Being a very dark brunette, I’ve always admired beautiful blonde hair on others (and secretly wanted to try it, at least once) but I’ve always chickened out. Of course there’s the constant maintenance and expenses, but there’s also that billion dollar question “will it suit me?” Needless to say, going blonde is not a decision I can take lightly (mind the pun!)
IS SHORT HAIR FOR ME? (AND WHAT TO DO ONCE I’VE GOT IT)
To get a better understanding of how to find your own perfect blonde – no matter your hair colour, I sat down with Rebecca Hubbard from the Paul Mitchell Artistic Team for a Blonde Hair 101 Bootcamp.
Image: toppotrait.blogspot.com
Findings:
Contrary to common belief there are no set rules for matching blonde colour shades to natural skin tone or complexion. What works for one fair-haired fashionista may be a hair catastrophe for another.
So instead of trolling the internet for a skin tone colour chart, finding the best blonde for your personal style is as simple as opening your wardrobe.
STEP 1: Remove your base colours
Look at your wardrobe and remove all items in base colours: black, blue and brown. (If you’re in Summer then focus on your summer wardrobe, if you’re in Winter then exclude Summer garments etc)
STEP 2: Review what is left
Step one will leave you with a range of garment colour tones that, as a general rule, suit your complexion best. After all, why would we choose to dress in colours that didn’t highlight our best features?
You should notice whether your wardrobe sways towards either warmer tones (yellows, oranges and reds, pinks) or cooler ones (grey, blue, green and so forth.)
Explains Paul Mitchell Artistic Team member Rebecca Hubbard “Naturally we are drawn to either warm or cool shades in our fashion choices, as ultimately one or the other better enhances our best features. The same applies for hair colour.”
STEP 3: Test out your favourites
Take out two of your favourite coloured garments that you feel highlight your best features and make you look most attractive. Now do the same for those you feel least fabulous in. Do you notice a pattern? Either warmer or cooler tones will make our skin look brighter and fresher.
STEP 4: Match your hair colour
Once you have established which side of the colour spectrum most compliments your features (ie cool or warm) you can easily choose a blonde shade that falls within that zone.
Warm tones = warmer shades of blonde; golden, honey, caramel
Cool tones = cooler shaded of blond; ash, platinum
Some blonde inspiration to get started:
White / Platinum blondes. Images: BWA’s Pinterest, http://www.hair.allwomenstalk.com
Light honey blondes. Images: BWA’s Pinterest, bombshellofsexy.tumblr.com
Ashy blondes. Images: www.neonhairdesign.com, http://www.dennysmanchester.co.uk/
Bright honey / caramel blondes. Images: http://www.shorthairstyleswomenblog.com/, http://haircoloridea.com/
BEAUTY HOW-TO: TIPS & TRICKS FOR SUMMER HAIR HEALTH
PERSONAL BEAUTY EPIPHANIES I WISH CAME EARLIER!
What is your preferred hair colour? Have you taken the plunge from brunette to blonde? Let me know your experience and any tips in the comments below!
3 Comments
Love those Light Honey Blonde images!
I’d love to be blonde, but I really don’t think it would suit my skin tone.
I like the naturalness of the light ashy blondes. The Light Honey Blondes look very familiar!