It have been quite some time that I shared a post containing hair care products but I have been trying out some new things in hair care for the past few months, especially for bleached hair. I really love to try out new things when it comes to hair care products and I always look for a good hair masks or anti-frizz products to restore moisture and add shine to my curly/wavy hair. It have been nearly more than two years since I’ve bleached my hair (full highlights). I have always tried to stay away from coloring session since it really does a lot of damage to the hair’s texture and natural shine. For the last couple of years I slightly wanted to go blond without damaging my hair and highlights were the only options or one of the closest options to get the look without a full damage on my hair. I always keep my hair care routine simple but my hair care routine has changed since getting fully bleached highlights about two years ago.
Through out this time I have tried and test many-colored and bleached hair care products which quite some of them made it to my shower shelf. Here I share some of my top go to picks to treat and care the bleached hair.
My Go-To Shampoos and Conditioners
I’ve been on the hunt for a good shampoo mainly since I only use conditioner from time to time. My hair is super dry and with each highlighting treatment and Toronto’s weather, it has gone super dry, and not all formulas works. Many formulas are hard to rinse out as well as many leaves my hair tangled while some weigh down my hair. So it has been fairly tricky to find a good shampoo. I really loved the Moroccan Oil Curl Collection for some time but wanted to try something new and something that would keep my blond highlights bold and fresh.
I decided to reach out to the Oligo Blacklight Blue Shampoo, which I was hearing great reviews from many. This is a formula for highlighted, bleached and natural blonde hair. This one really eliminates brassiness yet refreshes faded highlights for a brighter and cleaner finish. I found the formula worked great on my hair but at the same time, it adds a bit of texture to hair. I have already gone through more than 3 bottles and I still have one on stock for future uses. The formula rinses out nicely and doesn’t weigh my hair down. I absolutely loved it! it’s free of parabens, sulfate, and salt which was another thumbs up for me.
The pigment in this shampoo is quite bold and carries that cool blue shade that makes this shampoo stand out from others.
Yet at the same time, since I was still looking for a better version where I wanted my hair to feel a bit softer, I received the Marc Anthony’s Brightening Coconut Butter Blondes Shampoo and Conditioner which is a good version from drugstore brands. Coconut Butter sounded too good to me and I felt my dry hair needed something similar to this. This is an extra lightweight formula that removes brassy tones and slowly lightens shades of blonde. The formula was quite nice and hydrating and adds a super nice shine to the hair but I found there was not enough violet pigment in the formulas to keep my blond hair as fresh as Oligo Blacklight Blue Shampoo does. But I found this formula to be a fairly good shampoo and conditioner that you can expect from a drugstore brand.
L’Oreal SE Blondifier Cool Shampoo is yet another drugstore brand that has been a super hit formula for bleached and blond hair. This one is enriched with berry extract that helps hair repair and restores its natural look. I absolutely love how there is enough pigment in this formula that neutralizes yellow tones. It leaves hair super silky with the super bold finish of blond color.
Yet I was super excited when I got to try out the Redken Color Extend Blondage Shampoo and Conditioner. This was sent out to me from the brand which was setting in my restroom cabinet for quite some time. I slowly found my way on how to use and test blue shampoos yet I also found what to expect from them. I’m so glad that I got to try this and it turns out to be a super hit formula for my hair. This formula is enriched with ultraviolet pigment which I was looking for in my shampoo and Triple Acid Protein Complex to tone, strengthen and brighten blond hair. I should include that this has exceeded my expectations. It has nourished my curly hair while it really refreshes the bold highlighted colors on my hair. I’m definitely going to try out more from the brand.
On the Go Treatments
I blow dry my hair almost all the time and I always try to get my hair treated with a good mask for the ends and a good oil to treat my sculpt. I have tried quite some hair masks but not many ones that are designed for blond hair. Recently I got to try out the Serie Expert Nourishing Hair Mask Blondifier from Loreal. This is a restoring and illuminating hair mask for blond hair. This is one of the hair masks that doesn’t weigh down the hair while it takes away the brassiness from the hair and leaves it super hydrating and shiny. This is quite phenomenal to add moisture to my ends in a light way. It’s designed to be used in the shower for 3-5 minutes after the use of shampoo and conditioner and rinse it out, but I personally take apply it for an hour on my slightly damp hair before taking shower. This way I find it really adds moisture to my hair.
Using hot tools from time to time and most of the time air drying isn’t the best for me. I have tried many heat styling sprays, creams, and oils which I can say I do have couple staples that I always rely on yet there are quite some great options out there but recently I have come up with the new Kerastase Blond Absolu Cicaplasme Serum which is enriched with hyaluronic acid and Cicaplasme that seals split ends and smooths out the hair fiber and for long-lasting frizz control. I love how it’s an instant product where it provides immediate and 24-hour long-lasting frizz control and yet protects hair from heat up to 230°C. This is definitely lightweight and helps minimize frizz. I apply about three pumps to my damp hair before I blow dry, especially on days that I leave my hair curly. I also find it adds a nice shine to the hair and the hair feels soft and smooth.
This is all for this roundup of hair care product recommendations for colored and bleached hair. It took me quite some time to find my way to blue shampoos and bleached treatment products. These are some of what I have tried and loved the most. Have you got a color care product that you’re loving at the moment? List below, I would love to hear your thoughts.
Press samples were provided and courtesy of Loreal, Kerastase, Marc Anthony, Redken, and Oligo.
