Yes, hair highlights can damage hair. While they offer a beautiful way to add dimension and lighten your hair, the chemical process involved can weaken the hair shaft if not done correctly or if proper care isn't taken afterward.
How Highlights Damage Hair:
Highlights typically involve using bleach to lighten the hair. This process works by:
- Penetrating the Hair Cuticle: The chemicals in bleach lift the outer layer of the hair (the cuticle) to reach the inner cortex.
- Oxidizing Melanin: The bleach then oxidizes the melanin, which is the pigment that gives hair its color. This oxidation lightens the hair.
- Weakening the Hair Structure: This entire process can strip the hair of its natural oils and proteins, making it more porous, brittle, and prone to breakage.
Types of Damage from Highlights:
- Dryness: Highlighted hair often becomes dry because the bleaching process removes natural oils.
- Brittleness: The weakened hair structure makes it more susceptible to snapping and breaking.
- Split Ends: Damage can lead to frayed ends that split easily.
- Increased Porosity: Hair becomes more porous and absorbs moisture more quickly but also loses it just as fast, leading to a cycle of dryness.
- Color Fading: Damaged hair can struggle to hold onto color, leading to faster fading between salon visits.
Minimizing Damage from Highlights:
While some damage is almost inevitable, there are ways to minimize it:
- Go to a Professional: A skilled stylist will know how to apply highlights correctly and choose the right products to minimize damage.
- Use Bond Builders: Products like Olaplex or similar bond builders help repair and strengthen the hair's internal structure during and after the highlighting process.
- Deep Condition Regularly: Deep conditioning treatments help restore moisture and strengthen the hair.
- Use Heat Protectant: Protect highlighted hair from heat styling tools like straighteners and curling irons.
- Avoid Over-Processing: Don't over-highlight your hair, as repeated bleaching can cause severe damage. Space out your highlight appointments.
- Use Color-Safe Products: Use shampoos and conditioners designed for color-treated hair to help maintain color and prevent further damage.
- Consider Lowlighting: Adding lowlights instead of highlighting can create dimension while avoiding harsh bleaching.
- Protein Treatments: Incorporating protein treatments can help strengthen the hair shaft. Be careful not to overuse them, as too much protein can also lead to breakage.
Conclusion:
Although hair highlights can cause damage, understanding the process and taking preventative measures can significantly minimize the negative effects and help you maintain healthy, beautiful highlighted hair.
