FROM icy white to honey-hued, there are endless blonde shades to choose from, so how do you find the one that's right for you?
"Colour consultation has really moved on from traditional guidelines, so it's a bit of a myth that someone with, for instance, pale skin and blue eyes should be one type of blonde, compared to someone with darker skin and brown eyes" says Christel Lundqvist, Founder of STIL Salon (www.stil-salon.com). "Colour is bespoke to every individual, taking into account their personal fashion style and lifestyle as well."
That said, there are still some guidelines colourists agree you should follow before hitting the bottle (or the salon).
From selecting a shade to maintaining your mane, these are the pros' top five tips for achieving Goldilocked perfection...
1 COMPLEMENT YOUR COMPLEXION
"When deciding which kind of blonde would best work for a client, I like to first identify their skin tone," explains Danielle Llewellyn, UK hair ambassador for eSalon.
"Skin tones generally fall into two categories, warm or cool. Warm skin has yellow, golden, or peach undertones, while cool skin tones look pink, blue, or beige. With hair colour, you'll find the most flattering effect when you complement it with tones opposite of your skin tone. For example, if you have warm skin, try cool blonde colours containing violet, blue, or neutral tones. For cool skin, try blondes containing golden or red tones."
2 LOOK BEFORE YOU BLEACH
"Look around at other people that have similar hair colour, skin colour and eye colour to you, as a reference for what you think will suit you," advises Schwarzkopf LIVE colour ambassador Lyndell Mansfield.
"Most people know what makes them feel good when they wear colour, and generally that is the colour that would suit them best," says Lundqvist.
"Our clients are very aware what suits them, and it's rare they're dead set on shades that wouldn't be suitable - but, of course, we're there to guide and steer in the right direction."
3 ASK THE EXPERTS
"Going from brunette to blonde in one sitting can create unwanted damage and hair breakage," warns Llewellyn.
"If you're thinking of lifting or lightening hair more than two levels, it may be best to visit a salon, so your hair can be cared for under the watchful eye of a colourist."
4 REMEMBER YOUR ROOTS
"If you're after a look that's a little more low-key in maintenance, highlights are great, as the re-growth is often softer when it grows out," Lundqvist recommends.
"A full head of colour, especially if it's bright, will often give a more noticeable re-growth line."
Mansfield says: "If you're an all-over blonde, then always colour your roots before the hair has grown longer than 1.5cm, to get the best colour result and avoid a visible 'band'."
5 LOOK AFTER YOUR LOCKS
"A must for every bottle blonde is a purple toning shampoo to counteract brassiness. Toning shampoos work wonders towards reducing unwanted warm or golden tones," Llewellyn says.
DYE-IT-YOURSELF WITH THESE AT-HOME HEROES...
:: Schwarzkopf LIVE Intense Lightener 00B Max Blonde, £5.49, Superdrug (www.superdrug.com)
:: Colour Freedom Cream Bleach, £7.99, Superdrug (www.superdrug.com)
:: Nice'n Easy Permanent Colour 9.5 Natural Extra Light Blonde, £5.99, Boots (www.boots.com)
:: L'Oreal Paris Recital Preference Permanent Hair Colour in California, £9.49 (FeelUnique.com)
KEEP THAT COLOUR FRESH WITH...
:: TIGI Catwalk Fashionista Violet Shampoo, £9.75, and Conditioner, £11.15 (LookFantastic.com)
:: eSalon Tinted Love Colour Enhanching Treatment, £11 (www.esalon.co.uk)
:: Mane 'n Tail Color Protect Shampoo and Conditioner, £6.99 each, Boots (www.boots.com)
:: Sachajuan Silver Shampoo, £20 (Escentual.com)
TRIED AND TESTED
:: Can SensatioNail's starter kit really turn run-of-the-mill polishes into long-lasting gel? Gemma Dunn finds out...
"If glossy nails are your thing, but traipsing to the local salon is not, rest assured you can get the perfect DIY home mani (at a fraction of the price), thanks to the clever people over at SensatioNail. Dubious? It takes some effort – a good 20-30 minutes if you want to achieve decent results – but the kit certainly delivers, plus it provides the ideal clear-out solution for any neglected polishes lying around.
Essentially, the kit comes with a bottle of 'magical' clear gel polish that can be used as a top coat or mixed with a nail polish, in equal parts, before being cured under the nifty LED lamp in just 30 seconds.
The results: shiny, smooth, chip-free nails for, in my case, an impressive 10 days. Top tips include using a piece of tin foil to line the mixing pot and opting for opaque colours. If you run out, the little bottle of transformer can be bought separately – hurrah!"
:: SensatioNail Polish To Gel Transformer Starter Kit, £49.99 (www.sensationail.co.uk)
BUY IT NOW
Fashion photographer Sarah Moon has turned her focus on make-up, collaborating with NARS on a stunning capsule collection. Inspired by the 1927 silent film Metropolis, the 15-piece range features cool grey and purple eyeshadows, complemented by a trio of rich red lip colours and nail polishes.
:: NARS Moon Matte Lipstick in Rouge Indiscret, £21; Nail Polish in La Dame En Noir, £15 (www.narscosmetics.co.uk)
:: MAX FACTOR'S BLIP SERVICE
Max Factor has partnered with visual discovery app Blippar, meaning users can get tips and info on every single one of the brand's products, simply by scanning it. Whether you're umming and ahhing in store over which mascara is best for you, or need the low-down on that liquid eyeliner you've just bought, scan (or 'blip') the barcode and it'll bring up make-up artist advice, reviews and more. Download Blippar from the App Store or Google Play now.
STEAL OF THE WEEK
To mark Movember – when men are encouraged to grow a 'mo for charity – Iluminage is going against the grain and encouraging women to zap unwanted hair instead. Throughout November, the Iluminage Precise Touch Permanent Hair Reduction device is reduced to £205 from £240, and 5 per cent of sales will be donated to The Movember Foundation (www.iluminagebeauty.co.uk).
