The 5-step haircare routine that revived my colour damaged, bleached hair

I am that girl who coloured her long, lustrous hair to a magenta pink, on a whim. I am also that girl who eventually had to chop it all off. Like all good things, the bright, happy hair colour will start to fade, the rebellious blonde will make itself known loud and clear, and the bleach will finally show its true colours. That four-month happiness—where my magenta mane stood by me through my 20s-to-30s transition and traveled with me to New Zealand’s wintry islands, among multiple other memorable occasions—cost me more than just money, albeit being worth it all.

This article is a reality check in disguise, to tell you that that your soft hair will bear the brunt of bleach when you decide to turn it blue, red, pink or green. It won’t feel smooth anymore. Sometimes, it won’t feel ‘yours’ anymore—until you take matters into your own hands, devise a haircare routine that works for you and truly decide to invest time and money in it. Once you do, you won’t regret having gone blonde or blue. I found my perfect regimen, and I’m sharing it with you because my hair finally feels mine, and I’m okay to colour it again after some time. Attempt to do this once a week if your tresses are suffering post-colour or chemical damage.

The five-step haircare routine to revive damaged, coloured or bleached hair

Step 1: Opt for oil

The routine starts eight hours before your hair wash. Your scalp and roots need to be strong, your strands need nourishment, and a good ol’ oil massage can help restore health and replenish nutrients. Kama Ayurveda’s Bringadi Intensive Hair Treatment Oil is (without exaggerating) life-changing. Its powerful Ayurvedic formula of potent herbs mixed with pure sesame oil and milk naturally conditions the hair, and indigo, eclipta alba and gooseberry promote hair growth. I take my time massaging the oil thoroughly through my scalp, making sure to coat every strand in its thick oily goodness, roll up my hair in a high bun and get into bed. The herbaceous scent might come across as too strong for first-timers, but enduring it will ensure a variety of benefits and lead you you wake up with a livelier head of hair. It has never failed me, and I try to do this at least once a month on a weekend.

Step 2: Wash with care

Now it’s time to rinse out the oil. Yes, your hair must be super greasy now, but don’t try to overwash it. Wash your hair twice over, gently. I have been using Wella Professionals Renewing Shampoo—it’s sulphate-free and doesn’t strip my hair off of its moisture. Post rinse, I towel-dry with my gentle Acquis Hair Turban, to get my strands ready for step three.

Step 3: Don’t skip the deep conditioning

Break up with your conditioner for a while and begin a fling with your hair mask—it will love and protect you better. I reach for the Kiehl’s Sunflower Color Preserving Deep Recovery Pak for deep hydration. Just as I would a conditioner, I massage the product all over my strands. The high bun returns and is rolled up and covered with my Acquis turban so I can bathe with ease, without worrying about the water reaching my mane. After five to seven minutes, the turban is off, and the hair is rinsed and prepped for the next step.

Step 4: Embrace apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar helps restore the natural pH level of the scalp and boosts its functioning, essentially promoting healthy hair growth. It also cleans the scalp with its toning properties, and adds shine and smoothness to dull, lifeless strands. To check the authenticity of apple cider vinegar, look for the ‘mother’ of vinegar—that stringy, web-like residue that floats at the bottom of the bottle in a pure strain. This is what contains most of the ACV’s vitamins, minerals, acids and enzymes. I use OneLife’s raw, unfiltered, unpasteurised Apple Cider Vinegar after my shampoo-conditioning by diluting two tablespoons in a tall glass of water, and massaging my scalp and rinsing my strands with it. Leave it on for two minutes before you wash it out with cold water. I have never seen a more visible, tangible difference in my hair with any other product. (PS: Steps 3 and 4 are swappable, only if you feel the ACV is too sour-smelling and won’t be concealed with step five.)

Step 5: Amp up the shine

Now that the follicles have got their boost of nourishment and are squeakily clean, the final step is to seal it all in with a hydrating serum or cream. I am currently loving Rene Furterer’s Karité Hydra Hydrating Shine Cream—a light but creamy moisturiser for the hair. It takes away the stingy ACV smell and adds a fresh, delicate floral scent to my strands, and my not-so-dry-anymore tresses soak it in with ease. Post this, your hair will be ready to face the light of day, the nozzle of your blow-dryer or your next colour appointment—whichever way you like it!

Scroll through the gallery below for our edit of the beauty products you need to revive your mane after a colour job.

Also read:

Skincare and haircare products with ingredients your grandma would love

11 tried-and-tested haircare products that really, really work

How to use haircare and styling products to keep frizzy hair at bay