When you’re ready to lighten your hair for summer so that you can add a funky color, or for whatever reason, doing it the right way will make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.
When you’re done bleaching hair and rinsing the product, you may notice black dots on your scalp. It can feel alarming, but the good news is that these black dots on your scalp are a common side effect of bleaching and are harmless.
Even though they’re common and harmless, understanding why you have these black dots on your scalp after bleaching can help you to prevent it the next time.
Why Do I Have Black Dots on My Scalp After Bleaching?
You’re probably confused as to why black dots appear on the scalp after bleaching, especially since they have the opposite hue of your freshly bleached hair.
The main reason is the product which is causing your scalp to dry out and become flaky.
The main ingredient in most hair bleaches is hydrogen peroxide, a naturally drying component. When the bleach includes hydrogen peroxide and persulfate salts, it can cause black dots and even contact dermatitis on the scalp. As these flakey pieces on your scalp start to fall off, they can appear as little black dots.
In some cases, your scalp can produce extra oil (sebum) in an attempt to compensate for the dryness that bleaching causes. When your scalp is flooded with oil, it can cause black dots to appear on your scalp.
How to Prevent Black Dots on the Scalp During Bleach Outs?
Even though these dots are harmless, they can really put a damper on your overall hair look. Before you start bleaching your hair, here are some helpful tips to prevent black dots from appearing in the first place:
#1. Use a Deep Conditioning Treatment
Bleach is very drying on your hair and scalp. One of the best ways to prevent black dots on your scalp is to ensure your scalp is highly moisturized. You can use a deep conditioning treatment before and after to provide your scalp with enough moisture and prevent black dots.
#2. Avoid Picking at Your Scalp
It can be tempting to try and pick or scratch off the black dots on your scalp, but you shouldn’t. When you pick at them it can cause more flakes to fall off and create more black dots, also causing scalp irritation.
For those who find it difficult not to scratch and pick at the black dots on your scalp, you can wear a hat, so when you reach for your head, you’re not touching the dots. If you’re really desperate not to pick at them, you can always wear mittens, oven mitts, or similar items to ensure you physically can’t scratch your scalp.
#3. Use Scalp Specific Hair Care Products
There are certain shampoos and conditioners out there dedicated to scalp health. Using these help provide nutrients your scalp needs and balance the natural oil production to prevent black dots.
#4. Rinse Bleach with Cool Water
When it’s time to rinse the bleach out of your hair, you need to use cool water over hot water. Hot water dries and strips your scalp of natural oils, encouraging a flakey scalp and leaving black dots.
#5. Eat a Healthy Diet
You’re probably wondering how on Earth a healthy diet can prevent black dots on your scalp, but hear us out. When you eat a healthy diet, it promotes healthy hair growth, which reduces scalp irritation.
A healthy diet consists of vitamins like vitamin C, A, and omega-3 fatty acids, lean protein, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. This includes drinking plenty of water to help keep your body and scalp hydrated.
Eating a healthy diet combined with the above prevention tips can help you have a moisturized and healthy scalp free of black dots after bleaching.
What to Do If I See Black Dots on My Scalp After Rinsing Bleach Out?
Bleaching your own hair at home can save you a lot of money, but it isn’t always smooth sailing. Sometimes black dots can appear on your scalp even if you know how to prevent them. If you rinse out the bleach from your hair and still see black dots, here are a few things you can do.
Make Sure You Rinsed All the Bleach Out
The first thing you should do if you see black dots on your scalp is to ensure you’ve rinsed all the bleach. Even if you think you were very careful and removed all the product, it doesn’t hurt to do another thorough rinse.
When doing this, ensure you’re still using cool water over hot or cold water. Re-rinsing your hair should only take you a few more minutes, and it can help ensure you’re not leaving any bleach particles on your scalp that can cause further irritation.
Use a Gentle Shampoo
After you rinse all the bleach out of your hair, even if it takes two rinses, you’ll want to wash your hair. If you see black dots, the best thing to do is use a gentle shampoo that won’t further dry or irritate your scalp.
Gentle shampoos tend to have more natural or fewer ingredients that can irritate your scalp and dry your hair. You can find a variety of gentle shampoos at local stores and hair salons, but be sure to look for a product that includes the word “gentle” in the name or has minimal ingredients and no artificial fragrance.
Use a Scalp Treatment
When you see black dots, you can use a scalp treatment to help moisturize your scalp. Some scalp treatments you can apply to your scalp include aloe vera gel, tea tree oil, and coconut oil.
All these components have anti-inflammatory properties that will help soothe your irritated scalp. Not only do they have anti-inflammatory properties, but they also have antibacterial properties to help reduce further irritation.
Visit a Hair Professional
When all else fails, it’s time to see a professional hair stylist. These professionals have an intimate knowledge of haircare, including scalp care.
They can take a look at your scalp and help provide you with guidance on how to revitalize your scalp and get rid of the annoying black dots on your scalp.
Summary
After you bleach your hair, it’s common to see black dots on your scalp. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t alarming when you don’t understand why they’re there.
The best thing to do about black dots on your scalp is to try to prevent them in the first place. You can do this by moisturizing your scalp regularly, rinsing the bleach with cool water, using gentle scalp hair products, and eating a healthy diet.
All these things involve keeping your scalp healthy, not just your hair. When you care for your hair and scalp, you’ll be less likely to see black dots on your scalp after you bleach your hair.