Blonde hair is a lifestyle. Correction—faux blonde hair, rather. I’m one of those women who had buttery strawberry blonde hair as a kid that turned dishwater blonde in my teens, and while I’d love (in theory) to rock my natural color to save me a few trips to the salon, I just can’t picture myself without my artfully placed highlights. And I’ve tried every shade under the sun—red, dark brunette, a brief dalliance with pink tips in high school. But a neutral, camel coat blonde with a hint of dark roots and brighter strands around my face is my happy place. My colorist, Colleen Flaherty at Spoke & Weal, understands the assignment every time I sit in her chair, especially when I want to tweak the color just a teeny tiny bit. I never walk out with anything less than flawless blonde hair.
Keeping my shade bright is a whole other story. The blonde life is decidedly high-maintenance, especially if you have natural reddish undertones that would happily turn your tone warm and brassy in just a few washes. Plus, everything from heat styling to the excess sun exposure in the summer can impact the delicate blonde color. That means I’ve had to find a color care regimen to maintain my preferred shade between appointments (even if I’m just visiting for a professional hair gloss). Here’s everything I use to keep my signature blonde color looking like I left the salon hours earlier.
Purple Shampoo Is a Must
Purple pigment counteracts yellow—it’s simple color theory—so I reach for a purple shampoo once a week to bring out the brilliance of my highlights and say bye-bye to brassiness.
A longtime beauty editor favorite, this formula is a potent purple to saturate my hair with brightening pigment and provide a thorough cleanse. Just don’t leave it on for too long!
I’ve adored this formula for years, and the price simply can’t be beat. It even brightens my gray power streak around my face for an entirely brass-free finish.
Never Forget Conditioner
Bleaching your hair basically means your strands are constantly dehydrated, so a quality conditioner is a must. Also, purple shampoos are notoriously drying, so I always follow up a wash with a nourishing formula.
My wavy hair drinks up this conditioner eagerly, to the point where I always need to have a backup bottle in stock. I can’t deny my hair its hydration!
If you want ridiculously soft hair and to never feel bad about the amount of conditioner you use (I know I apply a golf ball-size in the shower), I can’t recommend this nourishing formula enough.
Invest in a Hair Gloss
A shine-boosting gloss is particularly beneficial for blondes to keep the shade bright and brilliant. This is ideal for an everything shower day.
When my hair is a little brassy from heat styling, I love to use this gloss to deposit a small bit of color and revive my blonde. It also adds a boost of hydration.
I was shocked by how well this drugstore option worked to tone my blonde and add some healthy shine. It’s now my secret weapon for salon-level toning.
Never Skip Heat Protection
I’m pretty loyal to air drying my hair, but between the occasional blow dry and the sun exposure you experience living in a city, my blonde hair requires daily heat protection to keep the tone consistent.
I adore this formula to detangle, fight frizz, and protect my fragile strands from UV damage and heat styling. The scent is also divine.
This spray is super lightweight, which is essential for my fine hair, and the scent is perfect for summer. I always get compliments when I use this formula.
Make Time for a Mask
When your hair is fried from UV exposure, bleaching, heat styling, and throwing it into a slicked-back bun a little too often, a nourishing and color-correcting mask is a must.
It doesn’t get more cult-classic than this French formula. My blonde color is left looking so shiny and new, you’d never know I’m a few weeks overdue for a touchup.
This toning formula is particularly reparative for wavy, curly, and coily hair. My shower is never without a tub for when my blonde needs a little extra love.
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