Many women covet long blond hair, but obtaining beautiful blond locks is often more difficult than just bleaching the hair regularly. Bleach products may damage the hair shaft and make it more difficult to obtain the length you desire, but there are some things you can do to keep your bleached hair healthy and encourage faster hair growth.
Choose the right product. Use a bleach product that is meant for use on the scalp. Off the scalp bleach is much harsher on the hair. It does not contain the protective oils or creams that are included in products specifically designed for bleaching hair from scalp to ends. Less damage will lead to decreased splits and better growth.
Color the root only. To avoid overlapping previous bleached hair, color the regrowth only. This will avoid breakage that may eliminate length. Wait four to six weeks in between bleaching procedures to avoid excessive damage as well.
Comb or brush gently. Never brush hair when wet, and always start at the bottom and work your way to the top to incur fewer splits that may lead to future breakage that will prevent the hair from getting longer.
Avoid hair products that contain alcohol. These products tend to lead to moisture loss.
Dry naturally whenever possible. Try to avoid damage caused by styling tools such as blow dryers or flat irons. Protecting the ends from damage may help the hair grow longer due to decreased breakage.
Choose shampoo and conditioning products specifically formulated for bleached hair. Do not shampoo every day to allow natural oils to accumulate. Shampooing every two to three days is usually sufficient for hair cleansing and is less harsh on the hair.
Massage the scalp in a circular motion with the pads of your fingers while shampooing to increase blood flow to the scalp and stimulate hair growth.
Deep condition weekly to help strengthen the hair shaft and stop hair splits that may inhibit hair growth. In addition, use a leave in conditioner after regular shampoo and conditioning to protect the hair from environmental toxins that may accumulate on the hair shaft.
Shampoo and condition hair immediately following exposure to chlorine or excessive pollutants. Bleached hair has an increased porosity, will absorb chemicals more easily, and will become more damaged the longer they are allowed to remain in the hair shaft.
Trim regularly to remove splits caused from bleaching and wear and tear. Find a stylist who will only remove the very tips of your hair to discourage breakage without taking excessive length. Hair grows on average a ½ inch per month, so trimming hair ¼ inch every 8 weeks will keep splits under control but still allow for hair growth.
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Writer Bio
Robin McDaniel is a writer, educator and musician. She holds a master's degree in higher educational leadership from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton as well as a bachelor's degree in elementary education. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in adult in community education. McDaniel enjoys writing, blogging, web design, singing and playing bass guitar.