The infamous blonde vs. brunette battle is one for the ages.
Every year as the temperature starts to drop, you’re thinking ‘okay time for a change,’ with darker richer locks being the obvious choice to achieve healthy nourished hair after a summer-long of highlights, salt spray, and sun damage.
But before undergoing any kind of change comes research, and preferably of the before-and-after variety to know what we’re getting ourselves in for. And who better to draw inspiration from than celebrities who can afford to experiment with their looks from week to week? Our thoughts exactly.
Before you make a change
Gather your inspiration: If you’re considering taking the plunge, collating inspo not only helps you figure out what you really want but also ensures that you and your hair stylist are on the same page come appointment day.
“Be receptive to the stylist in their advice about how to get there. It may take more than one visit to achieve the look you want. Don’t be impatient and think you can go full platinum Kim Kardashian in one visit unless you have a dedicated colourist willing to work all day, lots of money and a very hardy scalp,” says Miss FQ beauty editor Megan Bedford.
Commit to your decision: Cost, maintenance and how often you change your hair should be kept in mind when making the dramatic change. If you like to chop and change your colour often, perhaps opt for highlights/lowlights instead.
“Blonde to brunette is marginally less damaging however I’d say make sure you’re sure – it’s so much harder to reverse the process,” says Megan.
Embrace the process: Another important consideration when transitioning from one to the other is managing your expectations. A change as dramatic from going from blonde to brunette, or vice versa, takes time and likely several attempts to get right.
“Going blonde or a few strategically placed highlights can be really useful for those with fine hair types as it inevitably roughs the strands slightly, resulting in thicker texture, look and feel,” says Megan. “That said, it follows that the process isn’t the kindest, so a more gentle approach afterwards with the right shampoo and a good conditioning mask once a week will really help with any hair type that’s been chemically lightened.”
Prepare for maintenance: Newfound blondes go brassy, while brunettes fade – it’s a simple fact of life, people. But don’t let these realities hold you back. You can always talk to your stylist about which products, treatments and care you can be doing to maintain your fresh lid without frequently booking back in.
Shares Megan: “Follow up care is the key to keeping the shade salon-fresh even weeks post colouring. If you’re finding too many yellow to gold tones in your blonde, a purple shampoo can help brighten it up to a more brilliant creamy colour. ”
Megan’s recommends Fanola No Yellow Shampoo, $35; Fudge Clean Blonde Shampoo, $23.50
“For brunette, copper or brassy yellow tones can come up too, particularly on ombre finishes so a coloured brunette shampoo can keep things the way you want them. Shine and dullness can also be a problem so if the colour is looking good, something that offers a bit of radiance is ideal.”
