Can you grow out damaged hair?
Yes, you can grow out damaged hair. To be more specific, it's the only way to truly fix damaged hair. Your hair is made up of dead cells, which means that, once your hair is damaged, it can't repair itself from the inside out.
The only way to completely remove damaged hair is to cut it off, so growing it out (with a little help along the way) is your best path forward.
Does damaged hair stop growing?
No – damaged hair doesn't stop growing, but it can seem that way. What's actually happening is that your hair is struggling to hold onto its length. Damage can weaken the disulfide bonds in your hair – the internal links that hold each strand together and give it strength – making it prone to breakage and split ends.
So, while your hair is growing from the root, it may be breaking off at the ends just as fast, leaving you feeling stuck at the same length.
What causes damaged hair?
Chemical services such as bleaching, foils, and toning – along with frequent heat styling from tools like straighteners and curling irons – are among the most common culprits when it comes to hair damage.
The good news? There's a lot you can do to help offset these factors while you're growing out damaged hair.
Our Acidic Bonding Concentrate for damaged hair works by rebuilding those broken bonds from within and sealing the hair cuticle – which means stronger, more resilient strands that are better equipped to retain their length.
How long does it take damaged hair to grow back?
Growing out damaged hair can take anywhere from three months to three years – it all comes down to how much damage you're dealing with and the length you're aiming for.
On average, hair grows about 1.5 cm per month (roughly 15 cm a year), though this varies depending on your genetics, age, and hair care routine1. As a general timeline:
- Pixie cut: three to six months
- Shoulder length: one year to 18 months
- Mid-back length: two to three years
Can hair grow back after bleach or chemical damage?
Yes, your hair can continue to grow after chemical and bleach damage. However, because damaged lengths are more fragile, they may be more prone to dryness, brittleness, split ends and breakage – which can make it harder to retain length over time.
Chemical treatments are alkaline by nature, which can lift the cuticle and leave hair more vulnerable to moisture loss. That’s where a consistent bond-building routine can help support stronger-feeling lengths while damaged ends are gradually trimmed away.
Our Acidic Bonding Concentrate collection is designed for all hair types and textures, and is particularly beneficial for colour-treated hair. Formulated with citric acid, the range helps rebalance hair’s pH. Think of it as helping to reset hair closer to its natural state, so the cuticle can smooth down and better hold onto hydration.
Bond repair vs deep conditioning: what does damaged hair need?
When growing out damaged hair, you need both hydration and bond repair – but for different reasons. Hydration improves the feel and manageability of your lengths, while bond repair works to strengthen the strand from within and prevent further damage.
Below, we break down the role of each approach, and why damaged hair needs both surface-level conditioning and internal bond support.
Deep conditioning – supports softness and manageability
Think of deep conditioning as surface-level care. It works on the outside of the strand to smooth the cuticle, hydrate and moisturise hair, and leave your locks feeling softer and easier to manage. It’s particularly valuable for dry, dehydrated hair, but it doesn’t address the structural damage happening inside the strand.
Bond repair – targets weakened internal structure
Bond repair works from within, targeting the broken disulfide bonds that weaken hair at its core. Strengthening those bonds helps the strand regain its structural integrity, making it less prone to snapping at the weak points that cause breakage.
The Redken routine for growing out damaged hair
If you want to know how to grow out damaged hair without losing length to breakage, start with a consistent bond repair routine.
Read on for our simple four-step routine using Acidic Bonding Concentrate to help your hair grow back longer and stronger.
Step 1: Cleanse with Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo
Start your routine with the Acidic Bonding Concentrate pH-Balancing Shampoo – a sulfate-free formula that gently removes build-up without compromising fragile strands. Formulated with citric acid and alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), it smooths the hair cuticle, seals each strand's surface, and lowers hair's pH back to its natural acidic range.
Apply to wet hair, massaging directly onto your scalp to work up a lather, then rinse thoroughly.
Step 2: Condition with Acidic Bonding Concentrate Conditioner
Once you’ve fully rinsed your shampoo, follow it up with the Acidic Bonding Concentrate Sulfate-Free Conditioner. Powered by an 11% bonding care complex and citric acid, it works to strengthen compromised bonds, reduce frizz, and protect colour-treated hair from fading. Used together with the ABC Shampoo, the system delivers up to 89% easier detangling2 and 82% less visible split ends3 – ideal for damaged hair that's prone to knots and breakage.
Apply from mid-lengths to ends – avoiding the scalp – and leave on for five to 10 minutes before rinsing.
Step 3: Reinforce with Acidic Bonding Concentrate Leave-In Treatment
Out of the shower and towel-dried, reach for our Acidic Bonding Concentrate Leave-In Treatment. This dual-action formula works as both a leave-in conditioner and a heat protectant up to 230°C, with an acidic pH that helps defend hair against the cumulative damage caused by colour services, heat styling tools, and even everyday water exposure.
Smooth evenly through your lengths and ends, then style as usual – no need to rinse!
Step 4: Support fragile lengths with Acidic Bonding Concentrate 24/7 Night & Day Serum
Finish by applying a pump of our Acidic Bonding Concentrate 24/7 Night & Day Serum to your lengths and ends. Enriched with citric acid and squalane – a lightweight, deeply nourishing ingredient that mimics your hair's natural lipid barrier – this hair serum delivers intensive nourishment around the clock, helping to replenish moisture and resilience in hair that's been weakened by chemical or heat damage.
Use twice daily:
- For night use: Apply generously from mid-lengths to ends before bed to help nourish and hydrate hair while you sleep. Its calming lavender scent also makes it an easy addition to your evening routine.
- For day use: Apply as needed to smooth frizzy hair, condition dry ends and instantly boost shine, while maintaining a lightweight feel.
How often should you trim damaged hair while growing it out?
If you’re trying to grow out damaged hair, you should be aiming to get a trim every eight to 12 weeks. Skipping trims might seem like the fastest route to length, but it tends to backfire. That’s because split ends don't stay put – they travel up the strand, turning a small trim into a much bigger cut down the track.
Our Acidic Bonding Concentrate delivers two times less breakage4, strengthening your hair's internal structure and preventing split ends – meaning smaller trims, less setback, and steadier progress toward your length goals. Book your appointment today and use our Salon Locator to connect with a Redken stylist near you who can tailor a routine to your needs.
Now that you know how to grow hair back after bleach damage, discover how to get Sabrina Carpenter’s blonde – and how she uses Acidic Bonding Concentrate to help maintain it.
1https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-to-make-your-hair-grow-faster
2 Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo & Conditioner VS. non conditioning shampoo
3 When used as a system of Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo, Conditioner and Leave-In Treatment vs. non-conditioning shampoo (L’Oréal Product Test: August 6, 2020)
4 Instrumental test after application of the ACF shampoo + conditioner + serum vs classical shampoo