We can all thank Sydney Sweeney—and her colorist Jacob Schwartz—for introducing us to what will surely be one of the most sought-after hair colors this spring.
While attending the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscars Party last night, Sweeney debuted a radiant new blonde hue that Schwartz, who’s the U.S. Hair Color Trend Ambassador for Schwarzkopf Professional, has dubbed as “light suede blonde.” Much more luminous than the “dark suede blonde” hair color that the star has been spotted with in recent months, the hue blends a soft, buttery blonde with subtle neutral undertones. According to Schwartz, Sweeney’s fresh color “is reminiscent of a suede jacket, with that natural interplay of textures and tones.”
To craft the Sweeney’s multidimensional shade, Schwartz used Schwarzkopf Professional Igora Vario Blond SuperPlus to add a mix of highlights as well as Schwarzkopf Professional Igora Vibrance to add lowlights to the hair. In order to achieve that lit-from-within glow and ensure that her blonde looked soft and natural, he made sure to expertly customize the hue’s undertones to perfectly complement Sweeney’s skin. Once styled in soft waves by the actress’ longtime hairstylist Glen “Coco” Oropeza, her new blonde looked absolutely incredible under the glowing lights of the Vanity Fair OscarsParty red carpet.
Naturally, with how utterly obsessed we are with Sweeney’s recent color transformation, we had to reach out to Schwartz to get all the details on how her light suede blonde came to be—including the exact Schwarzkopf Professional color formula he used to bring the look to life. Keep scrolling for all his amazing insights.
The Tease: Can you tell us about Sydney’s new blonde and how you arrived at this color?
Jacob Schwartz: Sydney’s new blonde is a beautiful transitional shade that perfectly balances warmth and brightness. Our focus was on maintaining the health of her hair, so we used a strategic highlighting technique to create a lighter, enhanced version of her existing color.
In what ways is Sydney’s new blonde different from previous blondes that you’ve created for her in the past?
Schwartz: Most recently, we coined Sydney’s hair “dark suede blonde”, which had a softer, more neutral tone compared to some of her previous brighter blondes. It’s a bit deeper at the root and in the interior and more tonal all over, giving it that natural, expensive-looking blend while still feeling luminous and dynamic. This transition shade keeps the dimension of her dark suede blonde color but adds more shine and sparkle. The key is using tons of lowlights within the highlights.
Can you walk us through the color process for her new hair color? And how long did it take to achieve her new blonde?
Schwartz: We brightened her hair slightly while prioritizing its health every step of the way. Using a customized highlighting technique, I created fine ribbons of golden highlights on a dark blonde canvas. My goal with every blonde transformation is to replicate the natural way light interacts with the hair. The process took a few hours to ensure a flawless lift while preserving the hair’s integrity.
To get these gorgeous highlights, I used Igora Vario Super Plus — it’s my go-to lightener because it lifts super well without compromising the hair’s health and I can rely on it for the results I need every time. It gives up to 8 levels of lift, which is perfect for getting that bright, clean blonde. What’s great is it features Integrated Fibre Bond Technology that helps prevent breakage, so the hair stays smooth and even. I alternate between highlights and lowlights to add depth in the hair. I blend the roots with Igora Vibrance, a demi-permanent color that delivers intense shine and rich, long-lasting tones. This ammonia-free formula not only enhances the highlights but also nourishes the hair with a liquid-to-gel consistency that allows for precise application and even color distribution. I love the 6-vol gel for lowlights and to blend the roots. The result is beautifully blended, luminous highlights with a natural, healthy-looking finish.”
Here’s the Formula:
- Highlights: Igora Vario Blond Super Plus (20 Vol)
- Lowlights: Igora Vibrance
- Top (6 vol) 6-0 + 7-0
- Bottom (6 vol) 8-0 + 9-55
- In between foils Igora Vibrance 7-1 + 8-0 (6 vol) & processed for 20 minutes
- Root gloss: Igora Vibrance
- Hairline 9-0 + 9-1
When it comes to your blonde clients like Sydney, what Schwarzkopf Professional products tend to be your go-tos when updating their color?
Schwartz: For blondes like Sydney, I love using Igora Vario Blonde SuperPlus for precise, custom color. I love BLONDME but I also love Vario. Both are game-changers for achieving clean, bright blondes while minimizing damage. For Sydney’s highlights, I used Vario Blonde SuperPlus white lightener with 20-vol developer 1:2 ratio and I like the consistency to be like greek yogurt because this gives me control in the foil during application. 20-vol gives me the perfect amount of lift.
For blondes, when I’m toning the roots I am always incorporating a -1 shade to combat warmth. I love 8-11 as part of those formulas and it comes out such a pretty neutral root color. This also applies to when you’re covering grey with Igora Royal or Zero Ammonia— I’ll apply this same ratio.
Lastly, do you have any pro tips for colorists when it comes to perfecting any shade of blonde for their clients?
Schwartz: Placement and tone make all the difference—knowing how light hits the hair and where to add brightness can totally transform the look. As pros, it’s our job to customize the color to complement each client’s undertones — we can never take a one-size-fits-all approach to hair color. I love customized highlighting, and I take into consideration the way each client’s natural hair falls. This allows for a more natural effortless hair color application and especially on blondes, it allows you to really manipulate the highlights and lowlights for the perfect dimensional hue. It’s also important to take into consideration your client’s starting point, because that affects the outcome. I love having a neutral background and pulling gold wisps throughout the highlights.
It’s also super important to have an honest conversation with clients—not just about the color they want to achieve, but what they’re willing to commit to in terms of upkeep. I always make sure my clients know that if they’re a natural brunette, going super light at the roots means they’ll need regular salon visits to keep it looking fresh. I won’t recommend that unless they’re ready for the upkeep. Some of my clients are totally fine with that and then I have clients that love a darker root because it allows them to be more flexible with how often they come into the salon.
For more of Schwartz’s incredible tips, be sure to follow @jacobschwartzhair on Instagram. And for all things Schwarzkopf Professional, make sure to follow @schwarzkopfusa on Instagram.
