Can I lighten my hair without damaging it?
Image via @ellyhairpaynter/Instagram
Words by Alice Johnson
Blonde doesn’t happen overnight.
What do Ryan Gosling and you six months into a breakup have in common? A fresh head of blonde highlights, of course! I’m no blonde virgin and in the depths of this year’s gloomy winter weather, I felt the familiar urge to return to the light side.
This time, though, I was determined to do it differently. When I’ve bleached my hair in the past, I’ve experienced varying degrees of damage – the most extreme being one very desperate time in high school when my hair became jelly-like after bleaching it at a sleepover.
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It was the result of over-bleaching, which can damage the structure of hair strands and even the hair follicle itself. It took several trips to the hairdresser to restore my hair to its usual curly texture. Traumatising.
After researching how I can make sure my hair doesn’t dramatically fall out à la Cindy from Rugrats in my pursuit to be Barbie-blonde, I spoke to Melbourne hairstylist Elly Paynter about how to go light, right. Here, I’ve pulled together the highlights (ha).
Healthy hair starts at home
Before you step foot in a salon clutching your Margot Robbie reference images, consider the current state of your locks. If your hair is already battling for life, you may want to reconsider your decision to turn to bleach until you’ve nursed your strands back to health.
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“Get your hair routine down pat,” Elly says. “Invest in a good shampoo, conditioner and leave-in styling products. [They will] help your hair needs during the lightening journey.”
You may have seen this one coming, but we also spoke about avoiding extreme and excessive heat. “I know it can be a bit unavoidable, but try reducing heat tools to once a week,” she says. Regretfully, I’m informed that this includes really hot showers.
Leave it up to the experts
Who you choose to help you achieve your blonde status should be considered wisely. After all, you’ll be spending a lot of time at the salon. Blonde doesn’t happen overnight.
I recommend doing a lot of Googling, asking for recommendations and searching through trusted online sources before you commit to a salon. Make sure there’s a stylist that offers the look you’re going for (and again, be realistic).
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Depending on the health and current colour of your hair, you may need several sessions to get the look you want to achieve, so it’s important to trust the process. Elly says, “Consistency with your appointments is key. Your hairdresser will guide you on this depending on what your desired blonde is”.
A lot of great salons offer consultations before you receive any treatment. It’s helpful to get a gauge on how many sessions you might need, and also how much to budget to get the colour you’re after.
Protect your investment
Perhaps the most important step to luscious locks post-lighting is aftercare. “I recommend weekly hair treatments to support and replenish the hair,” says Elly, who explains moisture and nourishing properties are stripped from our strands during the lightning process.
How we approach our daily hair routine also protects the longevity of our hair while going lighter. Elly suggests incorporating gentle and regular brushing of the hair and scalp. “It sounds simple, but we can be so rough when we brush our hair… be gentle and also get into your scalp. This can increase blood flow which is splendid for healthy, strong hair.”
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Elly also mentions investing in a silk pillowcase or wrap can allow hair to sit at night without causing too much friction when sleeping, which can stress and snap to our locks. At the end of the day, a lot of time and money goes into achieving your perfect colour, so it’s important to continue to take care of your hair colour between salon visits.
I’m just a few sessions into my lightening journey, but I’m already seeing such a big difference in how my hair is responding to the process, compared to in the past when I was under-prepared or went straight into bleaching with little to no prep or aftercare.
My parting advice to you (and my 17-year-old self) is if you think it’s time to go light, just remember it costs a hell of a lot more to fix a bad blonde than it does to get it right from the start.
You can find Elly working out of a cosy space in South Yarra. For more information, head here.
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