Almost everyone has gone through a blonde phase at least once in their life—I know I have. In my humble opinion, the cliché holds true; blonde is, in fact, the most fun (sorry, brunettes and redheads). “Blonde hair has this brightness to it that stands out and feels happy, warm, and full of life,” says celebrity hairstylist Temur Hamilton. “I love the range of tones you can play with and how it can elevate your look. It reminds me of sunshine and summer."
The hair color comes in dozens of iterations, from strawberry and honey blonde to caramel and buttercream blonde. Deciding exactly which shade you want can be tricky; blonde hair can boast white, yellow, red, brown, orange, or even rose gold undertones. Your stylist knows best, so trust their instincts. But to help you come prepared with some inspiration, I've taken the liberty of naming every shade of blonde out there.
Here, celebrity hairstylists Hamilton, Rogerio Cavalcante, and Tiffanie Richards share their favorite shades of blonde and hair coloring techniques, from balayage and highlights to full-on bleach and tone. Keep scrolling for 30 luscious shades of blonde.
How To find The Best Blonde Shade For Your Skin Tone
With so many different shades of blonde out there, it can be hard to figure out which hue will pair best with your skin tone. For those with darker skin or warm undertones, "go for a warm blonde like golden, honey, or caramel," says Hamilton. He adds that olive complexions "look amazing with slightly ashy tones" as they're more inclined to bring out your skin tone's natural glow.
On the other hand, anyone with lighter skin or generally cooler undertones (think: pink, rosy, or blue-ish) usually looks amazing with icy, platinum, or beige blondes, all three stylists share. And if you’re a more neutral tone, you can usually pull off both cool and warm blondes.
That being said, personal style plays a huge role in picking your preferred blonde shade, so go for whatever shade your heart desires. "Some people love contrast, some want something soft and natural," Cavalcante says. "It’s not just about matching, it’s about how you want to feel when you look in the mirror."
How to Maintain Blonde Hair
All three stylists agree: maintaining moisture and strength is the best way to maintain blonde hair at home. To do so, Richards suggests using hair masks instead of regular conditioner. "I usually tell my blondes to look for products that highlight moisture and hydration over color-safe," she explains. "This is because instead of depositing color into the hair, blondes are having pigment pulled out of their hair to get lighter—we’re not looking to hold a color pigment as much as we need to rehydrate."
Adding a little hair oil into your nightly routine can make a huge difference over time, too. "Just a small amount each night can change everything," Cavalcante says. He also warns that purple shampoo isn't always the best. "It’s great for icy, cool blondes, but if your blonde is warmer, purple shampoo can strip away the richness your stylist worked so hard to achieve."
The best way to keep your blonde bright and healthy, though, is to see your stylist for touch-ups. Consistency will "keep the color balanced and prevent banding," says Hamilton. "It can be hard to match the tone once it grows out too much perfectly."
Meet The Experts
With a passion for hairstyling, Temur, owner of TEMUR Salon, carved out a space in the highly competitive world of beauty, devoting the last 14 years to perfecting his craft. He's worked closely with legendary stylist Sally Hershberger, refining his skills under her expert guidance and has collaborated with some of New York’s leading hair colorists to expand his expertise and artistry.
Originally from Brazil, Rogerio moved to NYC over 15 years ago and quickly made a name for himself as a master colorist and dry-cut expert. Specializing in natural highlights and balayage, he has also perfected the art of the blunt cut—his personal favorite.
Three years ago, Rogerio founded The Second Floor Salon with a vision: to create a chic, private, and relaxing escape from the hustle of the city, where clients could truly unwind while getting their hair done. Now, he’s taking his expertise even further by launching his own haircare line—coming soon!
With over 20 years of experience, Tiffanie has made a name for herself as a blonde specialist. Based in New York City, she believes in a “less is more” approach to color, always putting hair health first. Tiffanie's work has been seen on several celebrities such as Carrie Coon.
Dark Blonde with Subtle Face Framing
Cavalcante says Sydney Sweeney's blonde color is "perfect for those who want to be blonde but want to avoid damage," because it requires just a few well-placed highlights and still delivers a sun-kissed look.
Icy Ends
While Bridget Pheloung loves to joke that she recently went brunette, she really just added a deeper root to her icy ends. "I love having some depth at the roots because it doesn’t need to be touched up often—twice a year is usually enough," says Cavalcante. He adds, "I like the ends lighter with an icy tone. This look is especially beautiful on wavy hair because the waves enhance the dimension of the color."
Barely There Blonde
Keep it classy like the lovely Halle Berry with some touches of blonde atop a natural root grow-out. Buttery brunette shades entwine with the subtlest blonde for a flattering framing style.
Shadow-Rooted Rosy Blonde
The softest rose pink undertones pair beautifully with this light blonde color—and it's a show stopper on Blackpink's Rosé.
Bleached Goddess Micro Braids
Behold: Zoë Kravitz rocking a micro braid and taking it to the next level with a seamless ivory blonde. Uplift your protective style with the icy blonde tone you've probably always wanted.
Peach-y Blonde
Emma Stone swapped her signature red hair for this pale-blonde hue that's ever so slightly peach-tinged (peep those subtle blush lowlights).
Dark Rooted Beige Balayage
The definition of sultry blonde: Laverne Cox's subtle balayage from a natural root to pale ash ends. Upkeep pale blonde hair with the right purple shampoo to avoid brassiness.
Silver Fox
One of the coolest hues (literally and figuratively) is Cara Delevingne's take on white-blonde: a platinum white and silver shade that immediately illuminates her face.
