There are endless shades of blonde hair. The word ‘blonde’ can mean anything from golden-warm to icy-cool, and just when you think you’ve seen every flaxen hue going, another light and luminous blonde trend comes along. Throw techniques like ombre and balayage into the mix, and the blonde hair bracket just keeps growing. But there is a way to make the list less overwhelming: enter Wella’s guide to the best blonde hair ideas.
We’ve rounded up the most popular blondes (all 27 of them) to help you find the perfect hue, whether you’re going for a smooth, buttery finish on a client, or piecey, beachy blonde highlights for yourself.
1. Honey Blonde
Image Credit: @thesalonno.1
There’s only one thing sweeter than honey and that’s these delicious honey blonde highlights. This look features a combination of Blondor + 6% to pre-lighten, plus demi-permanent Color Touch 8/81 + 4% through the mid-lengths and ends. It’s the ultimate in warm-toned blonde shades; a color so sunny and complexion-enhancing that it flatters everyone – whether you wear it all over, or in soft, subtle ribbons.
2. Ice Blonde
Image Credit: @tpla_hairart
If ‘snow queen’ is the aesthetic for you or your client, ice blonde is the coolest hair color around, combining pale platinum tones with a subtle silver, blue or white edge. The key to this look is getting major gloss, so that strands look like they’ve been veiled in a touch of frost. To perfect the look, try lifting hair to a pale yellow hue, then tone with Ilumina Color 10/69 or Koleston Perfect 10/96.
3. Beige Blonde
Image Credit: @jhair_stylist
Proving beige is anything but boring, Wella Digital Ambassador James Earnshaw shows that, when teamed with bountiful curls and Color Touch, this beige blonde is a guaranteed head-turner. You can achieve this timeless shade with chunky Blondorplex highlights, 10/6 + 1.9% to pre-tone, and 9/97 9/16 + 8/03 + 1.9% as a gloss.
4. Ash Blonde
Image Credit: @lisloree.hair
Did you know? Ash blonde is one of the most Googled hair colors around, and we think it has something to do with its flatters-all-skin-tones, ultra-versatile finish. The very definition of cool (in tone and style), it features a moody gray undertone. This means it looks fresh on natural blondes without overwhelming brunettes when applied in fine highlights. Just remember that upkeep is key, so INVIGO Blonde Recharge Cool Blonde Color Refreshing Conditioner is a must to top up those ashen tones.
5. Strawberry Blonde
Image Credit: @stylistin.janina
Verging on copper, strawberry blonde hair is the dreamiest not-quite-red color. In this juicy creation, that perfect balance of tones has been created with Opal-Essence by Illumina Color. In the roots, you have Titanium Rose + Copper Peach +4% – a pinky, peachy combination. Then, in the mid-lengths, you can see a blend of Titanium Rose + Illumina Color 9/43 + 4%.
6. Silver Blonde
Image Credit: @randyvanrijsbergen
Silver hair gets a more wearable edge in a ‘Gram-worthy silver blonde hairdo, which sees platinum hues mixed with gunmetal grays for a seriously multi-tonal mane. Take this trend to the next level by teaming it with the sleekest, straightest styles, made super-glossy thanks to the lightest spritz of our shine-boosting EIMI Glam Mist.
7. Bronde Blonde
Image Credit: @bradthomashair
One part blonde and one part brown, bronde hair is the trending color made covetable by the likes of Gisele Bündchen and Beyoncé. It’s ultra-versatile, helping brunettes try out a slightly lighter look, while giving blondes the option of working a deeper hue without a dramatic switch. For this particular hue, brown locks were lightened using one of our one-step lightening and toning Koleston Perfect Special Blonde shades. The formula? It’s simple: 12/1 + 9%.
8. Platinum Blonde
Image Credit: @gerilynghaisarzadeh
Also known as white blonde, platinum blonde hair is Gwen Stefani’s signature hue. It’s a mesmerizing shade, but it comes with a little extra post-salon maintenance. To keep this shade looking fresh, we always recommend clients use a purple shampoo, like the INVIGO Cool Blonde Color Refreshing Shampoo. Then, as a weekly treat, we suggest they hydrate locks and revive color with the Color Fresh Mask in Pearl Blonde.
9. Golden Blonde
Image Credit: @anne_does_hair
The clue’s in the name. Golden blonde hair has a gleaming, gilded tone that shines from all angles. There’s a hint of yellow, but it’s glowy and flattering rather than dull and brassy. If you’re craving this creation by Wella Master Color Expert Anne, look to tone-enhancing formulas like light-reflective Illumina Color. Some of our favorite golden tones include 8/38, 9/03, and 10/36; three shimmering hues on three different levels of lift.
10. Balayage Blonde
Image Credit: @colormecurls
Chances are, you’ve already got your balayage technique down. This natural-looking process sees freehand highlights swept through the mid-lengths, ends and face-framing layers to lightly brighten. Unlike foilyage (up next), there are typically no foils involved with this look. Simply allow strokes of Blondor Freelights to develop in the open air. The formula’s adhesive mass ensures it stays exactly where you paint it on.
11. Foilyage Blonde
Image Credit: @lafemmesalong
Foilyage isn’t technically a shade of blonde. Rather, it’s a technique that, when teamed with a lightening hair color, will lend a surfer-girl, sun-kissed effect. Combining the painterly approach of balayage with the intensifying powers of foils, it creates bright, randomly-scattered highlights that contrast against the natural base. Create the look with BlondorPlex or, to achieve lift and tone in one, try the Koleston Perfect Special Blonde shades. These dreamy blondes offer up to five levels of lightening.
12. Cream Blonde
Image Credit: @tombadgerhair
With a focus on texture over color, cream blonde is smooth, silky and Scandi-inspired. It sits close to a platinum blonde, but falls just shy of its bright, white finish. If you’re as hooked on this hue as we are, try Tom Badger’s creamy formula. First, he pre-lightened locks with Blondor Soft Blonde Cream + 4%. Then he toned hair for 15 minutes with Koleston Perfect 10/16.
13. Caramel Blonde
Image Credit: @miguel_estelrich
Think of this as the blonde equivalent to chocolate brown hair. Caramel blonde is just as rich, lustrous and shiny, plus it boasts a sun-touched finish that makes skin appear radiant. The secret lies in the glaze after the lightener. Choosing neutral or warm shades on the depth of an 8 – such as 8/97 or 8/38 – lends clients’ subtle highlights a liquid caramel finish.
14. Dark Blonde
Image Credit: @_alexandracolhair
If you’re wondering what the difference is between dark blonde, light brown and bronde hair, just know that dark blonde falls somewhere in the middle when it comes to lightness. Featuring more blonde than the average bronde, the highlights are less platinum and more dark caramel, balanced out with a few brown lowlights for added depth. Some of our go-tos for this look include Color Touch 6/0, Koleston Perfect 7/0 and Illumina Color 7/18.
15. Dirty Blonde
Image Credit: @badwolfstudio
Blondes with a lived-in look are often described as dirty blonde. They follow the same tone as dark blonde, but with a bolder contrast between golden highlights and dark lowlights. Consider this the go-to for festival season if you’re all about working boho waves, as the two-toned effect and tousled texture complement each other perfectly. As for formulas, try adding level 7 highlights to a medium brown base, then tone with Koleston Perfect 7/17, Color Touch 7/73 or Illumina Color 7/3.
16. Babylights Blonde
Image Credit: @folksiiri
For soft and seamless highlights, babylights are your micro-fine solution, giving the wearer a flawlessly-blended finish – no matter what shade of blonde they choose. Maintain these shine-boosting ribbons with a little extra gloss, courtesy of a color-kind care ritual. Recommend clients go home with the ColorMotion+ Color Protection Shampoo and ColorMotion+ Moisturizing Color Reflection Conditioner.
17. Vanilla Blonde
Image Credit: @lift_lob_love
Who doesn’t love vanilla? This ice cream-like blonde is almost ash, but with brighter streams of frosted color that are totally irresistible to bleach lovers. For pale hair that’s also multi-tonal, go for a combination of lightening with Blondor, then add the subtle tones with Color Touch, mixed with our bond-strengthening treatment, WellaPlex.
18. Champagne Blonde
Image Credit: @queen_of_all_things_colour
Pink fizz, anyone? Champagne blonde centres around light locks with a pale blush or peachy tint, as soft and subtle as the color of your favorite bottle of bubbly. If you’re trying this look for yourself, make sure you use red-enhancing hair care – not blonde-boosters – such as INVIGO Color Recharge Red Conditioner. It deposits a small amount of pigment with every wash.
19. Butter Blonde
Image Credit: @topknotbalayage
When you hear the word ‘blonde’, this is probably what you think of: a creamy, buttery, glossy mane that’s so pure and polished, it could only be described as ‘blonde hair goals’. Anyone trying this shade should add INVIGO Blonde Recharge Warm Blonde Color Refreshing Conditioner to their kit, as it eliminates brassiness while keeping highlights soft and sunny.
20. Blonde Ombre
Image Credit: @konstantinos_hair
Whether long or short, blonde ombre hair has transcended trends to become a timeless look. That soft gradient from dark roots to light ends gives locks a beautifully-blended, summery finish. We’re hooked on Konstantinos’ ombre creation, which sees mid-lengths and ends set aglow with Color Touch. The formula? A bright blonde blend of 9/16 + 10/01.
21. Beachy Blonde
Image Credit: @gleitonpedrostudio
Piecey blonde highlights are the hallmark of beachy blonde hair. That’s why, when we spotted these sandy blonde ribbons weaved through defined coils, we got instant surfer-girl vibes. Created with our Illuminage technique – which combines root shading with sun-kissed painting – these curls were perfected using Koleston Perfect. Try the shade 9/1 to recreate this cool-toned hue.
22. Cream Soda Blonde
Image Credit: @kathapfrang
Cream soda color combines beige-brown and blonde hair tones, resulting in a warm, creamy hue. But how do you reach a creation as multi-tonal as this? The trick is to leave a little dark root on show (or add it in with a stroke of color), before painting hair with two lightening formulas in alternating ribbons: Blondor Powder + Color Touch Emulsion and Blondor Freelights + 12%. Once lengths have been rinsed and neutralized, tone using Illumina Color 10/36 + 8/69. Soon, your client’s hair will be fizzing with a spectrum of shimmering blondes.
23. Golden Toffee
Image Credit: @hairby_morgan
Swathe rich, radiant toffee tones through a brunette base to achieve this golden shade. Start by adding a root shadow, using Color Touch 6/47 through the crown area. Meanwhile, on mid-lengths and ends, smooth 7/73, then process under heat for 15 minutes. Once the color has developed, emulsify for a further five minutes. Locks will gleam and glow with every move.
24. Blonde Chunky Highlights
Image Credit: @jmc.hair
Chunky highlights are back. Embrace this nineties throwback with generous blonde ribbons through a brunette base, as seen in this creation by Jesica Mesa. Here, she’s shaded the roots with Color Touch 6/0 + 7/71 + 1.9%, then applied 8/3 + 9/01 with 1.9% over the top of Blondor-ed ‘lights.
25. Brown Blonde Balayage
Image Credit: @hairbyparisleanne
One of the hottest 2020 blonde hair color trends has worked its way into 2021. It's time for blonde balayage to take a back seat and prepare to be getting a lot of requests for brown blonde balayage this year. After 12 months of intermittent lockdowns, many clients will be looking for low-maintenance color techniques. And, as far as low-maintenance goes, this brown to blonde look is right up there. Just make sure that, if you’re creating it, you opt for brown and blonde hues in the same tonal direction. Case in point: the look above, which features ash brown roots against ash blonde lengths.
26. Twilighting
Image Credit: @dienisouza
You’ve heard of sun-kissed hair, but what about moonlit locks? That’s the inspiration behind twilighting; a color technique that involves painting bright blonde pieces through a brunette base. Glittering and golden, they play on light, contrast and texture in the mid-lengths and face-framing layers. Try lifting sections with Blondor Freelights first, then tone with Illumina Color 8/ + 8/37 + 7/35 + 9/03.
27. Blonde Moneypiece
Image Credit: @igorkhonin
Face-framing highlights – aka moneypiece highlights – bring blonde’s glow-boosting powers to the front of the face. It’s the perfect technique for clients who crave a little shimmer to enhance their skin. Focus Blondor Freelights through the front section, add balayage to mid-lengths and ends, then make like Igor Khonin and tone lightened hair using Illumina Color 9/7 + 9/43.
How to Maintain Blonde Hair
While blonde is one of the most covetable hair colors around, it’s also the hardest to keep healthy-looking and bright. To neutralize brassy tones, it’s crucial to commit to blonde hair care at home. Help your clients by recommending products that enhance the shade and condition of their locks, so they can enjoy salon-fresh, luminous color for longer. Here are their go-to heroes…
1. Fusion for Moisture
Healthy hair is shiny hair. That’s why we suggest introducing the Fusion collection to your client’s blonde care routine, as it works deep down to repair and recover the hair fiber. The Intense Repair Shampoo will protect lightened and colored locks from hair breakage, while the Intense Repair Mask will leave mid-lengths and ends feeling soft, nourished and more manageable.
2. INVIGO Cool Blonde for Balance
Most blondes need a purple shampoo in their kit. Suggest INVIGO Cool Blonde Color Refreshing Shampoo, which offers a hint of a violet tint to neutralize brassy tones and refresh their hue. All your client has to do is lather up in the shower whenever hair starts to look dull, then leave it on for five minutes and rinse. They can follow with the Fusion Mask for moisture.
3. Thermal Image for Protection
Because heat is one of the key culprits of brassy hair, EIMI Thermal Image is a must. It protects locks from heat up to 220°C, and creates a frizz-free, shiny finish. Suggest clients mist it through from root to tip before blow-drying or tonging strands.
4. Glam Mist for Shine
The finishing touch that every blonde needs is EIMI Glam Mist. Sprayed directly onto just-styled hair, it gives their lightened locks a hint of shimmer that lasts until the next wash.
Looking for more blonde hair looks? To break the shades down further, discover our round-up of the best warm-toned blonde hair ideas and cool-toned blonde hair colors. You can find endless hair trend inspiration on the @WellaHair Instagram.
