OGOD help me my hair is ruined!

[Toastedtoacrisp]

I have destroyed my hair, it is my own fault, I am 100% responsible for this trauma, but any advice appreciated.

Ladies, I used Sun-In.
It feels like going to confession and feeling the deepest of shame. Except I can't even admit this to a hairdresser.

I have mid length dark blonde hair, was very blonde until reaching 40. Never dyed it until some soft highlights 4 years ago which I only had done twice. Hair was decent condition but a tendency to be porous, frizzy, which I blow dried twice a week.

One month ago I bought a bottle of Sun In from Amazon, had used it one summer as a teen and remembered liking the subtle result. I have only used it sparingly 3 times, a very light spritz at the root, and in the few weeks since doing so the top section of my hair is literally breaking off. It looks like a bowl cut around ear length and won't even sit in a low ponytail any more (it was all one length previously). of course I have thrown the bottle away.

My hair wasn't bad at all so I am a bit confused how the product could do this with so little use. I have wondered if meno and wearing a claw clip broke it, or meddling with it as i often do, but surely it has to be the product?
Perhaps it has snapped at the point where it connected to my old, grown out highlights? I am aware that I can't put anything else on it now!

What would you do in the meantime?

I am lucky that my hair is softly curly/wavy so if i wear it natural you can't see any breakage unlike when i wear it straight.

Oh no! Is the colour ok?

I'd nurse it a bit with hair masks and the like. Sulphate free shampoo and maybe wavey girl products?

Or else chop it short and wait.

Thanks, I am adding some photo's if it works!
My hair is ok underneath, if you see the pics the first 5 inches are my natural colour, the sun in didnt even lighten it as only used three times to no avail. The ends are my old highlights.

Another pic, prob not very helpful but it is in full daylight. My natural hair is the same as my eyebrow colour. It looks wrecked:(

Oh yes, I see what you mean with the breakage! Could you get to a hairdresser you really trust and see what they recommend? Don't chop it all off if you don't have to (unless you want to obviously)

Cheers Agnes, no point cutting it, if i did that i wouldnt be able to hide it in a clip or low bun which helps! And if the damage is to the root, it's tough. Im too ashamed to visit a salon, i know for sure they wouldnt colour it, and last time i had olaplex it made my hair worse so i dont trust treatments.

I did something similar using colour stripper. Doesn’t harm your hair my arse. I have exactly the same breakage where I was tying it up.

I’ve had to have it chopped. There’s no way I could hide the breakage completely. I still have a wedge as it were, but I flip my parting to help.

Yes, I've heard some Olaplex horror stories so I don't use that anymore either.

I think just be really gentle with it. Air drying will help as less heat on it. Maybe some vitamins as well for good measure. May not do anything but you may as well.

Good luck!

I would start with an overnight hair mask then be brave and make a hair appointment. You won't be the first person to have done something daft to their hair. I bought some reddish brown box hair dye that turned all my grey hairs (along my centre parting) bright ginger and the rest of my hair almost black.

Oh no! I feel for you. Agree about using a nourishing mask for dryness. I’ve used sun-in and lately, the John Frieda reincarnation for over 20 years. Have never had my hair coloured/ treated any other way. I have wondered if it’s damaging my hair and thought there might have been some small amount of breakage at the top at times. I don’t think it’s recommended on previously coloured hair, but if you didn’t put it on the highlights, I’m not sure.

Out of interest what did the olaplex do to your hair? I’ve wondered if no3 (at home) has given me little wispy bits at the root before.

OP try Philip Kingsley Elasticiser:

qvcuk.app.link?channel=Pasteboard&type=0&duration=0&source=ios&data=eyIkdXNlcl9lbWFpbF9zaGEyNTYiOiI3ZmJmMjZhYTkzZWRlNjUwNDhlMzE0OGRjMTU2MTNjMjdjZDYyMmEzYTg5ZGRlZmUwYTUyYTllMjMwNmQ4MDQ1IiwiJGlvc19kZWVwbGlua19wYXRoIjoibG9jYXRpb24vcHJvZHVjdGRldGFpbD9wcm9kdWN0SWQ9MjQ3NjE3IiwiJEdVSUQiOiJkY2MxODhhMy03OTU2LTQ2MWEtOTgwNy1kYThkNTQ1N2I2YmEiLCIkc2t1IjoiMjQ3NjE3IiwiJGxvY2FsbHlfaW5kZXhhYmxlIjp0cnVlLCIkc3VidG90YWwiOiI2MC4wIiwiJG9nX3RpdGxlIjoiUGhpbGlwIEtpbmdzbGV5IEJsdWViZWxsIFdvb2RzIDFMIEVsYXN0aWNpemVyIiwiJHByb2R1Y3RfdmFyaWFudCI6IjI0NzYxNyIsIlFWQ0lEMiI6IkExRkY1OUI0LURGRjgtNDg2RC04NzNFLTBERDdDQzNDNUZGMCIsIiRvZ19kZXNjcmlwdGlvbiI6IlBoaWxpcCBLaW5nc2xleSBCbHVlYmVsbCBXb29kcyAxTCBFbGFzdGljaXplciIsIiRpdGVtX251bWJlciI6IjI0NzYxNyIsIiRwdWJsaWNseV9pbmRleGFibGUiOnRydWUsIiRjYW5vbmljYWxfaWRlbnRpZmllciI6InByb2R1Y3QuMjQ3NjE3IiwiJHF1YW50aXR5IjoxLCIkb2dfaW1hZ2VfdXJsIjoiaHR0cDovL3F2Yy5zY2VuZTcuY29tL2lzL2ltYWdlL1FWQy91Mi8yLzE3LzI0NzYxNy4wMDEiLCIkYW5kcm9pZF9kZWVwbGlua19wYXRoIjoibG9jYXRpb24vcHJvZHVjdGRldGFpbD9wcm9kdWN0SWQ9MjQ3NjE3IiwiJHByaWNlIjo2MCwiJHByb2R1Y3RfYnJhbmQiOiI0MTQiLCIkZmFsbGJhY2tfdXJsIjoiaHR0cDovL3d3dy5xdmN1ay5jb20vLnByb2R1Y3QuMjQ3NjE3Lmh0bWwiLCJ%2BZmVhdHVyZSI6InJlZmVycmFscyIsIiRwcm9kdWN0X25hbWUiOiJQaGlsaXAgS2luZ3NsZXkgQmx1ZWJlbGwgV29vZHMgMUwgRWxhc3RpY2l6ZXIiLCIkY2Fub25pY2FsX3VybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cucXZjdWsuY29tLy5wcm9kdWN0LjI0NzYxNy5odG1sIn0%3D

It's expensive but great stuff. I've never heard of it doing any damage like Olaplex. It might save the hair further up. If you didn't want to wait for delivery, they'll sell it in a decent M&S.

It was invented for Audrey Hepburn after her hair had been fried with repeating colouring. I love it for that story alone 😁

Hate to say but it'll just carry on breaking. I'd go for a good cut, and treat your hair to conditioning packs a couple of times a week. Oil like FrizzEase should help too.

The damage just needs to grow out, unfortunately. I ended up with a full head of highlights to blend my grey and within 18 months the condition was like straw. I had to have a really short haircut and then condition like a madwoman while my hair recovered.

Thanks very much everyone.
I have done my research and hear that the damage just keeps on giving even after you stop using it so I am prepared to have to deal with it.

I will possibly seek some prof advice soon, but wearing it wavy does help in a low pony or knot. I cant wear it straight and loose at the moment, sadly.

It really has dried my hair out very quickly. Oddly the Amazon reviews all complain that it did nothing, that it was so much weaker than in years gone by - but maybe so is my hair.
It hasnt even altered the colour, and now I am so sad because I see that my natural colour is nice. Don't do it ladies! And for god's sake never, ever use it to touch up roots, or you'd be in a worse predicament than I am!

@DumbPrinceAndHisStupidWife Thanks, I already use that, it's great, but not helped this time. Will continue to use it on and off.

Ah sorry to hear it's not helped this time @Toastedtoacrisp 😣 keep going with it though, it can't hurt to see if repeated use might help a little bit

Could try an apple cider vinegar mask

Right. What you need is regular olaplex treatments: use number 0 and then number 3. Olaplex repairs broken disulphide bonds within the hair which is caused by chemical damage.

Secondly, I'd get a Goldwell kerasilk smoothing treatment (not to be confused with a brazilian straightening treatment- thats a completely different treatment which is now banned in EU). This pushes keratin into your hair which is what hair is made of, makes it really really strong and eliminates frizz. I have never been able to grow my hair beyond chin level until I started having kerasilk treatments- its now down to my bra strap (have one every 4-5 months now) and my hair texture has completely changed from straggly thin candyfloss to thick and glossy.

will def keep up with the elasticiser!

Wouldnt vinegar dry it more if im already porous?
I used a liz earle repair mask 2 days ago, kept it on for hours, no joy. I have some really good, expensive products and none help. A leave-in conditioner by toni&guy seems to be the best of a bad lot.

the kerasilk sounds great, would have to know more about it, im in a semi rural place so god knows where i'd go for one.

Here: https://www.goldwell.com/fr-ch/formation/kerasilk-overview/kerasilk-keratin-treatment-service/

you'd have to find a salon that offered it near you

I’d fess up to a hairdresser and ask for their help. I was a local salon the other day and a lady came in with a sun in colour horror story and they calmed her down and talked her through how they were going to sort it.

Try no hair cut creme. It's a leave in conditioner. I use sun in now and again and it protects and strengthens my hair and stops breakage.

I'd seek professional advice, rather than risk making it worse. A good hairdresser will know what to do.

Thanks Fizzy, will take a closer look.
Am def going to a salon soon to ask some advice.

In the meantime, how would you wear it? I am afraid of snagging it as the comb gets stuck (it never used to, my hair was silky, even if frizzy, before). I am thinking leaving it natural with the wavy curls and wearing it in a soft half pony.

Hi OP, so sorry this has happened…it happens to the best of us!

I recommend buying a microfibre hair towel (the wrap style ones are handy)and always gently blot the water out of your hair after washing. It tends to be that most people’s hair is in its most fragile state after washing due to the weight from the water therefore leaving hair to air dry can sometimes damage it further. Leave your hair wrapped up in the microfibre towel until it’s around 50%-70% dry then use a hairdryer on a low heat setting. I would stay away from any other heated hair tools.

I would also check that your hairbrush is gentle enough for your weakened hair. Tangle Teezer and Wetbrush are both very good. Always start combing your hair from the ends, never drag knots down from the top or mid lengths of your hair…this really does make a huge different.

In terms of products I swear by Trauma Treatment - L’Anza which can be used as a masque or a leave in treatment. It really does help hair in need of some TLC. https://www.lookfantastic.com/l-anza-healing-colorcare-trauma-treatment-150ml/10557106.html

I can’t personally vouch for this product but a friend loves Redken’a Anti Snap treatment, have a read of the reviews. :) https://www.lookfantastic.com/redken-extreme-anti-snap-treatment-250ml/10303794.html

I hope this is of some help. X

You need some bonding treatments I think. Aldi have got their own brand version in now of the shampoo and conditioner called ‘bonded’ and it’s brilliant. Also get a bonding hair mask and leave it on for hours! It will get better