Why turning ‘Winter blonde’ like Kate Winslet is the secret to instant youth

If Omicron wasn’t depressing enough, the dull winter light is turning our skin more dreary by the day.

Aside from a cheery shade of blusher, there is something you can do to brighten your face that doesn’t involve jetting off to St.Barts - change your hair colour. Not drastically. Just enough to sway the pigments in your skin to appear more vibrant, says hair colourist Nicola Clarke, who recently took longtime client Kate Winslet a warmer shade of blonde for winter.

Posting a picture to her Instagram account of Winslet with slightly darker, toasty-hued hair the caption read: “when a blonde goes darker for the winter”

Speaking to us about how she tweaked the actress’s golden strands, Clarke explains: “every now and again in winter I take Kate slightly darker so that the regrowth doesn't show through as much. All I do is apply the same light blonde that she usually has and mix in some caramel and light chestnut shades.”

This goes for brunettes too who can have a few lighter pieces subtly painted through the ends to catch what little light there is.

Hair colourist and founder of Josh Wood Atelier, Josh Wood, recommends using glossing toners either in salon or at home to manipulate the undertone of your hair colour to counteract winter light.

“The light in the Northern Hemisphere is very flat and cool in winter which can make skin appear dull and lacklustre.” The answer is not to pile on more bleach, says Wood. "That can come off as too yellow and cheap looking at this time of year - instead, I recommend my clients go for a neutral shade that 's neither cool nor warm. Think wheat or champagne."

Speaking up for toners, Wood explains that glosses are multi-dimensional and blended with a mix of pearlescent tones which gives life to blonde hair that's lost its sparkle.

Luckily a glossing toner can be done at the backwash and takes a fraction of the time needed for a full head of highlights. Redken's Shades EQ range includes a wide selection of glossing toners that are available at salons nationwide. Or try Josh Wood Colour’s Champagne Gloss, £19 in the comfort of your own home.

Alternatively, Color Wow’s Dream Filter Treatment £26, is a genius invention designed to be sprayed onto coloured hair before shampooing to lift away impurities and mineral deposits that can dull salon colour, leaving it looking brighter and with more clarity.

Either way, now is the time to add some richness to your hair colour to inject a shot of radiance.