10+ Reasons You Should Never Bleach Your Hair

1. For starters, bleaching your hair damages it - a lot

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Bleach can also penetrate the cuticle layer of your hair and damage the underlying cortex, which is responsible for your hair's strength and elasticity. Bleaching it over and over can strip away the natural oils and moisture from your hair, leaving it dry and brittle.

2. Bleaching can cause split ends and breakage

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When the protein bonds in your hair become weakened by bleach, your hair strands can break or split apart. This can make your hair look dull and lifeless and can also cause it to tangle and mat easily. To risk this, follow proper hair care practices, like using a deep conditioning treatment and avoiding tight hairstyles.

3. It can cause hair loss sometimes

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Excessive bleaching can also cause hair thinning and bald patches as the bleach can strip away the natural oils causing your hair to break off at the roots. It is crucial to get the advice of a professional hair stylist before bleaching your hair to ensure that the process is done safely and correctly. Do your research!

4. Your scalp can become irritated and uncomfortable

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Applying bleach to your hair can cause irritation to your scalp and can cause discomfort, especially if it drips down from your scalp onto your neck. It's always important to rinse the bleach off thoroughly with COOL water after it's been applied and always avoid rubbing or scratching your scalp.

5. Your hair will be more prone to knotting up

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The harsh chemicals in the bleach solution, such as hydrogen peroxide, can break down the protein bonds in your hair making it more prone to knotting and matting. Be careful unmatting your hair, if you notice that your hair is knotty or tangled after bleaching be gentle.

6. Your hair may become difficult to manage and style

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If you're having difficulty managing or styling your bleached hair, it's important to seek the advice of a professional hair stylist or hair specialist who can recommend the correct products to use that will work best for your hair type and condition. Always make sure that you do not just follow 'trends' online - seek professional help.

7. Bleaching can cause your hair to become frizzy

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Because of the harsh chemicals in the bleach solution your hair will become frizzy. Using a leave-in conditioner or anti-frizz serum will help smooth down the cuticle layer of your hair and reduce frizz. You should also use a wide-toothed comb or brush and avoiding excessive force when styling your hair to avoid flyaways.

8. Bleaching can cause your hair to lose its natural shine

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When your hair is dry, the cuticle layer becomes rough and raised, causing light to scatter and reducing the natural shine of your hair. Bleached hair can appear more yellow or brassy, which can make it look less shiny and healthy - making it look duller.

9. Your hair will become porous and prone to damage

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The loss of natural oils and moisture in your hair after bleaching can also contribute to hair porosity. Using a hair mask or oil treatment can also help to nourish your hair and restore its the natural moisture it's lost from bleaching, which can help to minimize hair porosity. Treat your hair well!

10. Bleach will make your hair thin and weak

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Avoid excessive force or tension when styling your hair, don't be putting your hair up in that slicked back bun you love! Use gentle hair accessories like soft hair ties or scrunchies, this can help to reduce the risk of further damage and hair thinning - especially if you use bleach.

11. Your hair will lose its natural texture

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Bleach seeps into the hair shaft and reacts with the stable pigment molecules. It breaks them down into components that wash away down the drain when you wash your hair. However, with that it also breaks down the natural fatty acids in your hair shaft, weakening each and every strand in your head.

12. Bleaching can cause your hair to become dull and lifeless

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The protective layer around your hair is made up of oils which repels water. Bleach strips down this protective layer which causes your hair to become negatively charged and attract water which means the chemicals in the bleach prevent your hair from looking silky soft.

13. Your hair will become more sensitive to heat and styling tools

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When your hair cuticles become raised - which is caused when you bleach your hair, it becomes more vulnerable to moisture evaporation. This is a particular issue when you're heat styling your hair - if this is the case, try not to style your hair with curling tongs or straighteners and always use protection spray no matter what.

14. You may get your own chemical haircut

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When the protective cuticle is disrupted like it is when you bleach your hair, it allows your hair to become damaged and allows the inner moisture to escape which leaves each individual strand to become brittle, weak and break off when brushing your hair.

15. Bleaching can cause your hair color to look unnatural

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A lot of things can happen when you bleach your hair - many things can go wrong! An uneven application method is the most common reason for unnatural coloured hair and this happens more often than you think - even for really experienced hairdressers.

16. Your hair may develop an orange or brassy tone

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This is all down to colour theory, it's boring but it's something that all hairdressers need to know about to achieve the right results. If your hair is on the yellow/orange end of the spectrum, purple shampoo may help fix this by neutralising the tones - however, it can sometime affect your hair more if you don't get a good enough brand.

17. The sheer cost of keeping up with it all

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This can become an extremely costly habit, one of which many of us struggle to keep up with in these current times. Each visit can cost up to $200 and it isn't just your wallet that becomes damaged, your hair is taking a beating too each time you put bleach on it.

18. You can change the structure of your hair

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Now, you may think you're sick of the way your hair is, you're bored of the colour, but trust me, there's nothing worse for your hair than bleach so if you think it's difficult to style your hair now. Think again. It becomes a lot harder when it's been bleached.

19. Bleaching can cause your hair to become too light or too dark

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Each hair shade has different levels of pigment to dissolve through a it's dependant on the condition and type of hair you have. The longer bleach is left on your hair, the more pigment is dissolved and the lighter your hair will become - if bleach is not left on for long enough this will affect how light or dark your hair goes.

20. It may cause your hair to become too yellow or too white

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A yellow tint to your hair after bleaching may be due to an error when applying the product or because an unsuitable product has been applied to your hair. The yellow may appear because the bleach is rinsed out too early. If your hair is looking too white, it'll be because the product has been left on for too long.

21. Bleaching can cause your hair to become too dry or too oily

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Because bleach quite literally 'fries' your hair cuticles, the layer that locks in the moisture, it takes time for your hair cuticles to rebuild. In that time your hair structure will have completely changed and if you used to have oily hair, you may find that it is too dry now or vice versa.

22. You will be more prone to dandruff and other scalp conditions

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The chemicals in your hair dyes can actually remove the protective lipids from your scalp leaving it vulnerable to damage and irritants like Malassezia globosa which makes it easier for your hair to develop dandruff. Other scalp conditions will develop more easily as well due to it being more vulnerable.

23. Forget about any elasticity and bounce in your hair

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When your hair is bleached, it's treated with a chemical that opens up the cuticles of your hair, exposing  it to moisture loss. Moisture loss results in a whole load of issues including loss of elasticity and bounce. So if you've been blessed with big, bouncy hair - think twice before you mess with the colour.

24. Bleaching can burn

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You always need to make sure you scalp is protected before you put any chemicals on your hair. It's important to have your natural hair oils still on your scalp and if your scalp does burn, it's not necessarily your hairdressers fault either - it'd just the sensitivity to the colour on your scalp.

25. Bleaching can cause your hair to become more difficult to dye or color

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The more and more you bleach your hair, the more porous it becomes meaning it absorbs minerals in water and products that can cause discolouration and brassiness. When your hair is brunette, it looks best when it's shiny and radiant - bleach will get rid of this natural shine and make it more difficult to get it back to your natural colour.

26. You'll need to prepare your hair before you bleach it

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There are some things that people need to know before they go ahead and get their hair bleached. If done incorrectly or carelessly your hair can become damaged beyond repair like you've already read about. Reduce the use of curling tongs and straightening irons.

27. Be realistic & manage your expectations

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People with dark hair should space out their bleaching sessions over a course of several months to avoid any breakage. It can often take years to get your dark hair to turn lighter and more often than not, the colour does not last long enough. The more you bleach the more porous your hair becomes.

28. Bleaching should be an investment...

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If you're thinking of bleaching your hair at home to cut costs then you need to rethink it. Bleach poses risks to your hair health and it really is worth spending more money to make sure that the process is done correctly. Be sure to be willing to spend some money when you're thinking of transforming your hair.

29. Be careful

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The condition that your hair is left in is the most important factor after bleaching it. It's also important for you to get your hair in the right condition before it's bleached. Add purple or blue shampoo to your hair washing routine & be prepared to invest in some good shampoo and conditioner.

30. Follow up with a stylist

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If you decide to get your hair bleached at your hair salon, then be sure to ask for your stylist's recommendations - and stick to them! Check in with your hairstylist 3-4 weeks after bleaching to make sure that your hair is healthy and that you're following the guidelines properly.