Why does bleaching damage hair? An explanation of how hair gets damaged.
If your hair feels dry, brittle, and stretchy when wet after bleaching, this isn't your imagination. Bleaching not only removes color, but it also strongly affects the internal structure of your hair.
Bleaching is a procedure that breaks down the melanin pigment in the hair.
Hair color is determined by the melanin pigment inside the hair. Bleaching agents break down this melanin pigment, lightening the black and brown tones.
The main ingredients used in this process are alkaline agents and hydrogen peroxide. The alkaline agent opens the cuticles on the surface of the hair, and the hydrogen peroxide penetrates the inside and breaks down the pigment.
This reaction is what allows you to create lighter hair colors. However, it also weakens the hair's protective barrier during the process.
The cuticles open, making it easier for moisture to escape from the hair.
The surface of the hair is covered with scale-like cuticles . These act like a protective lid for the inside of the hair.
Bleaching requires the chemicals to penetrate the hair, which opens the cuticles. If the cuticles are not completely restored after the treatment, moisture and protein in the hair will easily leak out.
As a result, the following changes occur:
It has a rough texture.
It becomes harder to get a shine.
Hair becomes more prone to tangling
It dries out and becomes more prone to spreading.
In short, bleaching damages hair because it opens the hair's protective layer to remove pigment, making it easier to lose internal components as well.
It also affects the proteins inside the hair.
Hair's main component is a protein called keratin. Bleaching agents affect not only melanin but also the proteins and bonds within the hair.
Hair contains bonds that maintain its strength and elasticity. Repeated bleaching destabilizes these bonds, weakening the hair.
As damage progresses, hair may stretch like rubber when wet or break easily when simply dried. This is a sign that the internal support structure of the hair is weakening.
The lighter the color, the greater the damage to your hair.
When going from black hair to a lighter color, a significant amount of melanin pigment needs to be broken down. This means that the duration and strength of the chemicals used tend to increase, resulting in greater damage to the hair.
Repeated bleaching in a short period of time is more likely to cause serious damage than a single bleaching treatment. Furthermore, the combination of high temperatures from hair irons and curling irons, UV rays, and friction makes hair even more susceptible to damage.
Bleached hair is more delicate than normal hair. It requires care such as avoiding shampoos that are too harsh, not leaving it wet for extended periods, and not exposing it to excessive heat.
After bleaching, protection is more important than repair.
Treatments can improve the texture of your hair, but they cannot completely restore it to its original condition. This is because hair is made up of dead cells, and once damaged, it cannot regenerate on its own.
That's why, after bleaching, it's more important to focus on preventing further damage rather than trying to fix it after it's already damaged.
Specifically, the following care may be helpful.
Use a shampoo with a mild cleansing power.
Use a treatment to replenish oil and moisture.
Use a leave-in treatment before blow-drying.
Don't turn the iron temperature up too high.
Leave a sufficient amount of time between bleaching treatments.
Bleaching greatly expands the possibilities for hair color. However, it also puts stress on both the surface and the inside of the hair. Understanding how it works will help you avoid unnecessary treatments and enjoy beautiful hair color for longer.
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