Tips For Maintaining The Perfect Shade Of Blonde

Vibrant and bright blonde is having its moment right now, and for good reason. Whether you're looking to achieve a gorgeous buttery blonde or the trendy pearl blonde color, the stunning shade is quickly becoming the go-to hair color trend to copy. Blonde hair is definitely not for the low-maintenance girls out there, as it takes serious time and effort to achieve and maintain. Since blonde is the lightest hair shade, it's the most sensitive and porous out of all other shades. "The issue with blonde is that it can easily pick up unwanted tones depending on your lifestyle, your routine, and external elements," Rick Wellman, celebrity hair colorist, tells Bustle.

If you're tempted to shake things up with an iconic blonde color or want to maintain your bright shade, knowing how to best care for your blonde locks for a long-lasting, vibrant color is essential.

If you've been on vacation to a warm, tropical destination and found your blonde hair turning yellow, you're not alone. UV rays from the sun can cause your blonde color to change and turn a brassy yellow. According to Frank Barbosa, a celebrity hairstylist, "Discoloration occurs by UV rays causing the hair cuticle to open and lifting color by a couple of tones" (via Bustle). Although this can be more prevalent during the summertime or in warmer-climate areas, UV rays can affect the color of your hair all year round. 

To protect your hair from too much sun exposure, use a hair sunscreen on your hair to keep your color vibrant and healthy. We recommend the Aveda Sun Care Protective Hair Veil. This water-resistant UV defense mist adds a protective layer to your hair to keep it from getting damaged and dry from UV rays.

You may unknowingly be ruining your blonde locks' color when you shower. Depending on where you live, there could be minerals (mainly calcium and magnesium) in your water that can change the color of your hair. According to Jamie Garland, a California-based colorist: "Hard water is a colorist's worst nightmare. Not only is hard water harsh on your skin and hair, but it can actually change your hair color" (via StyleCaster). Copper is another mineral found in hard water (as well as swimming pools) and tends to turn blonde hair into a brassy or even green tint. 

To prevent your hair from turning an unpleasant, brassy, or green shade, invest in a shower filter to keep your hair color's integrity intact. We recommend the AquaBliss High Output Shower Filter to help reduce the harmful chemicals that come into contact with your hair and skin when showering.

You don't have to invest in expensive products, treatments, and salon visits to keep your hair's blonde color looking vibrant. Purple shampoo is a simple and budget-friendly way to maintain your hair color's integrity. If you have a blonde tone that you love and want to keep for as long as possible, add purple shampoo to your haircare routine. "Purple shampoo works by neutralizing any unwanted yellow or warm tones to your blonde or gray hair," hairstylist Carolyn Gahan tells Byrdie. Be careful with using too much purple shampoo, as it can change the color of your hair and make it look purple or even slightly silver. Use a purple shampoo every few washes to keep the brassiness at bay while avoiding an unwanted color change.

We recommend the Moroccanoil Blonde Perfecting Purple Shampoo, which will quickly become a staple in your haircare routine. This tone-correcting purple shampoo neutralizes brassy tones and restores the hair's blonde pigment.

Hydrated hair is healthy hair, and when your blonde locks are hydrated, the color will appear shinier and glossier too. Your blonde shade will seem dull and lackluster if your tresses are dried and broken. Lena Ott, a celebrity hair colorist, tells Vogue: "To keep blonde looking healthy and bright during the summer, I recommend clients replace their regular shampoo with a cleansing cream. They tend to be more hydrating and won't strip your color." Hydrating hair masks and leave-in conditioners will smooth out your hair and keep it glossy and shiny. Danny Jelaca tells Byrdie: "The idea is to fill in the extra porosity of the hair with protein and moisture. This helps to rebuild strength." 

One of our favorite masks is the Schwarzkopf Professional BlondMe All Blondes Keratin Restore Bonding Mask. This hair mask restores damaged and dry, lightened hair while giving it a smooth, glossy finish that will make your blonde color shine.

Hair oil is another haircare item that should be a staple in your routine. A top-quality oil will penetrate deep into the hair cuticle and help strengthen and heal your hair while leaving it with a glossy shine. There is, however, an ingredient you should avoid when looking for a new hair oil to purchase. Avoid hair oils that contain alcohol, as alcohol coats the hair and prevents color from penetrating the hair (via Allure). This means that you may not get the bright blonde you envisioned when you go for your next color appointment.

We recommend trying the Kerastase Elixir Ultime Hydrating Hair Oil Serum. This hair serum went viral on TikTok, with videos tagged under Kerastase Elixir Ultime reaching over 560 million views and counting. This blend of quality oils will leave your hair with a lightweight finish that will keep your color looking vibrant, glossy, and shiny.