reason to avoid it for most people. That's not to say it's bad for your tresses—just make sure to limit use for when you really need a deep clean.
Ever Pure Sulfate-Free Moisture Shampoo, P350, L'OREAL, Lazada
2. Conditioner
If you weren't big on conditioner before bleaching your hair, then we promise you that you will be now. Conditioner is key to keeping frizz and dryness at bay, so skipping it is definitely not an option. Go for the ones that promise extra moisture or those that are specifically formulated for colored hair. Pair this with your gentle shampoo above for basic care that'll keep your strands feeling soft and clean.
Rich Organic Powerfusion Rich Moisture Ultra Conditioner, P229, CREAM SILK, Lazada
3. Purple Shampoo and Conditioner
Unfortunately, your blonde hair won't look the way it did fresh out of the salon forever. The color will fade eventually, and soon, some of those annoying brassy tones would appear. And when that happens, you need to have some purple shampoo and conditioner in your routine to cancel those out.
In case you've never tried them before, the logic behind purple hair products lies in basic color theory. Purple is opposite yellow on the color wheel, so applying purple on yellowing hair will neutralize the brassiness. It will restore the cool tone of your blonde hair (it works for colors like gray, blue, and silver, too) and make it look as good as new. Cool, right?
How to Use Purple Shampoo:
As effective as purple products are, they aren't a must for maintaining healthy bleached hair. They're more for color maintenance, which means you can get away with only using it once or twice a week or when your tresses need major toning. When using it, treat it like a mini hair mask: Wash your hair with a cleansing shampoo first, and then apply the purple shampoo. Leave it on your hair for five minutes (for medium blondes) to 15 minutes (for platinum blondes) before washing it off.
Bed Head Dumb Blonde Purple Toning Shampoo, P1050, TIGI, Zalora; Blonde Brilliance Conditioner, P119, TRESEMME, Lazada
4. Hair Masks and Leave-in Products
"When you use purple shampoo, it's very important to have a good hair mask to repair the hair," Joe reminds. That's because even if it will help tone your locks, it tends to dry out your strands as well. Bleached hair in general also needs moisture than unprocessed hair, and sometimes, just using conditioner won't be enough. At least once a week, lather your hair in a moisturizing mask and leave it on to "marinate" before washing your tresses in the shower.
For your post-shower care, Joe suggests having leave-in products like no-rinse conditioners and shine serums to lock in that moisture. He especially recommends this to those with thick hair who need more moisture.
Nounou Hair Mask, P1710, DAVINES, hairmnl.com
Nutriplenish Leave-in Conditioner, P2000, AVEDA, Lazada
5. Treatments
Hairdressers often use treatments during the coloring process already, which explains why your strands don't look fried after your salon visit. You can maintain this effect by having your own treatment products at home, whether it be a moisturizing one or a strengthening one like Olaplex (ask your colorist for recos before leaving!). This will not only restore the feel of your locks, it'll also prevent further damage and breakage.
No.3 Hair Perfector Treatment, P2330, OLAPLEX, Sephora.ph
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