Country star Maren Morris is bringing back one of the most nostalgic blonde trends with a modern twist. John Paul Mitchell Pro Global Color Artist and celebrity colorist Matt Rez recently transformed Maren’s hair into a 2000s-inspired ‘Hot Honey Blonde,’ a warm, luminous shade that blends soft golden dimension with effortless lived-in depth.
“Maren went a little blonder this time — lighter, brighter, and more golden, without the brassiness that gold tones can sometimes create. She was ready for a refresh and wanted a modern take on that iconic early-2000s blonde. The goal was to keep the warmth, but make it feel more refined and current. That’s where I landed on Hot Honey Bronde. It was Jessica Alba inspired,” Rez shares with us.
Unlike the cool blondes that have dominated recent seasons, Hot Honey Blonde embraces a controlled, neutral warmth that feels rich, reflective, and incredibly wearable. The look delivers brightness around the face while maintaining a seamless, diffused root, creating the kind of expensive-looking blonde that’s perfect heading into late summer and fall.
Keep reading to exactly how Rez created the look and each product used.
Get the Look
Highlights + Controlled Lift
To create the perfect foundation, Rez started with a strategic lightening service designed to brighten without stripping the hair’s integrity.
- 30g Paul Mitchell Dual Purpose Lightener
- 45g 20 Volume Developer (1:1.5 ratio)
- 2 pumps EPRES Bond Repair Treatment
- Lengths lifted to a high level 7; hairline lifted to a soft level 8 for a subtle pop of brightness that frames the face without looking over-processed
Soft Root Melt
Next, Rez focused on the transition from root to blonde, blending a custom color formula to soften any harsh contrast at the regrowth.
- 10g 7N
- 10g 8A
- 20g Paul Mitchell Color Protect Conditioner
- 20g 5 Volume Developer
- Softens the grow-out while maintaining movement and dimension, so lighter ends blend naturally rather than looking heavily rooted
Honey Gloss
To finish, Rez applied a demi-permanent gloss to lock in tone, shine, and dimension.
- 4 parts Clear
- 1.5 parts 9G
- Mixed 1:1 with 7% Processing Solution
- Refines the blonde into something luminous, reflective, and translucent — Matt notes the gold series delivers true, controlled gold that stays warm without going brassy, for a neutral honey finish that catches the light
“Soft face-framing brightness, a seamless root melt, and rich honey tones create a color that feels effortless, dimensional, and modern. The gold series gave us a true, balanced gold, so the result is warm and reflective — more like natural sunlit gradient highlights than unwanted brass,” Rez further explains.
Stylists, are you ready to try Hot Honey Blonde on your next client? Shop the formula at paulmitchell.com and tag @readthetease with your results.
