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Blonde hair dye

Blonde is a sought-after hair color for many people, from those who have naturally blonde hair to those who were born with darker tresses. Getting your hair colored blonde or even just getting highlights at the salon can be quite expensive.

Fortunately, going blonde at home is entirely possible thanks to the large variety of hair color lines on the market. A full range of shades, from ash blonde to platinum blonde, are at your disposal.

That said, attaining your desired results requires preparation, careful application and the right products.

What do you need to dye your hair blonde?

Coloring your hair blonde requires more steps and products than going darker. Make sure you have the following products on hand before you get started.

Hydrogen peroxide developer

Contrary to the claims made by companies, many hair color kits can’t significantly lighten your hair on their own. You’ll most likely need to use a good hydrogen peroxide developer to lighten your hair more than one or two shades.

Lightening your hair requires stripping the hair root and shaft of pigments. This process is commonly known as bleaching. Hydrogen peroxide developer lifts the hair cuticle, allowing the color to penetrate the hair shaft deeply. Hydrogen peroxide developer is available in different levels, a measurement that refers to how much hydrogen peroxide they contain.

You must mix the developer with the hair color formula in order to activate it. Always follow the directions provided when mixing these two products.

Toner

Have you ever seen someone who dyed their hair blonde, only to wind up with an unwanted orange or highlighter-yellow color? Unless you want your blonde shade to turn out brassy, using hair toner is imperative. This product neutralizes the brassy undertones that most people’s hair contains.

Apply toner after you rinse out the hair dye, and leave it on for the length of time specified in the product instructions. Keep in mind that while hair color can last 6-8 weeks, toner usually lasts 3-4 weeks. This is the reason why you may notice your hair color turning a bit brassy as the time to freshen the color approaches. Some people avoid this scenario by applying a toner mask between hair coloring sessions in addition to during sessions.

Nourishing hair treatments

The process of bleaching does more damage to your hair than merely coloring it a darker shade. This is due to the bleach stripping the pigments from your tresses. For this reason, you should use nourishing hair treatments like a leave-in conditioner on your hair.

You should still use regular conditioner on a daily basis. Leave-in conditioners are meant for weekly application, as they have the ability to help repair damaged hair as well as prevent damage. They deliver a more intense level of moisturization than daily conditioner.

The best blonde hair dye

Garnier Hair Color Nutrisse Nourishing Creme, 90 Light Natural Blonde, Macadamia: available at Amazon

Among the most popular blond hair dye options, this highly rated line from Garnier is gentle on your tresses. The inclusion of avocado, olive and shea oils deliver nourishment as the formula creates a soft, light natural blonde hue. Color boost technology ensures that the blonde shade will remain rich between coloring sessions.

Garnier Hair Color Nutrisse Ultra Color Maximum Lightening Creme, Mascarpone Creme, Pl2: available at Amazon

If you’re starting with a dark natural hair color or want a distinct look, Mascarpone Creme may fit the bill. The ultra-light platinum shade is part of Garnier’s Ultra Color line, which delivers bold shades. You don’t have to worry about wasting any dye thanks to the non-drip creme.

L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Permanent Hair Color, Extra Light Natural Blonde: available at Amazon

L’Oréal has an established reputation for producing hair color that gives users desired results and the Superior Preference line is one of their gold standards. This formula resists fading, so your extra-light natural blonde will retain its lovely appearance for weeks after coloring. The included Shine Serum boosts the glossy factor.

REVLON Colorsilk Beautiful Color Permanent Hair Color, 60, Dark Ash Blonde: available at Amazon

This bestselling line was developed with salon experts to provide gray coverage that lasts. If you favor multidimensional color without the need to add highlights or lowlights, consider this line. The formula contains Revlon’s 3D Color Gel Technology, which creates multi-dimensional shades that look natural. This dark ash blonde color is perfect for those seeking a more subtle blonde shade.

L’Oréal Paris Feria Multifaceted Permanent Hair Color, Extreme Platinum: available at Amazon

Fashion-forward ladies and gentlemen can get edgy, cutting-edge color with the Feria line from L’Oréal. The brilliant platinum hue obtained by using this particular color will be cool rather than brassy, thanks to the anti-brass conditioner.

Clairol Nice’n Easy Permanent Hair Color, 8, Medium Blonde: available at Amazon

If you want a shade of blonde that’s neither super light nor dark, think about this subtle medium blonde shade from Clairol. The company’s Nice’n Easy line didn’t come by its name by accident. This formula eliminates the need to achieve your desired results in multiple steps, as it highlights and tones your hair in a single step.

L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme Permanent Hair Color, 8.5A, Champagne Blonde: available at Amazon

Champagne blonde is a good option for those who want a soft blonde hue without golden or red tones. L’Oréal created this line with a triple protection system to seal in the color while conditioning hair. It also provides 100% coverage of gray hair.

L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Permanent Hair Color, 9N, Light Natural Blonde: available at Amazon

Specially developed to effectively color gray hair, the layered-tone creme formula infuses the light natural blonde shade with highlights to create a multidimensional finish. Hair roots blend harmoniously into the ends to enhance the natural look. This line is ideal for predominantly gray hair.

Clairol Natural Instincts Semi-Permanent Hair Color, 9 Light Blonde: available at Amazon

This line is natural in more ways than one. The formula is composed of 80% naturally derived ingredients, making it gentle on your tresses. In addition, the color result looks completely natural, making it a great choice for those who want a subtle change.

Softsheen-Carson Dark and Lovely Fade Resist Conditioning Hair Color, Luminous Blonde: available at Amazon

This formula delivers intense nourishment to preserve natural, relaxed, transitioning, wavy, curly and gray hair. Olive, avocado and shea oils moisturize tresses, making them soft and silky. The luminous blonde color lasts up to 8 weeks courtesy of the Fade Resist formula.

Megan Oster is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

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