One of the most common questions we get asked at the Ms Monaco hair salon is: ‘which shade of blonde suits me best?’ As blonde hair specialists on the Sunshine Coast, we know that there’s a shade of blonde to suit everyone – whether that be ash, platinum, strawberry blonde or dark blonde hair, we’re here to ensure you get the perfect shade for you.
As well as skin tone, there are a number of other factors to consider for those who are thinking about going blonde. While it may be easy to pick a shade of blonde you love, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the right shade of blonde for you.
To help you on your journey to becoming a beautiful blonde, we’ve gathered our top tips of what you’ll need to consider when turning to the light side.
Determine your skin tone
First things first; you’ll need to identify your skin tone – specifically, whether it’s warm or cool toned. ‘Cool’ is defined by having red, blush or pink undertones. ‘Warm’ is defined by peachy, yellow or
Believe it or not, this is determined by looking at your veins. Blue or purple veins means you have cool undertones, whereas green veins means you have warm undertones. If you have a combination of both, you have a neutral undertone – meaning more choices on shades of blonde.
Another way to determine your skin tone is by tying your hair back and draping a while towel over your neck and shoulders. If your skin looks yellowish, you have warm tones; if your skin tones slightly red, you have cool undertones.
Cool undertones
People with cool undertones generally have fair, light skin with a peach or pinkish hue, and generally find it hard to tan quickly. Eye colours are usually light blue or green.
If you have cool undertones, blonde shades you should consider are:
- Natural shades
- Extra light/platinum blonde
- Ash or cool beige blondes
- Blush blonde
Be sure to avoid blondes with yellow tones, as it will clash with the cool undertones of your skin.
Warm undertones
Someone with warm skin tones tend to have olive, warm or bronzed skin types; however, some with warm skin tones can be pale and still have olive or ruddier undertones. Eye colours are usually brown, hazel, golden brown or green.
If you have cool undertones, blonde shades you should consider are:
- Chocolate blondes
- Golden blondes
- Honey blondes
- Copper and auburn shades
- Chestnut or caramel colours
It’s best to avoid platinum blondes, ash blondes, silver blondes and cool tones if you have warm skin tones.
Determine what sort of maintenance you can handle
As well as finding the right shade of blonde for your skin tone, you’ll need to determine the maintenance behind the colour you’re looking to achieve. For example, if you prefer a low maintenance hair colour, it’s best to opt for a balayage as opposed to a full platinum blonde.
Essentially, changing your hair colour dramatically will require a lot more maintenance than working with your natural shade.
Low maintenance blondes
- Foilyage (Blonde)
- Balayage (Blonde)
- Blonde ombre
- Blondes with a root shadow
Medium to high maintenance blondes
- Platinum blondes
- Icy blondes
- Babylights
The important thing to remember about being blonde is that all blonde shades require some sort of maintenance. As the hair needs to be lightened, it’s vital that the hair is in a healthy condition, both before the colour service and afterwards.
Frequently asked questions about going blonde
What sort of maintenance is involved with being blonde?
To help you maintain the best shade of blonde, you’ll need to invest in a quality purple shampoo and conditioner, as well as a masque for weekly deep conditioning. The purple shampoo and conditioner will help to keep your preferred shade of blonde in-between colour services.
Will it take long to achieve my desired shade of blonde?
This ultimately depends on what your current hair colour. If you’re dreaming of going from a natural blonde to a platinum blonde, this can generally be achieved within one colour session. However, if you have previously coloured and/or dark hair, it may take several colour sessions to get the perfect shade of blonde.
Here at Ms Monaco, we care about the health of your hair, and will create a colour plan with you to ensure your hair remains in optimal health during your journey to becoming blonde.
