I've lost count of the number of times I've bleached my hair over the years. For the past decade, I've spent four hours of every other month overheating in a salon chair as aluminium foils protrude from my face, all for the promise of fresh highlights and no more roots (it's worth it, though).
As anyone with chemically processed hair knows, the eternal struggle to keep your newly dyed roots looking the same as when you left the salon is real. There is nothing worse than those creamy vanilla highlights turning brassy after just a couple of weeks, or for your formerly soft ends to become brittle and parched moments after you've bid farewell to your hairdresser.
I have experienced both in the past. And while I'm reluctant to add too many fussy steps to my already extensive haircare routine, one easy switch to look after bleached hair - not to mention to avoid another expensive trip to the salon - is a specialised shampoo.
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Between volumising shampoos and the formulas for greasy hair, determining the right shampoo for the job isn't always a straightforward affair. Below, discover how to tend to your bleached ends, pro tips from the experts to prolong your colour and the best shampoos for bleached ends - because, trust me, I've tried them all.
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How to look after bleached blonde hair
Firstly, when it comes to bleached hair, you've got a lot working against you – and that's particularly true in the summer months. As Nicola Clarke, Creative Colour Director at John Frieda salons explains: 'Sunshine and high temperatures will fade your colour as well as salt which is drying and can make your hair porous; this loses grip on the colour causing it to fade if there are toners in your hair.'
Chlorine is also one of the biggest contenders for causing discolouration among bleached blondes. 'Chlorine causes abrasion to the cuticles which means they lift, causing you to lose the vibrancy of your colour, and in serious circumstances, turning bleached hair green,' she adds.
That means that you really do need to take extra care of your hair. 'To protect your colour, use a specialised shampoo, a weekly hair mask, or a leave-in conditioner with UV protection, which acts as barrier to protect your hair from sun and salt but also keeps your hair moisturised.'
'If you're on holiday, you really need to ensure that you're rinsing your hair of chlorine or saltwater. Not only does chlorine turn blonde hair green but salt water makes the colour fade,' she says.
A good shampoo for bleached hair is another must for maintaining a bright blonde. 'They will keep the cuticle flat and also keep the colour looking shiny and glossy. It’s not just the shampoo, but the conditioner, masks and your whole summer haircare routine that will help prolong your colour,' she adds.
What should you look for in a shampoo for bleached hair?
'Seek out sulphate-free shampoos and products which help eliminate brassiness,' shares Clarke. 'If you are going to use a toning shampoo, only use it a couple of times a week but make sure you condition after as they can be quite drying,' she adds.
Indeed, while toning shampoos work miracles when it comes to removing any copper or brassy tones, they are not for everyday use. Take Olaplex's shampoo, for example. It's a brilliant formula but it's strong - my hairdresser recommended I mix it with another shampoo to dilute the product and no more than once a week. As a result, I've managed to extend my salon visit by a couple of weeks thanks to this one simple weekly step.
The best shampoos for bleached hair
I've tried my fair share of shampoos over the years and can safely say that not all are created equal. There are plenty of toning shampoos with blue undertones which have left my ends with a purple tinge, not to mention the nourishing formulas that have rendered them greasy hours after.
From Oribe's luxe and game-changing toning shampoo to K18's high-tech, peptide-infused formula, these are truly the best solutions for the job:
Olaplex Blonde Hair Purple Toning Shampoo
A little goes a long way - my best advice is to dilute this shampoo and use it once a week only. It's a saviour for toning brassy ends, but it's powerful.
Oribe Bright Blonde Shampoo
Less intense than your average toning shampoo, Oribe's blonde shampoo is a staple in my haircare routine, ridding unwanted brassiness and leaving my locks looking like I've just had a pro blow dry.
K18 Biomimetic Damage Shield Protective Shampoo
I didn't love K18's shampoo on first use. But here's the thing: it takes a few shampoos to see the game-changing results, working on a deeper level to restore and repair your hair bonds.
Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening Shampoo
For anyone whose hair and scalp veer on the sensitive side, you can't go wrong with this gentle yet hardworking shampoo from Aveda.
Hello Klean Hard Water Shampoo
Living in an urban city? You might not realise it but hard water could be disrupting your precious colour - incorporate this specialised shampoo to combat its drying effects.
L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Absolut Repair Molecular Shampoo
Trust L'Oreal to whip up a bond-building miracle shampoo at a more affordable price point. The science is just as superior and you'll notice a visible difference in the look and feel of your ends over time.
Kérastase Nutritive Bain Satin Riche High Nutrition Rich Shampoo
Never far from my bathroom shelfie, this shampoo is like a big drink of water for your hair. For eternally parched hair and unbudging split ends, look no further.
Shu Uemura Izumi Tonic Strengthening Shampoo 300ml
This beauty-editor approved shampoo doesn't disappoint - ridding hair of split ends, it remains lightweight, cleansing the scalp without ever stripping it.
Use this in the same way you would a weekly mask - it helps restore your colour back to its preferred creamy blonde and guarantees fewer visits to the hair salon.
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Amelia Bell is the Multiplatform Beauty Director for ELLE UK and Harper’s Bazaar, developing beauty strategy, writing, editing, and commissioning, and leading beauty content across both sites. Amelia has a particular interest in wellness and longevity, exploring the skin-mind connection, and decoding the latest treatments, tweakments and runway trends. She also has bylines for Women's Health, Refinery29, British Vogue, Harrods Magazine, and more.
![jodie turner smith new bob met gala new york, new york may 05: jodie turner smith attends the 2025 met gala celebrating superfine: tailoring black style at metropolitan museum of art on may 05, 2025 in new york city. (photo by dimitrios kambouris/getty images for the met museum/vogue)](https://cdn.statically.io/img/hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/gettyimages-2213610212-688772f19e73e.jpg?crop=0.500xw:0.750xh;0.257xw,0.0204xh&resize=360:* "Jodie Turner-Smith new bob The 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" - Arrivals")
