Bella Hadid stunned at the Cannes Film Festival—making waves not only with her stunning gown and emerald earrings but with the debut of a radiant new hair color that signaled a full-on summer beauty moment. Dubbed “Supermodel Blonde,” the soft-focus shade blends warmth, brightness, and dimension in a way that feels effortless, expensive, and just nostalgic enough.
The look was created by Schwarzkopf Professional U.S. Hair Color Trend Ambassador Jacob Schwartz, who brought Bella’s color transformation to life over a meticulous two-day process between Texas and the South of France. The result? A luminous blonde that nods to Bella’s natural childhood tone—sun-kissed, subtle, and glowing with health.
Behind the Blonde: A Two-Day Transformation
Going from brunette to multidimensional blonde requires more than just the right formula—it demands patience, planning, and precision. Schwartz approached the transformation with a health-first mindset, using Schwarzkopf’s most trusted blonding and demi-permanent tools to maintain the integrity of Bella’s hair at every step.
To lift, he highlighted ultra-thin sections across the entire head using IGORA Vario Blond Super Plus (20 volume). This allowed for a clean, controlled lift while preserving strength and softness.
After each section was rinsed and dried, doing so as the sections finished processing, Jacob moved into the lowlights phase using IGORA VIBRANCE, Schwarzkopf’s demi-permanent color line known for its radiant, glossy finish.
- Base and midlengths: 7-55 + 7-0 (6 volume)
- Ends: 9-55 + 8-0 (6 volume)
After processing for 20 minutes, to build dimension, the lowlights were reapplied a second time—locking in rich, dark blonde tones and creating depth throughout the hair.
Next came root and hairline detailing, also using IGORA VIBRANCE:
- Hairline: 9-55 for the final 10 minutes, with a touch of 8-0 to softly frame the face
- Roots: A custom blend of ¼ 7-55, ½ 7-0, and ¼ 6-0, processed for 20 minutes
As the final step, Schwartz hand-painted select strands with Vario Blond Super Plus (20 volume)—a strategic detail that added editorial brightness and a sunlit sparkle to the finished look.
The Art of Color on the Global Stage
From travel logistics to application technique, this transformation exemplifies the behind-the-scenes reality of what it means to color at the highest level. With two days dedicated entirely to the process, the color not only elevated Bella’s red carpet moment—it redefined the standard for summer blonde.
“Supermodel Blonde” may have looked effortless under the Cannes spotlight, but make no mistake: every strand was the result of serious artistry.
Colorist’s TLDR: Cliff Notes for Bella’s “Supermodel Blonde”
Step 1: Ultra-thin highlights with IGORA Vario Blond Super Plus + 20 VOL, rinsing section-by-section as it lifts to maintain hair integrity.
Step 2: Lowlight with IGORA VIBRANCE + 6 VOL, equal parts 7-55 + 7-0 through base/mids and 9-55 + 8-0 through ends. Process for 20 minutes.
Step 3: Rinse and repeat Step 2 to vary saturation and deepen dimension.
Step 4: Apply a custom root blend—2 parts 7-0, 1 part 7-55, 1 part 6-0 (IGORA VIBRANCE). Process for 20 min. In the final 10 minutes, apply 9-55 to the hairline universally, with 8-0 selectively placed to face-framing accent pieces.
Step 5: Add hand-painted highlights around the face with IGORA Vario Blond Super Plus + 20 VOL for that final editorial touch.
If you recreate this look for your clients, or for yourself, be sure to tag @readthetease on Instagram or TikTok.
