Can you recommenced something amazing to save my coloured hair that isn’t olaplex??

[Wonderingwhyme]

Have always had dark coloured hair but last few months have had some fine bleach high lights put in and it is not doing the condition any favours. Olaplex is not for me at all. Feels like straw after using it at home.

Iv tried loads of different masks for coloured hair but none leave the dark shiny and the bleach looking ok?! I use heat protector and use an oil also which has helped but it never looks healthy and swishy anymore?

[mariinaa]

Bleach London Reincarnation Mask, it does wonders and I’ve had bleached hair for the last 6 years. It’s a must have mask for hair that needs a bit more moisture

[Standinguptononsense]

I agree the bleach reincarnation mask is good. My hair changed for the better once I started using aveda cherry almond shampoo and conditioner.

[Wonderingwhyme]

Thanks I’ll have a look at that. Every single person raves about olaplex but my hair felt horrible and worse after that! Iv tried all the things hairdresser has suggested, I must just have bad hair! I’ll google that one thanks as haven’t heard of it.

[Wonderingwhyme]

So I tried the bleach one but I’m not that fussed? Didn’t feel or look any different to the ones iv tried?any other recommendations?

[SwansGlide]

I really like the Boots Maui Curl Quench coconut oil smoothie, in a tub (I use a generous amount and use it as a wash-out conditioner after shampooing, not a leave-in like it says). I don't have curly or thick hair, in fact it's fine, straight and processed but I find this works well, especially with the matching shampoo. They are silicone free so long term it's less drying. My hair is shiny and feels nice.

[TheHumansAreDefinitelyDead]

I think it is essential to go silicone free, as silicone gives an illusion of health but dies not help the hair.

REN of similar brands do great silicon free conditioners, that do not feel as slick and silicon-y as other brands but leave hair do much softer

[MummytoCSJH]

I know you specifically said not olaplex but I'm just wondering as I can't really tell (you first mention home but then a hairdresser) if you're doing it yourself or having the salon treatment? Only because the home version did the same to my hair - it was awful and worse than before - but the salon treatment really fixed my hair having it every few months over a year or so. Worth a thought if you've only done it at home yourself!

[BinkySodPlop]

Tweak'd cleansing hair treatment. It's been brilliant on my bleached and coloured hair. I alternate with 3 more inches shampoo / conditioner. None of the products have silicone, parabens etc. in.

[SwansGlide]

Agree TheHumans. I'm not silicone free on principle, I would take anything that makes my hair look OK but there is no doubt, long term silicone use can make some hair look worse, not better. Unless you have the kind of hair that can take it, in which case crack on, but some hair types do struggle.

Not all silicone free hair stuff is the same though. I've used silicone-and-nasties-free shampoos and conditioners in the past which have dried my hair out badly, left it tangly and feeling like wet cotton-wool etc. It's a question of finding a brand or product to suit your own hair but it can involve a lot of expensive trial and error.

[RightestPersonOnMN]

Yes. The Olaplex at home (3) is the third maintenance step after intensive bond repairing in salon.

[QueenOfOversharing]

Olaplex 6 - the leave in cream is fantastic. The others did piss all with my hair (bleached with toner over). For conditioner, I use Shu Uemura silk bloom mask. I spend ££ on my hair as cheaper things just don't work.

[HetHetHet]

How about Philip Kingsley Elasticizer?

[Bloomburger]

Innoluxe is better than olaplex.

[GoldLeafTree]

Pureplex is amazing

[HasaDigaEebowai]

which olaplex did you use? Number 3 is rubbish, its a less intensive version of 2. You need Olaplex 2 and leave it on overnight.

[Feelingabitashamed]

I know you said no Olaplex but I have to say no 7, the new leave in oil has been good.

Also I wouldn't be without Lush American Cream conditioner, it has a really strong sweet smell that lingers (I quite like it but some may not), but the lanolin really helps my balayage'd hair look shiny and feel strong. I know not everyone is a fan of their bath bombs and things but their hair masks are really good and not a bad price, Retread especially.

QueenofOversharing are the other Silk Bloom products good as well, do you know? I've been tempted and lookfantastic.com have some multi deals on.

[LifeInAHamsterWheel]

I had my hair done recently and my stylist used Color Wow Dream Filter for the first time, instead of a toner. It is FAB. You spray it on hair and leave for 5 mins before washing. My colour is the best it's ever been, I will definitely buy it to use myself at home.

[CallofDoodee]

It's worth saying that Olaplex 3 is not a conditioner - you need to use a moisturising conditioner afterwards otherwise your hair does feel crap I think.

I use Aphogee 2 step protein treatment which is pretty good as well, but again you have to use an intensive moisturising conditioner afterwards.

[Wonderingwhyme]

Thanks everyone, I’ll read through more thoroughly later. I had a hairdresser use all the ones just a hairdresser supposedly can get and then I’m sure it was the number 3 I had. It was awful, knotty, dry, felt like it was going to snap. It was like hay. I’m not sure I want to risk any other of that range?

My hair has taken a beating. I do look after it, heat protect, only comb when wet, deep condition each week etc but can not get it looking great. It looks ok but not great. I want shiny swishy hair that looks great!

Haven’t tried that Philip one and have read good things on here... I just can not find a good hair range that my hair loves. I often get a dry and itchy scalp too so really trying to work out a good routine with it.

[withlotsoflove]

After 3 it needs to be conditioned just as if you hadn’t used it. It repairs the bonds in your hair - so you won’t notice your hair being smoother / better conditioned.
It’s not a one off either ... needs to be used till the hair is as repaired as it can be!
It *can be used as a stand alone treatment without having to go through 1&2 at the basin.
The oil is good too. Step 7 🙂

[DesperateToHelpMyHudband]

I was in the same position as you. I had dark hair and was finding I had to do the roots every three to four weeks so had highlights put in and went blonde. It totally ruined my hair and felt like straw. I tried absolutely so many different products like Olaplex and Philip Kingsley elasticiser but nothing worked so I have admitted defeat and gone darker again. Not as dark but I so t be using bleach anymore.
Not even Brazilian keratin treatments work on my hair so I think I have particularly resistant hair.

[Wonderingwhyme]

To be honest I’m having trouble me with it. For some reason the dark is not holding on th top section and ends up very light by 4 weeks. Hairdresser doesn’t know why. My hair is not naturally light... it’s very long my hair but I don’t sit in the sun, it’s treated the same through the lengths I I don’t know what to do with it.

[Wonderingwhyme]

Right so today I have tried the elasticizer ... but yet again no different?

[Bathwater]

Regular bleacher of hair (for bright/unnatural colours). The bleach reincarnation mask did nothing for me. I’ve tried a lot of products as texture is really important!
Never used olaplex but recommend kerastase chromatic for coloured hair (may not be necessary I just found it best for my colour choice maintenance!). Hair mask is either Briogeo don’t despair repair mask or Moroccan Oil repair mask and a general conditioner. Then Davines OI milk spray post shower. The mask and Davines I’ve found critical for managing my hair! I only wash my hair 2/3 times a week max and I follow this every time.

[jellycatspyjamas]

Someone on here recommended Osmo hair mask - comes in a huge tub and not awfully expensive (£8 or so on amazon) but has worked wonders on my hair. My hair was dry, straw like and the curl had fallen out, after a few treatments with this a stranger stopped in the street to ask about my hair colour.