I’m willing to bet that you gasped when you scrolled to Billie Eilish’s recent Instagram post debuting platinum blonde hair, shared just days after taking home two Grammy awards at the 63rd annual ceremony. Or perhaps that’s a given since the photo has quickly become one of the top-ten most-liked Instagram photos of all time. The 19-year-old looks all sorts of fabulous, and I’d be lying if I didn’t stop to consider if I, too, could pull off the icy blonde look (I can’t, but a girl can dream).
I digress, but as insanely fabulous as she looks, what’s not pictured is the meticulous upkeep that goes into maintaining the color: a whole new product regimen, preventative measures before heat styling, changes to your styling routine, and the list goes on. Fear not; you can do it, but it would definitely help to take notes ahead of your salon appointment. Ahead, GRAZIA spoke with hairstylists from coast to coast, who’ve shared their biggest tips for blondes, along with their favorite products.
1. use purple shampoo and conditioner
Purple shampoo and conditioner are an obligatory investment for blondes to maintain their color in between appointments. Why? Brooklyn-based hairstylist Devin Rahal can explain. “The underlying pigment of a platinum is pale yellow,” he begins. “To counteract the remaining pale yellow pigment, toners are used to achieve the desired look. As time goes by, you wash, style, etc., the salon toner fades out, and you’re left with that pale banana-yellow. That’s where purple shampoos and conditioners come in to save the day. They aren’t as pigmented or permanent as in-salon toners, but they help maintain and correct the warmth.”
2. RESIST THE URGE TO WASH
Platinum blondes should limit washes to “one to two days a week max,” says NYC-based hairstylist Zuleika Acosta. She explains that since bleached hair is often dry and porous, “using a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner is key, because sulfates not only strip the hair from unwanted dirt and oil, but they strip the hair of natural good oils as well. Over time, this dries hair out.”
3. Get TOUCH-ups…frequently
Be sure that your schedule allows for frequent visits to the salon because Acosta best describes platinum blonde hair as “high maintenance.” Per the stylist, mark your calendar to remind yourself to mask once a week and get a touch-up every four to six weeks. Doing so will help you avoid banding, which is when the roots lighten at a different temperature than the rest of your hair, creating a dark band between the old and newly lightened hair (AKA, a hairstylist’s worst nightmare, and more time in which you have to sit in the chair).
4. Protect your strands at All Costs
International Davines hair showcase artist James Abu-Ulba recommends thoroughly researching your prospective heat protectant before you add it to your cart. You should look for a product that offers “maximum protection,” specifically one that prevents damage caused by heat tools and UVA and UVB rays. “I also look to see what temperature the heat protection can withstand,” he adds. “The higher, the better, of course.”
5. Limit Heat Exposure
As much as you may love your current hair straightener or curling iron, it’s imperative that you own a tool with an adjustable heat setting.”You have to be super careful using heat on platinum hair,” Monique Hale, founder and owner of Extension Bar LA warns me via email. “Never turn it higher than 350 degrees. Rollers are a nice alternative to curling because they don’t use as much heat.”
6. treat your hair from the inside out
Bleaching your hair can weaken and damage your strands, which is why a strengthening treatment is a must-have investment. Hale—among countless other stylists—recommends Olaplex No.3. “Use it once a week and leave it in for ten minutes,” she explains. “I have had clients use this for many years because it is more than just a conditioning treatment. Leaving it in for just ten minutes strengthens the hair follicle and gets inside the hair shaft to make the hair stronger and healthier over time—not just coating the hair to make it soft.”
7. Prep for a dip in the pool
Yes, the rumors are true: chlorine and saltwater can interfere with the health and the color of your blonde strands, potentially tinting it green. But blonde specialist and educational director Emma Nare of Maggie Murphy Salon has a helpful hack. “Use purple conditioner mixed with water in a spray bottle and spray your hair before you get in the ocean or pool,” she suggests via Instagram DM. “Your hair absorbs the mixture instead of the salt or chlorine.”
