The summer sun is shining and so are the blondes! While this bright and beautiful shade is becoming a year-round favorite, it’s likely that this time of year is when your clients want to go brighter. From the consultation to the formulation to maintaining the health and vibrancy of the shade, blondes can pose a challenge; however, with the proper knowledge, techniques and plenty of practice, you’ll be on your way to creating a better blonde! To help you on your blonding journey, we reached out to four blonde experts who debunk blonde myths, dive into the latest trends and share everything you need to know to create a beautiful blonde.
Debunking Blonde Myths
Before we even get into consulting, formulating, coloring and maintaining a blonde, let’s break down some common myths about the shade, as there are many!
“One of the biggest myths is that blondes have to be high-maintenance or damaging to the hair. With the right techniques and products, blonde hair can be strong, shiny and manageable,” says Fort Lauderdale, FL-based blonde specialist Olivia Thompson (@omgartistry). “Another misconception is that all blondes look the same; in reality, the right blonde is customized to the client’s skin tone, eye color and lifestyle.”
San Diego, CA-based hairstylist Amber Baranzini (@amburgerofhair) shares that purple shampoo doesn’t actually brighten blonde hair — it darkens it.
“An actual bright blonde has the presence of warmth in a good way. Purple dulls out that good warmth, making your blonde appear darker,” she says.
SalonTREND owner Sherette Fabi-Parker (@sherette.salontrendnewyork) also shares this sentiment.
“I tell my clients to remember that purple shampoo, like toners, is only coating the hair and depositing color every time it is used, which leads to a darker blonde. Instead, they use a detox shampoo that I recommend to them,” she adds. “Very rarely do I ever tone a clients’ hair! I always lift hair to the desired level! This is what keeps their blonde bright from the time they leave my chair to the time they return.”
Current Blonde Hair Trends
Staying up to date on the latest trends is essential. It ensures you’re honing the right techniques and preparing for the styles your clients are likely to request. When it comes to blondes, like other hair colors, clients are interested in glossy, golden and low-maintenance looks that help extend their time between salon appointments and help them achieve healthy, radiant hair.
“Golden-toned blonde is making a huge comeback! I think this is because people are realizing how much more natural and flattering the golden tones are against their skin tones,” Fabi-Parker explains. “I think the white blonde colors are beautiful, but they are definitely going on the back burner for now! People are going toward more low maintenance looks, and the golden blonde is helping people achieve that!”
This is something that Sarah McGinnis (@pincurlsgirl), milk_shake stylist and owner of Pin Curls Salon in Chicago, also echoes.
“More and more blondes are gearing towards the more golden and buttery tones, like our new 10.13 and 10.3 in The Gloss. I’ve also begun to see blondies are going away from the overly cool bases, and they are allowing for more of the natural warmth to shine through,” she says. “As clients want some change, I think brightening their tones, but staying with buttery hues is the way to go. I have also noticed that makeup trends have begun to shift, and this plays a huge role in hair color. Makeup is becoming more dewy and soft, and with that comes softer blondes and more sun-kissed tones.”
Baranzini notes that “Old Money Blonde” has become an increasingly popular request among her clients, largely driven by social media trends. Thompson echoes this sentiment, observing a similar rise in demand.
“Lived-in blondes, high-contrast dimensional blondes and “expensive blonde” tones with soft, buttery reflections are huge right now,” Thompson says. “The rise of ‘Utah curls’ and long, luxe extensions has also influenced more clients to want healthy, blended blondes that grow out seamlessly.”
Blonde Hair Education
If you want to learn more about blonding, the best thing to do is continue your education.
Thompson recommends online education and live classes that break down blonding science and techniques, shadowing other stylists to learn how they formulate and apply color and attending hands-on classes and hair shows to learn new trends and techniques.
Baranzini shares that she received some of her best education from assisting a stylist who inspired her.
“If you’re not in the position to actually assist, reach out to stylists you look up to! Most will do one-on-one shadowing for a fee. Take all the education you can, get models in and practice the techniques,” she adds.
Fabi-Parker also emphasizes the importance of shadowing to get hands-on experience working with hair.
“It’s important to look into internships and shadowing opportunities with a real blonding specialist who works on every level of hair,” she says. “There’s a difference in working with only level 7 and up vs working with every level from 1-10!”
Blonde Consultations
Once it’s time to get your client in the chair to discuss their ideal blonde shade, it’s important to have a thorough consultation.
Thompson shares that she asks her clients key questions, such as how often they want to maintain their hair, what their current hair care routine looks like and if they use hot tools, to determine the best toning, lightening and aftercare plan to implement.
“Understanding a client’s hair history is crucial, especially when dealing with previous color or compromised hair,” she says.
Fabi-Parker explains that she has an in-depth consultation with each of her new clients, where she asks extensive questions to learn the client’s hair history and what products they use.
“When I am doing a consultation with a new blonde client, the first thing I always ask is ‘do you have hard water?’ It is ESSENTIAL to know your clients’ water situation to the best of your ability, whether they are going blonde or not. Certain chemicals and minerals in the water can react badly with color, lightener, developer, etc.,” she notes. “Next, we discuss products! Rarely, if ever, will I lighten someone’s hair if they are not using the products I recommend for at least two weeks. With Amazon, TikTok Shop and influencers, there are many product lines that are not good at all. This can become dangerous with coloring, with us not knowing what ingredients are actually in most products anymore.”
Along with these questions, Baranzini shares that she asks about her blonde clients’ lifestyles.
“This is an important question because you want their hair color to match their lifestyle. If someone is always working out and tying their hair up tight, they probably shouldn’t have platinum blonde hair. It doesn’t fit their lifestyle, it will cause damage to their hair and be hard to maintain,” she says.
McGinnis says she asks for a client’s medication history, sharing that certain medications can live in the hair and have a chemical reaction to color and lightening services. Like all the above artists, she also asks about their lifestyle, hair care routine and their budget for the service.
“I want every single one of my clients to feel beautiful, but I don’t ever want them to feel stressed about the journey we will take to get there,” she adds.
Common Challenges
You cannot perfect any skill overnight. As you learn and grow your skills, it’s almost a guarantee that you will make mistakes that will help you improve how you approach blonding. However, there are challenges that you can anticipate along the way.
“Common challenges people run into, such as breakage, discoloration, etc., are often avoidable with proper planning and an in-depth consultation,” Fabi-Parker explains.
Managing client expectations with what you can realistically offer is another challenge for blonde services, which is why the consultation is crucial in the process.
“I’ve learned from experiences to discuss everything before hand, so they know exactly what to expect. Under-promise and over-deliver always,” Baranzini advises.
If you experience brassiness during a service, Thompson advises using a violet or blue additive to help. If you experience an uneven lift from old hair color or previous damage, she suggests using a wet balayage technique or zone toning to blend any inconsistencies.
Blonde Formulation Tips
Once you’re ready to create a gorgeous blonde, what formulation and application tips should you keep in mind? Our experts agree that saturation is key!
“I always make sure to fully saturate every foil to ensure a bright and even lift,” Fabi-Parker says. “I also do not use the same cookie cutter pattern for every head of hair! Truly customizing your placement based on each client makes such a difference in results!”
Baranzini also emphasizes the importance of an even lift when coloring a blonde client.
“No toner will give you the perfect blonde you’re trying to achieve. It is all in the lift,” she explains. “Taking the extra time during your foiling process will change everything! Take thin sections and saturate properly for maximum even lift. Then, no matter what toner you use, you will achieve the look you’re going for. If the hair isn’t lifted light enough to begin with, no amount of toner will lighten or brighten it.”
Thompson also advises to go low and slow when lifting, using a lower-volume developer for a controlled lift, instead of over-lifting with high developers, to preserve hair integrity. If you want to neutralize unwanted undertones, start with a pre-tone, if needed, before applying your final gloss.
Must-Have Blonde Products
Here, our experts recommend their must-have products to create a beautiful blonde!
- Amber: Truss Professional lighteners, BlancBlond + AirLibre, Framar foils and Big Daddy brushes, Schwarzkopf Vibrance and YSPark Rat Tail Comb
- Olivia: Joico Blonde Life Lightener, Defy Damage Pro Series, Joico Color Balance Purple Shampoo, blow dryer and round brush and toning brushes and foiling combs
- Sherette: Stylecraft X-CELL blow dryer, Mint Tools brushes, clarifying shampoo, deep reconstructing mask and a heat protectant
- Sarah: milk_shake deep detox shampoo, milk_shake integrity collection, milk_shake silver shine collection, milk_shake icy blond shampoo and conditioner and milk_shake lifestyling thermo-protector
Maintaining a Blonde
Once the service is finished, it’s important to communicate to clients the steps they should take to maintain their color at home for continued health and vibrancy.
Fabi-Parker tells her clients to stay away from purple shampoo and never sleep with wet hair.
“Instead of purple shampoo, replace with a detoxing/clarifying shampoo! This will help keep your blonde bright and free of buildup and hard water deposit,” she explains.
McGinnis shares the essential products she recommends clients to help maintain their blondes, saying, “Having a good detox shampoo, like milk_shake Deep Detox, once a week is a great way to keep your blonde vibrant because it will eliminate the harsh minerals that dull your color.”
Thompson advises her clients to wash hair with cool water to limit fading and to use a sulfate-free shampoo to keep hair bright without stripping moisture and a weekly hair mask to keep hair strong and soft.
If a blonde client wants to style their hair, Baranzini recommends limiting hot tool usage.
“The more heat you use, the more damage will occur,” she says. “Heat also causes your toner to fade quicker and cause yellowing.”
If you are going to heat style, a heat protectant is always a must!
Blonde Timeline and Calendar
As your clients leave the salon with the products you’ve recommended, you want to book them for a follow-up appointment to keep them in your chair. When should you tell them to return? Here’s the timetable our experts follow for their clients.
“This depends on the comfort level of your guest. Not everyone wants to be or can afford to be in the salon every six weeks. I have a guest that only comes in twice a year. She likes to be a mega-blonde but can’t come in more than that, so I make sure to give her the smallest of shadow roots with our milk_shake Smoothies semi-permanent color and use a level that is right on point with her natural level. This allows her to have a softer grow-out with as little demarcation as possible,” McGinnis says. “Talking about an appointment schedule will be a huge part of your consultation. Once you know the maintenance level your guest desires, the budget they feel comfortable with and the desired look they want, you can decide what technique would be best and start creating a maintenance timeline.”
“If they are achieving a low maintenance look, I always try and get my low maintenance blondes to come every 10-12 weeks,” Fabi-Parker adds. “Higher maintenance highlights should be no sooner than five weeks. If you have a client getting a bleach out, there should be no longer than four weeks between appointments.”
“For my clientele, I don’t recommend any of my blondies to come sooner than 12 weeks,” Baranzini adds. “I want enough regrowth to comfortably highlight without the risk of overlap! Unless you’re a platinum touch up, of course, no longer than eight weeks!”
Thompson shares the timetable depends on a client’s desired look.
“For platinum and high-lift blondes, every 4-6 weeks for root touch-ups. Balayage and lived-in-blondes can come in every 8-12 weeks, with a toner refresh at six weeks. Dimensional blondes can return to the salon every eight weeks to maintain depth and contrast,” she explains. “Stylists should also recommend regular glossing appointments to keep the blonde vibrant and fresh between full services.”
About Our Blonde Experts
Amber Baranzini (@amburgerofhair) is the owner of Salon Aurora in San Diego, CA. She is also one of the 2024 winners of Beauty Launchpad‘s 25 Under 50K contest.
Olivia Thompson (@omgartistry) is a blonde hair specialist based in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She is a frequent contributor to Beauty Launchpad.
Sarah McGinnis (@pincurlsgirl) is a milk_shake stylist and owner of Pin Curls Salon in Chicago.
Sherette Fabi-Parker (@sherette.salontrendnewyork) is the owner of Salon TREND in Vestal, NY. She is also one of the 2023 winners of Beauty Launchpad‘s 25 Under 50K contest. She recently launched her own haircare line TREND.
