I was blown away the first time I saw Anne Hathaway’s platinum blonde hair back in 2013. Since then, I kept imagining myself rocking the same hair color. The thought of bleaching my naturally dark hair, however, held me back from actually sporting the same color. I wasn’t also sure if I would be able to pull it off and didn’t push through with my plans.
But obviously, I did. Otherwise, this blog wouldn’t exist. The story goes like this: when I left my previous job, I wanted to do something different. Something bold. That’s when I decided to radically change my hairstyle. Five years after the Princess Diaries star’s hair blew my socks off, I finally decided to go blonde.
After spending hours in a salon and a few layers of bleach, I had the hair I’ve been dreaming. It was worth the five-year back-and-forth, OR was it?
How Hard Is It to Have Blonde Hair?
I just wanted to have those golden tresses Anne Hathaway had years ago. But I didn’t initially realize how high-maintenance it would be to maintain my bottle blonde hair. I had to change my hair care routine not only for the color to last longer, but also to keep my strands healthy. It also meant I had to spend more on it than if I had kept my natural hair.
Bleach strips away hair’s natural moisture. That’s why after bleaching my hair four times, it became vulnerable to breakage. My scalp also became dry, which resulted in flaking. I had to be mindful of the hair products I used to ensure that they didn’t add to the damage already on my hair.
Regular products made my hair look brassy, which I didn’t like at all. The reaction was apparently due to the sulfate content in them. Upon further research, I discovered that I should opt for sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners. I should also be deep conditioning, as well, because it provides moisture to the dry scalp.
Ideal Hair Care for Color-Damaged Hair
It has been more than a year since I first bleached my hair. And I can say with some confidence that I’ve become pretty good at maintaining my blonde hair and keeping it healthy-looking and full of life. If you have bleached hair, like I do, or plan to have it bleached soon, here are some tips to avoid having dull, damaged looking locks:
- Sulfate-free bathing products. I shampoo my hair once or twice a week using a sulfate-free product. I also use a sulfate-free conditioner afterward, which I do daily. Conditioning is more important to me because shampooing daily dries my scalp.
- Smart hair-washing schedule. I also try not to wash my hair sometimes for my scalp to generate more natural oil. The Manila weather, however, makes me feel uncomfortable leaving my house with unwashed hair. You can use a dry shampoo on days you don’t want to wash your hair. It helps eliminate grease and odor.
- Hair oil and leave-on conditioner. Applying hair oil helps to maintain moisture. I like putting oil while my hair is still damp, not wet because my hair already absorbs the product well. A leave-on conditioner also keeps you mane moisturized all day.
- Physical hair protectors. Don’t forget to protect your hair from the harmful UV rays. The sun damages the hair as much as it does to our skin. You can wear a hat or use a UV protection spray in this case.
- Avoid heat styling. I avoid heat-styling tools, like hair iron and hair dryer, because my hair is already fragile. Using such tools will only damage it further. You can ask your hair colorist for advice on how you can style your hair without damaging it.
- Deep condition. Once or twice a week, I treat my hair to some deep conditioning. Recently, I discovered the Mud Hair Mask from Kedma Cosmetics. This product helped me big time to maintain healthy-looking hair.
My Experience with Kedma Mud Hair Mask
Kedma’s Mud Hair Mask is in a higher price range than my usual hair products because it’s rich in black mud from the Dead Sea. But what is with the Dead Sea mud, anyway? I looked it up on the Internet and found out that the mud in the saltwater lake in the Middle East is rich in a unique combination of minerals, including magnesium, sodium, and potassium.
I was amazed to find that Dead Sea mud offers plenty of benefits not only to my hair but also to my skin and other health problems. Kedma’s hair mask is formulated to treat and restore the damage caused by hair coloring. It’s supposed to strengthen the hair roots and give the hair a shiny and natural look.
The product is easy to apply. I use a spatula to scoop the product and then massage it into my wet hair for five to eight minutes. I wash it with warm water, leaving my hair soft and fragrant.
It’s only been a month since I started using the product, and already I’ve noticed some improvements in my hair. It gave my tresses extra smoothness and shine, making it look more natural. My hair is also easier to brush, and I notice less breakage each time I use the mud mask.
People come to me to ask how I manage to keep my hair healthy despite all the chemicals I put on it. I recommend this product to those who have severely damaged hair or those who are planning to bleach their hair. Maintaining your attention-grabbing blonde hair is costly, so you should be smart when buying your hair care products.
Being Blonde Is more Fun
Despite the frequent visits to the salon to touch up my roots and spending more cash on hair products, I didn’t regret lightening my hair. It gave me more opportunities to try different styles, from braids to beach waves. My blonde hair has definitely become my signature look.
Knowing that certain products help maintain the health of my strands makes me feel excited to try other hair colors, including pastel pink, teal, or purple. I still have to consult with a professional colorist, though, to make sure that my hair can still withstand more chemical treatments.
Living with blonde hair is a commitment. But it pays off to stand out and be confident with your own hair. Embrace your individuality through the hairstyle and color that make you happy. Simply flip your hair at the haters.