Almost everyone has gone through a blonde phase at least once in their life—I know I have. In my humble opinion, the cliché holds true; blonde is, in fact, the most fun (sorry, brunettes and redheads). “Blonde hair has this brightness to it that stands out and feels happy, warm, and full of life,” says celebrity hairstylist Temur Hamilton. “I love the range of tones you can play with and how it can elevate your look. It reminds me of sunshine and summer."
The hair color comes in dozens of iterations, from strawberry and honey blonde to caramel and buttercream blonde. Deciding exactly which shade you want can be tricky; blonde hair can boast white, yellow, red, brown, orange, or even rose gold undertones. Your stylist knows best, so trust their instincts. But to help you come prepared with some inspiration, I've taken the liberty of naming every shade of blonde out there.
Here, celebrity hairstylists Hamilton, Rogerio Cavalcante, and Tiffanie Richards share their favorite shades of blonde and hair coloring techniques, from balayage and highlights to full-on bleach and tone. Keep scrolling for 30 luscious shades of blonde.
How To find The Best Blonde Shade For Your Skin Tone
With so many different shades of blonde out there, it can be hard to figure out which hue will pair best with your skin tone. For those with darker skin or warm undertones, "go for a warm blonde like golden, honey, or caramel," says Hamilton. He adds that olive complexions "look amazing with slightly ashy tones" as they're more inclined to bring out your skin tone's natural glow.
On the other hand, anyone with lighter skin or generally cooler undertones (think: pink, rosy, or blue-ish) usually looks amazing with icy, platinum, or beige blondes, all three stylists share. And if you’re a more neutral tone, you can usually pull off both cool and warm blondes.
That being said, personal style plays a huge role in picking your preferred blonde shade, so go for whatever shade your heart desires. "Some people love contrast, some want something soft and natural," Cavalcante says. "It’s not just about matching, it’s about how you want to feel when you look in the mirror."
How to Maintain Blonde Hair
All three stylists agree: maintaining moisture and strength is the best way to maintain blonde hair at home. To do so, Richards suggests using hair masks instead of regular conditioner. "I usually tell my blondes to look for products that highlight moisture and hydration over color-safe," she explains. "This is because instead of depositing color into the hair, blondes are having pigment pulled out of their hair to get lighter—we’re not looking to hold a color pigment as much as we need to rehydrate."
Adding a little hair oil into your nightly routine can make a huge difference over time, too. "Just a small amount each night can change everything," Cavalcante says. He also warns that purple shampoo isn't always the best. "It’s great for icy, cool blondes, but if your blonde is warmer, purple shampoo can strip away the richness your stylist worked so hard to achieve."
The best way to keep your blonde bright and healthy, though, is to see your stylist for touch-ups. Consistency will "keep the color balanced and prevent banding," says Hamilton. "It can be hard to match the tone once it grows out too much perfectly."
Meet The Experts
Cavalcante says Sydney Sweeney's blonde color is "perfect for those who want to be blonde but want to avoid damage," because it requires just a few well-placed highlights and still delivers a sun-kissed look.
Beyoncé (or should we say Cowboy Carter) may be in her platinum era right now, but she previously rocked a honey bee blonde complete with a golden base and pale highlights. Richards is a huge fan of this "California blonde" color.
While Bridget Pheloung loves to joke that she recently went brunette, she really just added a deeper root to her icy ends. "I love having some depth at the roots because it doesn’t need to be touched up often—twice a year is usually enough," says Cavalcante. He adds, "I like the ends lighter with an icy tone. This look is especially beautiful on wavy hair because the waves enhance the dimension of the color."
Keep it classy like the lovely Halle Berry with some touches of blonde atop a natural root grow-out. Buttery brunette shades entwine with the subtlest blonde for a flattering framing style.
Cavalcante says the golden and caramel highlights and darker base of this look "give this blonde a city girl feel that's more polished and tailored than beach blonde. It’s slightly darker but still glowy and chic."
J-Lo teeters between blonde and brunette with her softly blended dirty blonde strands. The result is a stunning caramel color, and Hamilton says he loves its "sun-kissed warmth."
Sometimes a full bleach is all you need. "A homogeneous blonde with minimal depth adds a dramatic edge," explains Cavalcante. "It makes a statement, especially when paired with red lips and lots of mascara, it really pops."
A subdued, creamy blonde that's also infused with platinum and golden accents? That's cause for a champagne celebration. Richards calls this very light and creamy shade an "oat milk blonde," and considers it one of her favorites.
A perfectly couffed pale yellow blonde will make you feel like the rich wine aunt who owns a villa in Tuscany. Or maybe you're just a big fan of Lady Gaga and her ever-revolving blonde hair (and wigs).
The softest rose pink undertones pair beautifully with this light blonde color—and it's a show stopper on Blackpink's Rosé.
Ciara's mix of butterscotch- and caramel-colored highlights gives new meaning to the phrase "good enough to eat."
Blonde shades can go brassy fast, so make like Kate Hudson and ask for a dye with that already boasts warm golden hues that last.
This dirty blend of light brown and cool blonde complements Gigi Hadid's rosy, summer glow. It's just so beautifully natural looking.
Back in the '90s, Madonna proudly showed off Marilyn Monroe-esque butter blonde curls. "Buttery blonde is my all-time favorite," says Hamilton. "It's bright with golden tones that really catch the light."
Blake Lively takes a darker turn with this burnt spin on classic golden blonde. The shade is subtle, but sure to brighten up your look.
The original blonde bombshell, Marilyn Monroe, would be proud of Anya Taylor-Joy's entire style, from blonde hair to heeled shoe. The Queen's Gambit star might not have been going for a Monroe look, but she achieved it anyway—proving that blondes do have more fun.
Behold: Zoë Kravitz rocking a micro braid and taking it to the next level with a seamless ivory blonde. Uplift your protective style with the icy blonde tone you've probably always wanted.
Emma Stone swapped her signature red hair for this pale-blonde hue that's ever so slightly peach-tinged (peep those subtle blush lowlights).
Margot Robbie's hair has a perfectly smooth gradient of blonde, from honey at the roots to butter at the ends.
Amandla Stenberg proves that brassy blonde is a gorgeous option for a less intense bleach treatment if you're stuck picking between the different tones.
To keep light-blonde shades from washing you out, add in some blush undertones (as seen in Julia Roberts' waves) to give a natural warmth to your face.
The definition of sultry blonde: Laverne Cox's subtle balayage from a natural root to pale ash ends. Upkeep pale blonde hair with the right purple shampoo to avoid brassiness.
Named as such because it resembles flames surrounding the head, fire blonde is a mix of red, orange, and yellowish tones. It also, well, looks fire.
Ashley Olsen's colorist deserves a medal. Her chunky, painterly highlights are striking, yet natural looking.
Neutral colors create a blend between warm and cool shades. This nude blonde color mimics Amanda Seyfried's natural tones, as if she hadn't dyed her hair at all.
One of the coolest hues (literally and figuratively) is Cara Delevingne's take on white-blonde: a platinum white and silver shade that immediately illuminates her face.
Alright, technically this iridescent pearl color walks the "white" line, but it still falls into the blonde category thanks to its mix of platinum blonde, light blue, and purple highlights.
Gwen Stefani's signature bright shade, with definitively warm, almost bronze-y undertones, is the epitome of Old Hollywood glam.
This hue speaks for itself: It's a light blonde that's the perfect shade of platinum without looking unnatural.
See Poppy Delevingne's bright blonde hair? See how it looks like she's standing in a perpetual spotlight? That's the result of clean, mega-white dye, with pale-blonde toner.
