Why Is My Hair Falling Out After Bleaching?

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Are you concerned about your hair falling out after bleaching, or is this something you want to avoid by being proactive? This article discusses everything you need to know about the effects of bleach on your hair and how to prevent losing any hair after bleaching.

Uh Oh. Hair Falling Out After Bleaching?

Hair may fall out after bleaching because the chemicals in hair bleach can be incredibly damaging to your strands. If you didn’t know this, bleaching is one of the harshest chemical processes you can subject your hair to.

Bleaching can cause hair to become brittle, extremely dry, and break off when done incorrectly. In extreme cases, it can even cause your hair to fall out.

Have you ever witnessed your hair falling out after bleaching? Or are you interested in bleaching your hair soon but have you heard that this is something that can happen and want to avoid it at all costs?

In this article, we’ll discuss the reasons it may happen, including:

Strong bleach
Allergies
Underlying conditions

Read on to uncover why hair falls out after bleaching, what to do if it happens, and how to prevent this damage from happening in the first place.

Why Does Hair Fall Out After Bleaching?

Woman worrying because her hair is falling out after bleaching

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There are a few reasons why hair might fall out after bleaching.

1. Hair Is Vulnerable to Bleach

Studies show that the cell membrane complex (CMC), which is the intercellular matter of hair, is vulnerable to chemical treatments like bleaching, dying, and straightening.

The CMC comprises cell membranes held together by proteins, which act as a barrier to protect the cells. If the CMC gets damaged, it can cause the hair cells to break apart and eventually die.

Chemicals like bleach usually cause this damage that strips away the natural oils and proteins that keep the CMC healthy. When the CMC is damaged, it can lead to dryness, brittleness, and breakage — and in extreme cases, hair loss.

2. The Bleach Could Be Too Strong

If the hair bleach is too strong, it can cause your hair to become dry and brittle, leading to breakage. Bleach consists of two parts:

The oxidizing agent: This agent is usually hydrogen peroxide, which helps to “bleach” your hair by breaking down the melanin pigment.
The developer: This is usually ammonia, which helps to activate the bleaching process.

When these two oxidizing and developing chemicals get mixed, they create a highly alkaline solution that can damage your hair.

3. You Left the Bleach in for Too Long

If you leave hair bleach in for too long, it’ll continue to strip away the natural moisture and oils in your hair, leaving it damaged and more susceptible to breakage.

4. You Could Be Allergic to the Bleach

If you’re allergic to bleach, your scalp could become irritated, leading to hair loss.

5. You Could Have an Underlying Health Condition

Certain health conditions, like autoimmune disorders and thyroid conditions, can cause your hair to fall out. If you’re bleaching your hair and experiencing hair loss, it’s important to see a doctor to rule out any underlying health conditions.

What to Do If Your Hair Falls Out After Bleaching

If your hair falls out after bleaching, it’s vital that you take care of your scalp and strands. Below, we’ve rounded up a few potential remidies.

Seek a Professional Stylist

If your hair has experienced massive damage from bleaching, the best thing to do is to seek a professional stylist who can help remedy the situation.

Wash Your Hair With a Gentle Shampoo

Washing your hair with a high-quality, gentle shampoo will help rejuvenate and strengthen your strands after bleaching to prevent any more hair from falling out and strengthen the hair that’s there.

Condition Your Hair Regularly

While shampoo will help cleanse and fortify your hair, the conditioner will help moisturize and strengthen it after drying out from the bleach.

Use a Deep Conditioning Treatment Once a Week

Using a deep conditioning treatment will penetrate your hair shaft and help restore it from the inside out.

Be Gentle With Your Hair

It’s important to be careful when brushing and manipulating your hair while in this weaker state. Also, avoid using harsh styling products or heat styling tools, as these can further damage your strands and lead to more hair loss.

Use Heat Protectants Before Heat Styling

You should avoid using heat when your hair is weak, brittle, and falling out after bleaching. However, if you must use heat for one reason or another, then make sure to use high-quality heat protectants before you do so.

Avoid Bleaching in the Future

If your hair is falling out after bleaching, it’s a good idea to avoid bleaching it in the future. Your hair might simply not be suitable for bleaching.

How to Prevent Hair Loss After Bleaching

Woman taking care of her bleached hair that is falling out by using a shampoo bar

Alona Siniehina/Shutterstock

If you’ve never had your hair fall out after bleaching and are thinking about bleaching it soon, you may be more curious about preventative measures instead of restorative measures. Here are a few tips for preventing your hair from falling out after bleaching.

Do a Patch Test First

If this is the first time bleaching, or if you’re using a new bleach, do a patch test first. A patch test means taking a small strand of hair, preferably in the back of your head, and trying it out first.

This patch test process will help you determine whether or not you’re allergic to the bleach or if there might be any other adverse reaction to it before using it on your whole head.

Use a Lower Volume Bleach

When bleaching your hair, use a lower volume bleach, such as a 10 or 20 volume. These lower volumes won’t be as harsh on your strands and are less likely to lead to hair loss.

Make Sure to Follow the Instructions

When using any type of hair bleach, you must follow the instructions on the package to a tee.

Don’t Leave Bleach in Your Hair for Too Long

One of the main reasons people’s hair falls out after bleaching is because they leave the bleach in their hair for too long. When you’re ready to remove the bleach, do it as soon as the recommended time is up.

Use Sulfate-Free and Paraben-Free Shampoo

Sulfates and parabens are known to be harsh on your hair, so it’s important to avoid using these ingredients in your shampoo, especially after bleaching your hair.

Use a Good Conditioner

After you’ve bleached your hair, use a good conditioner to help moisturize and protect your strands. Condition your hair regularly and gently, and use a deep conditioning treatment once a week to help keep your hair healthy and strong.

Increase Protein in Diet

Eating plenty of protein helps strengthen your muscles, but it also helps strengthen your hair strands and supports the natural keratin protein that helps form your hair.

Frequently Asked Questions

Woman getting her hair bleached in a salon

Michelle Aleksa/Shutterstock

Here are our answers to bleached hair-related questions.

How do I stop my hair from falling out after bleaching it?

Always do a patch test first to stop your hair from falling out after bleaching. Then, use as little bleach as you require, follow the bleaching instructions, and don’t leave the bleach in for too long. You can also add more protein to your diet and start using high-quality sulfate- and paraben-free shampoos and conditioners.

Is it normal for hair to fall out after bleaching?

Yes, hair falling out after bleaching is common. When you bleach your hair, the bleach strips the hair of natural oils that keep your hair healthy. Bleach also affects your hair’s outer keratin layer, which can make your hair thinner and more susceptible to falling out.

How long until bleached hair is healthy again?

Bleached hair can take several weeks to return to its initial healthy state. However, you can usually start treating your hair more “normally” after about two weeks. During this time, be sure to use high-quality shampoo and conditioner, avoid heat styling, and use a deep conditioning treatment approximately once a week to help speed up the process.

How can I repair my bleached, damaged hair?

You can do a few things to repair your bleached, damaged hair. You can wash your hair with gentle shampoo and a high-quality conditioner. Try to avoid heat, use a heat protectant if necessary, and seek a professional hairstylist.

Will hair grow back after chemical damage?

Hair will usually grow back after damage from chemicals. However, the new hair may be a different texture or color than the hair that got damaged. If you’re concerned about your hair not growing back or want to help speed up the process, you can talk to your doctor or a hairstylist about the options available.

So, How Do You Stop Hair from Falling Out After Bleaching?

Hair loss after bleaching is a common problem, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. You can do a few simple things to minimize the effects of bleach.

These include using a lower volume of bleach, reducing the time you keep the bleach in your hair, and opting for a high-quality shampoo and conditioner.

By following our tips, you can help prevent hair loss and keep your bleached hair healthy and strong. Happy coloring!

Why Is My Hair Falling Out After Bleaching? | 2024 Guide