Dirty blonde is the ultimate no-fuss hair colour for self-confessed lazy girls this summer
If you prefer to keep your beauty regime low-key then we've got some good news for you. Going blonde this summer doesn’t need to involve bi-weekly bleach touch-ups and non-stop toning, because this year's shade du jour is just about as low-maintenance as it gets. Plus, with salons nationwide shut for the foreseeable future, a low-maintenance hair colour is what it's all about. So wave goodbye to the platinum strands of yesteryear that required a small army to maintain and welcome the all-new dirty blonde style that the A-list are obsessed with.
On the hair colour spectrum, dirty blonde sits smack bang between brunette and blonde. Harnessing different shades from honey to caramel, it can be achieved by keeping a dark base and/or root and integrating lighter shades throughout the rest of the hair.
The best bit? It requires basically zero effort. As a result of the mix of different shades, it means roots tend to blend out a lot more naturally as your hair grows. And if that isn’t enough, because dirty blonde harnesses a more natural trend, you can sit back when it comes to styling too. For days when you can’t be bothered, a spritz of texturizing spray is all you need for effortlessly chic locks. We ask top hair stylists Luke Hersheson (whose clients include Victoria Beckham and Lara Stone) and Brit King (leading colourist at Larry King Salon) how to nail it.
Plus, because of the imperfect natural of the dirty blonde look, it's never been so easy to master it yourself at-home if you already have light hair. Simply select a few shades of blonde at-home hair dyes, and apply to sections of hair - the messier the better. If you have dark hair, however, and for best results for all, you're going to want to wait for some professional help.
Here's everything you need to know about dirty blonde hair, as well as how to make the most of your salon appointment once the lockdown lifts...
What should we be asking our colourist for?
Rather than featuring one shade over all, dirty blonde is more tonal and blended. Think slightly darker roots with both highlights and lowlights blended through. “It should feel quite lived in,” says Hersheson. “It’s not a bright, white, clean blonde. It’s a darker blonde with a bit of a root. It's a bit more rock 'n' roll.” Speaking of, “natural hair will always get slightly lighter towards the ends,” Hersheson explains. “The sun lifts it. That’s why the ends will always be lighter than the crown. If you’re trying to mimic this through colour, that’s what you should to be replicating.”
How would you make it look natural and beautiful rather than stripy and harsh?
Blending lighter and darker shades takes a bit of finesse. “You want to smudge the root area a little bit and avoid making the highlights or balayage [the lighter bits] too uniform,” says Hersheson. “I think the best colourists are the ones who work more free hand. Old-school colourists will pack out the foils back to back throughout the hair which gives you get this very even colour. But I don’t ever think that looks believable. The best colourists will add a little bit here, a little bit there and it’s not necessarily a whole head of colour.”
King agrees. “Finer highlights strategically placed around the face and parting look best. I like to give it a good tease as well, so it sits off base a little,” she says. “I’ll add in a flash of light bits on the ends and take the highlights to a creamier colour that’s not too white. A root gloss is always good to finish and sometimes I’ll add in lowlights depending on how much depth is wanted.”
Why is dirty blonde lower maintenance than brighter blondes?
“It’s a softer more natural look,” for a start, says King. “You’re not trying to achieve a bleached look,” which can be time consuming and more damaging for our hair. And you’ll need to colour it less often. “Whenever you’ve got something more lived in and grown out, you won’t need to do your roots as much. You can get away with doing it just twice a year. An icier blonde would be more of a regular six week thing,” says Hersheson.
Is there anything to know before taking the plunge?
This will depend very much on your starting hair colour. “If you’ve got a very, very dark base, it’ll be a lot more work to get it to a dirty blonde,” says Hersheson. But if you’re anywhere from mid brown to light blonde, it’s much less tricky. In which case, “it’s more a matter of adding more highlights or lowlights,” says King, depending on whether your hair naturally sits lighter or darker than dirty blonde. “The lowlights are usually created with semi permanent colour, so it fades out easily and seamlessly and it would just be a matter of adding more highlights if you wanted to go brighter again,” she adds.
What products would you recommend for taking care of it?
It goes without saying that you want to avoid anything overly stripping on freshly coloured hair. “I’d suggest investing in good hair care more than styling products to prolong the colour and make sure it doesn’t fade out as much,” says Hersheson who recommends Kerastase’s Chromatique Reflective range to really lock in colour.
What’s your favourite way to style dirty blonde hair?
If you’re going dirty blonde, you might as well roll with the nonchalant vibes and make it a little messy. “Colour in general looks better when there’s a bit more movement,” says Hersheson. Which means poker straight is out. “You can see more of the depth and contrast of the colour when there’s movement. So something like a loose wave or a little bit of texture, will look best.”
Not sure where to begin? Be sure to book in for a consultation with your colourist to lay out your best options - many salons are taking video and phone consultations so you can be ready to go as soon as salons reopen. But for now, here’s all of the dirty blonde inspiration you need, courtesy of the red carpet…
ShutterstockProving that dirty blonde can work for every occasion (even the Oscar’s after party), Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s sleek style is giving us serious hair envy.
ShutterstockA full-fringe might not be for everyone, but naturally Elizabeth Olsen pulls it off flawlessly. Dark roots and lighter ends give this 70’s inspired cut a 2019 update.
ShutterstockKarlie Kloss’s dirty blonde colour makes for the perfect off-duty fashion week look with minimal styling necessary.
ShutterstockHere comes Jennifer Aniston serving up yet another killer hair look, this time while attending an LA film premiere. Opting for slightly icier tones keeps hair looking fresh and less brassy.
ShutterstockNot all dirty blonde styles have to be balayage, you know? We love the way Rosamund Pike gives her all-over dirty blonde colour some life with a stylish middle parting and loose waves.
ShutterstockAmanda Seyfried’s trademark golden locks have taken a slightly darker turn of late, and we’re not complaining.
ShutterstockOur love for Doutzen Kroes knows no bounds and her natural-looking tousled tresses are giving us all of the dark blonde hair inspo we need.
ShutterstockWhile attending a London-based dinner, model Arizona Muse showed off a longer and lighter hairstyle, and we are here for it. Her new caramel colour lends itself to a sleek shoulder-length style that can be worn multiple ways.
ShutterstockSuki Waterhouse’s signature retro bangs aren’t the only thing that put her ‘do on our inspiration board. Her multi-tonal colour is the perfect balance between blonde and brunette, and this undone style is so perfectly low-key glam we can’t even deal.
ShutterstockWhile Lily James might be most-loved in the beauty community for her next-level brows, this undone blonde style is what summer hair dreams are made of.
ShutterstockKeeping roots blended and dark just like Emily Blunt means you don’t have to worry about regrowth or return trips to the salon – chic and low maintenance.
ShutterstockIs there a beauty look that J. Lo can’t pull off? At this year’s Vanity Fair Oscar’s Party, the queen of glam styled out her light locks in voluminous waves. Go for caramel tones if you're looking to dip your toe into blonde-dom and warm up brunette tresses for summer.
ShutterstockCould Gisele get any cooler? Her sun-kissed colour gives off the sort of California-cool vibes that we can’t get enough off come summer. To attend a gala in LA, Gisele Bundchen styled her laid-back locks in a classic Hollywood side sweep with face-framing waves.
ShutterstockWe’re used to seeing Victoria’s Secret model Martha Hunt with a glamorous blow-out, so when she sported this textured, toned-down look during the Cannes Film Festival we were left heart-eyed.
ShutterstockWhen your hair is naturally very dark, going blonde is no mean feat, but Halle Berry’s golden tint makes it look like it should be easy. Caramel tones that frame the face give off the kind of beachy, sun-tinted vibes that we long for.
ShutterstockDon’t mind us – we’re just ordering every chopstick styler out there so that we can recreate Blake Lively’s dreamy bronde curls.
