What Is 'Old Money Blonde'? Why This Hair Color Works for These 17 Celebs and Could Work for You Too

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What's old is new again, especially when it comes to hair—and trends. Hair trends come and go with the seasons, with the red carpets and with the TikToks but one we're particularly loving at the moment is "old money blonde" (hair). 

After quiet luxury took off (thank you, Sofia Richie Grainge), it seems like Gen Z and well, everyone, wanted to exude old money vibes even if their money wasn't necessarily old or new. 

That expensive-looking, fancy-car driving, "I have a summer house in Nantucket and wear cable-knit sweaters" life. Stealth wealth if you will. But how exactly does the trend that shows no signs of slowing down, translate to hair, you ask? 

We pondered that very question ourselves, so we asked a bevy of celebrity stylists, colorists and hair experts their opinions on the trend, as well as the stars who exemplify it.

Ahead, see why the old money blonde hair color trend works for these 17 celebs and if it could work for you too.

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What Is Old Money Blonde Hair?

When you think of famous blondes, celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot and Scarlett Johansson probably come to mind—bombshell blondes known for their stunning strands. But what constitutes an "old money blonde"?

According to celebrity hairstylist Jerome Lordet, who has styled the coiffes of Sandra Bullock and Bianca Jagger, it's a rich blonde color that melts together smoothly, without streaky, telltale highlights. "The color looks natural because it's so seamless but requires upkeep to maintain the natural look," he tells Parade. 

Like other hair color trends, the technique can vary, especially given the individual's natural hair color and amount of highlights (a few, vs. a whole head) but in a nutshell, OMB is a multi-dimensional blonde that gives the illusion of very well-maintained hair.

Who Does Old Money Blonde Work For?

It can work for lots of people, but typically it will be easiest to achieve on people who already have light hair, who have skin tones that are flattered by warmer hair colors and who have the time to take good care of the color, says Lordet.

Why Is This Color So Popular Right Now?

With the hype around hit shows like Feud: Capote vs. The Swans and Palm Royale, it's not hard to see why this hair color trend is making a big comeback. Truman's swans and Palm Beach's power players were famous for these coiffs that stylists and colorists say are in high demand in their salons right now.

Celebrity hairstylist Davontaé Washington who works with Kim Kardashian, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion thinks of old money blonde as a specific shade of blonde hair color that's associated with wealth, sophistication and traditional societal status. "It's not too in your face, but very natural looking as if it grew out of your scalp and was sun-kissed all summer," he shares.

There's also that little saying, "Blondes have more fun," which is another reason he's seeing more requests for blonde shades or browns with highlighted blonde pieces. "The trend takes me back to my childhood watching Meredith Blake from The Parent Trap," he recalls. "She was so mean but elegant and chic with that rich color." 

As for the real-life A-listers sporting this $$$$-looking hue, these blondies are at the top of the list.

Related: 5 Must-Have Hair Accessories if You're Over 50, According to Stylists

17 Celebs With Old Money Blonde Hair

1. Sofia Richie Grainge

Sofia Richie single-handedly kicked off the quiet luxury craze, so it only makes sense her star power is behind the 'old money blonde' hair trend. Lordet cites Richie as the most popular example of the look because her highlights blend well. "She isn't super bright blonde; her roots show and blend in seamlessly," he says.

The key to keeping OMB looking vibrant, as with any hair color, lies in maintenance. Lordet suggests booking a glaze in between color appointments to keep it looking fresh. Or, if you'd rather go the DIY route, try an at-home gloss like dpHUE Gloss+ to boost color with lots of healthy shine.

2. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

One of our favorite models who can be seen sporting the hair trend du jour is Rosie Huntington-Whiteley with her long layered cut. 

“The beauty of old money blonde is its versatility and universal appeal," explains celebrity colorist George Papanikolas who works with Ellen Pompeo and Hannah Jeter. "This makes it great for anybody who's already blonde and wants to adapt their shade for spring, as well as those with darker hair looking to transition to a lighter color." 

RHW falls somewhere in between, although Papanikolas says neutralizing brassy tones is crucial with this color. "Incorporating a violet-based conditioner like Matrix So Silver Pigmented Conditioner gives a glossy finish and balances out unwanted brass."

3. Beyoncé

Among her many superstar talents, Beyoncé is adept at pulling off any hair hue in the rainbow, including old-money blonde, which Washington refers to as a blonde shade that toes the line between yellow and neutral.

As for the cuts that work with it best, he loves a long, layered, face-framing hairstyle like Bey's. "I love seeing her in concert or on the carpet showing casing her hair, which in my opinion always makes or breaks her look, and she always does it right!"

In addition to keeping purple shampoo and conditioner stocked in your bathroom at all times, Washington admits the #1 rule to pulling off an old-money mane is carrying it with confidence. "If you have the confidence to wear it, then by all means rock it like it grew from your scalp!" he says.

4. Khloe Kardashian

Celebrity hair guru Clyde Haygood credits the old-money blonde trend to the return of "lady hair"—hair that is coiffed, styled and well-groomed. "This hair holds a shape from bleaching which fattens it making it much thicker and moldable," he shares.

Haygood created this old-money blonde look for Khloe Kardashian with the help of a hairpiece to shorten and widen her hair, to give it a "luscious and glamorous bouncy retro vibe."

Because this type of blonde can fade after a few shampoos, he swears by using PURA D’OR Color Harmony Purple Shampoo & Conditioner once a week for that perfectly toned Hollywood blonde. Bonus: These products are packed with biotin, keratin and bamboo fibers to keep hair thick and strong.

5. Erika Jayne

"Erika Jayne, who has been a client of mine for 15 years, definitely has old money blonde hair and loves it!" raves Haygood. "Her hair color is always perfectly toned—we like to call it butter and cream."

We all know it's expensive to be Erika Jayne, but it seems it's expensive to have OMB ambition in general. "It can work for anybody if they have the money for the upkeep because maintaining this type of hair requires seeing your hair colorist every two weeks," says Haygood. "This is to catch the root before it grows out too far and remains natural looking." If your natural color is closer to the desired one, however, you can get away with stretching salon visits for up to four weeks.

6. Adele

"This look is the epitome of OMB," says Washington. "It looks effortless even though you know this color requires quite a bit of upkeep if your natural color is not as light." 

He also notes that Adele's blonde is on the warmer side and appears to have very little contrast. "It's almost the same tone from roots to ends with a few even warmer pieces woven in ever so slightly and then a few pops of ultra-blonde." 

To channel the "Hello" singer's style, ask your colorist for subtle highlights and lowlights. "The goal is to make this look as natural as possible," he adds.

7. Margot Robbie

When it comes to classic blondes, Barbie is at the top of the list, along with her alter-ego, Margot Robbie. Celebrity hair colorist Jacob Schwartz was the mane man responsible for her Oscars color, which he describes as a soft dimensional blonde that's not too rooty or too blonde on the ends. "In my mind, it’s the anti-beachy look that people have been asking for in the past," he tells Parade. 

Wondering if you can go Margot with your hair color? All ages—and most haircuts—work for the trend according to Schwartz, although he suggests opting for a cut just below the chin for a "timeless effortless look."

He also suggests stretching out your shampoo schedule with a dry shampoo on the roots and oil for the ends. We love Blondme By Schwarzkopf's Wonders Dry Shampoo Foam and their Gliss Kur Hair Daily Oil Elixir.

8. Sydney Sweeney

"This cut is the perfect shorter vibe for old money blonde," explains Schwartz. "Glen Coco [her stylist] had the vision and brought it to life."

Truth be told, we love every 'do Sydney Sweeney steps into, from her curtain bangs to her bombshell layers but we hope she never quits this OMB color!

Schwartz's sneaky hack for getting your best blonde ever is to use a water filter like Afina’s A-01 shower head to remove impurities and protect your hair from hard water and minerals.

9. Brie Larson

Another reason Schwartz is a big fan of old-money blonde hair is that it's a luxe version of highlighted blonde. One of his clients, Brie Larson, is a prime example of this. "Brie is a classic blonde with highlights, leaving some dimension but not too much," he says.

While Larson's shoulder-length waves are sleek and smooth here, the beauty of this hair color is that it looks just as great on beachy, tousled tresses and slicked-back buns.

To repair your hair while you snooze, try an overnight sleek mask like R+Co Bleu Sleep Mask Night Repair Serum to quench parched, overprocessed locks.

10. Kirsten Dunst

Another blonded by Schwartz starlet is Kirsten Dunst, whom he describes as a "classic light blonde—not too ashy or too golden." Dunst has been blonde for as long as we can remember and wears it so well, but ask any stylist her secret to OMB success and they will tell you it's because of how healthy her hair looks. 

In addition to using purple-based products, frequent trims are another way to ensure your blonde stays look well groomed and $$$$. The opposite of old money blonde is no money blonde, which looks like split ends and fried tresses TBH.

11. Kristen Wiig

If you haven't been bingeing Palm Royale, what are you waiting for? There are so many celebs serving OMB inspo in this show, like Kristen Wiig, according to esteemed celebrity colorist Sharron Dorram. 

The owner of Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger Salon in New York City has worked with famous blondes such as Kate Winslet, Reese Witherspoon and Christie Brinkley, but calls Wiig's OMB an elegant, lustrous blonde. "Layers and layers of highlights strategically placed to frame lighter around the face created this old money blonde," she explains, adding that it's a departure from the chunky blonde beach waves with balayage from seasons past.

To attain Wiig's style on the show, Dorram says you'll want to discuss a base lift with your colorist, then ask for "many, many fine highlights" so that the blonde looks very rich. Before using any hot tools like the Dyson Airwrap or curling iron, she recommends applying The Crown Affair's Leave-in Conditioner and using a good thermal spray, like Philip B's Thermal Protection Spray.

12. Taylor Swift

Veteran hairstylist and founder of hOURS Haircare, MariLynne Cosmillo, says Taylor Swift has been rocking the old money blonde look before it recently became trendy. "It suits her aesthetic perfectly; her natural root color paired with soft, golden highlights with a low contrast is as subtle and low maintenance as it gets."

Another benefit of the trend lies in its versatility. "There are many shade variations of this trending color, which can be tailored to compliment various complexions," she explains. "Unlike the cool, ashy blonde trend which doesn’t suit everyone, the soft warmth in this color is very natural looking, and easily customizable."

And for anyone looking for old money blonde, without or without money, you're in luck. Cosmillo says Taylor's Version is a great way for high-maintenance blondes to transition to a more attainable, longer-lasting color with less frequent salon visits.

13. Scarlett Johansson

Given her Danish genes, ScarJo's blonde is not only natural but a highly covetable color requested in salons since it's always giving OMB energy.

According to Washington, if you want to nail the trend like the Marvel actress, hair health should be your top priority. "I was recently introduced to SUTRA’s Heat Guard Hair Mask and while it's true to its name (it prevents and corrects heat damage), it also deep conditions and revives thirsty, chemically treated hair," he shares. 

One more reason to add to cart? Just like sophisticated skincare formulas, it employs hyaluronic acid along with plant proteins to repair and strengthen strands.

14. Matilda Djerf

Never heard of Matilda Djerf? Allow us to introduce you to the 25-year-old influencer living her best (new) money life. With 3 million followers and a fashion brand, she started with her boyfriend, Djerf Avenue, she loves a good quiet luxury-style moment and we love her OMB hair.   

"Her sandy beige blonde accentuates the layers in her butterfly cut," says hair artist and founder of LRN Beauty, Lauren Paglionico, who believes sandy beige blondes are also having a moment.

"Old money blonde is a neutral blonde, worn by many socialites in the '50s, like C.Z. Guest (as seen in Swans), but this blonde can range from a light, neutral blonde to a sandy beige." Although to pull it off, she says it helps if your natural color is light brown, dark blonde or medium blonde hair.

15. Chloë Sevigny

Speaking of C.Z. Guest, it only makes sense to have the woman who played her on this list, considering she's an iconic OMB herself. "Chloë's blonde really complements her features, says Paglionico. "Whether she has makeup on or none at all, her eyes really pop." 

Paglionico has also noticed more clients asking for old money blonde, which she thinks is because this blonde is softer, more blended and has less dimension. "It's a timeless tone of blonde that works well on almost everyone because it does not contrast with outfits and complements neutrals which are timeless staples to a quiet luxury."

As for her go-to color-treated shampoo pick, that would be Color Wow's Color Security, which she advises using every two to three days. "This will help keep your blonde bright."

16. Zendaya

While Zendaya’s look isn’t a traditional old-money blonde per se, Cosmillo says her Challengers tour color still has all of the light and golden multidimensional tones of OMB color for a softer effect. 

"At the salon, ask your colorist for an all-over light, honey-blonde color with light golden highlights that are softly blended for a natural glow," she suggests. If your blonde leaves your ends feeling dried out, she loves hOURS In Minutes Silkening Mask, which blends avocado oil and biotin to weightlessly transform lackluster locks to a soft and shiny state in as little as two minutes. "You can also use the mask in place of your regular conditioner anytime you want silky, smooth strands," she adds.

17. Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow may be known for her high-maintenance wellness routines but it's her *seemingly* low-maintenance hair that's always done it for us. "Seemingly" is the operative word there. 

Paltrow's low-key, sun-kissed waves look like they just happened over the years, catching golden rays in Cabo or on the shores of California's coastline, but then again, that's the whole point of quiet luxury and GP is the OG. Although we have a sneaky suspension there's a very regimented color touchup routine lurking in her calendar somewhere. 

Hair artist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites, Gina Rivera, describes the Goop goddess' OMB as bright buttery highlights throughout her head in various shades of blonde but if you want to try it yourself, she recommends visiting your colorist with pictures of OMB celebs that inspire you! Better yet, DM them this link and save a tree.

Happy blonding!

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