How I Blonde
I’ve had every shade of blonde hair there is — from platinum to dark warm blonde to this natural-looking blonde I have now.
I made the mistake of going brunette 6 years ago for 6 months and I will never do it again. It was on a whim and I didn’t fully prepare myself (or Ryan) for the surprise I’d see in the mirror. It didn’t suit me — I am a blonde, inside and out. I spent a year (and so much money) getting back to blonde while maintaining the integrity of my hair. If you are looking to go lighter, definitely do it slowly! While I hated it at the time, I’m glad I did it in steps because I still had hair at the end of the process.
I’m not a hairstylist but since I’ve been a (bottle) blonde since I was old enough to dye my hair, I’ve tried products and accumulated some knowledge on how to keep my blonde healthy and bright.
- Schwarzkopf Color Freeze Silver Shampoo. This is my OG, Holy Grail purple shampoo and I have tried them all. I only wash my hair twice a week and for one of those washes I add the silver shampoo. I’ll wash with my regular shampoo, rinse then wash with the silver shampoo and leave it on for 3-5 minutes depending on how brassy my hair is looking. It’s important not to use the purple shampoo every time you wash — you’d just be depositing more and more product onto you hair causing your blonde to look darker/duller. I’ve found that once a week works perfectly for me to maintain the tone I want long after my hair appointment.
- Biolage Colorlast Shampoo & Conditioner. This is my current shampoo and conditioner. I haven’t found a tried and true favorite yet — I enjoy trying new ones — but I like this brand and the way it cleans and conditions my hair.
- Schwarzkopf Color Freeze Spray Conditioner. This is the same pH 4.5 formula as the silver shampoo. It boasts bringing your hair to the optimal pH level to help prevent color fade and brassiness. I do see a bit of a difference in tone when I use it; so I only use it when I don’t use the purple shampoo.
- Olaplex Hair Perfector Treatment. I do an Olaplex treatment every other week. It helps to repair damaged hair by strengthening it from within. Being a blonde can be super damaging to your hair integrity, Olaplex helps to rebuild the broken bonds caused by bleach. My hair feels so refreshes immediately following the treatment.
- Coconut Oil. I use coconut oil for everything — to remove my eye makeup, prevent stretch marks during pregnancy, in my baking and as a hair mask. I slather on my dry hair and leave it on for hours, sometimes even overnight. Then I wash it out (I’ll do two washes) and my hair is super soft and smooth.
- Joico Blonde Life Brightening Veil. I love this product. I use it on my dry hair prior to using hot tools. It protects from heat and smells so good!
- Wet Brush. My favorite brush. Since I do so much damage to my hair by bleaching it and using hot tools, I need a brush that’s not going to further damage my hair while detangling.
