Hair bleaching is a popular treatment that can give you’re the blonde look you’ve been searching for by affecting your hair pigment. However, ammonia and hydrogen peroxide which are often mixed together to produce this effect can be very damaging to our hair. This damage can range from breakage that can be sorted out easily to a hair loss condition that requires medical attention.
So, how can you reverse hair loss caused by bleaching?
Bleaching Agents and Oxidation
As we mentioned above, the process of hair bleaching includes bleaching agents (also known as oxidizing agents) which remove pigment from your hair shaft by oxidation. This is why, when left too long, these agents can completely remove all the pigment from your hair and turn it almost white. The most popular such agents are ammonia and hydrogen peroxide.
Some manufacturers will have products that have “peroxide-free” on their labels. Don’t get fooled by this – although they might not contain peroxide, they certainly have a bleaching agent that is just as damaging.
Bleaching and Hair Loss
Even when done professionally, bleaching will likely do some damage to your hair. Hair breakage is among the most common side effects of bleaching. However, there is a big difference between hair breakage and hair loss. While hair breakage is seen as the hair snapping along the shaft, hair loss can usually be noticed if you experience thinning.
In that case, you might be experiencing telogen effluvium – a temporary thinning all over the scalp. The damage done by bleaching can also trigger female pattern hair loss if you’re genetically predisposed to it.
Conclusion
Hair loss caused by bleaching can range from mild and temporary to a medical condition that requires medication. If you notice your hair is thinning after one or more bleaching treatments, visit your doctor.
