Photography, Shutterstock

This iconic blond shade that’s synonymous with Marilyn Monroe and many other starlets never disappears off the radar. But remember, it takes time—and patience!—to go from dark to platinum without compromising hair health. “Hair is a canvas, and will need professional treatment to go from dark to light,” says Caroline Verreault, education leader, Eastern Canada, for hair-care brands Matrix and Biolage. That means several appointments spaced out over at least three months to achieve the desired shade, then regular salon touch-ups. At home, use a purple shampoo to neutralize brassiness and a weekly protein-based repair mask to help prevent further damage by limiting breakage and reducing porosity. For those who are up to the challenge of maintaining this hue, the reward is a chic eye-catching colour that’s anything but dull.

Good to know 

Cool, icy blond shades tend to yellow easily, and using hot tools may exacerbate the problem. Always use a thermal protector on your hair before heat styling to minimize damage, and set the heat level on your tools to the lowest setting that works for your hair type, says Kevin Mancuso, global creative director and co-founder of Nexxus Hair Care. If your tool doesn’t have temperature settings, move quickly and don’t stop in one place, which can cause damage that will lead to breakage. Allowing your hair to air-dry about halfway before pulling out the dryer and brush is another great way to limit heat exposure. 

Our product picks

Purple micro pigments maintain cool tones while cleansing and nourishing locks. And we give this product bonus points for its intoxicating scent.

 

DESIGNME Fab.ME Blonde Fortifying Purple Shampoo, $30, designmehair.ca.

Tackle frizz and split ends by spritzing this porosity spray with vitamin B5 and liquid protein onto your mane.

MATRIX Total Results Instacure Anti-Breakage Porosity Spray, $25, chatters.ca.

After just one application of this vegan squalane-infused mask, damaged hair feels more conditioned, healthy and manageable.

BIOLAGE Strength Recovery Deep Treatment Pack, $20, chatters.ca.

Winning routine

1. Use protein treatments to strengthen hair and protect it from damage. Key ingredients to look out for are keratin and vitamin B5.
2. Reach for a shampoo with purple pigments once or twice a week to combat brassiness.
3. Don’t skip the thermal protector when using hot tools.
4. Make sure your hair is dry before going to bed. Chemically treated or not, damp hair is more vulnerable to friction against your pillow, which can weaken strands.
5. Because chlorine and the sun can alter blond hair, protect your tresses from UV rays and wash it right after you’re done swimming.

   Trendy 

   sandy blond 

   

    

   Photography, Shutterstock

   This season, sandy blond colours are trending. What’s the draw? These are slightly darker shades that require less aggressive bleaching than icier tones. This makes it an ideal option for those with dark hair who might want to take the plunge into blond while avoiding the long, potentially damaging process of achieving a platinum tone. For an even more natural effect that has the bonus of spacing out salon visits, ask your colourist for very fine highlights that add dimension to your colour—another of the season’s key trends!

   Good to know

   Purple shampoos are a great way to neutralize yellow or brassy tones that tend to plague ash blonds over time. For best results, first wash to cleanse away buildup, styling products, excess sebum and pollution. Rinse, then apply purple shampoo, leaving it in for a few minutes to allow the active agents to penetrate the hair shaft (but not too long, at the risk of giving your hair a purplish tinge). Finally, apply conditioner and rinse with lukewarm or even cold water to close hair cuticle.

   Our product picks

   Violet pigments in this shampoo neutralize and tone brassiness for an even brighter blond. 

   

   NEXXUS Blonde Assure Color Toning Purple Shampoo, $19, shoppersdrugmart.ca.

   Part leave-in treatment, part colour-preserving mask, this serum leaves hair vibrant, shiny and frizz-free, and protected from UV rays.

   

   ALTERNA Caviar Anti-Aging Infinite Color Hold Dual-Use Serum, $48, sephora.ca.

   Refresh your colour and tone in 15 minutes with this in-shower gloss that also gives locks a boost of shine.

   

   L’ORÉAL PARIS Le Color Gloss in Cool Blonde, $19.50, shoppersdrugmart.ca.

   From blond to white

   For those with naturally grey or white locks that want to add some colour and dimension, try a technique favoured by the pros: blending the grey with blond by applying sweeping highlights through the hair, which helps avoid having to bleach the whole head. “The final touch,” says Mancuso, “is to personalize your style with soft natural touches or bold colouring effects.”

   Warm 

   strawberry blond

   

    

   Photography, Shutterstock

   Strawberry blond is particularly well suited to those with natural golden or copper highlights, although it can be great with almost all skin tones. This shade, somewhere between blond and red, gives off a healthy glow thanks to its warm reflections, making it small wonder it’s so popular in winter! Because coppery tinges are part of the beauty of strawberry blond locks, there’s no need to use purple shampoos, conditioners or masks every week. However, be sure to maintain good post-bleaching hair health by using moisturizing products enriched with hyaluronic acid, vitamins and proteins that will help keep your hair supple and shiny.

   Good to know 

   Choosing the right shade of blond is an art, and the final result depends on many factors, such as your natural colour, past colourings and your hair’s condition. To avoid unpleasant surprises, book a consultation with an expert who can give personalized advice and may even test a strand to see how your hair reacts to the bleaching process.

   Our product picks

   This luxe nourishing treatment repairs and conditions damaged hair while protecting against breakage.

   

   WELLA Fusionplex Intense Repair Mask, $25, chatters.ca.

    

   This award-winning shampoo is packed with hydrating and repairing ingredients, like hyaluronic acid and vitamins B3 and B5.

   

   NÉCESSAIRE The Shampoo, $38, sephora.ca.

    

   To tame flyaways and make hair shine, reach for this luminous elixir with rosehip, avocado
   and jojoba oils.

   

   VOIR HAIRCARE A Walk in the Sun Luxury Hair Oil, $43, thebay.com.