Everything You Need to Know About Dyeing Your Hair Blonde(r)

What it is: One of the most fashion-forward blonde shades this season. Cara Delevigne’s white-blonde is a cool, platinum and silver shade that makes a statement.

How to get it: “Colouring is very technical, and you have to first consider what your starting point is. What are your underlying naturally-occurring pigments and what will it take to get the colour you want, which may not have those pigments,” points Vallar. This means your hair will require a level of processing to remove the naturally-occurring pigment you don’t want in your desired blonde hair colour. You also have to consider if your hair already has some form of chemical processes (i.e. perm or other dye), and whether that colour was done professionally at a salon or at home. Vallar works on a level system when discussing hair, with one being the darkest (black) and 10 being the lightest blonde (as a point of reference, six is a light brown / dark blonde). Unless your hair is already naturally very light, your colourist will need to lighten it with bleach before dying it. “If you're going from a blonde to an ice blonde, it's much easier to get this look than if your hair is brown or black.” This may take up to 6 months to a year for darker shades, with regular visits to your colourist every six weeks. “Think baby steps,” adds Vallar. The idea is you want to gradually lighten your hair to prevent damage and it burning or breaking off. And if you're curious about what hairstyle to pair with your new blonde look, these are the top summer hair trends that will inspire hair envy.

Care tips: Think: Daenerys Targaryen. Given the level of processing your hair is going through to achieve this colour, your colourist should be using colour with a bond (sometimes called a builder) to help fight breakage. Similarly, you should be using a moisturizing sulphate-free hair mask at least once a week to help fortify your hair because dying it dries it out. Vallar applies her mask before bedtime, washes it out in the morning, and just applies conditioner for a shiny, healthy look. On the flip side, these are the worst things you can do to your hair.

What it is: Gwen Stefani’s signature sunny shade is reminiscent of old Hollywood glam (think Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot or Daryl Hannah at the 1988 Oscars). It has warm hues and is also very light. It is more natural looking than icy blonde, although bleached platinum blonde variation is having a moment too (think Zoe Kravitz’s pixie do).

How to get it: This process similarly requires lightening the hair, as few people are naturally this light. Also, if you have pre-existing dyed hair, Vallar dispels the myth that adding new colour automatically overrides the prior shade. Similarly, even with virgin hair, Vallar says, “You’re fighting, chemically, to remove naturally occurring pigment; specifically red, and to a lesser degree orange, even in what looks like brown hair.” You want to allow yellow and gold to come through with the dye for this colour.

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Care tips: If the starting point of your hair is anywhere from light brown to black, your natural red pigment may gradually start to seep through as the dye washes out. Your homecare therefore needs to include a shampoo and conditioner that fight this brassiness, so the hair stays golden rather than orange-hued.

What it is: Ash blonde is slightly more natural-looking than icy blonde, although it too is slightly gray-hued with cool undertones. This fresh shade can also be called a cool platinum and makes features pop in a bold way.

How to get it: The lighter your hair is naturally, the less red and orange pigment it has and the more yellow it makes it easier to achieve this colour. With ashy blonde, you are removing this yellow tint as well, so you have to factor this into the steps you will need to take your hair through to get this look.

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Care tips: To preserve the health of your hair, Vallar recommends that if you’ve already dyed it to avoid putting it through additional stressors such as heat (for example, flat ironing it). “For it to look good - to look healthy - you have to care for it,” says Vallar. This may include trimming off a few inches to give hair a healthier, fresher look, as longer hair may break off anyway, Vallar explains, especially if you are trying to lift it several levels in a shorter amount of time than recommended. (Should the worst happen, and you lose too much length, follow these tricks to help your hair grow faster.) Because red and orange undertones are so strong, your ashy colour will start washing out and the colour will shift to look warm. For this reason, you’ll want to follow with a similar home maintenance procedure as you would for icy and platinum blonde.

What it is: Gisele Bündchen’s breezy tresses are part of her signature effortless beauty, and play up her natural undertones. This is a warmer look that embraces some of the orange and golden hues many already have with darker shades.

How to get it: This look would require select highlighting and lightning to add depth and variety to your locks. Depending on the current state of your hair, it may be an easier look to achieve (read: less time and fewer steps) if you’re, say, naturally a light brown.

Care tips: “Blonde hair especially requires upkeep and home maintenance, so you have to commit to this if you want your hair to look good,” says Vallar. To care for this look between visits, you’ll want to use products that focus on keeping your highlights looking fresh.

What it is: “This is an in-between colour - a level six,” says Vallar. “Some people even think of it as light brown, because the way people perceive colour is so subjective.” This is often the colour clients seek when they ask for balayage or a colour melt look where there is an appearance of darker roots that fade to lighter and lighter the further down to the tips you go.

How to get it: Dark blonde is often a great way for brunettes to lighten their look, to embrace their natural beauty without drastically changing it. It would also mean not having to lift it as many levels at the salon so it may be a healthier option for darker hair. “I typically advise moving no more than three levels either way from your natural shade, for your hair to look best,” says Vallar.

The home maintenance required for dark blonde is similar to other colours, with shampoos and conditioners intended for coloured hair. You don’t want it to be brittle or frizzy, so you will have to condition it.