Brigitte Bardot, Marylin Monroe, Blake Lively or Cara Delevigne. Blondes have always made us dream. Want to go light blonde? Follow the guide to learn all about blonde hair color and its thousand facets.
The blond symbol
In the West, blond is the symbol of childhood. Blondness refers to innocence and childish candor. It also evokes the image of the Saint in religious iconography, of the goddesses (Aphrodite or Venus for example). But the blonde is also seductive and sensual, he has that luminous je ne sais quoi that brunettes don’t always have. It reflects light like no other color and maybe that’s why it has such an effect. Blond is also at the origin of many successes: that of great hairdressers like Dessange at the origin of the “Californian blond” or of celebrities like Brigitte Bardot. Not a single woman testifies to the contrary: when they go blonde, the looks are not the same. One thing is certain, blondes leave no one indifferent.
Blond on the red carpets
The stars are also very numerous to have wanted to try their hand at blonde. If some regularly change colors like Kim Kardashian, Rachel McAdams, Laetitia Casta, Julia Roberts, Charlize Theron, Scarlett Johansson or Kirsten Stewart, others have decided to stay blonde because it has become their signature. For some of them, there is no question of going back: the blond was a revelation! In any case, he allowed them to come out of the shadows. This is the case with Marylin Monroe or Shakira. Two eras and two very different artists but who have in common to have pierced … once the hair has been bleached.
50 shades of blonde
If there are dozens of shades of blonde, unfortunately, it is not enough to dream of light blonde or platinum to be able to achieve it with your fingers in your nose. In reality, it is a little more complicated than that. First, because you have to take into account your complexion, and the color of your eyes to judge the right shade, the one that will really highlight you. Then, because your base color will tip in the balance and determine the blonde to adopt. Indeed, the more you move away from your natural color, the more the desired result is likely to be difficult to obtain. It’s simple, if you have dark brown or black hair, getting a polar blonde can be an obstacle course … and require a top colorist.
Skin tone, brief explanations
To put it simply, skin tone matches the color and tone of your skin. Three types are generally identified: fair skin tones, medium skin tones and matte skin tones. You have brown hair and green or hazel eyes, you are probably one of the medium skin tones. In case of Venetian blond or red hair and light eyes, obviously you are what is called a “fair complexion”. Matte skin tones group together people with dark hair and eyes. To know your “undertone”, which can be rather yellow or rather pink, just look at the veins on your wrist. If they appear bluish, you have a cool, pink undertone. If they look green or turquoise, you have a warm, golden undertone.
What blond for me?
Ash, honey, pastel … each has its own “color”! The blonde coloring gathers, in fact, a very large number of shades ranging from polar blonde to dark blonde. A range of colors, each more magnificent than the next … when you know how to choose the right coloring. They are distinguished in two groups, on the one hand the “cold” blondes, on the other, the “warm” blondes.
Cold blondes particularly suitable for fair complexions and blue, green or hazel eyes. Among them, the ash blonde, rather natural and ideal for softening the face. Platinum blonde, quite extreme but which allows you to assert your look and give a rock side. The discoloration being very strong, it is generally worn on short hair. Gray blond or even polar blond (half gray, half platinum) which refers to the blondness of the Scandinavians.
Like who ? Jennifer Lawrence, Shakira, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Kirsten Stewart, and even Kim Kardashian.
Hot blondes have the advantage of being suitable for a greater majority of skin tones, if it is well dosed and produced. Californian blond, for example, which evokes the sun, the holidays and this childhood hair naturally brightens the summer. The same goes for Venetian blond, halfway between light blond and red, whose coppery reflections wake up dull complexions. Golden blonde is arguably the most natural shade, the ones that look like sun-kissed lightening. Brunettes who wish to adopt a blonde can obtain a honey, caramel or copper blonde.
Like who ? Blake Lively, Jessica Alba, Bella Hadid, Sienna Miller, JLO.
The beige blond is a neutral tone, neither hot nor cold. It is a good alternative, between ashy and golden, which allows to obtain a made-to-measure blonde.
Like who ? Gisèle Bünchen, Jennifer Aniston, Elisabeth Olsen.
Finally, pastel blondes (strawberry, lilac, blue …) super trendy, require a light base and allow to bring a touch of color a little fun to the hair. Some adopt it on the ends, others on the whole hair.
Like who ? Hilary Duff, Pink, Khloé Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Lady Gaga.
Balayage, tie and dye, bronde, ombré hair …: the alternatives
Sometimes, all it takes is a few touches of light and blonde highlights here and there in the hair to obtain an immediate “wow” result. For tie and dye or ombre hair, the technique consists of bleaching the ends and mid-lengths. The tie and dye is a little more pronounced while the ombre hair is a little more subtle. The latter gives the impression of a sun and natural effect. The intensity of the very marked discolored locks of the 90s, it’s over. A sweeping done well today will have the same kind of effect as an ombre hair. The locks are more discreet and blend into the hair. They bring light to the face and camouflage white hair by optical effect.
The light blond, the colo star of the 50 years and over
Do you think the majority of women go blonde after 50? You are not entirely wrong. Several reasons can explain this phenomenon. First of all because the blonde has the ability to wake up the complexion by illuminating the face. And it also softens the features. Another reason: it becomes difficult not to touch its color. Generally, after 50 years, gray hair begins to become the majority and we enter a game of coloring and maintenance at the hairdresser. And the lighter the hair, the less intense the maintenance. The reason is logical and simple: white hair blends more easily into a light shade than dark hair. This thus avoids too great a demarcation and an unsightly root effect.
How to switch to light blond?
Regardless of the shade of blonde in the end, if you want to go blonde or even change your blonde, we strongly advise you to always consult a colorist upstream to get his or her opinion. If you haven’t used coloring or bleaching yet and you have natural hair, knowing your pitch is essential so you know if lightening is needed. And if you already have colored hair, you may need to “remove makeup” before doing another one. In all cases, light blonde generally requires going through the “discoloration” step. However, this professional technique is not to be taken lightly, and should always be performed by an expert so as not to have to worry about the risks. Which ? Not to obtain the desired shade, but also to damage and sensitize your hair. In addition, some shades may require several steps, especially if your natural base is dark. So be careful, especially if you have very dark, long and / or fine hair.
Which house coloring to choose?
If you decide to take the plunge at home, be careful to choose quality products. Oxidation coloring kits provide optimal coverage of gray hair and can lighten the base up to four tones. Note that this kind of coloring is permanent and requires regular application (every 3 to 6 weeks) to avoid the root. Be sure to wait the number of minutes indicated, no more and no less. If you can, seek the advice of a specialist first so as not to be disappointed. The results are not always what you hope for. If you want a natural color (but not necessarily organic), that is to say that does not contain ammonia, no oxidant or chemical ingredients, know that it does not lighten the hair but only to darken them. To be adopted only if you are already blonde and want a slightly darker blonde or revive your highlights.
Light blonde: maintenance at home
To keep a beautiful blonde, maintenance is absolutely essential, at the risk of ending up with a yellow or even green blonde (do you know the story of the blonde who dives into a swimming pool full of chlorine without protecting her hair?). In order to avoid any disappointments, use products suited to your reflections. If you have a light, rather cold color, use an anti-yellowing shampoo once or twice a week. Its purple pigments control the appearance of coppery or yellowish reflections. If, on the contrary, you have light blonde hair with warm tones, opt for a chamomile shampoo that revives the golden highlights.
The basic rule? Choose rather mild shampoos, without sulphates, so that they are the least aggressive possible towards the fiber already weakened by the discoloration. Regularly apply masks rich in lipids to nourish and strengthen the lengths, regenerate porous areas and smooth the scales. And why not, alternate every 15 days with a repigmenting mask whose formula is specially developed to revive the color. Also remember to always protect the hair with a thermo-protective treatment before using your hair dryer or a straightening iron.
Blonde Revival, Violet Blonde Reviver Shampoo, Aveda
Chamomile flowers, Shampoo for blond and dull hair, Floressance
Blond Absolu, Cicaextreme Oil, Kérastase
Elsève purple yellowing shampoo, L’Oréal Paris
Yubi blonde, purple balm anti-false reflections bleached blonde, highlighted, Shu Uemura Art of Hair
Californian blond, Nutri-illuminating detangling treatment, Dessange
Light blonde: maintenance at the hairdresser
Again, it all depends on your base color and the shade you choose. If your natural color is light and you don’t have too much gray hair, you can wait three months before touching up with your colourist. On the other hand, if you have dark hair, the demarcation and its not very pretty root effect are quick to come. Allow a month and a half before going back to the hairdresser to give your blonde a nice boost. If the price of coloring or discoloration is a drag, you can always save a little time by using products that hide dark or brown roots. Another option, adopt a hairstyle that camouflages the regrowth.
Magic Retouch, Light Blonde, Dark Root Eraser Spray, L’Oréal Paris