Routine for Bleached Hair
What bleach actually does to hair
Bleach lifts pigment from the hair cortex by oxidizing melanin. The process is necessarily aggressive — it requires opening the cuticle, raising the cortex to an alkaline pH, and stripping color molecules out.
Side effects:
- Disulfide bonds break. The structural bonds between keratin chains take collateral damage.
- Polypeptide chains weaken. The protein backbone itself loses integrity.
- Lipids strip. The cortex's natural lipid layer is reduced.
- Cuticle stays slightly raised. The fiber doesn't fully reseal post-service.
The hair feels rougher, looks duller, breaks more easily, and absorbs water faster than it can lose it (over-porosity).
Recovery isn't optional — it's the difference between bleach you can maintain indefinitely and bleach that destroys your hair within six months.
The routine
Day of service
Atomic Hair Repair Leave-In on damp hair. Two to three pumps. The same day as bleach. The cuticle is still open from the service — this is the highest-deposit moment you'll have.
Renew Porosity Balancing Oil on mid-lengths and ends. Two to four drops. Jojoba and Vitamin E start replacing the lipids bleach just stripped.
No heat styling for the first 48 hours.
Days 1–7 (the recovery week)
Every wash:
- Total Refresh pH Balancing Shampoo — sulfate-free, pH 5.0–5.5. Color-safe.
- AquaLush Peptide Fiber Mask in place of conditioner — 5–10 minutes, then rinse. This week only, AquaLush replaces your usual conditioner every wash.
- Atomic Hair Repair Leave-In on damp hair.
- Renew oil on mid-lengths and ends.
- Chemical Addiction Peptide Bonding Spray before any heat tool — even low-heat styling.
Between washes:
- Mist hair with water to refresh.
- Re-apply Atomic in small amounts if hair feels dry.
- Re-apply Renew on ends nightly.
Week 2–4
Shift AquaLush to once a week. Use Total Refresh Conditioner on other wash days.
Continue daily Atomic and Renew. The peptide deposit is now compounding.
Week 5 and beyond
Standard Oli G routine: Total Refresh Shampoo + Conditioner on every wash, Atomic on damp hair every wash, Renew on ends every wash, Chemical Addiction before heat, AquaLush once a week or twice a month, Pure Detox once a week (skip during weeks 1–3 post-service).
What to expect
- Week 1: Hair feels less brittle damp. Detangling is easier.
- Week 2: Visible shine returning. Breakage during brushing reduces.
- Week 3–4: Tensile strength noticeably improved. Bleached ends feel more like pre-service.
- Week 6+: The cumulative peptide deposit shows up as durable strength.
When to come back in for color
For maintenance bleach (root touch-ups, tone refresh), wait 6–8 weeks after the initial service before the next chemical step. If the hair was double-process bleached or color-corrected, give it longer — 8–12 weeks is safer.
The longer the recovery window, the more peptide deposit has compounded, and the better the hair holds up to the next service.
What to avoid
- Daily clarifying. Pure Detox is weekly maximum. Skip entirely in weeks 1–3 post-service.
- Heat without protection. Always Chemical Addiction first.
- Hot water washing. Lukewarm only. Hot water lifts the cuticle further.
- Stacking another chemical service. No relaxer, no perm, no second bleach session within four weeks unless your stylist is directing it.
- Daily heat styling at maximum heat. Drop your heat tool temperature 20–30 degrees post-service. Hair is more vulnerable.
Variations
If your hair is bleached and Type 4
See the Post-Bleach Repair for Type 4 Hair guide.
If your hair is bleached and relaxed
See the Routine for Relaxed Hair.
If your hair is bleached and has a keratin treatment
See the Routine for Keratin-Treated Hair.
If your hair is bleached and in a protective style
See the Routine for Protective Styles.