7 Gross Things That Sometimes Happen When You Bleach Your Hair

#1 Your scalp will burn

How much your scalp burns during and after bleaching depends on a few factors: how dark your hair is to begin with, what level volume (amount of peroxide) your hairstylist uses, and how close they get to your roots. If you start with dark hair, you'll need two rounds of bleach to get that white-blonde, platinum look so it's more likely to burn. "And unfortunately, if you're bleaching close to the root, it will burn no matter what you do." But you can diminish the pain by making sure you don't shampoo a day or two before you bleach, since oil will protect your scalp and form a barrier.

#2 You might have scabs on your scalp

Scabs aren't ideal but they can happen after bleach. It's best to keep burns from happening in the first place by following the tips above. But if scabs form anyway, usually because you have a super-sensitive scalp, lay off the shampoo and hair products for a few days. You want the natural oils on your scalp to moisturize the scabs and let them fall off naturally when you brush your hair. Do NOT scrub them off with shampoo.

#3 All around your scalp will be red

Your skin won't be very happy with you after you use any kind of bleach on it. It is a chemical after all. Even if it's only a little red, treat it like a regular burn and put some aloe vera right on your scalp. It'll cool down the redness and inflammation. You should also stay away from hot tools — including a hairdryer.

#4 Your scalp will itch

Don't freak out — it's just from the burn. All the tips above will help diminish the itchiness, especially using a lower volume bleach. But if the itching persists weeks after bleaching, go see your derm. It could be less about the burn and more a scalp condition like seborrheic dermatitis, which is generally cleared up with a medicinal shampoo and topical foam.

#5 Your hair will look puffier and a little cray

Regardless of your natural hair texture, bleach will turn your hair a bit wild. It's okay. It'll calm down. Bleach opens up your cuticle and dries our your strands, which is why it can be puffier and frizzier after dyeing. Using a PH balancing conditioner after your service can help but there's not a lot you can do but be patient. In a few weeks, your hair will relax and feel smoother as your cuticle starts to close."

#6 Your hair will feel much more dry

Dryness is from that cuticle opening, plus the chemicals in the bleach. You can't really keep your hair from getting dried out. What you can do is wash your hair less than you did before the bleach. Brittan advises 2-3 times per week at the most to let your scalp become a little oily. Washing it too much will only dry out your strands more. You can also use a deep conditioner with keratin for moisture and strengthening.

#7 You'll have some breakage

It used to be that double bleach totally destroyed your hair and you had to condition it every day or pieces broke off. But now, there's brands including Olaplex that totally save your strands. Have your hairdresser add Olaplex to the bleach and you'll have way less breakage. It has completely changed the hair industry when it comes to double bleaching.You should also invest in strengthening conditioner and a Wet brush to help with breakage while you're in the shower.

Even with all these not awesome side-effects, bleaching your hair can still be really fun. Just follow these tips.