When the hair is further weakened by bleaching, these twist points can break easily from combing or brushing,” he adds. In tight, curly hair, each of these twist points becomes a weak link and very susceptible to breakage. “This causes the hair, as it emerges from the follicle, to twist and curl. “The follicles of curly hair are not round but fall on a spectrum from oval to elliptical in shape,” Cincotta continues. “Dryness happens because as curls get more tightly coiled and crimped in shape, the hair is unable to wick sebum (secreted by the sebaceous glands in the follicle) easily (or evenly) down the hair shaft from root to tip,” explains Cincotta.Īnd it's not just the strand that is shaped differently with curly hair it's the follicle as well, another factor that contributes to its fragility. This is because curly hair - even without being bleached - is drier and more fragile than straight hair, largely because of the shape of the strand. “Using a shampoo and conditioner like Redken Color Extend Blondage will help tone hair and remove brassiness while also strengthening strands in between salon services.” (Ramirez is also a Redken ambassador.) Some rules for curly/kinky hairĪlthough everyone can benefit from these treatments, folks with textured hair need to go the extra mile when caring for bleached strands. “At-home hair care is critical to maintaining the health of your hair,” he says. Colorist Johnny Ramirez swears by the new Redken Flash Lift Bonder Inside, which he uses to protect his clients' hair, coupled with a prescribed DIY regimen. She also suggests a daily treatment like Daily Damage Defense to help protect hair of all types from the elements.Īnother way to protect against the damaging effects of bleach is to make sure your stylist is mixing a bond builder into your lightening formula. Kingsley recommends using the Phillip Kingsley Elasticizer, a pre-shampoo deep-conditioning treatment, three days before (and after) lightening. If you decide that lightening is worth it, prepare your hair before bleaching and make an extra effort afterwards. How to protect your curls from the bleaching process
To avoid any potential disasters, be sure to have your stylist do a patch test to make sure you can tolerate the formulas they’re using. “Even if the dyes don't come in contact directly with the scalp, areas that the dyed hair touch, most commonly the ears and neck, can develop a rash 24 to 48 hours after the treatment,” she adds. Not only can bleach itself aggravate the skin, the ingredients used in hair dye along with bleach may also produce a negative reaction, explains dermatologist Nancy Samolitis, cofounder and medical director of Facile Dermatology + Boutique.