Is Your Hair Too Damaged To Bleach it? Answer these 5 questions to find out

to blonde

Do you want to know if your hair is too damaged to bleach it?

Here I’ll help you find out as you answer five questions. Ready to get started? Let’s get to it:

Is your hair always dull, even when it’s clean?
Is your hair rough to the touch?
Do you have split ends?
Do you lose a lot of hair when you brush or wash it?
Do you have low-porosity hair?

If you answered yes to the above questions, your hair is too damaged to bleach, at least for now .

If that is your case, don’t worry, I’ll tell you later what you can do to restore your hair and be able to bleach it.

If you answered yes to some of the questions, your hair may not be so damaged.

In that case, you should do the strand test to evaluate how your hair responds to the bleaching mixture without compromising all your hair.

Of course, I’ll also tell you how to do the test.

to maintain the heat

If you’ve overlooked the questions and didn’t take the test, go back to the beginning and do it.

That simple action can save your hair from disaster.

Bleaching is a very harsh chemical process for the hair. It’s so aggressive that it can even burn it. Is that what you want for your hair?

If you don’t believe me about the negative effects bleaching can have on thinning hair, please take a look here: My bleached hair is falling out in clumps, can I still save it?

Come on, let’s go! You spend time taking tests to find the man of your life, compatible astrological signs, or the personality type you have. How about a bit of empathy for your hair?

Really, sometimes I can’t believe how people disregard bleaching. Nevertheless, that’s not you, and I don’t need a test to know that. If you made it this far, you feel responsible for everything you do for your hair.

So, you’ll stay with me, evaluate the health of your hair in-depth, and finally decide if it’s healthy enough to withstand bleaching.

Today I’ll tell you:

The 5 questions you should ask yourself before bleaching your hair.
Strand test for those who still doubt if they can bleach their hair
Action plan to restore damaged hair and bleach it in two months

Ready to get started!

The 5 questions you should ask yourself before bleaching your hair

First, inhale and exhale. You’re taking a big step: knowing if your hair is healthy enough to bleach. Concentrate because your answers are key.

Is your hair always dull, even when it’s clean?

very damaged ends

To know for sure if your hair is shiny on its own, all you have to do is expose it to daylight.

If your hair reflects the light, it means your cuticles are closed. It’s a good sign because it means your hair is hydrated and retaining moisture.

If your hair is dull or matte, it’s unfortunately dry and needs deep conditioning before you can bleach it.

In this case, you’ll need to add moisture and shine with an intensive nourishing mask.

Is your hair rough to the touch?

Don’t let your concentration slip away. Slowly take a strand of your hair between your thumb and forefinger, preferably after showering or combing.

Do you feel any knots as you run your fingers through the strand? Do you find it hard to slide your fingers through? Do you feel as if your strand is rough? Do you notice a substantial difference in texture from root to ends?

If your hair is too coarse, it urgently needs conditioning treatments. Otherwise, bleaching will leave it on the verge of breakage due to the peroxide action.

If you also notice that it lacks softness closer to the ends, it’s time for a haircut.

Don’t panic!

Just three or four centimeters will be more than enough to remove the damaged parts.

Also, by removing those ends, your hair will retain intensive nourishing treatments much better.

You should also check the elasticity of your hair when stretching the strand.

If your strand breaks easily, it’s definitely lacking protein and seriously damaged.

In addition to observation, you can also check if your ends are split. Wrap a small section of your hair around your finger.

Any small, uneven strands sticking out will indicate that you have split ends.

Healthy hair can have a few split ends, but if you have many split ends, your hair is damaged, and you can’t bleach it.

Do you lose a lot of hair when you wash it?

during shampoo washing

If you notice large amounts falling out on the floor or in the bathtub when you comb, brush or wash it, your hair has definitely weakened and won’t resist bleaching.

Breakage is a visible sign that something inside your hair fiber is not right. It isn’t getting enough antioxidants and nutrients.

Do you have low-porosity hair?

floats it is low porosity

That is very important, do you know why? Low-porosity hair absorbs hair products more slowly, including the ones you need to bleach your hair.

If you have low-porosity hair, you’ll need to control the exposure times of the bleaching mixture strictly. It may absorb the products more slowly. Unfortunately, it can only be cared for by a professional.

If you have high-porosity hair, it lacks moisture, and you’ll need to restore it before bleaching.

How to know about the porosity of your hair?

Place a strand of your hair in a glass of water.

If the water is absorbed quickly and the hair sinks, it’s porous. You must moisturize it deeply before bleaching because the cuticle layer is damaged and makes the hair lose its natural moisture.
If your hair floats, it’s low-porosity hair. Then, you have to be extremely careful in the exposure times of the bleaching mixture.

Do you still have doubts?

Strand test for those who still doubt if they can bleach their hair

hand showing hair

This test is easy and simple. By doing it, you avoid something fundamental: irreversibly damaging your hair if it was weak before bleaching.

Even if it’s healthy, you’ll be able to confirm how it will react to the action of the bleaching mixture.

Prepare the bleaching mixture. In a plastic container, place two measures of 30-volume developer and one measure of bleaching powder.
Separate a strand from the back of your hair and apply the bleaching mixture. Leave it for a maximum of twenty minutes. In any case, you should always check how your hair reacts. If you reach the shade you want before, rinse immediately.
After the exposure time, wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner and blowdry.

Strand test results

Now, take a look at your bleached strand.

Does it feel like its texture is much rougher?
Does it stretch like bubble gum?
When you slide your fingers through it, do they get caught in the strand?
If you brush it, does a lot of hair fall out?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, your hair won’t tolerate bleaching. Your only alternative is to repair it thoroughly.

Action plan to restore damaged hair and bleach it in two months

Now you know that you’ll have to wait a while before bleaching your hair. Approximately one and a half to two months. In the meantime, you won’t just sit around and bemoan your fate. Let’s take a look at the action plan.

Trim your ends.

with scissors

It’s better to trim it a little than to have it lose nutrients through split and brittle ends.

It’s only a few centimeters. Remember that hair grows at a rate of about one and a half centimeters per month.

Use intensive nourishing masks once every 10 days.

using before bleaching

When you do, leave it on for the time indicated by the manufacturer. Make sure to cover your head with a shower cap to generate more temperature and help the nutrients reach deep into the hair fiber.

You can include Olaplex 3 in your nourishing routine. It works on damaged hair even if you don’t use Olaplex 1 and 2 for professional use.

Use sulfate-free products.

purple shampoo

If your hair is dry and dehydrated, detergents or sulfates will dry it out even more. Invest in good, sulfate, and paraben-free hair products.

Of course, avoid using heat tools such as flat irons, curling irons, and blow dryers, at least during the action plan to restore your hair before bleaching.