Hair bleaching techniques have improved drastically over the decades, but the process still does a number on our hair. Usually, we have to sacrifice hydration and even length if we want to sport that golden, beachy look. It’s especially difficult on raven-haired brunettes, who report that their hair takes months, if not years, to regain the health it had pre-bleach.

Thankfully, there are plenty of different ways to protect your hair’s vitality before, during and after your salon visit. If you’re about to take the plunge into blonde life, check out our suggestions below:

Before:

Starting at least one week before your visit, try to prep your hair from the inside with a potent supplement. Look for ingredients like biotin, vitamin A, folic acid and zinc. These healthful additives will help support both your scalp and your hair follicles so that they’ll be ready for the Big Day.

If possible, drench your hair in moisturization a day or two before your salon visit. Try using a hair mask packed with avocado oil and vitamin B5, which will help hydrate and fortify your strands. 

During:

Try to ask your colorist whether he or she can achieve the results you’re hoping for with a hi-lift, instead of bleaching. For hair that’s naturally lighter, this might be a better and safer option.

If the color you want requires a lot of bleaching, try to get as much information from your colorist as possible regarding its potential effect on your hair.

After:

Your colorist probably gave your hair a deep-conditioning treatment, so it should be fine for the first day or two. If possible, avoid shampooing, keep taking your hair supplement, and try to use your mask again by day three or four.

Don't Forget To Detox

Your hair is golden, and now you're ready to go out and have fun. To keep it healthy, you might want to try detoxing from potentially unhealthy chemicals. After your appointment, follow the steps below to keep your blonde strands shining: 

Step 1: Ditch the Chemicals

This is the first step to any detox, and this hair method isn’t any different. Try to throw away sulfate-filled shampoos, and hairsprays with impossible-to-pronounce chemicals.

During your detox, try to avoid using any hair products that contain:

Parabens
Sulfates
Dyes
Pthalates
Alcohol

Look for all-natural, organic ingredients that will gently nourish your hair.

Step 2: Keep popping that vitamin

As with most detoxes, health comes from within. That's why continuing to take your supplement is essential for achieving gorgeous hair the au naturale way.

In addition to the nutrients mentioned earlier, other key ingredients include:

Vitamins K, B, E
Flax Seed Oil
Zinc
Iron
Collagen

Step 3: Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

You've ditched the chemicals and begun nourishing from within, but now you might want to focus on topical benefits. Normally, we spray on all kinds of leave-in chemicals that promise to de-frizz or add volume. Those products are usually filled with the ingredients we promised to avoid in Step #1, so now what?

First, you might need to pare down. Using too many products in your hair can actually be detrimental to its health, but you may want to stick to that weekly conditioning mask. 

Step 4: Clarify the Right Way

Shampoo is another essential part of a hair detox, but you might want to make sure that it only contains helpful ingredients that nourish your hair, which means no sulfates.

Try to find a shampoo with:

Coconut and olive oils
Saw Palmetto
Vitamin E
Keratin

These ingredients both cleanse and help maintain your hair’s natural vibrance. After shampooing, top off with a conditioner that includes:

Argan, Tea Tree and Jojoba Oil
Vitamin D3

Step 5: All-Day Care

Like we mentioned before, it’s best to pare down your topical products as much as possible. We suggest sticking to a leave-in serum that does the job of all your old products in one. For added shine and hydration, try to find a serum that includes:

Vitamin E
Coconut Oil
Jojoba Seed Oil

To Sum Up...

Achieving blonde hair is no longer the scary process that our mothers might have endured. With the right prep work, skilled salon colorists and diligent aftercare, we can enjoy our new blonde look without all those pesky downsides.