Bronde, ash, honey? Choosing your shade of blonde is a minefield, but navigate it correctly, and you’ll save time and dollar. There’s a lot of choice, so we’ve narrowed it down to the best shades in the bunch, a blonde dictionary, if you like. Godspeed future blondes, here’s your guide to the varying tones, and what to ask for to get ‘em.
By Rachel Spedding
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1 Honey blonde
Like you’ve just got back from your holidays, all the damn time. Honey blonde is the classic ‘sunkissed’ shade (otherwise known as ‘baby blonde’). Best achieved with a mix of highlights and lowlights in varying shades of golden blonde. These butterscotch tresses are sure to suit every skin tone.
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2 Ash blonde
A darker shade of blonde, with a silver undertone, this one’s great if you’re set on hiding the greys. Much cooler-toned, you’ll reach this shade with ease if your natural colour is lighter. How’s it done? The stylist will lift your colour to a white-blonde hue, then use an ash-tinted toner.
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3 Platinum blonde
Bend the knee to the lightest shade of blonde, and go ‘platinum’ (Khaleesi style). Your hair will be bleached to strip the pigment, so ask for Olaplex to look after those locks. Sure, the shade will take some maintaining, but we’re happy to spend an extra ten mins toning in the bath. Introduce yourself to purple shampoo, you’re about to be close friends.
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4 Strawberry blonde
Not quite red, but not full blonde, you’re a lucky duck if you’re born with hair this shade. To fake it, the stylist will apply a copper base, then run through golden blonde to lift the colour. The two will mix like a strawberry cream dream. If you’re naturally red, ask for subtle blonde highlights for a perfect peachy hue.
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5 Bronde
Brunette meets blonde, ta-da, bronde. This one really comes down to technique, so don’t risk it at home. Ask your stylist for a dark blonde base with buttery balayage highlights. If your end hair goal is to go full-blown blonde, try bronde first, it’ll ease you in (and look mighty-fine ‘til you’re ready to brave the bleach).
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6 Caramel blonde
Sandy blonde layered over a darker base. If the spring season is inspiring a salon trip, this is the colour to go for. A soft ombre is the perfect style match for this shade of warm blonde-brown. Style with rough, textured waves. Marissa Cooper, this is your legacy.
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7 Rose gold blonde
Soft pastel pink is easy to wear, promise. The key to avoiding Frenchie-from-Grease is in the blending, so ask for a dusty pink rinse, or just show your stylist this picture. Who would not want this. To keep your pink looking perky, avoid conditioners and shampoos that contain sulfates (they can strip the colour). FYI, rose gold blonde looks ah-mazing with a pixie cut.
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8 Dirty blonde
The modern-day mousey, or ‘dishwater blonde’ (yep, really). A dark blonde shade, cool in tone, this colour was made for the low-maintenance amongst us. It’s creeping close to brown, but, yep, still blonde. If your hair is naturally warm in tone, your stylist will need to strip the natural pigment from first, so two salon trips may be required. Dry shampoo is all the styling this shade needs – yes to three-day hair.
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