Having been through every hair color under the sun, I can definitely assure you that blondes DO have more fun! There’s something about being a blonde that gives you that unexpected head turn when you walk down the street, or that extra pep in your step.
Browse these blonde shades and give being a blonde a second thought. Or, if you’re already rocking a luscious blonde, don’t be afraid to change it up a bit and add a hint of caramel or a touch of contrast!
Before your next hair appointment, check out these pictures of popular blonde hair color ideas.
Bleached Blonde with Lowlights
Make your blonde shade even more radiant by adding lowlights in several places, resulting in a dimensional effect with additional beige blonde hues.
Gradient Blonde for Brunettes
Transitioning from a dark base to lighter ends adds beautiful dimension for brunettes. Lighter ends are a great way for brunettes to get the feel of being blonde without all the commitment. A woman can add more or less blonde or darkness each appointment to personalize the color each and every time.
Peach-y Blonde Hue
A full highlight with a beautiful peachy tint gives a woman a blonde shade that is not too warm nor too cool. When deciding on the correct tone for your blonde hair, a thorough consultation is key. Skin tone is definitely something to consider when looking at different blonde tones.
Chestnut Blonde Hair
Chestnut is the perfect blonde shade for the woman who likes their blonde locks but wants to venture out to a little darker side. Adding in chestnut or a brownish shade of lowights is a great first step when taking a blonde slightly darker. If lowlights don’t create the depth a woman is looking for, a darker toner would be an excellent next step. Adding in darkness slowly is the ideal way to change color without going too drastic right away.
Dark Blonde
Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder but for this golden dark blonde color, you won’t get mistaken for anything less than ravishing. Going for this color is ideal to lighten up your natural brown hair.
Champagne Blonde
“This is one of my favorite looks, champagne blonde with a shadow root,” says salon owner and stylist Michaela Breci of Windsor, CA. “Most of my clients want to be blonde, but they don’t want the maintenance of being blonde. Adding a shadow root to your blondes allows them to go months instead of weeks between visits without losing the brightness every blonde wants,” she explains.
Breci reminds us not to be afraid of warmth. “I often have women come in saying they want “ash” blonde. Be careful with ash because it can actually make your blonde appear darker,” she notes. “Ash does not reflect light. You need gold to reflect light, so often times the ash blonde appears darker because they do not reflect light. Also while ash looks pretty on some skin tones, it’s not flattering on most.”
Products are a must for blondes. Breci’s favorite products for blondes are Oribe run-through detangling primer, royal blowout heat styling spray, and matte waves texture lotion.
Golden Highlights
This beautiful golden blonde balayage has hand-painted blonde highlights making it a very low-maintenance color and can also be perfect for someone new to coloring their hair.
This color will work with most hair lengths. It will look beautiful with beachy waves, curls, and straight. If you like a little brightness around the face you can always add some babylights or a bolder highlight in the front.
Gold Blonde
I love everything about this blonde hairstyle. Ash, silver, and cool blondes are very popular so I love when I get the chance to see a gorgeous buttery bright blonde.
Don’t be scared of warm blondes! They are so beautiful on so many skin tones.
Rose Gold Blonde Hair
“I think this rose gold blonde hair is a very wearable look with an edge,” states stylist and Lanza team member Catlin Weston.
“The blonding was done with a mix of balayage and a baby foiling technique,” she explains. “After the lightness was achieved I glazed her in a pinky rose gold blonde color that whispers. This makes it uniquely customized and fun, yet keeping her looking professional.”
The lob (long bob) is great for pretty much every face shape and age range. Weston reminds us that soft hues do tend to fade. “When it does she is left with a beautiful blonde. Her color will also grow out soft and blended because of the technique used while coloring.”
Strawberry Blonde
“This strawberry blonde hair was meant to draw on the natural undertones and give an ethereal glow,” explains level 2 stylist Krystal Press of Doylestown, PA. “Our goal was a low-maintenance, sun-kissed balayage to complement the natural strawberry blonde tones in her dirty blonde hair.”
Press’ favorite part of this look is the depth in the crown against the brighter V points of the balayage. “I love how the curls accentuate the dimension and allow you to see all the different tones of her hair,” she notes.
Appreciate your natural beauty and seek to enhance the canvas you have, rather than change it. Healthy hair is the best hair!
Silver Blonde Hair
This silver blonde look is dream hair! It was created by colorist Danielle Hess of Clearfield, PA. “Unicorn blonde hair, dreamy cascading waves of creamy white blonde. A look that is all her own hair but looks as though she’s wearing a wig. The technical description is softly shadowed white blonde hair with long textured layers and beachy waves,” explains Hess.
Hess says this creamy blonde hair color could be for low-maintenance gals or high-maintenance for two reasons – “the low-maintenance girls would win because to keep this color as healthy as possible. It requires as little heat as possible – the more it’s air-dried, the better. The less styling with flat irons/curling irons, the better.”
“On the other hand,” she continues, “this color is pretty high-maintenance to retain the tone- constant purple shampooing, constant toner, and trim appointments to keep the hair healthy because white blonde is fragile!”
Ash blonde hairstyles look best on people with cool or pink undertones.
Creamy Butter Blonde Hair Color
A butter blonde bombshell without waves looks very similar to a Barbie blonde hue. Although it’s a bright blonde hue, it still looks natural with such a dark base because it has so much dimension in it.
If you’re a natural level 5, ask for full blonde highlights every four to six weeks. In the end, you’ll be able to go longer between appointments and only do partial highlights every six to eight weeks.
If you want to have blonde hair and you’re naturally dark, make sure you have time in your life to commit to coming in for frequent maintenance. It also would not work well with dry curly hair because you want your hair to be healthy to begin this process.
Being a blonde works best for olive undertones, however pale skin and blonde hair is a beautiful combo. Just make sure you don’t have too much pink in your undertone.
Long and Straight Blonde Hair
“This long and straight blonde hair is a heavy balayage used to ease her out of doing foils! I love how icy blonde she is and how consistent the color is from roots to ends,” explains hairstylist and salon manager Megan Hemingson.
“I recommend a purple shampoo for women trying to keep their blonde hair ashy and vibrant,” notes Hemingson.
“A balayage looks great on women trying to stay away from a six week maintenance schedule,” she adds. “The skin types I would recommend for this tone of hair would be more on the pale side. Women with a lot of color in their skin might feel that their hair looks very artificial.”
Warm Blonde Tone
This is the type of hair, with a warm blonde tone, that suits people with fair skin. The warm blonde color is not that damaging – so it’s friendly for brunettes to try.
Sun-Kissed Blonde Hair
“I would describe this blonde hair color as natural and sun-kissed. My favorite thing about this look is the soft blend along with the vanilla blonde tones,” says senior hairstylist Brittni Rafter of Canada.
To maintain your blonde hair, Rafter says purple shampoo is a must! “Milkshake brand is by far my favorite purple shampoo due to its potency. Lather the shampoo on your ends first, then work it up into your scalp. Leave on for three to five minutes,” she explains.
Rafter recommends balayage to women who like a more natural and low-maintenance look. “When ladies get highlights, the re-growth is a more solid line, whereas a balayage has a softer blend that doesn’t go right to the root, enabling a more natural grow out. A white/olive skin tone can really be complimented nicely with vanilla/icy tones like in the photo.”
Caramel Blonde
Stylist Lizele has a magical touch with this blonde style! The lowlights and dark tips make the look more dimensional, creating a luscious caramel blonde shade.
Platinum Blonde
To keep it interesting, go for a long platinum blonde hair color and do soft curls to reflect shine. If you need extra inspiration, know that Emma Stone transformed her red hair to this perfect shade of platinum white blonde, and it’s super chic!
Soft Blonde Waves
This is a bright, soft blonde using balayage. It was created by master hairstylist Anna Chait of Fairfax, VA. “My favorite thing about it is that it’s a very soft look because the roots are kept more natural for a sun-kissed appearance. This beach blonde is perfect for ladies with dark hair looking for a change,” she notes.
This soft blonde is perfect for women looking for a lower maintenance color, as well as women who want to add more dimension and amp up their hair!
Icy Blonde
“This is one of my favorite blonde hair colors due to its cool, icy tone,” says stylist and salon owner Paul Madahan of Fullerton, CA.
After achieving a level 10 pale yellow, Madahan used Redken Shade’s Eq gloss to neutralize the remaining unwanted pigments. “I always recommend my blonde clients use a purple toning shampoo to maintain the look. My go-to is Pravana’s!”
Gorgeous Ash Blonde Curls
This soft caramel to ash blonde highlighted ombré was created by salon owner and stylist Andy Smith of Australia. “It was created using a micro foiling technique through the root to the mid-length area, then freehand lightened from the mid-lengths to ends,” explains Smith.
As this blonde ombre is a natural flowing look, Smith tends to use as few products as possible. “After returning from the basin, I apply Schwarzkopf OSiS+ Session Label Volumizing root spray, followed by Schwarzkopf BlondeMe shine-enhancing spray conditioner which adds a nice and light conditioned feel without weight, while boosting luminosity using silver shimmer pigments,” she adds.
This ash blonde hair is well suited to a warm skin tone (yellow/golden/peach undertone), although this look can still work for cooler skin tones with an adjustment of tone on the blonde. When picking tones of blonde, Smith says a good general rule to follow is to “choose the opposite of your skin’s undertone.”
Bright Blonde
This is a rooted, yet soft bright blonde on a short bob haircut. Even on a pixie cut dyed with this color, the result will still look awesome! Fall in love with the pale and buttery tones paired with a supernatural placement.
This look is great for any blonde that wants to be very bright with a more natural and lower maintenance feel. It’s great for all those naturally “dirty blonde” clients who no longer want to be a slave to foils.
Buttery Blonde
This is a beautiful buttery blonde hair color. It has multiple tones of blonde.
Use J Beverly Hills high lift blonde and J Beverly Hills max lightener when coloring. To blow her out, use the J Beverly Hills platinum line.
Blonde Balayage
This natural looking blonde balayage with a little dimension was created by designer stylist Kim Reeder of Auburn, AL. “My favorite thing about this look would be that it’s such a low-maintenance hairstyle, yet it always looks new and fresh,” notes Reeder.
Reeder recommends this look for the woman who likes low-maintenance opposed to coming in every six to eight weeks for a highlight root touch-up. “I also recommend it for women who want that natural but sun-kissed look! Those with more of a tan complexion tend to pull off a warm balayage best, and those with a fair complexion tend to make a cool blonde balayage look great,” she adds.
Balayage Blonde
The dark roots get a splash of light from golden blonde balayage, making the tresses look super shiny and luminous.
Light Blonde with Heavy Foils
“This look is for the girls who can’t let go of that light blonde hair achieved by heavy foils, but who also want an easy maintenance color,” says salon owner and hairstylist Jamie Park of Elkhart, IL.
This technique of babylights and babylows provide the bright pops of blonde with a little dimension, while the smudge of the root line allows for a flawless and seamless grow out!
Products Park used to create this look include:
Formula 1: Babylights Wella Blondor Powder Lightener with 30vol and Olaplex
Formula 2: Babylows Wella ColorTouch 7/71 (matching her natural base)
Formula 3: Root Base(Smudge) Wella ColorTouch = 7/71 5/71
Formula 4: Glaze Redken ShadesEQ = 09v/07p + 3 drops 09t
“I face-framed with Formula 1 to create the money piece in front at bang area and front hairline using very small woven babylights. After front framing has been done, I used a faded-foil technique from ear to part alternating Formula 1 and 2 in a 2:1 ratio (Blonde:Dark) and repeated on the other side and through the crown area,” she explains.
“Do not pull the lowlight all the way through in the foil,” notes Park. “Only pull it halfway to keep the ends blonde to help create the fine woven balayage with dimension. Keep in mind to take small weaves in the foils. Process for 45 minutes. Once rinsed, apply Formula 3 1/2″-1″ on roots ( tip: do not use an excessive product) and let process for 15 minutes. Rinse and glaze. Keep an eye on the glaze and process to the desired tone of blonde.”
By doing a small smudge of the roots, Park says this will soften the foil lines and allow the hair to grow out seamlessly. “This provides longevity between color appointments and requires very little maintenance. In 8-10 weeks, a fresh smudge and tone would be all that is needed to freshen this look and provide another 6-8 weeks before needing to completely start fresh,” she adds.
Blonde Balayage with Dark Roots
This rooty blonde balayage was created by master hairstylist and colorist Linet Keshishian of Studio City, CA. “Dimension and texture were created via hand painting the balayage,” she notes.
“This is a great look for a woman looking for that sun-kissed look without being in the sun all summer,” says Keshishian. “Since it is a grown-out rooty look, it’s easy to maintain for more than four to six weeks. It is a great look for full, thick hair as color is used to break up the thickness with depth and dimension.”
Blonde Bangs
A blonde look that is modern and a little edgy. It was created by senior stylist Nicole Crews of Vero Beach, FL.
Products are very important to maintain your hair after you leave the salon. To maintain your blonde strands at home, Crews recommends using Davines Alchemic Silver shampoo to help cancel out any brassy tones you may get from washing.
“When going blonde, you should always work with your stylist on the right tone of blonde that best compliments your skin,” she explains. “To find which color works best on your skin tone, I always recommend looking up pictures of celebrities that have the same eye color and skin tone like you.”
Babylights
Consider a rooty blonde with babylights and foilayage through the entire head. It was created by hairstylist and colorist Joanne Hong of Torrance, CA.
“My favorite thing about this look is how low-maintenance it is. When it grows out, the hair will blend in nicely with its natural base and could last up to months if maintained properly,” states Hong.
Hong recommends Moroccan oil on the ends to keep your hair hydrated, and a color-safe shampoo and conditioner to keep the color last.
Any woman can wear this look as long as there is a nice transition from the natural color to blonde.
Butterscotch Blonde
“I love how rich the butterscotch blonde color turned out,” claims salon owner and stylist Stephanie Marroquin of Bethlehem, PA. The color has hints of honey blonde hair tones. “We used Original minerals 8/0&8/1 with 30 vol for the base, then we did babylights all throughout the hair. I then toned with 10/03,” she explains.
Marroquin recommends you discuss the ins and outs with your hairstylist. “Everything takes time if you want it done right! Also when lightening a client, you want to make sure that you and your client are on the same page!”
Haircare is so important, not just at the salon but also at home! Using the right products definitely makes a huge difference with upkeep! “We used original minerals to conquer blonde shampoo and conquer blonde mask,” she adds.
Golden Blonde
A thick, wavy coat of hair deserves only the most luxurious of blondes.
Ashy Blonde
If you love blonde but want to explore more on variations, this ashy blonde tone might be just the color for you. The tan tones work wonders for a flexible look. It is perfect for women with medium skin tones.
Ice White Blonde Hair
This is the ice white/platinum blonde tint that everyone is dying for right now! It was created by hairstylist Destinee Zewiey of Norwell, MA. “My favorite thing about it is the really light pieces that seem to be almost glowing. A lot of people wait until summer to go lighter, but with this look being so icy, it’s perfect for winter as well,” she notes.
Zewiey recommends a purple shampoo to help the tone from turning yellow. “I also recommend a heat protectant and oil because lifting the hair to that level can be extremely damaging. The heat protectant and oil create a barrier on the hair to help prevent breakage from high temperatures,” she explains.
Sandy Blonde
There are all sorts of blonde nowadays. This sandy blonde on the grainier side, more gray and tan tones but equal the beauty.
