Many people want to lighten up their hair in the summer, but going blonde is notoriously tricky for beginners. The process involves bleaching your hair, so it can be easy to mess up, hard to reverse, and comes with the possibility of being immensely damaging to your hair and scalp. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, many salons have been closed and people have been missing the professional touch of a hairstylist. While it may be tempting to freshen up your look at home, trying to go blonde is a decision best left to the professionals. If your area has salons that are re-opened, going in (with safety precautions in place) for some expert assistance is probably your best bet.
Along with the help of a cosmetologist, there are many things you can do to help your hair on its journey to blonde-ness. Below, read some of the best ways to achieve the blonde look you’ve been craving without damaging your hair.
Along with the help of a cosmetologist, there are many things you can do to help your hair on its journey to blonde-ness. Below, read some of the best ways to achieve the blonde look you’ve been craving without damaging your hair.
Leave it Dirty
Before heading to the salon, many stylists recommend you leave your hair dirty. Oftentimes, the color of your natural hair lifts better when the hair is slightly oily. Additionally, the natural oils of your hair can coat your scalp so the bleach doesn’t burn your skin quite as harshly. Protective measures such as this can make the entire process easier and less painful.
Go Gradually
Going from a darker shade of brown or black to platinum overnight is a recipe for disaster. In order to healthily transition to a lighter blonde, it is often recommended you go gradually, giving your hair and scalp time to rest between lifting sessions.
Smudge the Roots
If you’re new to the blonde lifestyle, your stylist might recommend something called root smudging. This is when a slightly darker shade is left at your roots in order to prevent a harsh grow out line. Consider this method if you’re nervous about frequent salon visits fitting into your routine. It allows you to go slightly longer between coloring sessions.
Consider Your Skin Tone
One of the most important factors when it comes to going blonde is choosing the correct shade for your skin tone. There are cool blonde shades with silver undertones or warm blonde shades with golden undertones. Your cosmetologist can help you determine which shade will be the most flattering for your coloring while still achieving the look you want.
Choose a Haircut That Suits Your Dye Schedule
Haircuts also affect how your blonde dye job will look. If you’re craving a low maintenance blonde journey, stay away from bangs, which will put your roots on full display and exaggerate any dark grown-out sections. Usually, a blonde with bangs will need to bleach their roots more frequently in order to avoid a dark line of growth across the forehead.
Plan for a Lifestyle Adjustment
Even if you go for the smudged root look, your hair care routine is about to drastically change. You’ll have to go for touch-ups and root dyes more frequently, increasing the amount of time and money you’ll be spending in the salon. Additionally, you will have to adjust the products you use to cater to your fresh new locks.
Find a Good, Moisturizing Conditioner
Bleaching your hair can be excessively harsh on your stands and can lead to dryness and breakage. In order to combat these adverse effects, you should ask your stylist about establishing a new, nourishing hair care routine. Find a good, deep conditioner that’s kind to your hair, helping to reverse the damage of bleaching. Ingredients such as coconut oil, argan oil, and jojoba oil can be moisturizing and smoothing. Also, frequent conditioning treatments, leave-in conditioners, and hair masks are going to become your best friends.
Experiment with Purple Shampoo and Toners
Something many people who go blonde for the first time struggle with is brassiness. Brassiness refers to when dyed hair turns slightly yellow or orange-y after heavy bleaching. A purple shampoo and conditioning mask can add in some cool tones to cancel out those overly warm ones. Toning the hair with slightly colored products will extend the life of your dye job.
Consult a Professional
The bleaching process looks different for everyone. A hair professional can help you determine the best route for your exact hair color, texture, and style. Depending on your length, coloring history, and hair health, they can choose the correct strength of bleach to lift your natural color away. If you’re looking for that trendy icy blonde color or just interested in getting some highlights, this job really is best left to the professionals.
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