How I Resuscitated My Brunette Hair After Two Years of Bleaching It
Jas is the former Senior Content Specialist at Adore Beauty. A beauty admirer turned certified addict, she brings a sharp editorial eye and pop-culture pulse to everything she creates. Her words have appeared in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, and Broadsheet. When she’s not producing viral content or podcasting about skincare, you’ll find her thrifting for vintage treasures or binging Bravo (strictly for research, of course).
We’ve been friends for a while now, so it feels like the right time to let you in on my biggest beauty secret: I bleached my healthy, borderline-virgin brunette hair at home, by myself.
I know, I know. I’m a walking cautionary tale.
But I’m also a big believer that sometimes in life you just gotta throw caution to the wind and do it for the 'memz'.
And this was most certainly one of those moments.
The year was 2020, right on the brink of the ‘P’ word that for all of our sanities shall not be named.
The vibes weren’t vibing–stuck at home for the foreseeable future–so I did what so many do when feeling ~emotional~, drastically changed my hair.
And you know what? A few rounds of bleach and about 1,000 products later, it actually looked really cute! I had officially entered my blonde era.
But that wasn’t enough to prepare me for what lay in store for my fine tresses and the permanent six-week appointment slot I’d hold at my hairdressers for the next two years.
Nor was my mum’s relentless warnings (nay, pleadings) against the perils of bleached hair, having lightened her own locks for decades...
Spoiler: a lot of damage, both to my hair and my bank account.
Here's a little taste of what my hair looked like at its worst... and no, the bangs weren't intentional.
We can laugh about it now because both my hair and I have come a longgggg way.
And if and when I ever go back, I know exactly what is required to keep my tresses intact.
So if you’ve landed here desperately seeking a remedy for hair damage, sadly I can’t reverse what’s already been done.
But I can share the tips and products I used to resuscitate my brunette locks to their former glory so that hopefully you can learn from my mistakes.
1. Invest in a Quality Shampoo & Conditioner.
When it comes to nursing your hair back to health after a bout of bleach-induced turmoil, the first step is to invest in a salon-quality shampoo and conditioner.
You might be wondering, “Can't I just grab any old supermarket shampoo and conditioner?”
Answer: heck NOOOO.
Here’s the deal: generic options, while convenient, often do more harm than good.
They’re often loaded with water and fillers instead of the potent, active ingredients your hair is craving (hence the more affordable price tag), resulting in parched and brittle strands susceptible to even more breakage.
But I also don't think you have to buy the ridiculously expensive products your hairdresser recommends. There are plenty of more affordable options that deliver just as impressive results.
Be on the lookout for shampoos and conditioners with terms like "repair," "hydrate," and "restore" on their labels.
These products work their magic by replenishing the essential oils and nutrients that bleach strips away, helping your hair regain its strength and vitality.
Here are my top product picks:
- VIRTUE Flourish - enriched with Alpha Keratin 60ku to repair and add volume to fine, thinning hair. I’ve also heard great things about VIRTUE Recovery.
- KEVIN MURPHY REPAIR - uses proteins and enzymes to encourage hair growth and renewal whilst intensely nourishing hair.
- ELEVEN Hydrate My Hair - contains essential fatty acids that nourish brittle strands and protect the hair against future breakage. ELEVEN Repair My Hair is worth a closer look, too.
2. Strengthen Your Locks With Bond Building.
Without getting lost in the nitty-gritty of bond building, essentially, over time excessive processing and colouring takes a toll on our hair, causing those vital bonds inside the fibre to break.
Which is where bond building comes in.
These products go beyond the surface to dive deep into the hair cortex, reinforcing its structural integrity from the inside out for stronger, more resilient, healthier hair.
You’ll find these formulas in a variety of products, from shampoos to hair masks, oils and styling creams.
Here are a few of my faves:
- K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Mask 50ml - no-rinse hair treatment made with a patented bioactive peptide to reverse damage caused by colouring, heat and styling.
- Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Frizz Reduction & Heat Protection Hair Oil - styling oil that protects against heat while helping to strengthen weakened and damaged bonds within the hair.
- Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector Pre-Shampoo Strengthening and Reparative Hair Treatment - professional, weekly hair treatment that helps repair broken hair bonds.
- Coco & Eve Bond Building Pre-Shampoo Treatment - weekly pre-shampoo treatment that repairs hair bonds enriched with natural, nourishing oils.
- Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate - uses Redken’s Hair Bonding Care Complex to strengthen the weakened bonds of the hair, improving its strength and resilience.
3. Top Up Your Tresses With Treatments.
Beyond the world of bond building is a treasure trove of treatments to help take your hair recovery journey further.
Think of these are the icing on the cake, giving your hair that extra oomph it needs to regain its vitality.
First up, we have heat protectants. If you aren’t already using one, now’s the time. Not only do they safeguard your precious strands from heat damage, but also help lock in moisture.
I’m currently loving the Kerastase Nutritive Lotion Thermique sublimatrice 150ml which uses plant-based proteins and niacinamide to repair tresses.
If you’ve still got highlights or some colour in your hair (I went bronde before fully returning to brunette), I’d recommend the Pureology Strength Cure Miracle Filler 150ml which protects and strengthens while helping to prolong the life of your colour.
Next in line are hair serums, oils and treatments.
These products are like liquid gold for your tresses, infusing them with a burst of much-needed hydration for softer, shinier and more manageable hair.
There’s so many products I could recommend here, but I’ve narrowed it down to these:
- ELEVEN Australia Miracle Hair Treatment - 125ml - all-in-one treatment that adds strength, moisture and shine.
- L'Oreal Professionnel Metal Detox Serum In Oil - neutralises metal particles in hair fibre from regular colouring. You can check out my full review of the Metal Detox range and the oil here.
4. Maximise Your Hair Masks.
Finally, the pièce de résistance: hair masks.
While they're typically recommended for once or twice-weekly use, if your hair is on the mend, consider using them more frequently, even as a replacement for your regular conditioner.
I’ve already shared my top five in a previous Beauty IQ here, but for particularly damaged hair, I’d recommend the Coco & Eve Super Nourishing Coconut and Fig Hair Masque and the Kerastase Nutritive Hair Mask for Dry Fine Hair 200ml which has options depending on your hair’s thickness.
5. Extra Tips for Brownie Points.
Before we wrap up, here are some parting pearls of wisdom for those extra brownie points. They might seem like common knowledge, but a gentle reminder never hurt anyone:
- Get regular trims to encourage new growth.
- Avoid super-tight hairstyles or consider silk hair ties which are gentler.
- Resist the urge to go for scalding hot showers, they can further damage your hair.
- Invest in a silk hair wrap to reduce friction, frizz and potential breakage while you sleep.
There are so many more products and advice I could share but I’m going to stop now before I end up writing a short story on hair damage because ain’t nobody got time for that.
So with that, my friends, I bid you farewell on your hair recovery journey.
Good luck and may healthy, long and enviable tresses be ever in your favour.
After more hair care tips and product recommendations? Check out these Beauty IQs:
