Step out from the shade: Expert advice on finding the right blonde to suit you

Everyone can embrace a golden touch — you just need to find the right blend for you. Katie Wright gets the experts’ advice on how to realise your blonde ambition.          

From icy white to honey-hued, there are endless blonde shades to choose from, so how do you find the one that’s right for you?

“Colour consultation has really moved on from traditional guidelines, so it’s a bit of a myth that someone with, for instance, pale skin and blue eyes should be one type of blonde, compared to someone with darker skin and brown eyes” says Christel Lundqvist, Founder of STIL Salon (www.stil-salon.com).

“Colour is bespoke to every individual, taking into account their personal fashion style and lifestyle as well.”

That said, there are still some guidelines colourists agree you should follow before hitting the bottle (or the salon).

From selecting a shade to maintaining your mane, these are the pros’ top five tips for achieving Goldilocked perfection..

1. MATCH YOUR SKIN TONE

“When deciding which kind of blonde would best work for a client, I like to first identify their skin tone,” says Danielle Llewellyn, hair ambassador for eSalon.

“Skin tones generally fall into two categories, warm or cool. Warm skin has yellow, golden, or peach undertones, while cool skin tones look pink, blue, or beige. With hair colour, you’ll find the most flattering effect when you complement it with tones opposite of your skin tone.

"For example, if you have warm skin, try cool blonde colours containing violet, blue, or neutral tones. For cool skin, try blondes containing golden or red tones.”

2. LOOK BEFORE YOU BLEACH

“Look around at other people that have similar hair colour, skin colour, and eye colour to you, as a reference for what you think will suit you,” advises Schwarzkopf LIVE colour ambassador Lyndell Mansfield.

“Most people know what makes them feel good when they wear colour, and generally that is the colour that would suit them best,” says Lundqvist.

“Our clients are very aware what suits them, and it’s rare they’re dead set on shades that wouldn’t be suitable — but, of course, we’re there to guide and steer in the right direction.”

3. ASK THE EXPERTS

“Going from brunette to blonde in one sitting can create unwanted damage and hair breakage,” warns Llewellyn. “If you’re thinking of lifting or lightening hair more than two levels, it may be best to visit a salon, so your hair can be cared for under the watchful eye of a colourist.”

4. REMEMBER YOUR ROOTS

“If you’re after a look that’s a little more low-key in maintenance, highlights are great, as the re-growth is often softer when it grows out,” says Lundqvist.

“A full head of colour, especially if it’s bright, will often give a more noticeable re-growth line.”

Mansfield says: “If you’re an all-over blonde, then always colour your roots before the hair has grown longer than 1.5cm, to get the best colour result and avoid a visible ‘band’.”

5. LOOK AFTER YOUR LOCKS

“A must for every bottle blonde is a purple toning shampoo to counteract brassiness. Toning shampoos work wonders towards reducing unwanted warm or golden tones,” Llewellyn says.

DYE-IT-YOURSELF WITH ...

• Schwarzkopf LIVE Intense Lightener 00B Max Blonde, €6, Boots (www.boots.ie)
• Bleach London Silver Shampoo, €8.49, Boots (www.boots.ie)
• Nice’n Easy Permanent Colour 9.5 Natural Extra Light Blonde, €8.59, Boots (www.boots.ie)
• L’Oreal Paris Recital Preference Permanent Hair Colour in California, €10.99, Boots (www.boots.ie)

KEEP THAT COLOUR FRESH WITH...

• TIGI Catwalk Fashionista Violet Shampoo, 750ml, €17.45, and Conditioner, 750ml, €21.95 (LookFantastic.com, plus p&p)
• Touch Of Silver Daily Shampoo, €6.15, Tesco (www.tesco.ie)
• Mane ‘n Tail Color Protect Shampoo and Conditioner, €8.99 each, Boots (www.boots.ie)
• Sachajuan Silver Shampoo, €25.60 (www.feelunique.com, plus p&p)