How To Pick The Right Blonde For You
Blonde has never seemed more approachable. We are at a very exciting time in the world of hair color, when rainbow hair is commonplace on the streets and in (some) office environments, and when going intentionally gray doesn’t seem like a bad idea, according to much of Hollywood. All of a sudden, blond seems, well, reasonable.
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There’s a new wave of blonde ambition in town, heralded by stars like Taylor Swift, Miley, and Chrissy Teigen. Girls who weren’t born fair-haired are now making it look, dare we say, even cooler than the iconic Hollywood blondes we’ve come to know and love (we’re looking at you, Gwyneth and Reese). Above all, there’s the feeling that this shade is totally attainable, no matter what Mother Nature gave us.
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Perhaps, everyone should go blond once in their lives, just to see what all the fuss is about. But, be warned — that means regular root touch-ups (every four to six weeks, depending on your look), and salon glazes in-between. Keep all that in mind before you decide to hit the bleach.
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If you’ve been bitten by the blond bug, though, click through to get a little inspiration. We gathered insight from three in-demand colorists — Tracey Cunningham (who dyes Charlize Theron), Justin Anderson (none other than Miss Miley), and Rita Hazan (Queen Bey) — to break down the best blondes in Hollywood. Then, we sourced the products — both salon and at-home — you need in your arsenal. Prepare to become a total bleach babe — your dream shade awaits.
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Photo via Everett Collection/Rex USA.
The Classic Blonde, À La Grace Kelly
“The mix of sandy and bright-blond tones makes this the most natural-looking hue of Old Hollywood. Because it can be a bit ashy, it’s best on fairer complexions, rather than tan or darker skin tones,” says Anderson.
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Photo via Stewart Cook/Rex USA.
The Modern-Icon Blonde, À La Charlize Theron
Charlize is also a warmer blonde, “but there are vibrant undertones,” Cunningham says. “This really enhances her skin tone.”
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Photo via PDN/Rex USA.
The Socialite Blonde, À La Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth does the cool-blond thing, but she prefers it less lived-in. “This color reminds me of New York — and money!” Anderson says. “It’s a near-platinum shade that requires the most upkeep — even when your natural color is on the lighter side, like Gwyneth’s.”
“When your hair is one color, you never really see how light it is unless you have something lighter or darker next to it to make it pop,” explains Cunningham, the actress’ go-to colorist. “That’s why we add babylights to keep it multidimensional while creating luxurious depth.”
Photo via Matt Baron/BEIMAGES.
The Platinum Blonde, À La Miley Cyrus
“This is a high-maintenance shade,” Anderson says. (He should know — he frequently colors the star.) “Being this blond is obviously going to be the most damaging to the hair, so it works well with a shorter style. I think it goes nicely with pink skin tones, but it’s also great because it is such a statement that you will barely ever feel the need for makeup.”
Photo via Tiffany Rose/Getty Images.
The Buttery Blonde, À La Reese Witherspoon
“This is the all-American shade,” Anderson says. “It’s buttery tones accented by an icy pop of bright-blond highlights — it works so well with her pink cheeks. This is consistently the most requested type of blond in Los Angeles.”
Photo via James McCauley/Rex USA.
The Blonde Ambition, À La Madonna
Madge has run the gamut from buttery to strawberry and just about everything in-between. She makes noticeable roots with a color edging on platinum look cool, showing that pale colors don’t always require major upkeep.
Photo via Rex USA.
The Can’t-Be-Bothered Blonde, À La Kate Moss
Another roots advocate? “Kate Moss is the ultimate rock-‘n’-roll blonde,” Hazan says. “The trick is not to go overly blond — allow contrast in the color, and leave a lot of time in-between root touch-ups at the salon,” adds Anderson.
Photo via Picture Perfect/Rex USA.
The Party Blonde, À La Kate Hudson
“This is easily one of the most requested shades of blond in Hollywood,” Anderson says. “Unfortunately, it’s also one of the hardest hues for girls to pull off. Kate is more of a yellow-blonde than most people realize, so to pull this off, you have to have the right coloring — and personality. I like it best with a natural-looking tan. Keeping up with the roots is also essential.”
Photo via Picture Perfect/Rex USA.
The Golden Blonde, À La Shakira
“This is classic golden-blond with light, pale highlights,” Hazan explains. “This allows her to pull off the color convincingly. Plus, the contrast of gold and pale creates a youthful, beachy sort of blond.”
Photo via Gregory Pace/BEIMAGES.
The Honey-Blonde With Depth, À La Beyoncé
“This is a shade of honey that has a variation of high- and lowlights, which gives Beyoncé the perfect balance for her medium skin tone,” Hazan says. “This gives the color dimension and contrast, but in a very subtle way.”
Photo via The Life Picture Collection/Getty Images.
The Bombshell Blonde, À La Claudia Schiffer
“It’s the right amount of gold and honey tones,” Anderson says. Unlike Beyoncé, who has similar colors in her ‘do, Claudia has a mane that’s full of “dramatic pops of bright-blond highlights, making it perfect for bouncy, full, voluminous hair,” he says.
Photo via David Fisher/Rex USA.
The Faux Blonde, À La Jennifer Aniston
“We all know she’s not a natural, but Jennifer pulls her color off with such ease because the overall tone complements the olive tones in her skin,” Anderson says. “If you’re going blonder than Mother Nature intended, remember to keep a bit of contrast in the hair and also some warmth! Women are always afraid of gold, honey, or even red tones, but when your skin is naturally beige or tan, it’s the only way to go. Pale or ashy blonds don’t look as convincing when you’re closer to brunette.”
Photo via Everett Collection/Rex USA.
The Bronde, À La Chrissy Teigen
“Chrissy’s mom actually inspired me to take her this light ‘brond’ color,” Cunningham says. “She showed me a childhood photo of Chrissy, and I knew we had to go lighter. This perfectly enhanced her olive skin tone without being too much.”
Photo courtesy of Olaplex.
Salon Quality
Olaplex is a single-ingredient molecule that was partially pioneered by Cunningham, and then became a salon sensation for in-the-know colorists. “It gives me superpowers,” she says of the product, which is used to supplement bleach and dye concoctions at the mixing bowl. Olaplex claims to bond the hair that breaks during the lifting process, allowing your colorist to take you from deep-brown to platinum in just a day. “Every single client at my salon gets it,” she says. Before you book your appointment, make sure your salon uses this. (It’s a game-changer.)
Photo courtesy of Sephora.
Shower Time
“I know it sounds awful, but rinsing your hair with cool water is key for both your hair and your skin,” Anderson says. “Even though it may sound extravagant, an at-home shower filter is helpful to keep your bright pieces intact. Over time, chlorine and metals found in water build up on the hair, especially blond hair, which can leave them looking dull, flat, and sometimes brassy.”
T3 Source Showerhead Filter, $130, available at Sephora.
Clarifying Cleanser
A clarifying shampoo, like this one from Briogeo is great to help make sure your color stays its most vibrant.
Briogeo Be Gentle Be King Green Tea Clarifying Shampoo, $24, available at Briogeo.
For more hair tips, visit Refinery29.
By: Phillip Picardi.
