How to go platinum without completely destroying your hair

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What was once an iconic nod to Marilyn Monroe and ‘80s bombshells, platinum blond has become the hair colour du jour for ‘it’ girls (and guys) around the globe. Models, bloggers and celebrities – leave it to Kim Kardashian to start any type of beauty frenzy – have brought new life to icy blond locks, and have proved that anyone, no matter your skin tone, can pull off this look.

If you’ve been flirting with the idea of going platinum, there are a few things you should know. I sat down with Krysten-Ashley Garrod, an award-winning stylist, colour expert, and master stylist at Toronto’s Qi Salon, to get the goods on how to bleach – or lighten, as she prefers to call it – your hair without completely destroying it. The hard, fast rules: understand your commitment to the lightening process, always use the products suggested by your stylist, and never try this at home.

Prepare

The healthier your hair is before lightening, the less damaging the process will be.

“Use a proper shampoo and conditioner to get the hair ready for added stress,” says Garrod.

She recommends the Goldwell Rich Repair shampoo and conditioner, which is formulated with an IntraLipid system that restructures and restores the hair for extra nourishment. “You can also do the Rich Repair 60 Second Treatment,” she says, which balances the lipid levels inside and on the surface of the hair, for smoother, healthier tresses.

Plan

The most important step of the process is finding a stylist that fits you. It’s essential to find someone with knowledge and experience, but also someone with whom your personality clicks.

“Make a plan and know that [going platinum] may not happen in one visit,” stresses Garrod. “Nothing happens over night. If you’re going from black to platinum blond it could take a while and you may have to sacrifice some length because there will be damage.”

It’s important to understand the commitment – money, maintenance and time; and take the time to do it right, even if it means a few trips to the salon.

Post-Bleach

Now that you’re blond, Garrod recommends using a post-bleach treatment. Also opt for a shampoo, conditioner, mask and leave-in spray that contains silk and keratin to help nourish, restore and protect your strands.

“The healthier the hair can be, the more we can do to it,” says Garrod.

If you already have some damage, there is also an in-salon treatment that can applied during the lightening process or in between bleaches. Garrod advises steering clear of any products that strip away from the head, including dandruff shampoo, sulfur-based shampoo, and baby shampoo.

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Washing and Styling

“When your hair’s dirty, wash it,” says Garrod, “But make sure to gentle wash with products that have a pH balance recommended for your hair type and colour.”

To cut down on the number of washes per week, she recommends using a dry shampoo – KMS Hair Play makeover spray is a favourite. You can still use styling tools like curling rods and straighteners, just make sure to use heat protection for your hair.

“The Goldwell Style Sign products all have heat protection and are colour safe,” Garrod explains. “If you’re using extra heat on your hair, I recommend Sleek Protection by Goldwell, I love it! It protects hair from the heat for 24 hours and repels humidity for 24 hours.”

Upkeep

Maintenance depends on your pre-bleach hair colour and regrowth. Typically you will have to get your hair re-touched every four to six weeks, but Garrod suggests using products that will help preserve the blonde colour. Most colour shampoos and conditioners will reduce fading but if you need a more aggressive option try a shampoo containing silver, which will remove yellow pigment and can be applied once every two weeks.

When to say no

If your hair is permed or relaxed you can go lighter, but you may not necessarily be able to go platinum.

“Anyone who has henna or box colour with metallic dye cannot be bleached, warns Garrod. "They don’t work well with any chemical at all.”

Garrod stresses the importance of laying everything you’ve done to your hair out on the table during the planning stage with your stylist. “Be honest and explain everything. They can do more with more knowledge.”

Knowing this, would you still consider going platinum? Send us a tweet to @YahooStyleCA and let us know your thoughts.