Colouring and bleaching: why does it damage our hair?
Many women (and increasing numbers of men) regularly colour their hair. Whether it is to cover up a few grey hairs, or to try out a new style, hair colouring has become a habit for many of us. At home or at the hairdresser, you can completely change your look in just a few hours. However, as we all know, colouring and bleaching can be harsh and damaging for your hair.
Coloured or bleached hair requires special attention. This is because the colouring process opens up the scales of the hair to implant or remove colour pigments. Hair dyes, especially conventional ones, contain a number of active ingredients that fix pigments to the hair. The more you do this to your hair, the harder it will be to “close” the hairs, making them fragile, dry and brittle. This is why it is important not to colour your hair too much, and above all why it is essential to properly take care of your hair after colouring or bleaching it.
Use the right products
It seems obvious but it’s always important to remember that it’s essential to use the right shampoos and hair care products, which are specially designed for coloured or highlighted hair. Mostly, they are designed to protect and maintain your colour. Without the right care, your beautiful locks can quickly become dull and lose their shine. Don’t forget too that hot water and hard water opens up the scales on the hair, letting coloured pigments escape.
From shampoos to conditioners to hair masks, there are many products that are specially designed for coloured or highlighted hair. Using a special formula, coloured hair shampoos help close the scales of the hair to lock pigment in. They also help coat the hair and restore its suppleness and shine, for beautiful health locks.
How to look after coloured blonde hair?
Platinum blonde, Californian blonde, ash blonde…there are many different shades of blonde you can go for. While it is a popular choice, blonde is also a very fragile hair colour that needs special care if you want to avoid a yellow, straw-like effect. Our advice is to alternate your coloured hair shampoo with a chamomile shampoo that will brighten your hair and give it a nice blonde colour back.
To rescue hair that has already turned yellow, you can use anti-yellowing treatments, with blue and purple pigments, that will help you get a blonde shade back. Be careful to use them sparingly though, or you’ll end up with purple hair!
How to look after coloured brown hair?
The good news is brown hair is easier to look after. It is less fragile and requires a bit less maintenance, even if you still have to take care of it. Don’t forget to use shampoos, conditioners and hair masks designed for coloured/highlighted hair and to regularly moisturize and nourish your locks.
Some ingredients such as henna are good for reviving dark hair. If your colour is starting to fade after a few weeks or months you can use a shampoo or hair care product containing one of these ingredients. The most important thing to remember is to regularly use conditioners and hair masks to keep your locks moisturized, well nourished and looking great.
How to look after coloured red hair?
Very fashionable at the moment, red is becoming more and more popular. Unfortunately, it is a colour that requires a lot of maintenance. It can easily lose its shine and end up looking faded and dull. Shampoos, conditioners and hair masks for coloured hair are essential to prevent the colour bleeding too much and fading after just a few washes..
To revive red hair, opt for products specially designed for this colour, containing copper pigments to give your hair a boost.
How to look after grey coloured hair?
As grey/white hair is very trendy at the moment, we couldn’t leave this one out.
Whether your grey hair is natural or bleached, you need to look after it for it to look good and ensure it doesn’t just look poorly groomed. For this, choose anti-yellowing hair care products, to avoid white or grey hair taking on a yellowish tinge.
Obviously, you can back this up with the right conditioner and mask for great locks.
