Four things to know before dying your hair blonde

Ever been tempted to say goodbye to your natural hair colour to go a few shades lighter? It’s not uncommon- most people will go through a stage in their lives where they consider going blonde, even if they don’t end up actually doing it. There are, as there always are when it comes to switching up your appearance, some things to consider before your jump straight in the deep end. If you’re considering going blonde soon, we’ve put together a few things to remember before doing so:

Make sure it suits your skin tone

There is no skin tone that doesn’t suit blonde hair full stop, but you should definitely take your skin tone into account when it comes to choosing the shade of blonde to go. Paler skin tones suit ashy shades the most, while warmer skin tones suit the more golden hues.

This is not a time for DIY…

ESPECIALLY if you are going blonde with the aid of bleach, as most people will be. Going blonde is one of those occasions where it’s best to just leave it to the experts. Bleach is a scary thing if you’ve never used it before, and chances are, your hair just won’t look like the colour on the packet once you’ve rinsed the product out. It’s the sad truth. There’s also the potential for your hair to turn some wacky shades, including orange and green, from a botched bleach job.

It may take time- more so if your natural hair is dark

Many people believe the lightening process is a straight-forward, quick-fix, one-time job. Actually, it can take multiple sessions at the hairdressers before you achieve your desired result. If your natural hair is dark, it will not have the ability to lighten to a super-light blonde shade in one session, and it may also not be the best plan in terms of the overall health of your hair. So don’t be surprised if your hairdresser suggests splitting the dying process into several sittings.

You need to look after the finished result

Excess bleaching may cause your strands to weaken, so you should aim to treat your hair to a hair mask within a week of the procedure, to give it some much-needed TLC. You should also use the appropriate shampoos, conditioners and other treatments for blonde hair in order to ensure the longevity of your hair colour, and to keep it looking its best. Your hairdresser will be happy to recommend to you the products he or she thinks is the most appropriate for you.