Does Going Blonde In One Session Damage Your Hair?
This is a very common thing I hear from both clients and fellow stylists. Well, this may be an unpopular opinion but, going blonde in one session might not be as damaging as you have been led to believe. There are various factors that actually cause damage. So if your end goal is to be drastically lighter or you are worried about damaging your hair while going blonde, keep reading.
HOW BLEACH WORKS
I want to make sure you understand that no matter what, applying lightener, aka bleach, will also be drying to your hair. In order for bleach to do its job it has to raise the hair cuticle which can make your hair prone to dryness but also provide thicker, fuller texture (which can be a win!)
AIM FOR FEWER BUT LONGER APPOINTMENTS
Whether you are naturally very dark and want to be platinum blonde, one the most extreme changes, or you are a medium/light brunette and want to be blonde, its best to try to get as close as possible to your dream hair in the first session. I have seen it many times where a new client sits in my chair after seeing another stylist and they tell me they are working towards being blonde. Great! But the problem is they still have 75% of their hair dark and the 25% of their is highlighted to a bright perfect blonde.
This makes the next appointment very tricky, because now I will have to pick out all of those beautiful blonde highlights and make sure we don’t apply bleach on them again, because that is when damage can happen. If you apply bleach to hair that is already as blonde as it can and should be, it pushes it past its breaking point and well… breaks.
So if you are wanting to be mostly all over blonde, it would be better to lift all of your hair to a darker blonde to avoid breakage the next session.
Depending on your starting point and your end goal will determine what techniques and product are used, but I find doing a longer first appointment and gradually moving towards shorter appointments will ultimately be the best for your hair.
HOW YOUR STYLIST CAN PREVENT DAMAGE
There are so many new innovative products that stylists have available to use that can help prevent unnecessary damage. Bleach add ins and pre treatments like Olaplex, K18, B3, Malibu C, and the list goes on. These are used to make the lightening process easier, help protect the bonds and polypeptide chains in the hair and strengthen the hair after a lightening session.
Your stylist should also make sure to analyze your current hair and carefully choose which level of developer to use depending on your end goal as well as what your hair can handle.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
I recommend doing an overnight oil treatment 1-2 days before your hair appointment. This is preventative and helps nourish your hair before lightening. Apply liberally from roots to ends, leave it on overnight, and then wash the next morning.
After your blonding appointment make sure to moisturize, moisturize and moisturize again. Every day, apply 1-2 pumps of the serum to your hair. It needs extra moisture and will help to strengthen and restore your hair from the bleach. If your hair is fine just a tiny bit, every day. If your hair is thicker 2 pumps, every day. Focus it on the blonde areas.
I would also recommend using the Masque 1x a week for the first 1-2 months depending on how your hair feels and then using it once a month thereafter. It has all the vitamins and antioxidants to replenish your hair and to help smooth, hydrate strengthen.