Dry, frizzy hair after highlights...

SweetCandyCurls

I recently got highlights done at a salon. The experience was really strange because they had to try twice to lighten it. It would not lighten the first time, so they had to wash my hair and try again immediately. On the second time, it changed but the color is uneven. After washing my hair, it is frizzy, dry, and in the spots where the color is lightest, my hair doesn't even curl anymore. It just frizzes and won't clump even when I comb it. I've noticed breakage as well and I don't even straighten it. I really don't know what to do to get my hair back healthy. It looks and feels horrible. I'm not even concerned with fixing the color yet. That will come later, if I can ever trust a salon to correct it.

kathymack

You don't mention your texture and porosity, so it's a little harder to advise you. Protein treatment might help a bit--if it's not too damaged. I usually do a PT a few days before highlights and a few days after highlights. Actually, I do at least one a week most of the year and space it accordingly. Since your hair is in such bad shape, you'll probably need to DT after your PT.

I'd suggest using moisturizing PTs like CJ Repair Me or Curl Fix, or SS Moisture Repair Treatment. If your hair is fine or porous, I'd suggest that you use products with protein regularly, too.

SweetCandyCurls

kathymack wrote: »

You don't mention your texture and porosity, so it's a little harder to advise you.

Oops, meant to include that. I'm 3c, coarse, low porosity.

kathymack

With coarse hair, you may have to be careful with the protein.

The low porosity is why they may have had issues with the color.

ariesdeac

What products are you using? You should definitely look for alcohol free products because alcohol is VERY drying. If you can, I would also look for products that also are sulfate and paraben free. Sulfate and paraben are drying preservatives.

bluesheep

kathymack wrote: »

You don't mention your texture and porosity, so it's a little harder to advise you. Protein treatment might help a bit--if it's not too damaged. I usually do a PT a few days before highlights and a few days after highlights. Actually, I do at least one a week most of the year and space it accordingly. Since your hair is in such bad shape, you'll probably need to DT after your PT.

I'd suggest using moisturizing PTs like CJ Repair Me or Curl Fix, or SS Moisture Repair Treatment. If your hair is fine or porous, I'd suggest that you use products with protein regularly, too.

+1. I get all over color (I greyed early) and highlights. My natural hair is low porosity, so I've experienced the multiple process thing, too. It took a long time to get my hair back to something resembling normal. Fortunately, I now have a really good colorist who knows my hair. That helps a lot.

That said, my hair is in pretty good condition considering the processing. I alternate doing DTs and PTs weekly. I usually make my own, and I try to add some ingredients that will help mitigate the weird "hard hair" thing that can happen with PTs (I'm usually too lazy or too short on time to follow with a DT). There's a thread with a recipe for a PT by IAGirl here. I've used it with good results, adding the optional honey and dollop of conditioner, and didn't get hard hair. I think it also helps that most of the products I use contain protein. Come to think of it, I also add a little to my DTs. So maybe that makes them PTs! However, I have medium texture hair, so what works for me may not work as well for you (since coarse hair generally doesn't react the same way to protein).

kathymack, can I pick your brain? After she lifts the color for my highlights, my stylist uses a semi-permanent color on them, then a slightly acidic after-rinse to close the cuticle. It bleeds wildly for the first 3 weeks or so (oh, how it bleeds!), which I assume are the color molecules that coat the outside of the hair shaft. Will a protein treatment say, 3 days afterward make the color fade faster? I'll ask my stylist when I see her, but you seem so knowledgeable about the chemistry of hair and product ingredients, I'd like your two cents. Thanks!