Going blonde will D A M A G E your hair period. Now that we got that out of the way we can discuss on what you can do to limit your damage or heck, keep damage completely at bay because as naturals we are trying to keep our hair healthier and happier but that does not mean we do not want or desire color.
1. Go hard or go home – First of all, going blonde CORRECTLY and maintaining it properly costs money. If you are going to do it, make sure you can afford the upkeep every four to 12 weeks, depending on the desired blondness and your existing natural color.
This is not for the uncommitted because when you add on double-or triple-process color, and monthly root touch ups you’re talking a lot of time and money.
2. Find a blonde color specialist – I would strongly advise against doing this yourself or at a friend’s kitchen sink and going to a professional instead. You may be working with already color-treated hair or even virgin hair and do you know how your hair will respond to the harsh treatment ahead.
Finding a blond color specialist will ensure you get the desired color and please make sure that person has worked with natural hair! I also add see other women with natural hair who may have gone blonde with that stylist. She has no pictures? I say go somewhere else. Do you want to be her guinea pig? I get it, someone has to do it but I say let it be someone else!
3. Keep up with the upkeep – There will need to be some upkeep outside of just changes in color and keeping your touch-up appointments. You may require a different shampoo, conditioner and even deep conditioner* for blond or for color-treated tresses.
These products will keep blondes bright or free of a brassy appearance and can help you maintain the precise color you wanted. You want your color to stay as true as possible and some products will dull or even fade that color immediately or over time.
Don’t forget the weekly deep conditioning*, using a leave-in and you may want to limit your heat applications for a while. Heat can cause dryness and so can color, especially when bleaching is involved so know that your goal is to keep your truest color but not at the expense of the health of your hair by over processing.
4. Know thy blondeness – Know what shade of blond you want and be perfectly clear to the hair colorist about it. They should be able to tell you specifically how and what is needed to do this so make sure both of you discuss thoroughly what is expected of the other one.
Nothing worse then thinking you are getting a strawberry blond and ending up with a platinum blond. Also know the lighter the shade the more work and damage you may encounter as more lifting will be required.
5. Watch out for flapping gums- That just means you will get some flack for your color change. Family members, friends and even strangers may issue unwarranted stank looks or even a few choice words about your color change. Do not feel the need to justify what you want to do with your own hair.
No one is saying do not go blond but go blond correctly and enjoy the experience fully. Have you taken the blonde plunge lately? What was your experience like?
I'kesha Brice-Ellis says
B!
Kelly White says
Don’t do it!!!!
SSNM says
Actress Nikki Reid, who played Rosalie in The Twilight Saga, had the same problem. She dyed her hair blonde for the first movie, but had to wear wigs for the rest of the movies due to the excessive damage which caused her hair to fall out. I have rocked blonde hair a few times though it was usually in the form of extensions. It suited me well and have no regrets or apologies to make for it. I tried once to bleach it, but it just came out red and I didn’t dare do another round; I would have had no hair left. Hubby, who has bone-straight black hair, tried to go white blonde and just barely made it with a few strand casualties and his hair feeling very stripped.
Clue says
Go blonde for what? It’s not that serious.
If one is so hard up for blonde, find out who the colorists are that are doing Bey’s and Mary J. Blige’s hair.
nubiennze says
Interesting that this advice article was penned by someone self-admitted to have never been – or even liked – blonde.