How to Care For Over-Dyed Hair

Dying your hair sometimes comes at a cost. Especially for people who bleach their hair, it’s easy to over-use products that cause dryness and damage. If your latest trip to the salon or home box dye has left your hair feeling brittle and flimsy, we’re here to help. 

Today, we’re tackling some of the best ways to care for over-dyed hair. No matter how far “gone” you feel your hair may be, we’ve got tips and tricks to bring your back to its full, lustrous shine. 

How do I know if my hair is over-dyed?

Let’s start with what happens to hair when you dye it too much. Hair dye, on its own, isn’t too terrible for your hair, especially if you use trusted brands that rely on creams more than chemicals. (One of our favorites is the entire CHI Hair Color line, which uses a silky creme base instead of a thick chemical formula to apply color.) 

However, we all know there can be “too much of a good thing”. Achieving the perfect bleach blonde or pink peacock hair involves a mix of chemical relaxers, permanent dyes, and that main culprit — bleach. We get this question a lot: What are the symptoms of hair that’s been over-dyed?

• The feeling your hair or scalp has been “fried”
• Dryness, both in the way your hair feels and how it looks
• Flyaway frizz that doesn’t respond to hair products
• Cowlicks or other messy hair features that don’t go away when styling
• Limp and uneven hair, particularly at the ends
• Split ends and hair breakage
• Hair falling out, especially in spots where overprocessing has burned your scalp

What should I do if my hair is damaged from hair dye?

The first thing you should do if your hair is damaged from overprocessing is simply to stop all the processing — that means taking a break from bleach, heated styling tools, hair dye, and even hairspray. Don’t panic: You don’t have to say goodbye to your favorite hair products forever, just until your hair bounces back. In extreme cases, this can take a few months, but taking the time to treat overprocessed hair can help save it from permanent damage. 

Here are 5 of the best ways to treat over-dyed hair:

1. Start with a moisturizing hair mask. More than anything, over-dyed hair is thirsty. That dry and brittle feeling comes from a lack of moisture, which means you need to treat your hair to a tall glass of water. You can take this step at home, with a product like the David Douglas DIY Hair Mask, or you can go to your favorite salon for a more intense treatment. Either way, start with a gentle shampoo wash to remove any impurities from your hair, then apply a generous amount of your hair mask, making sure to work it through all of your hair from scalp to tips. Let the mask rest on your hair for at least ten to fifteen minutes, then rinse. Repeat the hair mask every other time you wash your hair, until you start seeing improvement. 
2. Switch up your shampoo and conditioner. This is one of the easiest ways to treat over-dyed or damaged hair. Often, our shampoos and conditioners can be unlikely culprits for hair damage, especially when they’re packed with sulfates or other chemicals that leave residue in already damaged hair. There really is a benefit to using color-protecting hair products, like Malibu Color Wellness Shampoo, especially if you dye or bleach your hair often. These products are packed with moisturizing ingredients like avocado or coconut oil, along with essential oils like witch hazel and evening primrose. Another good ingredient for damaged hair is keratin, the same protein found in our hair and nails. Moisturizing, keratin-boosted shampoos and conditioners, like Joico’s Moisture Recovery Shampoo, are a great way to give your hair the nutrients it needs after a long period of bleach and dye. 
3. Avoid “long-lasting” or “advanced hold” styling products. This includes hairsprays and styling gels. Switch to a mousse or cream with a light hold, like Biosilk’s Coconut Whipped Volume Mousse or CHI Aloe Vera Moisturizing Curl Cream. As always, look for products with moisturizing elements: we’re big fans of argan oil, aloe, and anything coconut-related for dry, damaged hair. 
4. Switch to air drying and heat-free styling. The worst thing you can do for over-dyed or damaged hair is to continue attacking it. We’re being dramatic there, but seriously — take a break from any heat, like hair dryers, curling irons, and straighteners. Whenever you can, air dry your hair (or dry it with a clean t-shirt instead of a towel to keep from further irritating damaged hair). If you usually blow dry your hair every day, this is a great time to try out new braided hairstyles that can air-dry into gorgeous, beachy waves. Just make sure to spritz some leave-in conditioner (like CHI Aloe Vera Humidity Resistant Leave-In Conditioner) over any style to lock in some extra moisture. 
5. Get a haircut. Finally, in extreme conditions, the only thing you can do to save damaged hair is get a haircut. Find your trusted stylist and tackle those split ends and brittle hairs. You don’t have to go the full buzz cut route (unless you want to — rock it, friend!), but if you’ve been bleaching and dyeing your hair for years, chopping off a few inches of damaged hair makes room for healthy, voluminous locks to grow in its place. Many expert stylists can also make recommendations for advanced treatments, like keratin-infused hair masks and deep conditioning treatments. Trust your stylist and make the switch to moisturizing hair products, and you’ll be on your way to gorgeous, lustrous, healthy hair in no time! 

When you’re stuck on the best products for your hair, or wondering exactly how to take care of damaged, dry, or brittle hair, Beauty Supply 123 is here to help. Our diverse range of hair care products for natural hair, products for damaged hair, and everything in between offers everything you need to ensure happy, healthy hair — and even happier hair days! 

Shop our full selection at Beauty Supply 123, and get in touch with our team if you need help deciding between our premium products!