Don’t feel bad if the idea of considering blonde for summertime reminds you a little of that scene in The Devil Wears Prada where Miranda Priestly throws sarcasm across the room with “Florals for Spring? Groundbreaking.”
Because here’s the thing: blonde can be groundbreaking, even when the weather heats up and many of us get into a lighter-hair mood. The trick is keeping your shade of blonde super fresh and current, and changing it with the times. And this season, two blonde hues reigns supreme: Barbie blonde and buttery blonde. If Barbie’s particular blonde shade feels a little too warm and bold for you, buttery blonde is the perfect soft shade that sizzles without being in your face about it.
Ready to learn more before you take the dive? Here’s what you need to know about one of this summer’s hottest hair coloring trends: buttery blonde.
What is buttery blonde?
First thing’s first: what can you expect from buttery blonde and is it for you?
“This soft shade of blonde is great for those wanting something natural yet glamorous at the same time, and is the perfect transitional shade between the cooler winter and warmer spring months,” says Daniel Argeniois, a hair extensions expert and an ambassador and enthusiast for Richy Hair UK who currently resides at 65 Walton Street. “Buttery blonde has warm golden tones which can add some subtle texture and movement throughout your locks, making them appear thicker and healthier than ever before.”
For those who want more in-depth salon lingo, buttery blonde is a level 10 medium golden blonde that’s far more multi-dimensional that many other shades of blonde. If you prefer different colors woven throughout your hair and aren’t a fan of flat shades like platinum, this could be for you.
Who looks great in buttery blonde?
No matter what your complexion, there’s likely a shade of blonde out there that can look great, but the trick is making sure the tones of your hair and skin match up. “This shade looks best against fair skin tones, and can help to bring out blue or green eyes, but can also suit medium complexions when combined with balayage techniques along ends of strands, helping give off an effortless sun-kissed glow from root to tip,” Argeniois says.
It always helps to have celeb inspiration when trying to figure out if a color will look amazing on you. Luckily, so many celebrities are rocking buttery blonde strands at the moment. Reese Witherspoon is perhaps the queen of butter blonde, with strands that look like sunshine itself. Other women who routinely color their hair so that it falls in this spectrum include Jennifer Lawrence, Rita Ora, Cameron Diaz, Carrie Underwood, and even Ana de Armas (when she is taking a break from her stunning brunette).
What is upkeep like?
Finally, the question everyone wants to know the answer to: what kind of maintenance can you expect with buttery blonde hair? Will you basically have to fork over $100 a month for upkeep or is it more forgiving?
“As far as upkeep goes, this buttery shade does require more frequent touch-ups compared to other shades due to its lightness,” Argeniois shares. “However, using products specifically designed for colored hair should help keep brassiness away between visits at the salon chair.”
For at-home maintenance turn to products like this purple mask by she uemura, which combats brass and modern classics like It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In for Blondes that helps protect against thermal damage so that your strands stay silky and smooth.
