Are you considering lightening your hair for the upcoming summer season? Maybe you have been bleaching your hair for a while, but feel unsure about the shade you’ve been rocking? The world of blonding can be a daunting one. With so many different shades and tones, it can be overwhelming to know where to start, or to figure out what you should ask for at your appointment. Luckily, Clairol Professional’s Shimmer Lights Ambassador Christine Symonds, has shared her best tips for the process of going blonde.
When getting your hair lightened, the first step is to determine what blonde shade would be most flattering on you. To do so, start with deciding whether you should opt for a warm or a cool tone. According to Symonds, if you think gold looks better on your skin, then the same goes for hair. Opt for a honey or gold toned blonde in this case. If you are more of a silver person, perhaps you should ask for a cooler tone next time you are in the chair —- maybe a silver platinum or ashy blonde.
If you are a fan of mixed-metals , or have not given much thought as to which metal flatters your skin more, then Symonds also offers another tip, involving veins. “You can tell your undertone by the color of your veins,” she says. “If your veins are more blue/green, then you’re warm tone. If your veins are more purple/blue, then you’re probably cool tone. If your veins appear undistinguishable, then you most likely have a neutral undertone.”
When it comes to achieving some of the season’s hottest blonde looks, Symonds recommends turning to a few Shimmer Light products for different desired blonde shades. For a darker blonde, fight brassy tones with Shimmer Lights Permanent Cream Toner in Cool Beige. If you have super light highlights, try Shimmer Lights Permanent Cream Toner Platinum Ice to minimize yellowness. And, Shimmer Lights Permanent Cream Toner in Smoky Pearl is a perfect product for an edgier blonde style.
While going blonde is a commitment,there are a few things you can do to minimize upkeep. You do not need to book a full highlight appointment each time, as it’s possible to alternate between long, full transformation sessions and appointments that only involve minimal retouches and perhaps face framing highlights. Additionally, Symonds also recommends getting blonde highlights to combat graying, as this is a much more natural and less contrasting way to camouflage them in comparison to dying your hair dark.
Thinking about lightening your hair soon? Tag us in your post-salon selfies at @readthetease! And for more blonding tips from Symonds, be sure to follow @christimesymondshair on Instagram.
