Hair breakage because of over bleaching

[IWantToBeTheOnlyOne]

My hair is in bad condition and breaking. It's starting to look thinner around the top due to this. I'm sure the problem is me bleaching it blonde for so many years.

I know I need to stop bleaching, but when my hair is natural I look too much like my father. He was abusive and I have had psychological issues due to this. This sounds pathetic but I tried going natural last year and every time I looked in the mirror all I could see was him and I kept dwelling on memories and I don't want to do that.

Is there anything less harsh I can do? My natural hair is light brown. I keep thinking I should just shave all my hair off but I don't think I really want to do that. Sorry this is stupid.

This is what I use on my hair. It's not bleach but a high lift tint instead so it's better for your hair. It also comes with a blue Conditioner to neutralise the yellow tones you can sometimes get.

You honestly can't tell that it's not bleach, a nice colour blonde and a lot healthier too.

Also pure coconut oil in your hair, wrap in cling film and leave in for an hour before washing out with help to restore the condition.

Hope this helps

Thank you! I will get some of that garnier stuff the next time I need to dye my hair. The breaking is really starting to worry me. I don't think it's at the stage that other people would notice it, but I think if I carry on it will get there. I have some coconut oil so will do the clingfilm thing tonight. Thank you again!

You could try Aphogee protein treatment, it's amazing for restoring over bleached hair. They do a keratin mask too which is very good. I use the keratin mask once a week and the protein treatment monthly.

I also use Aussie reconstructing oil as a treatment before I shampoo.
I'm repairing years and years worth of damage this way and I've stopped bleaching. Slow proce but these are working for me.

Do it a few times a week. Don't use any heat on your hair either because that drys it out more. And get a shampoo and conditioner for damaged hair 😊

Coconut oil is soooo good for damaged hair, and olive oil is really moisturising too. I read about someone who used a combination of olive oil on scalp/roots and coconut oil on dry bits/ends and its really effective. I haven't bleached my hair in a year and a half now but used to switch regularly between dark and bleached for years and it's really taken its toll :( I am taking better care now and have had to cut loads off but oil treatments really do help. Make sure you warm the oil a little and apply to dry hair, you don't want the cuticle saturated with water.

Also, sorry I missed it but do you dye your own hair or go to a salon? If you use a salon you could ask if they could apply an Olaplex treatment, which is supposed to prevent a lot of the protein damage done to hair in the bleaching process.

I bleached my already damaged hair 3 x in one day and then put a hair dye on it. I was thinking that the colour had come out well (previously loads of red and brown dye underneath) when I realised in the mirror that a whole load of my hair had literally disappeared. The under layer was and still is intact but the top layer of hair had literally broken off all the way round and now I have a top layer of hair about 10cm long. Looks odd but just waiting for it to grow out. Rest of hair felt awful when wet.
Aphogee is good as is coconut oil. Also Elasticiser Extreme.
Aveda Damage Repair. Morrocanoil masks. Been using all these products the past 2 months and it's definitely better than it was.

Thank you for all the advice. It's really appreciated. I think I'll go shopping tomorrow and buy everything you've suggested that i can find!

Cherries, i dye my hair at home. I think I will go to a salon and get a load of mine chopped off too at some point.

Sorry to hear you've lost a load of hair too User. Hopefully both of us will have quick regrowth!