Can I Use a Hair Mask on Bleached Hair?

Bleaching can affect your hair in harmful ways; many people notice increased dryness, unmanageability, and even breakage immediately after a bleaching session. If you’re reeling from the damaging effects of bleaching, you’ll be glad to know that there are solutions. One of the best is adding a hair mask to your hair regimen. In this article, we’ll share with you all you need to know so you can add a hair mask to your regimen today! 

Bleached Hair Needs a Hair Mask

Hair bleach always leaves your hair with some degree of damage, so if you’ve bleached your hair, you can benefit from using a hair mask now and again. Why? Hair masks are several times more potent than your rinse-out conditioner. They condition and protect your hair on a deeper level by providing nutrients, moisture, and in some cases, proteins. 

What you Can Expect from a Hair Mask on Bleached Hair 

Some believe that hair masks are like magic and can reverse all of the bad effects of bleaching, but that just isn’t the case. In this section, we’d like to let you know what you can expect from a hair mask on your bleached hair. 

A hair mask can increase your hair’s moisture levels, reduce breakage, and restore your hair’s elasticity (to an extent). If you bleached your hair to oblivion and it’s gummy, overly stretchy, and falling out in chunks, a hair mask may not be able to fix the problem. In that case, you’d be better off getting your hands on a bond repair treatment or serum. 

But for less-severe bleached hair issues, a hair mask can help to gradually restore your hair’s health. Water-based hair masks infused with penetrating oils (like olive oil or coconut oil) and sealing oils (like castor oil and grapeseed oil) will help increase and preserve your hair’s moisture levels. This gives you softer hair that’s less prone to breakage. Protein-based hair masks can help fill gaps in your hair shaft from the bleach, making your hair smoother, stronger, and easier to manage. Look for masks that have keratin, wheat protein, collagen, and hydrolyzed proteins. 

DIY Hair Masks for Bleached Hair 

Now that you know some of the benefits and uses of hair masks, let’s get into some hair masks that you can try at home to improve your bleached hair. 

• Banana and Olive Oil - A banana and olive oil mask is a fantastic treatment that will help to hydrate your bleached hair. It’ll also leave your hair shiny and smooth. To make the mask, mash up a ripe banana (thoroughly) and mix it with 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil. Apply it to your hair and leave it on for up to 15 minutes. Rinse your hair thoroughly to remove all traces of the mask. 
• Yogurt and Olive Oil - A yogurt mask is another effective remedy for breakage and damage stemming from bleaching. Both yogurt and olive oil help with frizz and leave your hair softer and more moisturized. To make the mask, mix a tablespoon of olive oil with a cup of olive oil and apply the mixture to your hair. Rinse it out after up to 10 minutes. 

Now you know that hair masks are a necessity for bleached hair. We encourage you to add a good hair mask to your regimen right away, so you can begin giving your hair the care it needs to thrive. We wish you the best!

Author: Andrea Reyes

Andrea is a mother, wife, writer, and natural hair enthusiast of 15 years. Currently on her natural hair journey, she’s been trying countless products and techniques to understand and embrace her natural hair. She is the creator of NaturallyTextured.com, a new website featuring informative articles that share tips, tricks, and techniques aimed to help others learn to love their hair through proper hair care. She writes with the hope of making hair care easier to understand and implement.