White Blonde Hair Color Ideas that Look Vibrant in Any Light

@tressesbytress

“The difference is is that platinum blonde typically show hues of warmth,” says Jaz España, colorist & extension specialist at BlackStones Salon. “While white blonde has far fewer signs of warmth, reflecting cooler tones and icy hues.”

Now that that's out of the way, it’s safe to say we'll be using the term “white blonde” more often—and you might be too, especially after you see the inspiration below. But remember: A color like this requires maintenance after you leave the salon chair, so read on before you dial up your colorist. Ahead, 25 of our favorite ways to wear the white blonde hair trend.

Sleek Bob

Depending on your natural hair color, there’s a good chance you’ll be lightening by more than two shades. The best way to achieve the look is via double process (your colorist will bleach your hair first to remove pigment from the hair, then add pigment to give you the desired shade and dimension). Of course, you should leave the coloring to the pros—but a sleek, easy-to-style bob will make everyday styling a breeze.

Contrasting Roots

Contrasting roots is one of the biggest hair trends, and the look can stay a bit more consistent if you find it harder to fit touch-up appointments into your schedule. The bright-white hue is finished off with smooth, blunt ends for a spectacular finished product. We approve.

Tousled Perfection

@vanessahudgens

We love the look of white blonde hair on a warmer skin tone. And if you’re worried about making your eyebrows match? Don’t. According to brow stylist Joey Healy, you might need to lighten your brows a shade or two, but overall, it’s recommended to leave your brows natural (even dyeing your brows lighter is a visual adjustment that can take some getting used to).

Blended Curls

@goldenbarbie

Nervous about taking the plunge into full-on white blonde? (We know, it’s a little intimidating.) Ease into the trend by trying an ombré style that’s slightly darker and ashier at the top and pure, icy perfection on the ends. This blend looks stunning on naturally curly hair, and as an added bonus, the shade variation works well for when your roots are showing in between color appointments.

Soft to the Touch

You know you’re putting your hair through the wringer when you make a big color change—but that certainly doesn’t mean you should expect fried, damaged hair at the end. Even though platinum and white blonde hair can take several sessions with a colorist to perfect (including bleaching and toning), it's possible for the result to be so soft that you'd never be able to tell—your colorist should use treatments during the process (like hair professional-favorite Wella hair cream), and you can also maintain the health of your locks with frequent deep conditioning masks.

Sleek & Straight

If you’re going for an allover icy blonde, you might as well show it off, and nothing complements a bold new hue more than a sleek, straight style. (Just make sure you have a great hair straightener in your toolkit.)

Bright-White Waves

The idea of white blonde hair can sound severe, but you can soften it daily with a good beach-wave technique. And remember—the process doesn’t stop when you leave the salon chair. Remember to use the right shampoo and conditioner for your newly color-treated hair.

Piecey Long Bob

Depending on your natural shade and texture, your colorist can use a few techniques to attain your perfect white-blonde shade. A piecey style can be achieved with the AirTouch technique—a way to distribute the color evenly using tension and a blow dryer. Pretty cool, right?

Platinum Afro

If you've been on a natural hair journey for a while and are looking to switch things up while keeping your texture, why not give white blonde hair a try? With proper technique and maintenance, you'll have an unforgettable result that will turn heads just like Solange when she rocked the shade.

Add Some Bangs

If you’re a hair-dye novice, it can be easier to start with a shorter style like a tousled bob: It’s less maintenance, and we love the confident drama of changing your cut and style at the same time. Bangs that effortlessly swoop alongside your texture only add to the major moment.

Retro Vibes

No, you’re not the only one getting major Marilyn Monroe vibes here. A curled, white-blonde bob will have you serving 1950s movie star realness, and what’s not to love about that?

Tousled & Textured

Bouncy, tousled waves will bring out bright white highlights and any other rich hues underneath.

Icy Waves

@sophiet

If you have naturally blonde hair and you’re feeling bored, going white blonde is a great way to get out of your comfort zone while staying true to your roots (no pun intended). Of course, anything lighter than your natural color will require maintenance and root touch-ups, but we love the dimension that natural roots add to Sophie Turner's long, luxe tresses.

Mini Braids

White blonde hair looks just as stunning on natural textures, and pairs particularly well with protective styles like the mini box braids seen here on Zoe Kravitz. This is a great option if you want to minimize damage to your hair, as you can skip the dye and achieve a dramatic change using extensions.

White Babylights

For a more natural-looking final product, ask your colorist for icy babylights, which are delicate highlights achieved with a fine color technique. With a darker base shade, you’ll see warmth while still getting in on the white-blonde trend. Win-win.

Lose the Length

If you’ve experienced damage (or emotional scarring) from previous bad dye jobs, it may be time for a fresh start. (Working with existing color on dry, dead ends is a tall order for even the most experienced colorists.) Move on from your old dye job by losing the length and growing out your natural color—then, hit the salon chair for your new white blonde ‘do.

Ashy Blonde

Love a dirty blonde moment? Take the shade to the next level with snowy, gray- toned highlights throughout. Throw it into an updo for maximum sophistication.

Icy Beach Waves

Combining warmth with ice-cold highlights is the best of both worlds. And if you finish it off with soft, touchable waves, you’ll really feel like you’re at the beach—just make sure you have a good, non-stick beach spray for styling after you leave the salon.

Long Balayage Bob

Like we previously mentioned, most white blonde hair is defined by its cool, icy tones, rather than the warm yellows found in platinum and other blonde shades. You can heat (and soften) it up a bit by letting your roots show and going for a color that mixes warm and cool tones.

Highlight Reel

We totally understand if you’re a little intimidated to go full-on white blonde, which is why we love the idea of sprinkling in icy highlights on an otherwise natural blonde. Tousled layers complement the coloring perfectly.

Dark Roots

We know, we know, it’s a little unfair—there’s a lot of maintenance required for white-blonde hair. (It’s worth it, we promise!) But if you’re not into the idea of regular salon visits or root touch-ups, simply keep your roots dark and go icy on the ends. It’ll look intentional when it grows out.

Short & Chic

Yes, white blonde hair requires the right care and products, but your style doesn’t have to be complicated—especially if you have a naturally relaxed hair texture. If you’re worried about the work involved with your new hue, it’s a good idea to choose an easy, effortless cut that’s low-maintenance enough for your lifestyle—so you can focus your hair budget and energy on preserving your color instead.

Creamy Blonde

The devil is in the details, and it’s all about dimension when you go for white blonde hair. Ask your colorist for balayage and lowlights if you love the idea of something slightly warmer and more eye-catching than allover white.

Blunt Ends

Oh, how we love an icy blonde bob moment. With soft, blunt ends and a rich allover color, you won’t be able to walk down the street without turning heads. (That’s a good thing.)

Two-Toned Glamour

If you're looking to add some dimension to your icy look, go (or stay) dark on the underside for a two-toned finish that feels totally unique. Enjoy how your white blonde hair looks a bit different every way you style it, from subtle waves that let the darker color peek through to an edgier updo that highlights the contrast.

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