Everyone knows that blonde hair is high maintenance if you’re a natural brunette, but it’s hard work if you’re a natural blonde too. Blondes need a more intense haircare routine to protect against damage and keep the colour bright, but why? Express.co.uk chatted to Leading Colourist and founder of The Hair Boss, Lisa Shepherd, to find out how YOU can look after your blonde hair.
Nearly 30 percent of Brits are naturally blonde and nearly half are natural brunettes.
If you walk down the street, you’re bound to see just as many blondes as brunettes, so it’s obvious that lots of us are bleaching our hair to achieve a golden look.
Whether you dye your hair blonde or you’re blessed with fair locks naturally, you’ll need to up your hair care routine to keep your hair in tiptop shape.
According to hair colourist and founder of The Hair Boss, faux and real blondes BOTH need to give their hair some extra love.
The reason why blonde hair needs more TLC
Blonde hair, whether natural or bleached, tends to just be a little more fragile, according to Lisa.
The haircare expert said: “Those with blonde hair often have a finer texture which can be prone to snapping or snagging easily.
“To deter breakages, it does need more love than other hair colours.”
In the summer or when you’re on holiday, all blondes need to protect their hair from the sun and chlorine.
Lisa said: “Anyone with bleached or coloured hair needs to ensure they are being careful on holidays.
“Natural blondes also need to give their hair some extra care and attention in the sun or in the pool.
“Blondes should really consider wearing a hat to fully protect their hair from damage or colour distortion.
“In addition, minerals can linger on hair and appear to change the colour, it’s important to detox and cleanse these out after a day popping in and out of chlorine.
“The Hair Boss Blonde Brightener does this in 20 minutes and you can visibly see the change.”
After you’ve used a brightener, follow up with a gentle cleansing shampoo and a deep conditioning mask to prevent dehydration and keep your locks supple.
If you’re blonde, you’ve probably heard of purple shampoo and may even have a bottle in your bathroom.
Purple shampoos “absolutely do work”, according to Lisa, but you need to use them sparingly.
The hair colourist said: “If you use them too much, they can make the hair look flat, dull and dry.
“It’s much easier to control the level of the tone being used via a colour corrector drop – this way you can control the brass when, and only when, it’s needed.
“Our corrector drops can be added to your normal shampoo or conditioner, saving you from purchasing another.”
Lisa recommends a thorough four-step routine, it is thorough but doesn’t take lots of time and will keep your hair in excellent condition.
Step 1: Pre-Shampoo
If you have a build-up of dirt and oil, a good scalp scrub pre-shampoo will quickly get all that grime out.
It works like an exfoliator for the scalp and is especially recommended for those who use Dry Shampoos or anyone who suffers from dandruff.
Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp.
Step 2: Cleanse
In the cleansing stage, it’s important to select a shampoo that suits your hair needs and restores balance to your hair.
In the same way you wash your face, your scalp and hair need the same treatment to remove oils and dirt.
Blondes will benefit from a shampoo that can cleans whilst nourishing the dry strands such as The Hair Boss Overworked Shampoo.
Step 3: Condition
If your hair has been lightened, you need to be utilising hair structure repair masks and overnight treatments to bring hair back to life.
Even if you’re a natural blonde, a good conditioner will help you to strengthen weak strands as well as improving the appearance of your hair.
Step 4: Style
This stage is too often missed but this added TLC to the hair and scalp is what helps you achieve the ultimate #hairgoals.
If you do have overly processed, dry hair, this is where you can improve the appearance of your strands.
A shine spray can be your best friend as this product smoothens the cuticle which gives hair an intense shine with a glossy look and smoother finish.
Make sure you use a heat defence to protect against pollutants and heat and leave hair feeling fresh and healthy.
