Hair Advice

I've been blonde (light brown) for just about my whole life and I used to die it myself and my hair was incredibly dry (I was also on swim team, which didn't help being in the pool either). . anyway, when I started going to someone professionally about 8 years ago, it made a hug difference. I wanted my hair to be longer too, so I got help from my hairdresser, and its made such a difference in the health of my hair now (even though I do still highlight it about 4-5 times a year, professionally):
1. definitelly use a product that is "died hair" friendly. I use something called ARCTEC Kiwi Coloreflector Shampoo and conditioner-- I swear by it as it actually cleans without drying my hair out or build up.
2. My hairdresser recommended using a leave in conditiner- I use Redken "EXTREME Antisnap" (this helped with my split ends)- they also have a deep contioner and shampoo, but I didn't find I needed it once I started taking care of my hair.
3. I ALSO recommend not washing it every day- I usually try to go every other day or every 2 days and the natural oils do help condition your hair. I just started putting it up a lot more on the in between days, which I had to get used to because I was a hair wash every day kind of person.
4. I bought a hairdryer that was expensive and professional: Elchim Super Pro 1800 Watt Hair Dryer- it drys hair faster and it is what a lot of hairdressesrs have at their shops- it is over $100, but it has lasted me 8 years and is still going strong. I just bought second one last year as I found it on sale, but the first one still works great, so I use it when I travel.

Anyway, those are all the things that have helped me with my hair being blonde, but also healthy- the little things add up and I would definitely look into that Redken line to help with the deep conditioning as well- that would probably help get it back on the right track once a week or so. . .If he wants you Blonde, you might just explain he'll hav to pay extra for it!

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well, he's right about the daily washing, and i hope he'll be cool with you going back to what you love and not dyeing your hair a color you hate just to please him.
gah!
try just washing bangs (if you have 'em) or the front section next to your forehead, with the rest either under a cap or barretted back, if it gets oily. try a hot oil (or olive oil or mayo) treatment once a week to moisturize. if you swim in a pool, wear a cap to protect it from bleach. if you pamper your hair for a while, i'll bet you can dye it gently very soon, a month or less. is the color so dramatically different from the blonde that letting it just go back would make you look like a skunk? if not, just letting it go would probably be best.
khairete
S.

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I am a clean freak so feel I have to wash my hair every day. I Have curly, thick and dry hair that gets highlighted every 6 months or so (I am naturally blond but with the years it has gotten darker so I highlight it). Anyways, my hairdresser finally convinced me that I need to wash it every other day instead of every day. I still have to have that clean feel so I just do conditioner on the day I don't shampoo. It has done wonders for my hair.

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Make sure you use a good conditioner on the hair. Over processed hair tends to be dryer. Salons will do a conditioning treatment to it for a small charge. While at the salon, someone there should be able to tell you when is a good time to re-color. Maybe try adding low lights to the hair to make it have some dimensions and then you and your husband will both be happy.

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P., I'm a Hairstylist of 9 years my best advice to you, is wait about 2 weeks (after you colored it blonde) then go to you local salon and have it colored back to your natural color with professial hair color(stay far far away from store color It will dry your hair out even more). Wash your hair every other day if possible, and use a shampoo for dry to damaged hair (store brand is fine). Good luck and remember use profess. color.

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I have naturally v. dark brown hair and was blonde blonde blonde for a number of years in my 20s. NEVER wash your hair every day, even when it's not colored -- it is bad for it! With undyed hair try every other day, but with a serious bleach job, you should only wash it with shampoo every two or three days at most -- go longer if you can and it's not really dirty. HOWEVER, get it wet in the shower every day and get a really good leave-in conditioner. I still use Paul Mitchell's The Conditioner every day even though I am back to my natural color. Just put a dab in your hand after you turn the water off, pull it through your hair making sure you get the ends really well, and either then comb it through or just wrap your head in a towel for a bit. It won't make your hair perfect but it will help with the dryness. You should also be sure to get the ends trimmed regularly -- in fact if you can go a couple inches shorter now since you've just bleached it that will help a lot.

To redye it back you need to wait a couple of weeks, but hey, it's fun to be blonde in the summer! Play with it a little and then dye it darker in the fall. A bonus: adding color back in will make your hair feel super-soft at first so that is something to look forward to.

One more bit of advice: Always get a pro to bleach your hair from very dark to very blonde, unless you're a kid and don't need to worry about doing some damage.

Enjoy your summer blonde!

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As a hair stylist, I can tell you that you do not need to wash it daily. Even if it is oily, washing it daily will make i stay oily because your scalp produces more oil to compensate for the moisture that is being removed (natural oils). Its a vicious cycle! If you start going a day or so between shampooing, and just rinse it with water and apply conditioner, eventually you won't feel like you NEED to wash it daily. It will be less oily. As for going back to your natural color, condition your hair with a deep treatment weekly and after about 4 weeks, go have someone professionally color it back for you. Otherwise, using a box color could give you really bad results (like green hair if you just put brown over your blonde!) Good luck!

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Hi! I see you said extreme neat freak and perfectionist. My guess is you wash your hair everyday. Don't. I have naturally dry red, wavy hair. I wash my hair everyother day, use T-Gel once a week, and hot oil treatment about every two months. I also brush my hair at night and before I shower (to remove weak hair that doesn't need the products). Unless you break into a hog sweat everyday, try and go a day between washings. If you just have to wash your hair everyday, perhaps use a leave-in conditioner like Infusium. Also try a humectant shampoo/conditioner. Suave makes a nice one!
Hope this helps. God bless!

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It depends on your hair. If you have REALLY greasy hair then you need to wash it daily. My hair tends more to the dry side so I rinse it really well with water every day, but only shampoo every other day. Shampooing really does strip the oils from your hair, but for people with a lot of oil thats what they need. You should also get shampoo and conditioner for colored hair or for dry hair to help nourish you hair and give it the moisture it needs. Try to condition every time. (Also do wash your hair as soon as possible after going into a pool as chlorine could make it worse)

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Hi P. ~

Your hair is dry because it was most likely overprocessed. Over the counter bleach systems can be harsh. What you need to do is a DEEP conditioning treatment 1-2 times a week. After washing your hair, towel out the access water. Then apply the deep conditioner (look for a special deep conditioning treatment at the store or at a salon). Then wrap your head in plastic wrap or use a plastic shower cap over the hair. Leave it in for a good 15-20 minutes. You can use the heat from a hair dryer on it - that really helps it to penetrate well. Then rinse out with tepid water.

You can take your hair back to it's normal color anytime. I would suggest a gentle, conditioning type of color product. You might want to go a LITTLE darker than your own color, because the color will eventually fade a bit and you don't want to have to do alot of root touch up. Don't cut your hair - just get a little trim. Maybe your hair dresser can do the coloring for you at the same time as the trim if you feel uneasy doing it yourself. But DEFINATELY do the deep conditioning treatments. You don't have to wash your hair everyday - but if you do, make sure your shampoo is not too harsh. You might want to get a shampoo especially for colored hair. The things we do for men! (Ha,Ha - I've been there!) Good Luck!

~ K.

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Going dark is easier on your hair than going light. This is because going light requires the chemicals to "lift" your natural color and "deposit" the new. Going dark is mostly "deposit". Also because your hair was already lightened, it is more porous than before and the next process will take much quicker so if doing this on your own, proceed with caution. A toner would be best, at least for now. You can do a regular (colorless) toner to help with the porousity or you can use a tint & toner to add color with less stress to your hair.

A salon could get you top quality products and results so it is always prefeable (if you can afford it).

How often to wash? As often as you feel is needed. Some people can go a few days but others need to wash and condition daily. Without knowing you and your hair, NO ONE can answer that for you.

It really depends on how oily your hair is. Mine isn't very oily, and I wash it every two days or so. If you're sweating or want to rinse it out, that's fine, but you don't need shampoo every time. I also put olive oil in my hair every couple weeks, let it sit for a couple hours, then wash it out. It helps moisturize it.
Aside from that, if you go to a reputable salon, they can help you figure out what you need to do to heal your hair.
The good news is, dying it brown doesn't really damage it. It's just the bleaching that strips it and makes it so unhealthy.

I think your husband is right about washing your hair every other day. I would also deep condition it once a week. Hope it helps.

every other day....even less if possible. even if you can just condition it in the shower will help. where do you live? i own a salon in baltimore if you are interested.

my hair is not dyed but i still only wash every other day to keep it less dry. your hairdresser will help you decide when to go back. i would not recommend you do this yourself as i have seen people turn their hair green!

Your husband is right, wash your hair every other day unless its very short. If it is very short you can try putting conditioner on it first then washing it out. Either way get a nice conditioner to put on it after you wash, something for color care might be best. I'd try the Sunsilk stuff (I am normally a shampoo snob but I really like this brand) and be prepared to try more than one formula. Maybe a moisturizing shampoo and a light conditioner. If you really want to go back to the brunette go to a salon and have them examine your hair, ask for semi perm color or a color wash as it doesn't damage the hair like the bleach did. Oh and take a picture first of you gorgeous in blonde locks in case he ever wants you to go back you can give him the picture to enjoy.
Good Luck!!!!!!!

I was a blond for nine years. It is a good idea not to wash your hair every day. If you can even go a couple days between washing your hair, I'd do that. And use shampoo and conditioner designed for hair that's been dyed.
I recently decided I was tired of doing my roots, and went back to brunette. There is a product by Clairol called hair color remover. Use that first, then choose the color you want, and use that.

hi there,
You should find a good beauty salon and ask stylist to give you a "conditioner" treatment. That is a good start. Then, use very good shampoo and conditioner, washing only every couple of days. Blow drying and straight iron also try hair, so try and limit use.

good luck

Hi, P., If you can afford to go to a salon, you could get low lights put in to help tone down the blonde. Professional coloring is not nearly as hard on your hair! Also, get a really good conditioner - salon quality. Good luck. As far as washing, it probably depends on the products you are using. Wash daily if you are using a good hydrating shampoo and conditioner, but otherwise, you may want to do less. N. B.

I strongly advise that you seek a professional when coloring you hair back. As for the shampooing, it is not necessary to shampoo daily. Especially if your hair has any natural wave/curl or is overprocessed, which is what it sounds like. With the right conditioning/shampooing routine, and a little patience, you shouldn't have to cut it all off. I own a salon in Norfolk and we specialize in corrective color. Good Luck!