My Favorite Blonde!

If you know me, you know how much I enjoy coloring my hair. I believe that regardless of your skin tone, weight or height anyone can pull off blonde. As long as it's the right shade with the correct undertones. My rule is if I am going blonde, I keep it short. The most frustrating thing about going blonde when you are born with such dark hair is keeping the brass away! Brassy blondes are not foxy. 

Shimmer Lights shampoo & conditioner tone down brassy gold and red tones

The number one mistake that many people make when dying their own hair is thinking that the color of the model's hair on the box is what they're going to get in their final results. There are a few things to consider when shopping for products to take dark hair up to a beautiful blonde.

The very first thing to remember is that semi-permanent products cannot lighten the hair! Many people see the blonde model on the front of a box and think that's the shade they will achieve whether it's semi-permanent or not. When shopping for hair coloring products, do not purchase any semi-permanent colors.

Those with hair darker than light brown most likely will not be able to use a permanent hair color to lighten the hair successfully to a beautiful blonde. The reason is that permanent haircolor is only designed to lift a certain amount of pigment from the hair, and then it deposits color. Those with darker hair have more red and gold pigment in the hair than shades light brown or lighter. Permanent color is not strong enough to successfully lift all of the red and gold pigments from dark hair to take it to the necessary yellow or pale yellow level needed for a beautiful shade of blonde. If the hair is dark and a light blonde permanent hair color is purchased thinking it will produce the results of the model's hair color on the box, expect that the hair will be orange and brassy!

Dark brunettes will need to purchase a hair lightener or bleaching product to achieve the proper degree of lightening. Once hair has been lightened to the proper stage, a toner may be applied to achieve a natural looking blonde shade.

Those with hair light brown or lighter should be able to successfully go blonde with a permanent hair coloring product. Be sure to check the box and confirm the darkest starting hair color the particular shade can be applied to. If the hair is darker than that starting color shown on the box, use a lightener to avoid brassiness.

If you are in doubt, go to a professional. There is no reason to walk around with peroxide orange locks. Summer is around the corner, so why not find out if blondes have more fun!