The Ultimate Guide to Neutral Blonde Hair
Today’s post is all about neutral blonde hair – what to ask for at the salon, how to maintain it at home, and the products that keep your hair color bright, fresh, and healthy.
Neutral blonde is directly in the middle of cool and warm tones – think beige or creamy wheat undertones, and I find it to be the most flattering on most skin tones. Cool-toned blonde (think grey, ash, icy white) is a bit harsher and requires more upkeep since you’re canceling out all warm tones, which are natural to most hair colors. Warm-toned blonde leans more strawberry, honey, or golden and can sometimes look a little “orange” if not properly toned in between salon visits.
As someone who wants a bright, dimensional hair color that’s still easy to maintain, I always ask for neutral blonde tones. My hair naturally turns a bit warm in between visits, so it’s a lot easier (and less harsh) to tone it back to neutral rather than an icy platinum using my favorite at-home toners. Without consistent maintenance, warm-toned blonde can look too brassy or orange, and I find it really clashes with my skin tone and the clothes I wear, which ultimately does more harm than good.
the ultimate guide to neutral blonde hair
what to ask for at the salon
Show photos for reference. I always recommend sharing photos with your stylist, as hair tone is such a visual thing and words can get lost in translation. It’s important to compare your goals to what your stylist is realistically able to achieve in one visit (or multiple, since hair color changes can be a long-term process). A few other things to touch on or take into consideration:
what your natural tone is
how much they can realistically “lift” (or lighten) your hair color without causing damage
how often you want to re-visit the salon for touch-ups
what techniques would best be used to provide you with your desired result; I have a separate post comparing balayage to partial and full highlights that you can view here.
Be honest about your budget and maintenance routines. It’s important to work with your stylist and be fully transparent about how much you’re willing to spend that day at the salon, as well as what your maintenance routine and budget realistically looks like. Cool-toned blonde is notoriously harder (and more expensive) to maintain, but neutral tones give you a lot more wiggle room to work with. If you have very dark hair that’s never been colored before, your neutral blonde will look different from someone who has light brown hair with natural highlights – but regardless, your stylist will want to make sure that the blonde tone you both select looks best on you.
When in doubt, use this key phrase: “Low-maintenance, neutral-blonde hair color with natural dimension and sun-kissed highlights.”
the best products for neutral blonde hair
Even with a neutral tone, blonde hair is still technically color-treated, so using high-quality products will keep your hair healthy and shiny while also preventing further damage or unnecessary breakage.
shampoo
Davines NouNou Shampoo - This is my go-to shampoo because it’s gentle, doesn’t dry out my hair/scalp, and keeps my hair color looking fresh. Save money by buying the jumbo size; it lasts me nearly a year (and I wash my hair every day).
REF Cool Silver Shampoo - I’ve always had the toughest time with purple shampoos because they either stain my hair/ hands, over-tone, or make a mess in the shower. This was recommended to me by my stylist, and although the product itself is a really dark purple, it is a thinner consistency, easy to wash out, and doesn’t stain. On average, I tone my hair every other week but don’t have a set schedule.
conditioner
Ouai Fine to Medium Hair Treatment Masque - This is my go-to conditioner; it’s marketed as a mask but isn’t so heavy that it weighs my hair down, and I like the extra hydration since I lighten my hair. The scent isn’t overpowering, and it is easy to wash out. The brand is great about running sales, but now that Target has partnered with Ulta, I typically add this to my online order.
Davines Heart of Glass Rich Conditioner - This is the best toning conditioner for blondes. I’m not super crazy about the smell (t’s very floral), but a little goes a long way and it leaves your hair very soft and shiny. I prefer this to toning shampoos as it’s a bit gentler, doesn’t dry out your hair, and never leaves a purple/ overtoned tint.
treatments, oils, and masks
Kevin Murphy Crystal Angel - These glosses make your hair so soft and shiny and are really worth the money, especially if you don’t want to deal with a toning shampoo or conditioner. I don’t love the smell (t’s kind of an older floral), but the results are so worth it. I haven’t noticed a big difference between this and Cool Angel, which is for cooler tones, so I use and recommend both interchangeably.
Dae Hair Prickly Pear Hair Oil - This is an incredible treatment oil for adding hydration back into your hair. I recommend applying it to wet hair and then put your hair in a loose bun before washing it out a few hours later. It is deeply hydrating without feeling greasy, but a little too heavy to be used as a gloss. If you try anything from this brand, this is what I recommend.
Unite Hair 7SECONDS Detangler Leave-In Conditioner – Color-treated hair is more susceptible to damange, so a heat protectant is a must. While this is a little pricey, I like that it also works as a detangled and leave-in conditioner, so you get multiple uses out of one product. The scent is so fresh and lightweight, and the hydration really makes my hair shine without weighing it down or leaving a film.
Ouai Matte Pomade – Aerosol sprays can be especially drying, so I use this to tame flyaways close to my roots instead of hair spray. The jar will last you forever and it’s easy to travel with, too. It warms really well in your hands, making it easy to spread without leaving your hair greasy or crunchy, and smells so good.
Davines This is a Shimmering Hair Mist - For a finishing touch, this spray makes your hair glow and look like you just left the salon. It’s very lightweight and is designed to add lots of shine to your hair (but no glitter). I love that it doesn’t leave your hair crunchy, and while the scent is very sweet, it’s not overpowering.
Davines Liquid Spell Reinforcing Bodifying Fluid - While it may seem like a mousse because it’s a liquid-to-foam texture, this doesn’t make your hair crunchy or sticky. Safe for all hair types, this adds body while also strengthening the outer hair fiber, so you get an extra layer of protection as you’re styling.