Blonde Hair Care: Essential Tips and Treatments

Looking for the best blonde hair care routine to maintain brightness and shine?

From daily maintenance to the most effective products for beautiful blonde locks, discover the essential hair care tips for blondes with L'Oréal Professionnel. 
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Whether natural or coloured, blonde hair can be high maintenance. Unwanted brassiness, sensitivity to sun and water, plus loss of vibrancy are all familiar foes to those striving for luminous blonde strands.

To help your blonde hair look like you’re fresh out of the salon, we’ve got products and tips from professional hair stylists.

This article will cover: 
  • How to care for natural blonde hair 
  • How to maintain coloured blonde hair 
  • How to choose the right shade of blonde  
  • How to stop blonde hair going brassy  

How to Care for Natural Blonde Hair?

Natural blonde hair is a rare gem – only 2% of the world’s population boast naturally golden locks, which makes it far less common than black or brown hair. Also, blonde hair tends to get darker with age – someone who was blonde at the age of 10 might have medium brown hair by the time they reach 20. So, what makes natural blonde hair both stunning and difficult to maintain? 

Blonde hair decoded

Although blonde hair has the same structure as other colours, its pigmentation and texture is very different on every layer.  
  • The cuticle (or outer protective layer) of blonde hair is thinner than that of other hair colours, making it more vulnerable to UV rays, hard water, and chemicals. But it’s also the cuticle that powers a natural light reflection that gives blonde hair its shine.  
  • The cortex (or middle layer responsible for strength and colour) has less eumelanin - the colour defining pigment - when it comes to blondes. The lack of dark pigment makes naturally blonde hair vulnerable to brassiness, but also allows light to scatter freely for a golden shine.
  • The medulla (or inner layer) is quite often missing in blonde hair, which makes it thinner and more delicate than darker hair. For that reason, blonde hair strands are typically more porous and absorb water and chemicals easier, but sometimes can lack volume, or can quickly become brittle and dull. 

Natural blonde hair care routine

Using hair care formulated specifically for blonde hair is the best way to maintain its natural shine. To build a ‘golden standard’ routine for golden locks, discover the Blondifier range by L'Oréal Professionnel, formulated for natural blonde and highlighted hair.

1.Start with Blondifier cool shampoo to smooth damaged blonde hair, or opt for Blondifier gloss shampoo to add extra shine.  

2.Depending on the needs of your hair, pick either Cool or Gloss conditioner.  

3.Complement with a Restoring hair mask when your strands need extra support.  

4.Boost shine with a serum or hair oil, such as Metal Detox concentrated oil - it can help reduce colour fade for dull looking and brassy hair. Just a few drops smoothed down the length of blonde hair regularly will support its elasticity at deeper layers.

Considering its delicate nature, blonde hair can also benefit from regular hydration to prevent dryness, extra protection from UV and heat to avoid sun damage and brassiness, as well as an overall gentle handling to reduce breakage. 

Coloured Blonde Hair Care Tips

According to research by Mintel, blonde is the UK’s most popular hair colour of choice. While nearly half of Brits are naturally brunette, and around 29% of the nation is naturally blonde, 39% of those who colour their hair opted in for blonde.  

If you are amongst those who choose to lighten their locks, follow our tips to make sure your favourite hair colour stays vibrant and head-turning. 

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Choose the right blonde shade

From platinum to honey, strawberry to ash, there is a blonde hair colour shade for everyone, depending on the natural skin tone, whether you want to make a statement or subtly lift your colour, and the cut itself. Always consult a professional colourist before taking the plunge. Using My Hair [iD], a virtual-try-on tool by L'Oréal Professionnel, will help you find just the right shade for a personalised hair colour salon experience. 

Avoid brassy blonde

Brassiness is an unwanted yellow, orange or even red tone that sometimes develops in blonde  hair over time when the cooler tones in the hair fade and warm tones become more obvious. It can happen to both natural and coloured hair under the impact of heat styling, UV rays, chlorine, harsh shampoos or frequent washing.    

How to stop blonde hair going brassy? Picking the right shampoo for coloured blonde hair definitely helps. A neutralising Blondifier Cool Purple Shampoo or a Purple Tinted Shampoo for coloured hair from Vitamino Color Spectrum range added to the hair care routine will help neutralise warm tones. Additionally, Metal Detox Shampoo can remove metals in hair that cause brassy tones. For ashy silvery or very light blondes, try L'Oréal Professionnel Silver Shampoo. formulated to neutralise unwanted yellow tones and enhance colour shine. Regular use of these products can help to maintain the cool, vibrant tones of your blonde hair. 

Hydrate and moisturise

Blonde hair tends to be more porous and can lose moisture quickly. Nourishing shampoos and conditioners from the Blondifier range help maintain the moisture balance of blonde hair. Incorporate a deep conditioning treatment like a hair mask to provide extra hydration for hair, maintain colour and repair any damage. 

Blonde hair maintenance

In addition to choosing the right products, what really makes a difference in keeping blonde hair healthy are daily routines. Here’s how to maintain blonde hair in-between salon visits:

  • Protect your hair from the sun by wearing a hat or using UV-blocking sprays. 
  • Avoid excessive heat styling - and if using heat tools, always apply a heat protectant for coloured hair such as Vitamino Color Spectrum Professional Glass Shine Serum. 
  • Use a shower filter to reduce minerals in water when washing your hair. 

Blonde Hair Care Made Easy

With our ultimate blonde hair care guide, keeping your golden strands vibrant and healthy has never been easier. Whether natural or coloured, showcase your blonde with confidence.   

Discover the blonde hair care range by L'Oréal Professionel

Blonde Hair FAQs

  • How to stop blonde hair going yellow?
    To keep blonde hair from going yellow, use a purple shampoo once or twice a week to neutralize warm tones. Reduce mineral buildup caused by hard water by using a shower filter or a clarifying shampoo such as Metal Detox cleansing cream shampoo. Always protect hair from UV exposure which causes oxidation and brassiness. 

  • How to care for blonde hair?
    Blonde hair needs a gentle care routine which includes colour-protecting and moisturising products. Use a purple shampoo once or twice a week to prevent brassiness, deep condition regularly, reduce heat styling, and minimise the environmental factors impact such as hard water and UV rays. Consider a gloss or toner every few weeks to add extra shine, and add extra nourishment for bleached hair with Blondifier Instant Resurfacing Concentrate.

  • Why does blonde hair get brassy? 
    Blonde hair turns brassy due to oxidation, product buildup, excessive heat styling and environmental factors such as UV rays and pollutants. Over time, those factors, as well as hard water and chlorine, break down cool tones in hair and cause yellow or orange discolouration. If the hair is coloured, the blonde tone fades, resurfacing a natural colour. To reduce brassiness, use a purple shampoo, protect hair from sun and heat, and rinse hair with filtered water after washing where possible. Regular toning treatments also help maintain a cool blonde shade.