Has anyone bleached their hair and NOT ruined it?

[Nevertooearlyforamojito]

Hi,

So I have had a couple of balayages over the past 2 or 3 years, with Olaplex and whereas it always looks great for the first few weeks, gradually it gets drier and drier and eventually feels like straw.

My natural hair colour is dark brown and I'm quite pale, so it can look at bit harsh, especially as I hit my mid - late 30's. A balayage really helped freshen me up a bit and was really flattering.

I hear time and time again though, women bleaching their hair, but then needing to cut it all off and revert back to their natural colour, because their hair was fried.

I would really love another balayage and would even like a bit more and to go a bit higher, but am I just going to end up cutting it all off with a third lot of bleach? It's been about 9 months since my last and it definitely does feel dry. I do use masks etc.

What are your experiences?

Thank you

Perhaps get your hair cut first, just get your existing dry ends off and have a couple of weeks of hair kindness, masks, no direct heat etc before getting the balayage redone?

I've done exactly the same as you, @Nevertooearlyforamojito, and the problem has been solved for me because the bleached bits are starting to fall off, giving me a fringe and layers I hadn't bargained for!

This despite frantic Olaplexing. I've had to accept that bleach is not for me.

Thanks @ViciousJackdaw. I have actually ditched the straighteners for the past few weeks and just blast dry it on a medium setting. Have tried leaving it to air dry, but it looks awful. Will definitely get a few inches off regardless.

I’ve had bleached hair for 20 years and only had this problem when I’ve had a less than great hairdresser who has continually added bleach over bleach which makes it brittle and causes breakage.
My current hairdresser just does the roots and the condition is great. I don’t even use olaplex any more.

When my hair has been bleach damaged in the past Redken Extreme has sorted it out.

Been 20 years here. I've had a few disasters when I was doing it myself and with a not so good hairdresser. I have been with a brilliant hairdresser for 15 years. We look after it, by not putting bleach over bleach and I also have a chin length bob which probably helps.
Find a good hairdresser and it'll be OK.

@GiveTheGirlAGun, so gradual lightening, such as balayage isn't great for your hair then? Even if it's lightened over several months? This is the thing I'm wondering. I was always told because my hair was very dark, it would take several sessions and it would be fine if it was a gradual process, but I'm not sure that's true.

I'm desperately trying to find a good hairdresser, but the search seems endless

Have you tried an aveda Salon? They tend to be better than other salons. The damage remedy range is very good.

You sound like you have my colouring. I’ve been blonde but I used aveda on it. I got bored of the upkeep and the bottle blondes I’ve known always end up with progressively shorter hair.

I have full on bleach and have the roots done every 8 weeks normally. I have dark brown hair like you and I had bayalage when pregnant under duress from my mother. On me it didn't look right. Like I'd had a dodgy dye job.

Initially it took a few home boxes to go blonde (and not orangey yellow) but in the salon they never have a problem. It is a bit of a myth because they can use toners to calm any warmness down.

I have been having mine fully bleached white for 20 years. A really good hairdresser is key, then using really good shampoo and conditioner and Olaplex at the hairdresser and regular applications of the home version. I try not to use the straighteners too much, but my hair is fine and quite delicate.

I've been blonde for 4 years now, hair is in great condition. Not sure what does it, I get foils and a toner, do 3 times a year (hairdresser does it) always use conditioner, used a variety of products from olaplex to aveda all results much the same but pleased with its condition.

Hmmm

I first had highlights 2 years ago. I’m fully blonde and the only part of my hair that is fucked are my “money pieces”. My hair appointment after lockdown 1 wasn’t great, the salon was really busy and my stylist was rushing around between clients and left the bleach on for too long. My hair in this section is literally fried beyond recognition and broken. However the rest of my hair is healthy, soft and shiny.

So I think it’s possible to stay light and healthy, but 1 bad application of highlights over previously highlighted hair can throw you off.

@QueenofallNorway, I've just bought some Redken shampoo and mask. Hoping for wonderful things!

@Fluffycloudland77, I've actually googled a local Avena salon and the reviews were awful! Assuming it's specifically this salon that's the problem though.

@ihaveallergies, I'm not sure what money pieces are, but I do have some unwanted layers around the back of my hair and also the sides, where it's broken off. Is that the same thing? My last hairdresser asked if I would like my layers cutting in and I had to explain they weren't deliberate

Seriously though, how can you actually find a good hairdresser? Most hairdressers seem to have really good online reviews - 4-5 stars, but then when you go they're often very average.

Oh no, ours have always been very good and I’ve used a couple now.

No. Bleaching has always knackered my hair in the end.
If dark is unflattering what about red, pink or copper?

I bleach my hair myself and after the initial Bad Times (decided to go blonde when my hair was still box dyed dark brown so naturally there was damage) it’s in pretty good shape! Never overlap bleach that’s what causes breakage, avoid heat - I blow dry but never use tongs or straighteners, and use regular masks. Regular trims help with dead ends but that applies to any kind of hair

@IdblowJonSnow, if I go any shade lighter, they'll have to use bleach though, that's the problem. Even if I don't end up blonde.

@Dachshund, if you're really dark though, unless you want to go orange, you'll always need to overlap bleach won't you? If there's been several weeks or in my case, months, in-between bleaches, will that make any difference in terms of damage limitation?

I have very fine brown hair which is past shoulder length. I’ve had bleach foils every 8-10 weeks at the salon for over 25 years and the condition of my hair is good. I wash it at night, add a hair oil and tie it back so it dries overnight so I don’t need to use the hairdryer. I straighten as little as possible the next day (the top sections and roots not the ends) and it tends to stay that way until it’s washed again which is normally about 4 days later. I do use an intensive conditioner once a week and leave it on for about 10 minutes.

I have a balayage style and I’ve found that only lifting the blonde one a year works wonders. I got roots and a toner on the blonde every other appointment. A few things that help me are regular trims, olaplex when full colouring, not rubbing hair dry with towel and heat protector spray. I also get a moisturising treatment at the hairdressers every now and again. Ditching any shampoo with sulphates and silicon might be an idea too. I buy the body shop banana one one.