How to Tell Which Shade of Blonde is Best For You (2024)

From strawberry to platinum and everything in between

Most adult women with blonde hair are actually not naturally blonde. As we age, our hair tends to darken to at least a dishwater — or dirty — blonde. The main exception, of course, are some Scandinavian blondes, who start out super blonde as kids and stay some true version of blond until old age.

Yet blonde hair remains the most popular hair color in America. The good news is everyone can look good as a blonde. Find out which shade of blonde would suit you best.

Myth: Only Blonde Kids Make Gorgeous Adult Blondes

For years, the beauty rule of thumb to follow when it came to blonde hair was "if you had blonde hair as a kid, you'll likely look good with blonde hair as an adult."

While it's true that adults who were blonde as kids would look natural as blonde adults, pretty much everyone can look wear blonde hair. That's right. You heard it here first. No matter your skin color or hair color, you can go blonde. The secret lies in finding the perfect shade of blonde.

Your Skin & Eye Color Matters

While most women will look good in some shade of blond, not every woman will look like a natural blonde. Kim Kardashian, for example, has gone blonde a few times, but you'd never wonder to yourself, "Is she naturally blond?"

If you have fair skin that burns easily, and blue or green eyes, you'll look like a natural blonde with blonde hair. If your skin has yellow undertones, you may look jaundiced or washed out with hair that's too light. If you are brunette, we suggest consulting with a stylist before deciding on a shade.

The Jewelry Trick

So, how to find that right shade for your skin color? According to NYC colorist Marie Robinson, everyone should try to go blonde "at least once." She tells the websiteYou Beautythat the best way to determine your correct shade is to consider the jewelry you wear:

"If cool tones or silver jewelry work on your skin then keep tones cool. If you wear yellow gold and warmer colors that are autumnal, stick to warmer blondes. If you have dark or olive skin, very light hair can be sexy and dramatic. However, leave your natural root or have a colorist create the natural root in your hair to keep your skin looking good."

Try on a Wig

One way to tell what shade of blonde works best on you is to go to a wig shop and try on several blonde ones.

Is Your Hair in Decent Shape?

Going from dark to blond is no small feat. In fact, it may take several trips to the salon to perfect considering first you have to bleach out the dark hair before coloring the hair blonde.

Double processing can be damaging to hair. If your hair has already been colored or straightened, you risk damaging your hair even further by going blonde. You may actually have to cut off your colored hair and start from scratch, says Meg Sanchez Hartigan, who colors Marie Robinson's hair.

Hartigan tells You Beauty, "Bleaching out your hair can be a damaging process; the texture of it will permanently change until your natural grows out. It is A LOT of maintenance, but if you're dedicated to taking care of it, it will be a head-turner."

Are You Willing to Invest the Time to Maintain Your Blonde Color?

If you have naturally dark hair, keep in mind that blonde hair will be high maintenance for you.

Women with dark hair may have to endure a few visits to the salon before their hair turns the perfect shade of blonde. Because hair must endure bleach and toner, going blonde when you're a true brunette is a multi-step process that may take a couple of visits to the salon.

"If you go too light, too fast, your hair can get dry and damaged, which isn't pretty regardless of your hair color," says colorist Eric Muroski in Glamour Magazine. "You may need several visits to the salon to get the shade you're looking for. So be patient, heed your colorist's advice, and move at the pace they recommend."

And once you go blonde, your roots will grow in dark, which could look tacky next to your blonde hair, so make sure you're committed to the hair color before you make the plunge to blonde.

Should You Do It Yourself?

At-home hair coloring is for people who simply want to go a couple shades lighter or darker or to cover gray. Anything more complicated than that should be handled by a pro. So if you're a dirty blonde, you can probably do it yourself. If you're a brunette, we suggest otherwise.

How to Tell Which Shade of Blonde is Best For You (2024)

FAQs

How do I know what shade of blonde is right for me? ›

The key to picking the right blonde hair color is matching it to your skin tone. A warm blonde shade, like golden or honey, suits warm-toned skin, while cooler tones like ash or dirty blonde go better with cool-toned skin.

What is the most flattering shade of blonde? ›

Golden blonde is universally flattering—adding a low-maintenance bronze warmth to any skin tone. If you want a hue that's even more low-maintenance, opt for golden highlights.

What color blonde should I ask for? ›

If you like blondes that have icy, gray, ashy, or pearl tones to them, that means you prefer a cool toned blonde. If your skin tone has more pink, blue or red undertones cooler blondes will look best on you! When asking for a "cool" toned blonde, tell your stylist that you like your color to be more on the ashier side.

Should I be a cool or warm blonde? ›

The easiest way to determine which blonde is most flattering for you is to consider your skin tone. As a general rule, you want a little bit of contrast, meaning those golden, warm tones are great for those with paler skin, while darker, olive skin tones look good with cooler blonde hair.

How do you know what you'll look like blonde? ›

The best way to know what will you look like with blonde hair is with a blonde hair color filter app. YouCam Makeup is the best app to virtually try-on blonde hair color filters, with multiple options, precise and free.

Does platinum blonde look good on everyone? ›

Choosing a Shade: "All skin tones can look great with the correct platinum," says Bryant. " I think most people assume platinum means only white blonde. It actually means the lightest blonde (or past a level 10 or 11) — but a platinum can still have some warmth to it or a pinky hue and still be considered a platinum.

What shade of blonde makes you look younger? ›

Champagne Blonde

The smooth-as-butter color adds a young softness to your face as well, which perfectly counteracts the way that aging makes us lose fullness and fat in our facial features.

What blondes make you look younger? ›

Warm Honey Blonde

Lighter hair color makes you look younger – but the tone you go for is paramount. If your skin has warm undertones, stay away from cool, ashy tones, and add some warmth to your look with golden highlights. Go for shades like honey to give your complexion a healthy, youthful glow!

What hair color makes you look the skinniest? ›

"Dark colors recede and make your face seem slimmer," he says. The ombre trick works best with deeper brunette shades, so consider dyeing your hair darker if it's naturally light, he adds.

How to tell your hairdresser you don t like your hair color? ›

Tell your colorist in a calm way that you are unhappy with how the look turned out, and he or she will be understanding,” Hazan says. Try to explain exactly what you don't like about the color. Is it too dark all over? Is the tone of the color too warm or too cool?

Is all over blonde better than highlights? ›

All-over blonde can be a great option for those who are looking for a dramatic change in their hair colour and a low-maintenance look, while highlights can add dimension and depth to the hair without being as damaging or high-maintenance.

What is the most attractive hair color for? ›

Most Attractive Hair Colour According to Men

According to the survey, the majority of men (42%) found blonde hair to be the most attractive. This was followed by brunette (36%), red (16%), black (5%), and gray (1%).

Should I go ash or golden blonde? ›

1. If you are looking for a warm, Natural looking hue, stick to the Natural and Golden Colours. 2. If you are looking for a sleek, cool hue, choose an Ash or Beige Colour.

Does blonde hair make you look more attractive? ›

In terms of both male and female preferences, blonde was considered the next best choice after brunette hair. According to the study, 27 percent of males chose the blonde photo of the woman to be the most attractive, while 23 precent of women similarly preferred the blonde hair.

What is the difference between a warm blonde and a cool blonde? ›

The difference is that cool blondes are most often dominated by anti red tones, whereas warm blondes are controlled by brighter tones. Do you have hair that has yellow or brassy undertones? We would suggest applying a cool blonde that has shades of mauve or ash. It will create beautiful shades of gray and violet-lilac.

What does a dirty blonde look like? ›

Dirty blonde hair is a darker shade of blonde with a blend of wheat blonde, medium blonde and brown tones. Unlike bright blonde shades, like icy blonde and platinum, it's less yellow or white and more brown or tan which makes it much easier to maintain if you have a darker base color.

Can I pull off blonde hair? ›

Let's start by saying this: everyone can go blonde (yes, even YOU can pull it off). But the key is finding the right tone for your skin color. Dreaming of yourself with the platinum strands of Gwen Stefani is all well and good, but you need to bring your personal complexion into consideration.

What does cream blonde look like? ›

Cream blonde is a light blonde hue with strands of buttery, yellow-toned blonde blended throughout for a final look that incorporates notes of cool and warm. To achieve the look, your colorist will use bleach to lift the color from your hair before applying a cream blonde hue.

Does platinum blonde hair age you? ›

There's a common opinion that platinum blonde and silver hair dye age you, but we don't believe so. If your hair is healthy, shiny and matches your skin tone, any hair colour will make you look fresh. Just remember to bleach your hair safely and have an appropriate aftercare.

What are the risks of going platinum blonde? ›

"Anytime you lift or lighten hair, especially to platinum, there is risk of damage and dryness," says Rick. Even if your colorist uses the safest hair dye (he likes Schwarzkopf Professional Blond Me), there will be some damage to your strands.

What's the difference between icy blonde and platinum? ›

What's the Difference Between Icy Blonde and Platinum? Platinum blonde is a bright blonde hue but it tends to have notes of yellow and overall warmth throughout. Icy blonde hair is ashy and cool-toned, often appearing white or even silver in color.

Should you go lighter with hair color as you age? ›

' Basically, as your skin tone lightens with age, so should your hair colour. 'When you first notice white hairs, ask your hairdresser to blend them, and eventually you'll move to a lighter natural colour' explains Ashleigh.

Does bright blonde hair make you look older? ›

Platinum blonde hair color can make women look older than they are because your skin looks matte as the pigment layer on the skin loses its effect as you get older. Platinum blonde hair color both makes your skin look more matte and make you look older.

What age do most blondes go dark? ›

But some children with light hair, including towhead blonds, strawberry blonds, dishwater blonds and redheads, see their hair go dark brown by their 10th birthday. The reason for this change is because the amount of eumelanin in your hair increases as you mature, according to some research.

What hair length makes you look younger? ›

Does short or long hair make you look younger? Long hair can enhance facial features by diverting attention away from wrinkles or age spots and adding volume to your hair. Short hair does not need to age you, though, as the style and texture of shorter hairstyles can add a youthful appearance.

What happens to blonde hair as you age? ›

Blond hair tends to turn darker with age, and many children's blond hair turns light, medium, or dark brown, before or during their adult years.

Why do blondes get darker with age? ›

Changes in age, nutrition, temperature, sun exposure and various other factors can cause our bodies to change the amounts or types of hormones we make. The genes for making melanin might turn on or off over a lifetime, causing your hair color to change.

What hair color makes you prettier? ›

Which hair colour do women think is the sexiest? Most women think brunette hair is the sexiest, as 25% of those polled favoured this option. Womens' second preference is blonde, which was voted as the sexiest hair colour by 19.6% of women. Again, red took third spot, accounting for 11.8% of womens' votes.

Does thinning hair look better lighter or darker? ›

Does thin hair look thicker dark or light? A Paul Edmonds hair salon colourist says, “The lighter the hair the thinner it can look, so adding dimension into it with darker pieces will add depth.” What is the process?

How does blonde hair change your face? ›

Light hair can brighten your face and soften your features but can leave you looking washed out if the wrong tone is chosen. It's also best to consider your features – if you've got naturally bold and dark brows, going platinum blonde will look different on you than on someone with lighter colouring.

What should you not ask your hairdresser? ›

5 things you shouldn't say to your hairdresser
  • Just take an inch off. Your definition of an inch is not the same as your hairdresser's. ...
  • I have never dyed my hair (but there was that time…) ...
  • I cut my own hair. ...
  • I have lots of time to style my hair in the morning (but you really don't) ...
  • I'm running late.
Jun 2, 2016

Why is my hair so nice after the hairdresser? ›

The reason your hair feels silky soft after a visit to the salon isn't pure coincidence; it's because hairdressers are carefully trained to wash and condition hair using a tried-and-tested regime.

What to do if you don't like your hair at the salon? ›

If you have a good relationship with your salon, but aren't 100 percent happy with the outcome, just calmly state your dissatisfaction and ask to revisit your stylist. “The original stylist is the best person to correct their own work until they get it just right,” Cairns said.

Is it more expensive to get highlights or all over color? ›

All-over color is usually cheaper than highlights because it takes less time and work. Highlights also are more likely to damage your hair. Many of the formulas for highlights contain bleach, which dries out your hair.

What is the least damaging highlights? ›

The Benefits of Partial Highlights

Less damage: As you're only highlighting a few sections, you'll likely experience less hair damage. It looks more natural: Because you'll still see your base color, partial highlights look more soft and natural.

Is box dye blonde better than salon? ›

Are salon hair dyes better? Simply put, when it comes to salon color vs. box dye, it's always best to get your hair colored at the salon by a professional. Salon formulas better for your hair, and having a pro colorist apply it also ensures the best results.

What is the hardest hair color to look good? ›

First and foremost, ICY, PLATINUM, GREY OR SILVER is certainly the most difficult hair colour to achieve. This is the most difficult tricky colour on any level. This applies to platinum, icy and white as well as any silvers, greys, or dark slate grey.

What hair length is most attractive? ›

One of the most popular hair chart length options is definitely the shoulder length (12 inch). The main reason why so many women prefer the type is that it borrows the best features from the medium and long mane. Thus, any look you opt for will turn out to be trendy and chic.

What hair do guys find most attractive? ›

When men are asked to rank features they find most attractive on the opposite sex, maintained manes always dominate the list. The truth is that long hair triggers a primal, instinctive response within men. Evolutionarily speaking, long hair serves a purpose.

Does ash blonde make you look younger? ›

The wrong ones, like ash, can instantly age you. “Warm tones reflect light, while ash tones absorb light. Go with warm tones, so your hair won't be dull and will instead shine, bounce, and look youthful,” says Mary Brambila of Brambila Salon. 9.

What level of blonde is ash blonde? ›

level 7

What is the difference between ash blonde and pearl blonde? ›

What's the primary dissimilarities between the two shades? As for pearl blonde, which belongs to the warm tones while ash blonde is the cool tones.

What is the prettiest hair and eye color combination? ›

Top 10 Hair and Eye Colors That Go Best Together
  1. 1 Blond Hair and Blue Eyes. I think it is a beautiful combo! ...
  2. 2 Brown Hair and Light Hazel Eyes. ...
  3. 3 Red Hair and Dark Blue Eyes. ...
  4. 4 Brown Hair and Green Eyes. ...
  5. 5 Blonde Hair Dark Brown Eyes. ...
  6. 6 Black Hair and Purple Eyes. ...
  7. 7 Red Hair and Green Eyes. ...
  8. 8 Brown Hair and Blue Eyes.

Do guys like blonde girls more? ›

The Journal of Social Psychology reports that men find light-haired women more attractive than brunettes.

Why are men attracted to blondes? ›

Piotr Sorokowski set up an experimental study exploring male hair color preference. The results of his research showed males did, generally, rate pictures of blonde hair as “more youthful,” and also maintained a preference for these women with regard to overall attractiveness.

What shade of blonde is Jennifer Aniston? ›

Aniston's signature beachy golden blonde may look effortless, but there's a lot of meticulous, time-honored work that's gone into achieving and maintaining it.

How do I choose a blonde hair color? ›

The key to picking the right blonde hair color is matching it to your skin tone. A warm blonde shade, like golden or honey, suits warm-toned skin, while cooler tones like ash or dirty blonde go better with cool-toned skin.

Does warm blonde make you look younger? ›

Warm Honey Blonde

Lighter hair color makes you look younger – but the tone you go for is paramount. If your skin has warm undertones, stay away from cool, ashy tones, and add some warmth to your look with golden highlights. Go for shades like honey to give your complexion a healthy, youthful glow!

Does blonde hair make you look lighter or darker? ›

It depends on your skin tone. If you are white(/FAIR skinned), then your skin will look lighter with lighter hair. And with dark hair your skin colour will look same as original. But if you are DARK skinned, your skin will look darker and unaturally dull with lighter hair.

What shade of blonde hair for light skin? ›

The Best Blonde Hair Colors For Pale Skin
  • Honey Blonde. If you have a pale complexion with warm undertones, you're going to want a blonde shade that pairs best with the warmth in your skin. ...
  • White. ...
  • Mushroom Blonde. ...
  • Champagne Blonde. ...
  • Cream Blonde. ...
  • Strawberry Blonde. ...
  • Blonde With Copper Highlights. ...
  • Dirty Blonde.

What does level 8 blonde look like? ›

You probably remember this from your cosmetology classes. When hair is at level 9 and 10, this undercoat is pale yellow. But when it is level 8, the undercoat is more of a brassy, orangeish yellow. And of course, when it is darker than that, it's even more brassy, almost copper-orange.

How do I know what color compliments my skin tone? ›

The general rule of thumb is that skin with cool undertones look best with greys, browns, blues, greens and purples. Skin with warm undertones look best with either bright or light colors. And skin with neutral undertones looks great in bold, bright colors.

How do you know if you have a pink or yellow undertone? ›

In a place with bright, natural light, hold up a piece of printer paper and look at how your skin reacts to it. If your skin looks pinkish against the paper, you probably have cooler undertones; if your skin looks yellow against the paper, you're probably a warm tone.

What undertone am i? ›

Flip over your arm and take a look at the inside of your wrist. If your veins appear to have a blue or deep purple tint, you likely have cool skin undertones. If they look more greenish, you likely have warm or olive undertones. If you can't tell one way or the other, you may have neutral undertones.

Does blonde make you look older or younger? ›

Does Blonde Hair Make You Look Younger? It does indeed! Warm blonde tones such as honey, gold, caramel and strawberry blonde can take years off your face. If you are a natural blonde, try a toner that contains moisturising ingredients to make your hair more youthful.

Does ash blonde make you look older? ›

Going ashy.

The wrong ones, like ash, can instantly age you. “Warm tones reflect light, while ash tones absorb light. Go with warm tones, so your hair won't be dull and will instead shine, bounce, and look youthful,” says Mary Brambila of Brambila Salon.

Does lighter blonde hair make you look younger? ›

Lighter hair color makes you look younger – but the tone you go for is paramount. If your skin has warm undertones, stay away from cool, ashy tones, and add some warmth to your look with golden highlights. Go for shades like honey to give your complexion a healthy, youthful glow!

Who can pull off blonde hair? ›

If you have a fair complexion, pink undertones, and light hair you can pull off some of the more daring bleached hair looks because you won't have to go through a long process to lighten up. “Naturally you're going to have lighter hair, so it's not such a shock to the hair,” says Hill.

What is buttery blonde hair color? ›

What Is Buttery Blonde Hair? Buttery blonde hair is a warm, natural-looking blonde hair color. It features a medium blonde base with a mix of both warm and cool-toned blonde highlights resulting in a mane that's full of movement.

Which hair color is lighter 7 or 8? ›

Color Depth of the Base Color
1Black
7Blonde
8Light Blonde
9Very Light Blonde
10Lightest Blonde
5 more rows
Jan 16, 2023

What level shade is my hair? ›

Identifying Your Hair Color Level

If your hair is dark brown or black, you're probably a level 1 to 4. If your hair is medium brown, you're likely a level 5 or 6. If your hair is a darker blonde or light brown, you're probably a level 7 or 8. And, if you have light blonde hair, you're likely a level 9 or 10.

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