The internet is abuzz with rumors of bleaching sessions leading to thin hair strands. Does bleaching your hair make it thinner? Is this a myth? Or reality?
In this article, we’ll look at whether or not bleaching your hair makes it thinner. We’ll also give you tips on how to combat bleach-related thinning and make your strands look and feel thicker. Let’s get right into it!
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Does Bleaching Your Hair Make It Thinner?
Properly bleaching healthy hair once shouldn’t make it thinner. However, bleaching your hair improperly or multiple times may lead to hair loss and thinning.
Additionally, bleaching your hair may make it appear thinner due to changes in your hair’s curl pattern. If you’re concerned about hair thinning, you can take steps to prevent it before, during, and after your lightening treatment.
How To Prevent Hair Thinning Caused By Bleaching
Now that you know that bleaching your hair may lead to thinning strands, you’re probably wondering how to prevent it. Keeping these tips in mind will help you prevent hair breakage associated with the bleaching process.
- Do a patch test - Before you apply bleach to your whole head, do a test run with a small section of hair. That will give you an accurate look at how your locks will respond to the treatment and can prevent a bleach-related disaster from wrecking all of your hair.
- Get your hair professionally lightened - One of the best things you can do for your hair is to get it lightened by a professional colorist. When you bleach your hair at home, a number of things can go wrong. An experienced stylist will be able to lighten your hair while preventing severe damage.
- Bleach unwashed hair - To keep your strands healthy, avoid washing them for 72 hours before you bleach them. That will give your natural scalp oils enough time to build up and coat your scalp and hair. Even gentle shampoos will strip your natural oils, so avoid washing your hair altogether during that time.
- Don’t overprocess your hair - Stacking chemical processes on top of one another is the fastest way to fry your strands. If you get the following chemical treatments, try to stretch out the time between them and your bleaching treatment. The longer you wait, the more time your strands will have to recover.
- Show your strands some TLC - Repairing and moisturizing hair products will help restore the health of your hair. Use them before your bleaching treatment to ensure your hair is strong enough to handle the abuse to come. You should also use them after your hair is lightened to help restore moisture and resilience to your strands.
How To Get Thicker Hair
If you’re trying to reverse bleach-related thinning, we’ve got you covered. Here are some tips to help restore your hair to its previous state. Remember, consistency is vital when it comes to increasing hair growth and thickness.
The more you stick to your new routine, the more substantial your results will be.
Massage Your Scalp
Regularly massaging your scalp will help increase blood and oxygen circulation. The increased circulation helps keep your follicles healthy and may increase the thickness of your hair.
Scalp massages are a relaxing, accessible, and easy way to give your hair a boost. Just follow these simple steps:
- Detangle your loose hair and remove any rings and hair accessories.
- Dispense a few drops of your preferred oil onto your fingertips.
- Press your fingertips into your temples, and move them in a small, circular motion. Apply light pressure and focus more on moving your scalp than your hair.
- Move to another section of your head and continue massaging until you’ve finished your entire scalp. Try to spend at least 5 minutes massaging.
- Repeat this process as often as two times a day for increased hair growth.
Use Thickening Products
You can turn to thickening and volumizing hair products for a quick fix. Volumizing products give you a lift at the roots, while thickening products plump your strands by infusing them with polymers, vitamins, and proteins. While some products give you a temporary boost, others may lead to fuller hair with regular use.
Improve Your Diet
Full, healthy hair starts with proper nutrition. By getting all the nutrients you need, you can keep your hair in excellent condition and support healthy hair growth.
Additionally, a deficiency in crucial nutrients can cause your hair to thin out or stop growing. You should also look into taking supplements if you’re deficient in any essential vitamins or minerals.
Here are some supplements that can lead to thicker hair.
Consult your doctor before starting any supplement.
Upgrade Your Scalp Care
When it comes to hair care, it’s easy to overlook your scalp. However, healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. Exfoliating, moisturizing, and adequately cleaning your scalp may improve hair thickness and length.
Get a Volumizing Haircut
There are a few different ways to make your strands appear thicker with a volumizing haircut. One way to give the illusion of thicker hair is to cut layers.
Layers create dimension and movement, which makes thinner locks look thicker. If you decide to get layers, make sure you get them professionally done.
Another way to make even the limpest, thinnest strands pop is to get a tapered blunt haircut, like a bob. Your hair naturally thins out and tapers off as you move towards the ends. Sharp cuts eliminate the thinner ends and make your hair appear more luscious.
Avoid Heat Tools
Like chemical processing, heat damage can weaken your strands and cause them to thin out. Hot tools like flat irons and curling wands suck the moisture from your strands, which leads to an increase in breakage.
Avoid heat styling as much as possible to keep your strands looking and feeling their best. When you do use heat, keep the temperature low and always start with a good heat protectant.
Play Around with Texture
One easy way to add volume and fullness to thin strands is to play around with volumizing texture. Straight strands tend to lay flat, which can exacerbate thinning hair.
By adding waves and curls, you can create the illusion of a fuller mane. Since heat tools can damage your hair, try heatless curling methods like braid-outs and twist-outs.
Protect Your Strands Against Mechanical Damage
In terms of hair care, mechanical damage is breakage caused by high amounts of friction or tension. As your strands break off, your hair will look thinner and shorter.
To prevent mechanical damage from wrecking your locks, avoid hairstyles and accessories that are too tight. It’s also a good idea to switch up your hairstyle here and there.
Another excellent way to cut down on physical damage is to switch to a silk or satin pillowcase or scarf. Cotton absorbs moisture a bit too well, which can dry your strands out and cause them to break off.
Cotton also creates a lot of friction, further contributing to its hair thinning effects. By switching to a silk or satin pillowcase or scarf, you can keep the moisture where it needs to be – in your hair.
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- Are Developer and Bleach the Same Thing?
Although bleaching healthy hair once isn’t likely to cause thinning strands, bleaching your hair improperly absolutely can.
We hope this article answered all of your questions about whether bleaching your hair makes it thinner and has given you the information to avoid and reverse it. Good luck with your hair!
