I Bleached My Afro Hair, But These 6 Products Are Keeping It Healthy

I have spent a significant amount of time over the last few weeks writing about trending hair colours and the coolest summer hairstyles, so it's no surprise that I've been incredibly tempted to switch up my own hair look. And this week, that's exactly what I did—I took the plunge, headed into salon and dyed my Afro hair. Honestly, I’d been thinking about it for a while and obsessing over the warmer blonde-brunette balayage images that I’d been pinning, but I was finally ready to have the Hot Girl Summer hair of my dreams.

However, like with any chemical hair service, I knew that there was a huge risk attached to colouring my hair. "Bleached hair is more porous, so it becomes more sensitive," warns Zoë Irwin, a Wella Professionals colour trend expert. "When you lighten hair and remove pigment, it naturally has more sensitivity, especially when lightening to white or very pale colours."

The pre-lightening process can take its toll on any texture, but for Afro hair, it can be particularly brutal. I’d had my hair coloured before, but my colourist this time—Lloyd Court from Skyler London—was taking it lighter than it had ever been. A common misconception is that if you have dark hair, it can’t safely and healthily be lightened—an idea that Adam Reed, the UK editorial ambassador for L’Oréal Professionnel, wants to turn on its head. "A thorough consultation with your colourist is a must, but if you have the right plan and hair protection process in place, your colourist can always help you get to where you want to be whilst ensuring the hair health is a priority," says Reed. "Never try to lighten your hair at home. This is something to be achieved by a professional."

Luckily, having experts on hand with tips meant that I knew the lead-up to the appointment was as important to the outcome as the appointment itself. "In the run-up to your appointment, make sure you are nourishing and strengthening your hair. This will make a massive difference to the colour result and the condition of your hair after your in-salon service," says Irwin.

When it comes to at-home treatments, keeping washing to a minimum has stopped my hair from becoming over-sensitised. While bleached hair may feel dry, a common myth is that it has to be moisturised often. "This is the worst thing you can do because bleached hair needs more strength and protein to restructure the hair in the first instance. By adding more moisture, you stretch the hair and this weakens it further," warns Irwin. Sticking to protein-enriched treatments when you wash will give it a boost of strength.

Speaking of washing, the only thing that keeps my colour vibrant is using a pigmented shampoo and conditioner. "I always recommend to my clients that they use a professional hair colour shampoo and conditioner at home to maintain the vibrancy of the colour," says Reed. I followed the advice of my colourist, Lloyd, and am using a toning duo every three washes (any more and it can make the colour look dull).

And it's worth noting that when it comes to styling, I have really had to cut back on the heat. I now use straighteners once a week, if that, and when I do, I load on the heat protectant.

Following these expert tips has, quite honestly, given me the balayage of my dreams, and I want to share the love. Ahead are the six products that I've added to my routine for bleached Afro hair products and the ones that I recommend for healthy bleached colour all summer long.

1. Colour-Protecting Shampoos

2. Colour-Enhancing Shampoos

3. Protein-Enriched Treatments

4. Bonding Masks

5. Nourishing Oils

6. Heat Protectant