how to change white hair to blond

Slap-up on venturing into the super chic white blonde loonshit this winter? Nosotros honey a hair transformation as much as the next person, but with this shade in detail there's a lot to consider.

Lockdown saw many people go nuclear on their hair. Dua Lipa dyed her strands "orangina quarantina", later on get-go rocking pink. Hilary Duff switched from blonde to ocean blue and over on TikTok, the "just did a bad thing" challenge saw hundreds of people try a DIY dye job. Some worked out brilliantly. Some... crashed and burned.

Thankfully I resisted the urge to brighten my dull roots at habitation and instead embraced months of re-growth (through gritted teeth) in apprehension of salons reopening. Every bit soon equally professional help was available, I booked in to get my hair back to its bleachiest best.

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My own colour journeying was sparked in 2022 by none other than Taylor Swift. 1 minute she was mousy like me, the next, she unveiled this outstanding white blonde bob, totally transforming herself in the act.

Several years – and one striking, metallic Met Gala appearance – after, Taylor'southward own hair may have returned to its safe identify, simply my obsession with those show-stopping strands had non subsided, so I paid a visit to summit London salon Larry Rex to run into Harriet Muldoon, Pilus Colourist to the stars (including bleach-queen Pixie Lott) and all-round blonde expert, to have the plunge.

Now several years later and yet converted (and utterly dedicated to Harriet and the rest of Larry King's epic team), here's my 8-footstep guide to the things you should know before going white blonde…

CONSULT YOUR Agenda

This isn't a decision that should exist made impulsively. Having a bright white head of pilus is a serious transformation and one that will take some getting used to. I spent the offset 24 hours in a mad panic that I would never recognise myself in the mirror again, and it took at least a week to acknowledge how much I really loved information technology.

Thankfully, I had a quiet week with no big plans. I wouldn't recommend jumping in if you lot accept, say, a wedding or family event to attend in the next few days. It's highly probable that Aunt Joan will gasp, and you'll want to be 100% confident with it to be able to take that on the chin.

THERE ARE VARIOUS SHADES OF WHITE

If yous idea that at that place was only one shade of white, you need to practice a smidge more research before settling downwards in the salon chair. From flossy bleach to nigh a imperial, pearly white, information technology's a good idea to call up nearly what look you lot're going for.

Your hairdresser will be able to aid guide you depending on your pare tone, but the concluding thing yous want is to become in hoping for Poppy Delevingne-esque ends and leave with a silvery sheen. I opted for a creamier blonde as I thought lilac tones would make my stake complexion experience also common cold. The good news is, y'all tin can use the time now to take a play effectually and really find the tone y'all want. There's enough of places you tin go to on endeavor on unlike colours virtually – try Redken's Virtual Pilus Colour Tool or Fifty'Oreal'due south Style My Pilus app.

Information technology'S NOT A QUICK TRANSFORMATION

My appointment took 4.5 hours, during which you might hear a lot of technical jargon which goes straight over your head. Harriet bankrupt down the steps for me beforehand then that I knew exactly what products were beingness used and what each did:

Apply Redken Flashlift ever including pH Bonder to mid-sections, so roots, followed past the ends – a bonding service to ensure we retain the integrity of the hair during the process.
Dissever each section with a foil to seal in moisture and estrus to assistance with the lifting process.
Tone using Redken Shades EQ 9V to neutralise yellowish tones, and finish with PH Bonder part ii for ten minutes.

BEAUTY IS PAIN

For some reason, I didn't even consider that applying layers upon layers of bleach straight to my scalp might exist the slightest flake uncomfortable. So when I began to feel a burning awareness at the back of my head, I panicked that I was having an allergic reaction.

Thankfully I wasn't, and it was a totally normal office of the procedure. It's not agony but I would recommend leaving the roll-neck at habitation as it can become a little toasty. On the plus side, it does elevate the cool hair rinse/head massage to whole new heights of deliciousness.

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IT'S SERIOUSLY HIGH-MAINTENANCE

And I don't but mean in the salon. Earlier your appointment, it'southward a expert idea to pre-care for your pilus with heaps of protective oils equally, unsurprisingly, bleach can have its cost.

Post-appointment, your pilus will have been stripped of a lot of its goodness (pigment, poly peptide and oils) and might feel weak and damaged - especially if you have a very fine texture or low-cal blonde tones. Y'all tin can add together wet and nourishment with intense conditioning treatments like Redken Extreme Strength Builder or Ultimate Remedy Masque by Shu Uemura Art of Pilus.

And if y'all start to run into whatever tinges of yellow shudder, run out and find a bottle of silver shampoo such equally Pro:voke'due south Touch of Silver or Bleach London's Silver Shampoo & Conditioner. If yous have the color all the way to the root, yous'll also probable need a touch-up every 6-8 weeks.

AND IF You lot WANT TO GO BACK…?

You demand to exist patient. You could go cold turkey and grow it out, but if your natural hair is any darker than a regular blonde, the root line will likely be too dramatic.

The all-time way would be to gradually dye it deeper shades and then let your natural root grow through. Either way, it will accept fourth dimension.

Information technology CAN BE EXPENSIVE

Even without the upwardly-keep and maintenance, the initial appointment is an investment with prices starting from £250 at Larry King.

I seriously would advise, however, not doing it on the inexpensive. The only thing scarier than dyeing your hair bright white is doing it somewhere that doesn't take advisable care.

YOU WON'T REGRET IT

Regardless of my initial panic mail-bleach, I feel like this was the hair I was born to have. (I was, in fact, built-in with it, before it faded at historic period xi sob).

If you've thought virtually taking the plunge for longer than a fleeting moment, and so there'due south no amend time than now to aqueduct your inner Xtina.