Many of us in the Natural Hair community have been reluctant to dye our curls because we have heard tens of hundreds of horror stories. Whether it was from your trusted stylist or from your mom’s best friend, you have heard the worst color tales and have promised yourself that you will never, ever bleach your hair.
Well, I am here to tell you that there’s nothing to fear.
Resa B. Luster | Photo by Glenn Parson
Essentially, if you really want to go blonde, you need my secret to bleached natural hair success. My signature bleached curls are healthy, strong, and still retaining their pattern after several years of lifting color!
Want the secret to my bleached natural hair success?
Well, how about we start from the beginning? I have been experimenting with my hair color since I was 18 years old, starting with box hair color in red. From that point on, I just kept playing with hair color! Eventually, I found a stylist that I trust, and let her color my hair.
For a while during college, I decided to go from jet black to blonde, jet black to blonde. After graduating, I just kept lifting the color until it became platinum blonde.
The secret is in the timing!
Because bleached hair is fragile due to the lifting process, it needs a lot of moisture and consistent deep conditioning. That’s why I highly recommend moisturizing products from our Shea Butter and Coconut Oil collection. I cleanse my curls with Shea Butter Coconut Oil Sulfate Free Moisturizing Shampoo and follow up with our Shea Butter & Coconut Oil Moisturizing & Smoothing Conditioner. One to two time a month I will cocktail our the conditioner with our and Pink 10-N-1 Hot Oil Treatment. The deep level of moisture ensures that every hair strand is nourished to the core!
For even deeper levels of hydration and to retain all week long, I will sit under the hooded dryer or a hood steamer or hooded dryer for 30 minutes.
As mentioned, the secret to healthy, thoroughly moisturized bleached hair is in the timing. You must deep condition your natural hair weekly, especially if you have bleached hair. You HAVE to! I cannot stress this enough. If you don’t go that route, you might as well have not bleached your hair.
Book the appointment. Clip the ends. Lift the color. Repeat.
To keep my blonde vibrant, I bleach my natural hair every three weeks. To keep it healthy and to reduce over manipulating my hair strands, I style it myself. Since I’ve been in the industry for so long, and I know colorists that are also stylists, I ask them questions about the best ways to maintain and style my hair. For instance, every time you see my Mohawk, I’ve styled it!
Every three months, I have my ends clipped by a professional stylist because I am bleached. If I were not bleached, I would get them clipped every 6 months.
Recommended At-Home Regimen for Bleached Curls and Natural Hair
Since bleached hair is susceptible to breakage and dryness, I recommend cocktailing Shea Butter Coconut Oil Moisturizing and Silkening Conditioner and PINK Hot Oil Treatment from the original collection. You can both of these on LustersPink.com. Use this cocktail to deep condition your bleached curls every week, and never skip this step!
Using a 100% cotton tee shirt, dry your hair. Then, apply the Pink Shea Butter & Coconut Oil Leave-In Conditioner followed by our amazing Pink Shea Butter & Coconut Oil Moisturizing Hair Milk before using the most appropriate styler for your hair. For instance, if it’s a Twist Out you want to achieve, use the Pink Shea Butter & Coconut Oil Super Moisturizing Curl Definer or the Pink Shea Butter & Coconut Oil Curl & Twist Pudding.
Are you still on the fence about bleaching your natural hair?
Believe me, I understand. Once you do make the leap into bleached natural hair and color-treated curls, I would definitely advise that you have patience! Do not try to go from dark, dark hair to platinum blonde in one sitting. It takes a couple of months to get there, and that’s if you’re consistent with going to the salon.
I was bleaching my hair myself for a little bit, but as it was growing out, I was kind of damaging my ends. Fortunately, a trusted friend recommended that I go back to the salon to let them continue bleaching my curls. If I had stayed out of the salon, I would have caused more damage to my hair. That’s why I want to make sure you understand that it’s all about moisturizing your bleached natural hair, as well as keeping your ends clipped!
You don’t have to look further than the Luster Pink Shea Butter and Coconut Oil collection for great conditioners & moisturizers that lasts for days. Get your moisture regimen essentials on LustersPink.com today for perfectly hydrated and styled bleach blonde curls.
Follow me for more hair care tips and all things Luster on Instagram @resabluster!
This post is sponsored by Luster.
