Blonde Hair Aftercare
Blonde Hair Aftercare: How to Maintain Your Colour at Home
1. Immediate Aftercare Following Coloring:
• Wait before washing: It’s essential to wait at least 48 hours before washing your hair after getting it colored. This allows the cuticle to close properly, locking in the color.
• Use lukewarm or cool water: Hot water can cause the color to fade more quickly, so it’s better to use lukewarm or cool water when washing your hair.
2. Washing and Conditioning Routine:
• Sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner: Choose a sulfate-free shampoo to prevent stripping the hair of its natural oils and the color. Sulfates can cause the color to fade faster.
• Recommended products:
• Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
• Pureology Strenght cure or Hydrate
• Kérastase Blond Absolu Bain Lumière Shampoo
• Purple shampoo/mask: Use a purple shampoo or purple mask once or twice a week to neutralize brassy or yellow tones that can develop in blonde hair.
• Recommended purple shampoos:
• Fanola No Yellow Mask
• Olaplex No.P4 and No.P5
• Deep conditioning treatment: Blondes can experience dryness due to the lightening process, so use a deep conditioning treatment once a week to restore moisture and keep your hair soft.
• Recommended deep conditioners:
• Olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask
• Olaplex No. 3 Bond Mask
• Kérastase Blond Absolu Cicaflash Treatment
• Pureology Strenght Cure/ Hydrate Mask
3. Weekly Hair Oiling with Natural Oils:
• Natural oil treatment: Once a week, apply a natural oil to your hair to restore moisture, add shine, and protect against breakage. These oils help seal the cuticle and improve hair elasticity, which is particularly important for blonde hair that tends to dry out after the bleaching process.
Recommended natural oils:
• Coconut oil: Great for deeply moisturizing the hair and preventing protein loss.
• Argan oil: Lightweight, perfect for adding shine and smoothing without weighing down the hair.
• Jojoba oil: Closely mimics the scalp’s natural oils, helping to balance moisture levels.
• Sweet almond oil: Rich in vitamins, helps to nourish and strengthen hair.
• Olive oil: Deeply hydrating, suitable for very dry or damaged blonde hair.
How to use natural oils:
Warm a small amount of oil between your hands (about a tablespoon, depending on hair length).
Apply the oil to the mid-lengths and ends of your hair, focusing on the driest parts.
Leave the oil on for a minimum of 30 minutes, or overnight for a more intensive treatment.
Wash it out thoroughly with a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner.
Natural oils are excellent for hydrating and protecting blonde hair, keeping it soft, shiny, and healthy between color treatments.
4. Styling and Heat Protection:
• Limit heat styling: Heat can cause damage and further dryness to chemically treated blonde hair. Minimize the use of heated styling tools and always apply a heat protectant before using them.
• Recommended heat protectants:
• GHD Heat Protect Spray
• Fanola Nutri one 10 Actions
• Pureology Strength Cure Miracle Filler Treatment
• Olaplex No6 Bond Smoother / No9 Bond Protector Nourishing
• Air dry when possible: Opt for air-drying your hair or using a diffuser on a cool setting to protect the color and minimize damage.
5. Apply Serum and Oils Daily to Your Hair Ends
Caring for your hair ends is essential for maintaining healthy, beautiful locks. Regularly using serum and oils can make a significant difference, especially if you want to prevent damage and keep your hair looking its best. Here’s why you should apply them daily:
Prevents Split Ends : Daily application of serum or oil nourishes the ends, preventing them from becoming dry and brittle, which helps reduce the risk of split ends.
Adds Shine : Serums and oils create a protective layer on the hair shaft, giving your hair a smooth, shiny appearance and enhancing its natural beauty.
Protects Against Damage : Environmental factors like heat, UV rays, and pollution can weaken hair. Using oils or serums acts as a barrier, shielding your ends from these daily stressors.
Locks in Moisture : Dry hair is prone to breakage. Oils and serums seal in moisture, keeping your hair ends hydrated and soft throughout the day.
Reduces Frizz : If your ends tend to get frizzy or unruly, serums and oils can smooth them out, giving your hair a polished, well-groomed look.
Prolongs Haircuts : By keeping your ends healthy, you can go longer between haircuts, maintaining the shape and style of your hair.
How to Use:
• Take a small amount of serum or oil and gently apply it into your hair ends.
• Avoid applying too much to prevent a greasy look.
• Use daily for the best results, especially on color-treated or heat-styled hair.
• Recommended oils:
Kérastase Oil
GHD Sleek Talker Styling Oil
Olaplex No7
K18 Molecular Repair Hair Oil
Loreal Serie Expert Metal Detox Serum Oil
Fanola Nourishing Restructuring Fluid Crystals
6. Color Maintenance and Refreshing:
• Gloss treatments: Between salon visits for bleaching services, come to salon for gloss or toner treatments to refresh your blonde and keep it vibrant. These treatments add shine and can slightly neutralize unwanted tones.
• Recommended gloss/toners: Every 4 weeks
• Root touch-ups: Depending on how fast your hair grows, touch-ups are generally needed every 4-6 weeks. You can use a root touch-up spray or powder to extend the time between salon visits.
• Recommended root touch-ups:
• Color Wow Root Cover Up
7. UV and Environmental Protection:
• Protect from the sun: UV rays can fade blonde hair, making it appear brassy or dull. Use a leave-in conditioner with UV protection or wear a hat when spending time in the sun.
• Recommended UV protection sprays:
• Colorwow Pop & Lock
• Avoid chlorinated water: Chlorine can turn blonde hair green or strip the color. Use a swimmer’s cap when in the pool or apply a protective conditioner beforehand to create a barrier.
8. Trimming and Hair Health:
• Regular trims: Blondes should get a trim every 6-8 weeks to remove split ends and keep the hair looking healthy and fresh.
• Bond-building treatments: To repair damage caused by bleaching, use bond-repairing products regularly.
• Recommended bond treatments at home:
• Olaplex No. 3 Bond Mask
• Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate
• K18 Leave-in Molecular Repair Hair Mask
• Recommended bond treatments at salon:
• Olaplex No. 1 & 2 Bond Treatment
• Hair Botox Treatment
• K18 Treatment
9. Use a Clarifying Shampoo for Blonde Hair
Blonde hair, especially lightened or highlighted, requires extra care to maintain its brightness and health. A clarifying shampoo can be a game-changer in your hair care routine. Here’s why:
Removes Build-Up : Clarifying shampoos effectively remove product build-up, excess oils, and environmental pollutants that can make blonde hair look dull and lifeless.
Prevents Brassy Tones : Over time, minerals from water, styling products, and pollution can cause blonde hair to turn brassy. Clarifying shampoos help eliminate these impurities, keeping your blonde vibrant and fresh.
Enhances Color Vibrancy : By deeply cleansing the hair, clarifying shampoos allow blonde tones to shine through, enhancing the overall brightness and brilliance of your hair.
Prepares Hair for Treatments : Using a clarifying shampoo before toning or conditioning treatments ensures your hair is free from build-up, allowing products to work more effectively.
Ideal for Hard Water Areas : If you live in an area with hard water, a clarifying shampoo can help remove mineral deposits that may discolor or weigh down your blonde hair.
How to Use It
• Use a clarifying shampoo once every 1-2 weeks, depending on your hair’s needs.
• Follow up with a moisturizing conditioner or mask to keep your blonde hair hydrated and soft.
• Recommended clarifying shampoo at home:
• Olaplex No.4C
• K18 Peptide Prep Detox Shampoo
• Loreal Metal Detox Shampoo