From broken and bleached to hopefully hip! (Pic heavy)

[ShilvaA]

I just thought I would put my hair progress photos up!

I started bleaching my naturally very dark brown hair to blonde when I was 18, I used 60% aftermarket bleach and my hair snapped from about BSL to shoulder length, I started wearing extensions to "regain" my lost length.

https://s19.postimg.org/3smigcsfn/IMG_4112.jpg (https://postimage.org)gif hosting (https://postimage.io/)

I started experimenting with colours from the manic panic range the following year, my hair stayed short as I was in the habit of putting a colour of my bleached hair and then bleaching it out after 2 weeks to change it for another funky colour... I used to love having my hair all sorts of wacky styles! (Still wearing extensions!)

https://s19.postimg.org/5kyrwz377/IMG_2513.jpg (https://postimage.org)gif hosting (https://postimage.io/)

My hair got so bad, it was falling out in clumps, I remember have a friend run a razor down my hair to try and catch some of the matted split ends. I went for a big chop, but couldn't give up the bleach... or the pink.
https://s19.postimg.org/4zeeelxir/IMG_4120.jpg (https://postimage.org)gif hosting (https://postimage.io/)gif hosting (https://postimage.io/)

I settled on pink for over a year and tried being more careful about only bleaching my roots and topping up the pink so now more bleach touched my ruined ends.
https://s19.postimg.org/4yv3sw643/IMG_4115.jpg (https://postimage.org)gif hosting (https://postimage.io/)

Excuse the face! (Party, got to have your face painted at a party...). I got a new job and was no longer allowed to have 'non-natural colours', this was probably 3-4 years ago now... my hair was ravished, dry and was breaking off in massive amounts. I was obsessively straightening it everyday to try and smooth it out even just a little bit.
https://s19.postimg.org/3v6e36w37/IMG_4114.jpg (https://postimage.org)gif hosting (https://postimage.io/)
This is now, I think my really damaged ends are almost gone and my hair seems to be much stronger, it is still breaking but I cannot bear anymore trims.
sting (https://postimage.io/)https://s19.postimg.org/6yqesa2gj/IMG_2502.jpg (https://postimage.org)gif hosting (https://postimage.io/)

I now really want to grow to hip length, I have started really trying to care for my hair more so I hope it will reward me by growing more quickly. I am hoping to get as close as possible to hip for my holiday next October. Fingers crossed.

[Mrstran]

Wow you've come a long way! Your hair looks 100% more healthy. Very beautiful.

Congrats on your progress! I know how hard it is to break the bleaching habit, I was a very frequent bleacher which landed me to a big chop and then here. It's a good thing though because This place has encouraged me and taught me a ton.

Happy growing to hip!

[Rebeccalaurenxx]

Ah, the scene phase. I think the scene phase destroyed a lot of heads of hair lol my hair was one of them as well. I gave up the bleach 2-3 years ago but my hair was very similar to yours years ago. I'm really glad I grew out of it. I don't know why we did these things to our hair. The bleaching and the razoring agh the agony!

[ShilvaA]

Thank you! I am just so impatient.

Bleaching was necessary to get the crazy colours to take on my hair, I don't know if I regret trashing my hair like that as I loved it at the time but maybe I wish I had stopped sooner...

Oh god, I just noticed how appalling my typing was in my post... My iPad is old and I have to press the keypad very hard to get the buttons to register... Will be more mindful when typing long sentences on this thing! (And spell-checking)

[ShilvaA]

Ah, the scene phase. I think the scene phase destroyed a lot of heads of hair lol my hair was one of them as well. I gave up the bleach 2-3 years ago but my hair was very similar to yours years ago. I'm really glad I grew out of it. I don't know why we did these things to our hair. The bleaching and the razoring agh the agony!

But we were cool right? I look back and laugh now, I certainly do not have the patience to paint my hair with different patterns every week and then bleach it all out, to wash and dry, to colour it pink and wash and dry again. I even did the semi-cringeworthy (but I still kind of like it) leopard print, shaved side...

Never again!

[lapushka]

It's looking great right now, compared to where you were at first! Progress. :D

[Hay_jules]

Wow! What progress you've made. Your hair does look so much healthier now. I'm a fan of the pink though too. I currently have bleach damage and pink hair. I'm 6 months into growing it out virgin but the bleached lengths will be remaining colourful. My regret is not spending the money on professional bleachings or at the very least on higher quality products. Happy growing! You're off to a great start already.

[ShilvaA]

lapushka It definitely feels less strawy, but still straggly at the ends. But it is certainly progress!

Hay_jules Yeah, I wish I hadn't of gotten to blonde the cheapest way possible, but getting dark brown to blonde and then keeping it there is not a cheap decision. I used to wish my hair grey so the dyes would take better... now I am going grey and I hate it! Your hair looks very beautiful in your profile picture! Lovely colour!

[Sarahlabyrinth]

You sure have come a long way! Welcome and happy growing:)

[Hay_jules]

lapushka It definitely feels less strawy, but still straggly at the ends. But it is certainly progress!

Hay_jules Yeah, I wish I hadn't of gotten to blonde the cheapest way possible, but getting dark brown to blonde and then keeping it there is not a cheap decision. I used to wish my hair grey so the dyes would take better... now I am going grey and I hate it! Your hair looks very beautiful in your profile picture! Lovely colour!

I'm naturally very dark brown also, that's why i made the choice to do it at home too, I can't afford multiple salon visits to get light enough lol. Thanks for the compliment. :o The hair in my profile pic was a happy accident.

[WillOTree]

Wow amazing progress :D

[lithostoic]

I was an emo kid. That's what my hair is recovering from lol. You've made great progress!

[Rebeccalaurenxx]

But we were cool right? I look back and laugh now, I certainly do not have the patience to paint my hair with different patterns every week and then bleach it all out, to wash and dry, to colour it pink and wash and dry again. I even did the semi-cringeworthy (but I still kind of like it) leopard print, shaved side...

Never again!

I did all that stuff to clip in extensions so I could constantly change it if I wanted. People would never be able to tell it wasn't my hair. But I also was real good with extensions lmao

[Rhoward]

WOW! Your hair is beautiful, you should be proud of yourself, what a great accomplishment :blossom:

[lizardspots]

What a transformation! Your funky coloured hair looked awesome, but your new long healthy hair looks beautiful.

[Borgessa]

Great progress :) I love the funky hair colors, i really do, but argh yeah its not worth killing your hair for huh?

[Kat-Rinnè Naido]

Wow what an amazing transformation. Enjoy your hair growing experience.

[ShilvaA]

Wow, thank you everyone!

I still have a looonnngggggg way to go but I am miles from where my hair was even a year ago.

I had bettered my diet. I am eating more veg and protein, I am taking some biotin, I have almost totally stopped using heat on my hair, bought a satin pillowcase and have started occasionally oiling the ends.

I am really hoping that I have done enough to halt the breakage as much as possible so my hair shows growth. I am going on my dream holiday to DisneyWorld Florida next October and I want my dream hair to go with it!

[Kiiruna]

Amazing progress and beautiful texture! My hair is recovering from chemical damage as well, and I know the pain of fragile ends... :D You're doing great!

[BraidFreak]

Congratulations you can really see the difference! It looks so much healthier!

[Suze]

Your hair looks beautiful, happy growing! :cheer:

[ShilvaA]

Thank you for your kind words everyone! I am going to try and enjoy the growth journey more, rather than get frustrated and impatient when it doesn't happen as quickly as I think it should.

[Dark40]

I just thought I would put my hair progress photos up!

I started bleaching my naturally very dark brown hair blonde when I was 18, I used 60% aftermarket bleach and my hair snapped from about BSL to shoulder length, I started wearing extensions to "regain" my lost length.

https://s19.postimg.org/3smigcsfn/IMG_4112.jpg (https://postimage.org)gif hosting (https://postimage.io/)

I started experimenting with colours such as manic panic the following year, my hair stayed short as I was in the habit of putting a colour of my bleached hair and then bleaching it out after 2 weeks to change it for another funcky colour... I used to love having my hair all sorts of wacky styles! (Still wearing extension!)

https://s19.postimg.org/5kyrwz377/IMG_2513.jpg (https://postimage.org)gif hosting (https://postimage.io/)

My hair got so bad, it was falling out in clumps, I remember have a friend use a razor to try and catch the matted split ends. I went for a big chop, but couldn't give up the bleach... or the pink.
https://s19.postimg.org/4zeeelxir/IMG_4120.jpg (https://postimage.org)gif hosting (https://postimage.io/)gif hosting (https://postimage.io/)

I settled on pink for over a year and tried being more careful about only bleaching my roots and topping up the pink so now more bleach touched my ruined ends.
https://s19.postimg.org/4yv3sw643/IMG_4115.jpg (https://postimage.org)gif hosting (https://postimage.io/)

Excuse the face! (Party, got to have your face oainted at a oarty...). I got a new job and was no longer allowed to 'non-natural colours', this was probably 3-4 years ago now... my hair was ravished, dry and was breaking off in massive amounts. I was obsessively straightening it everyday to try and smooth it out even just a little bit.
https://s19.postimg.org/3v6e36w37/IMG_4114.jpg (https://postimage.org)gif hosting (https://postimage.io/)
This is now, I think my really damaged ends are almost gone and my hair seems to be much stronger, it is still breaking but I cannot bear anymore trims.
sting (https://postimage.io/)https://s19.postimg.org/6yqesa2gj/IMG_2502.jpg (https://postimage.org)gif hosting (https://postimage.io/)

I know really want to grow to hip length, I have started really trying to fare for my hair kore so I hope it will reward me by growing more quickly and I am hoping to get as close as possible to hop for my holida next October. Fingers crossed.

Wow, you've come a long way! Your hair does look a lot healthier and stronger. I know it is hard to stay away from the bleach. I used to bleach my hair too! But over time I have always enjoyed being a brunette rather than a blonde. Or, even thinking of coloring my hair all sorts of colours.

Happy growing to hips!

[ShilvaA]

Wow, you've come a long way! Your hair does look a lot healthier and stronger. I know it is hard to stay away from the bleach. I used to bleach my hair too! But over time I have always enjoyed being a brunette rather than a blonde. Or, even thinking of coloring my hair all sorts of colours.

Happy growing to hips!


I feel like my hair has been this length for 2 years now, even though I only cut it once a year... hopefully my hair has had most of the completely damaged ends cut so they wont be snapping and hindering my growth any longer. :)

[Jo Ann]

You have made fantastic progress, ShilvaA! Your colour is growing out very nicely, you've improved your diet and your in the Bestest Place on the Interwebs to get the support, encouragement and help to reach your goal length! Your hair looks healthy, it's getting the moisture it needs and I'm betting it FEELS so much better! Congratulations!

[NightSister]

Really wonderful transformation, congratulations on all your efforts! :applause

[Dendra]

Your hair in the final pic looks so lovely and healthy! Such nice waves. Well done on treating it well and trying to stay patient!

[ShilvaA]

You have made fantastic progress, ShilvaA! Your colour is growing out very nicely, you've improved your diet and your in the Bestest Place on the Interwebs to get the support, encouragement and help to reach your goal length! Your hair looks healthy, it's getting the moisture it needs and I'm betting it FEELS so much better! Congratulations!

I chucked a brown over it a few years back to try and deter me away from the bleach! The idea of going through all that hassle again to get to blonde and then the upkeep... totally not worth it.

I really does... my hair is coarse but at least I can run my fingers through my hair without snagging it like crazy. Thank you so much! :D


Really wonderful transformation, congratulations on all your efforts! :applause

It is a long time in the making, I am just so pleased that it appears to be growing now. :)


Your hair in the final pic looks so lovely and healthy! Such nice waves. Well done on treating it well and trying to stay patient!

Patience is not one of my virtues haha but I am still figuring out how to embrace (and care for) my wavy hair as I am now heat-free!

Thank you so much everyone! I am looking forward to documenting my progress in the next year and beyond!

[Ondine11]

Thanks for sharing your photos. You are very pretty & your hair is now beautiful & growing out nicely. You certainly put your hair through the ringer with all that bleaching! The white-blonde DID look really cute, though. Pity it is so damaging & hard to maintain. They need to invent a pill for that: pop the magic pill, & your hair begins to grow out quickly in the colour you chose.

Back when I was young & impetuous in my twenties, I allowed a wannabe artiste hairdresser to bleach my hair then tone it to a soft gold. It looked amazing leaving the salon: shoulder length with straight across bangs. Within two weeks, it was as dry as straw, gone brassy, breaking off & falling like rain. Lesson learned (the HARD way, of course...)

[ShilvaA]

Thanks for sharing your photos. You are very pretty & your hair is now beautiful & growing out nicely. You certainly put your hair through the ringer with all that bleaching! The white-blonde DID look really cute, though. Pity it is so damaging & hard to maintain. They need to invent a pill for that: pop the magic pill, & your hair begins to grow out quickly in the colour you chose.

Back when I was young & impetuous in my twenties, I allowed a wannabe artiste hairdresser to bleach my hair then tone it to a soft gold. It looked amazing leaving the salon: shoulder length with straight across bangs. Within two weeks, it was as dry as straw, gone brassy, breaking off & falling like rain. Lesson learned (the HARD way, of course...)

You are too kind! If anything I hope that the visible awful condition of my hair would serve as a warning to ayone wanting to drastically change their shade (especially lighter) in a very short space of time... crazy damaging!

I always thought that too! How awesome would it be to have a pigment altering pill? Please future...

The thing is that a hairdresser can do things to your hair that make it look awesome (whilst you are in the salon) as you can never replicate what they have done and a cut that looked so pretty becomes so dull when you end up just leaving it hanging because you can't be bothered.... me all over!

They probably put some secret really expensive conditioning treatment on it so you didn't realize how badly they had damaged your hair until you were long gone. :/ I honestly don't trust hairdressers at all!

[Chocowalnut]

What a difference.. You're hair now looks so beautiful and healthy. It will look amazing at hip length.