From platinum to dark blonde hair, there’s a shade of blonde out there to suit every complexion. But making the choice of what tone is going to look best on you can feel overwhelming when there are what feels like a million options sitting on drugstore shelves. While selecting shades of blonde is a daunting task, it is possible to find just the right fit for your hair and skin tone by taking a few key factors into consideration and a little expert advice. L’Oréal Paris Canada Hair Artist and Expert Brennen Demelo breaks down all the ins and outs of finding the right shade of blonde hair for you and shares what you need to plan for when going blonde. Whether you are lightening up for the first time or looking to amp up your existing blonde hair dye, read on for the 411 on all things blonde.
When sorting out which shade you should dye your hair (for blonde or any other colour), the first thing you should do is determine whether you have a warm or cool skin tone. An easy way to help determine this is by looking at the veins on the inside of your wrist. If your veins are on the blue side, you most likely have a cool skin tone, but if they appear green, you have a warm-based complexion.
Demelo says that ash blonde hair colour looks great on cool, pink-toned skin. Platinum blonde hair and soft shades of baby blonde are two other options that complement cool complexions. Opt for blonde hair colour like L’Oréal Paris Superior Préférence Permanent Hair Colour in PC30 Very Light Pearl Blonde, 110 Very Light Ash Blonde and 17 Dark Ash Blonde. Préférence permanent hair dye provides multi-dimensional colour that lasts for up to eight weeks.
If you have a warm skin tone with yellow undertones, Demelo recommends shades of golden blonde hair. Golden highlights also look great if you want a more natural, sun-kissed style. Watch for key words like “honey” and “caramel”; these warm, sunny shades are going to flatter your complexion. L’Oréal Paris Superior Préférence Permanent Hair Colour in 10 Very Light Blonde, 11 Very Light Beige Blonde and 37 Golden Blonde are a few options to look for at the drugstore if you’re taking a DIY approach.
From ashy shades to dark blonde, now that you’ve got a handle on how to choose a hair colour for your new blonde ’do, there are a few other things to consider before lightening up. “Always take into account the integrity of your hair,” says Demelo. “You never want to jeopardize the quality of your hair for the lightness of your colour.” To avoid overprocessing your strands, make sure your hair is hydrated and healthy before dyeing by using a strengthening hair mask. If you’re scratching your head with questions about how to dye your hair blonde, Demelo recommends using the box of the hair dye as your guide. “The numbers and charts on the box will help determine the pigment in the [dye] letting you know what the colour is.” Choose the shade that is closest to your natural hair colour, but remember that you have to be realistic with your expectations. You won’t be able to lighten your hair colour drastically in one sitting, so if it’s platinum blonde you’re after, it’s going to take a few dye jobs.
