How to go blonde for every skin tone

If you’ve been thinking of going blonde, but aren’t sure where to start, you’ve come to the right place.

Recently, Schwarzkopf Professional International Colour Ambassador and Creative Director at The Assembly, took comedian Celeste Barber (who you may recognise from her hilarious celebrity parodies on Instagram) from a classic brunette to ‘born with it’ blonde.

Source: @celestebarber

Here, he shares his tips on how any skin tone can undergo a similar transformation, without any regret.

It’s all part of Schwarzkopf Professional’s very first National BLONDME Week - question is, are you game enough?

Can every skin tone really go blonde?

If you’ve never been blonde before, the idea can be quite daunting. But if your concern is that your skin tone won’t suit lighter highlights, Matt thinks it’s a non-issue. “Every skin tone can go blonde. What matters more is how much blonde is used and the condition of the hair.”

Matt also thinks your haircut plays a big role in how light you should go. “Blunt cuts with texture and regrowth look great with really light, bleached hair.” On the other hand, he says if you like to wear your hair long and beachy, softer hues like honey blonde and caramel blonde look best.

How to go blonde without ruining your hair

To maintain your hair’s integrity, Matt stresses that you must consult a professional - never try dying your hair blonde at home. “Book in with a professional and bring photos of what you like.”

Once you’re booked in with a colourist you trust, Matt suggests using a hair strengthening treatment in the weeks leading up to your colouring. This will prep your hair and help keep it healthy throughout the taxing dye process.

How to protect your new blonde colour

Once you’ve achieved the blonde bombshell ‘do you’ve always dreamed of, there are a few things you should be doing at home on a regular basis to keep the colour bright and prevent damage and breakage.

“Use blonde specific products twice a week,” says Matt, who recommends the Schwarzkopf BLONDME Bond Services home care range. (bh also loves: Fudge Clean Blonde Shampoo and muk Haircare Toning Shampoo to keep brassiness at bay).

He also suggests limiting heat on your hair, whether that’s heat-styling less frequently or turning down the heat on your tools. And for on-going treatment, Matt says the BLONDME Keratin Restore Bonding Mask is a saviour for bottle-blondes and should be used weekly. You can find more of our favourite overnight hair treatments here. /hair/hair-treatments-masks/best-overnight-hair-mask-treatment/redken

Find the right shade of blonde for you:

Now that you’ve got all the tips you need for going blonde, here’s Matt’s quick guide for choosing the right shade of blonde for your skin tone.

Fair: Warm your complexion up with sandy tones and rich creamy hues.

Light: Go for a multi-dimensional dye-job using caramel and honey tones that are softer on the skin.

Tan: Choose a nude-coloured base and add accents of both warm and light tones throughout.

Medium: Haircut is more important for medium and dark skin tones. The contrast between deeper skin tones and blonde is striking enough that most shades of blonde are flattering.

Dark: As with medium skin tones, dark skin tones suit all different shades of blonde. Matt emphasises that regrowth looks particularly chic and edgy with this contrast.

Have you ever been blonde/would you consider going blonde?

46 Member Comments

S-P 22 Feb 2020 9:00 PM

My skin colour (fair) just doesn't suit blonde hair.

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Shop A Everyday 2 Jan 2020 12:49 PM

I really want to try Olaplex this year

Petal 9 Dec 2019 10:21 PM

I used to get blonde highlights in my hair when I was much younger, and they suited me. I don't colour my hair these days.

bebeautiful34 9 Dec 2019 10:13 PM

I bleached my black hair blonde and it was fun having such a different look, but it seemed to wash me out a little. And keeping it toned was hard!

Angage 30 Nov 2019 1:02 PM

No. I don't think it suit for me.

Frenchy1 26 Nov 2019 10:21 PM

I dont feel I suit blonde. Tried on a blonde wig and freaked out. I think it did bring out the pink tones in my very pale skin which made me look flushed.

Hayley644 26 Nov 2019 6:46 PM

Was naturally blonde when I was young and it's now coloured blonde, trying to go a darker shade of blonde but have never been any other colour.

Tee631 25 Nov 2019 7:44 PM

Love the tones

Beautybabe140194 25 Nov 2019 5:38 PM

I am currently blonde but I get balayage so it is more natural and I guess makes me more bronde.

Ulmiss 25 Nov 2019 3:56 PM

Naaaaaay) I guess some skin tones won’t get that super sassy look with going into blonde.

This is so interesting when people are writing “how can I go blonde without damaging my hair?”. The answer is that there’s no other way than to bleach it out. And then start using silicone shampoos and super healing hair care products all the time...

I’m always so curious how gals with thick black hair go into blondes just in one day...it’s so hard for their hair.

Sorry, for being to negative...

CaitMay 25 Nov 2019 2:38 PM

I’m strawberry blonde naturally, but I think I’d look odd going full blonde

Belindarella 26 Nov 2019 11:45 AM

Yep, I'm a redhead too.

Belindarella 25 Nov 2019 10:18 AM

I definitely cannot! I was blonde for a few hours while transitioning colours and I looked awful! So washed out!! Definitely not for everyone.

CaitMay 25 Nov 2019 2:40 PM

Yep! This is exactly what I’d be worried about if I ever died my hair.

Shop A Everyday 22 Nov 2019 11:31 PM

The purple products really keep the hair from going orange

Sally10 22 Nov 2019 4:48 PM

Mine is naturally dark blonde, but I have highlights put in every couple of months.

Candyfairy 22 Nov 2019 3:04 PM

I think you should be able to colour your hair whatever shade you like and if you love it then I think you can pull anything off. I am blonde with naturally very dark roots and enjoy it very much. :)

sootyblack_14 22 Nov 2019 11:36 AM

Great tips and tricks... I guess I'm lucky mine occurs naturally!!! Ha ha!!!

Lisa359 22 Nov 2019 11:35 AM

I've lightened my hair but only because I was dying it purple and wanted it more vibrant, I have heard our skintone lightens with age so maybe it's easier when you are getting older.

Paul481 22 Nov 2019 9:28 AM

this is great I have been colouring my wife's hair for years and have slowly gone from brunette to blonde at it has shaved ten years of her face, as we get older we need to go lighter to soften the lines on our face

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Lisa359 22 Feb 2020 1:47 PM

Very true, dark hair can look very harsh on older women. That's why we go grey :)

Am1851 22 Nov 2019 8:32 AM

Wow, there are so many natural blondes on BH which is great to see. Again, being born blonde and living our younger lives blonde has been a gift, but as we age, even those who were the lightest of blondes will need to use 'help' to maintain that lovely blonde hair as it eventually does fade to a disturbingly drab colour, or shock horror - grey. Finding the right assistance to maintain your blonde is a challenge sometimes but when found, enjoy.

Those who want to join us blondes need really good guidance from an honest hairdresser to get the right shade.

misfortune8 22 Nov 2019 3:40 AM

I went blonde once & my usually very fair skin suddenly looked flushed. I've got blonde streaks at my temples, but I won't go all-over blonde again until my grey regrowth goes more white than brown. Ashy white-blonde would suit me better than warmer tones.

Tee631 22 Nov 2019 12:23 AM

Wow so pretty

ubd2u 21 Nov 2019 11:19 PM

I have dark hair, maybe I should go blond before going grey?

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