It seems almost everyone has gone through a blonde phase at least once in their life—I know I have. Because if blondes are known for having more fun (sorry brunettes and redheads), who wouldn’t want to find that out for themselves? What isn’t so fun about blonde hair, however, is deciding on the best shades of blonde to choose. The hair color comes in dozens of iterations, from strawberry blonde and honey blonde to caramel blonde and buttercream blonde, and many, many other tones that don't sound quite as delicious (but still look gorgeous, nonetheless).
According to celebrity hairstylist Temur Hamilton, blonde hair truly does feel more carefree. “Blonde hair has this brightness to it that stands out and feels happy, warm and full of life,” he says. “I love the range of tones you can play with and how it can elevate your whole look. It reminds me of sunshine and summer!”
Deciding exactly which shade you want to go for can be tricky because the light color lends itself beautifully to so many different tones and textures—a blessing and a curse. It’s not just a light-to-dark spectrum, either. Blonde hair can boast white, yellow, red, brown, orange, or even rose gold tones undertones. So whether you’re embarking on your first-ever journey to blonde, craving a fresh new vibe for your already blonde locks, or just looking for a little more lightness and brightness as we head into summer, we’ve got you covered.
From balayage and highlights to a full-on bleach and tone, we’ve taken the liberty of naming every single freaking shade of blonde out there, along with photos, so you can easily show your stylist. Celebrity hairstylists Hamilton, Rogerio Cavalcante, and Tiffanie Richards also share their favorite shades, maintenance tips, and how to know what colors will complement your skin’s undertone the best. Keep scrolling for 30 luscious shades of blonde, and more.
How To find The Best Blonde Shade For Your Skin Tone
With so many different shades of blonde out there, it can be hard to figure out which hue will pair best with your skin tone. Luckily, Cavalcante, Hamilton, and Richards have made that easier.
For those with darker skin or warm undertones, "go for a warm blonde like golden, honey, or caramel," says Hamilton. He adds that olive complexions "look amazing with slightly ashy tones." Richards concurs that olive undertones pair best with paler blonde colors or slightly golden shades, explaining, "It’s going to bring out a healthy glow within your skin."
On the other, anyone with lighter skin or generally cooler undertones (think: pink, rosy, or blue-ish) usually looks amazing with icy, platinum, or beige blondes, all three stylists share. And if you’re a more neutral tone, you can usually pull off both cool and warm blondes. "Beige blondes are a great option for that reason," says Hamilton.
Cavalcante notes that in addition to skin tones, personal style plays a huge role in picking your preferred blonde shade. "Some people love contrast, some want something soft and natural," he says. "It’s not just about matching, it’s about how you want to feel when you look in the mirror."
How to Maintain Blonde Hair
Surprisingly, all three stylists say maintaining moisture and strength takes the cake for the best way to maintain blonde hair at home. To do so, Richards suggests using hair masks in place of regular conditioner. "I usually tell my blondes to look for products that highlight the words 'moisture' and 'hydration' over 'color-safe,'" she explains. "This is because instead of depositing color into the hair, blondes are having pigment pulled out of their hair to get lighter —we’re not looking to hold a color pigment as much as we need to rehydrate."
Cavalcante notes that adding a little hair oil into your nightly routine can make a huge difference over time. "Just a small amount each night can change everything," he says. He also warns that purple shampoo isn't always best. "It’s great for icy, cool blondes, but if your blonde is warmer, purple shampoo can strip away the richness your stylist worked so hard to achieve."
The hard truth is that there's no better way to maintain your blonde hair than seeing your stylist for touch-ups every few months. Consistency will "keep the color balanced and prevent banding," says Hamilton/ "It can be hard to perfectly match the tone once it grows out too much."
Why Trust Marie Claire
Emma Aerin Becker is an experienced beauty writer, focusing on shopping roundups, digital features, and trend stories. She's a regular contributor to Marie Claire, and has words in Byrdie, Page Six Style, People magazine, and more. She spoke with three celebrity hairstylists to compile this list of blonde hair colors.
Marie Claire is also an expert in hair color, having covered shades of brown, blonde, red, and more.
Meet The Experts
With a passion for hairstyling, Temur, owner of TEMUR Salon, carved out a space in the highly competitive world of beauty, devoting the last 14 years to perfecting his craft. He's worked closely with legendary stylist Sally Hershberger, refining his skills under her expert guidance and has collaborated with some of New York’s leading hair colorists to expand his expertise and artistry.
Originally from Brazil, Rogerio moved to NYC over 15 years ago and quickly made a name for himself as a master colorist and dry-cut expert. Specializing in natural highlights and balayage, he has also perfected the art of the blunt cut—his personal favorite.
Three years ago, Rogerio founded The Second Floor Salon with a vision: to create a chic, private, and relaxing escape from the hustle of the city, where clients could truly unwind while getting their hair done. Now, he’s taking his expertise even further by launching his own haircare line—coming soon!
With over 20 years of experience, Tiffanie has made a name for herself as a blonde specialist. Based in New York City, she believes in a “less is more” approach to color, always putting hair health first. Tiffanie's work has been seen on several celebrities such as Carrie Coon.
Dark Blonde with Subtle Face Framing
Cavalcante says Sydney Sweeney's blonde color is "perfect for those who want to be blonde but want to avoid damage," because "It requires just a few well-placed highlights and still delivers a sun-kissed look."
California Blonde
Beyoncé (or should we say Cowboy Carter) may be in her platinum era right now, but she previously rocked a honey bee blonde complete with a golden base and pale highlights. Richards is a huge fan of this "California blonde" color.
Icy Ends
While Bridget Pheloung loves to joke that she recently went brunette, she really just added a deeper root to her icy ends. "I love having some depth at the roots because it doesn’t need to be touched up often—twice a year is usually enough," says Cavalcante. He adds, "I like the ends lighter with an icy tone. This look is especially beautiful on wavy hair because the waves enhance the dimension of the color."
Barely There Blonde
Keep it classy like the lovely Halle Berry with some touches of blonde atop a natural root grow-out. Buttery brunette shades entwine with the subtlest blonde for a flattering framing style.
City Girl Blonde
Cavalcante says the golden and caramel highlights and darker base of this look "give this blonde a city girl feel that's more polished and tailored than beach blonde. It’s slightly darker but still glowy and chic."
Golden Dirty Bronde
J-Lo teeters between blonde and brunette with her softly blended dirty blonde strands. The result is a stunning caramel color, and Hamilton says he loves its "sun-kissed warmth."
Solid Blonde
Sometimes a full bleach is all you need. "A homogeneous blonde with minimal depth adds a dramatic edge," explains Cavalcante. "It makes a statement, especially when paired with red lips and lots of mascara, it really pops."
Champagne Blonde
A subdued, creamy blonde that's also infused with platinum and golden accents? That's cause for a champagne celebration. Richards calls this very light and creamy shade an "oat milk blonde," and considers it one of her favorites.
Beyond Blonde
A perfectly couffed pale yellow blonde will make you feel like the rich wine aunt who owns a villa in Tuscany. Or maybe you're just a big fan of Lady Gaga and her ever-revolving blonde hair (and wigs).
Shadow-Rooted Rosy Blonde
The softest rose pink undertones pair beautifully with this light blonde color—and it's a show stopper on Blackpink's Rosé.
Caramel Blonde
Ciara's mix of butterscotch- and caramel-colored highlights gives new meaning to the phrase "good enough to eat."
Bright Golden Blonde
Blonde shades can go brassy fast, so make like Kate Hudson and ask for a dye with that already boasts warm golden hues that last.
Chestnut Blonde
This dirty blend of light brown and cool blonde complements Gigi Hadid's rosy, summer glow. It's just so beautifully natural looking.
Butter Blonde
Back in the '90s, Madonna proudly showed off Marilyn Monroe-esque butter blonde curls. "Buttery blonde is my all-time favorite," says Hamilton. "It's bright with golden tones that really catch the light."
Fair Amber Blonde
Blake Lively takes a darker turn with this burnt spin on classic golden blonde. The shade is subtle, but sure to brighten up your look.
Marilyn Monroe Blonde
The original blonde bombshell, Marilyn Monroe, would be proud of Anya Taylor-Joy's entire style, from blonde hair to heeled shoe. The Queen's Gambit star might not have been going for a Monroe look, but she achieved it anyway—proving that blondes do have more fun.
Bleached Goddess Micro Braids
Behold: Zoe Kravitz rocking a micro braid and taking it to the next level with a seamless ivory blonde. Uplift your protective style with the icy blonde tone you've probably always wanted.
Peach-y Blonde
Emma Stone swapped her signature red hair for this pale-blonde hue that's ever so slightly peach-tinged (peep those subtle blush lowlights).
Gradient Blonde
If you look past the Flock of Seagulls hairdo and focus only on the color, you'll see that Margot Robbie's hair has a perfectly smooth gradient of blonde, from honey at the roots to butter at the ends.
Brassy Blonde
Amandla Stenberg proves that brassy blonde is a gorgeous option for a less intense bleach treatment if you're stuck picking between the different tones.
Blush Blonde
To keep light-blonde shades from washing you out, add in some blush undertones (as seen in Julia Roberts' waves) to give a natural warmth to your face.
Dark Rooted Beige Balayage
The definition of sultry blonde: Laverne Cox's subtle balayage from a natural root to pale ash ends. Upkeep pale blonde hair with the right purple shampoo to avoid brassiness.
Fire Blonde
Named as such because it resembles flames surrounding the head, fire blonde is a mix of red, orange, and yellowish tones. It also looks fire.
Brushed-On Bright Blonde
Ashley Olsen's colorist deserves a medal. Her chunky, painterly highlights are striking, yet natural looking.
Neutral Blonde
Neutral colors create a blend between warm and cool shades. This nude blonde color mimics Seyfried's natural tones, as if she hadn't dyed her hair at all.
Silver Fox
One of the coolest hues (literally and figuratively) is Cara Delevingne's take on white-blonde: a platinum white and silver shade that immediately illuminates her face.
Lilac Blonde
Alright, technically this iridescent pearl color walks the "white" line, but it still falls into the blonde category thanks to its mix of platinum blonde, light blue, and purple highlights.
Golden Platinum
Gwen Stefani's signature bright shade, with definitively warm, almost bronze-y undertones, is the epitome of Old Hollywood glam.
Barbie Blonde
This hue speaks for itself: It's a light blonde that's the perfect shade of platinum without looking unnatural.
Spotlight Blonde
See Poppy Delevingne's bright blonde hair? See how it looks like she's standing in a perpetual spotlight? That's the result of clean, mega-white dye, with pale-blonde toner.
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