Should I go blonde? Everything you need to know before going blonde

Thinking of going lighter this winter but don’t know where to start? Going from brunette to blonde? Behind every sparkling blonde is a talented colourist who has held their hand every step of the way. We picked the brains of renowned local stylist Zoe Clark, Kérastase Expert and Creative Director at INCO Studio, about everything that needs to be considered before taking a trip to flaxen town.

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What do I need to consider before going blonde?

Skin tone is a major. Will warm/cool tones compliment your skin tone or not so much? Involve your stylist. They will be able to guide you as to what would best be suitable for you, your skin tone and lifestyle. It’s great to have images for inspiration, but sometimes what we love doesn’t always suit us. How often you’d like to maintain your colour and your budget allocated for your haircare should be considered. It’s good to know what your hair journey is going to be, so you know how much it will cost you each salon visit, including take home haircare.

What are my options if I don’t want to go the whole way?

If your salon has a modern menu, you’ll be able to opt for a service (like highlights or balayage) to brighten up around your face and enhance cheek or jawlines depending on what will enhance your features. This is a great way to play with going light, before committing.

What does the colouring process entail?

It all depends on your desired result. In some instances, we cannot control how light the hair will go, but we will always aim to get as close as we can to the end goal. In others it can be a three salon visit hair plan - it all depends on the vision. Re-bonding treatments (like Olaplex, Redken pH-Bonder, Joico Defy Damage etc, depending on your salon) are a must and home haircare to nourish your locks is essential.

Does my hair need to be in excellent condition first?

If your hair isn’t on the healthiest side, I would recommend a strand test. All salons will do this. It’s our way of knowing how much your hair can handle.

What kind of commitment will I need to make?

Unfortunately blondes do fade, so product ranges designed especially to benefit those tricky stages in between salon services are ideal for nourishing and keeping your unwanted tones at bay. If you’re a full head of blonde, you’ll be looking at services every 4-6 weeks. If you’re colour is smudged at the roots, it’s more like a service every 8-10 weeks, to maintain your best blonde. To keep your colour fresh and healthy, I’d recommend budgeting haircare at about $50 per week.

Will I need to make changes to my wardrobe and makeup?

Absolutely. You’ll find some tones of your makeup and wardrobe may no longer suit your lighter hair, if it’s outside a neutral colour palette.

Best tips for keeping it looking its best?

- Home haircare is essential. The Kérastase Blonde Absolu collection will keep your colour bright, your hair soft, hydrated and most importantly shiny.

- In salon treatments are extremely beneficial, Fusio-Dose Booster Cicafibre is great to minimise surface damage and repair finer hair.

- If you use an iron or tong to style your hair, a product with heat protection is a must, it’ll help maintain the hydration in your hair.

- If you do decide to start the journey of going blonde, seeing the same stylist is always good for your hair. Stylists know how they placed your colour and can evolve the colour with each service, rather than trying to put a jigsaw together from another stylists work, that is unless everyone in the salon colours the same.

bh loves: Glow Lab Purple Shampoo and Conditioner, $14.99, Essano Tone-Correcting Purple Shampoo, $15.99 Kérastase Blond Absolu range, priced from $48

Who is your favourite celebrity blonde?