Your ultimate guide to blonde highlights and the prettiest celebrity inspiration to take to your next appointment

Root stretch
Pattara offers this treatment at Salon64 which promises to ‘transform Nineties highlights to a seamless natural look by adding a fake root and melting it into multiple blonde, brunette and even bronde tones so the colour ‘just happens’ almost as if you are using a blending brush to blur a smokey eye.’

Bronde
The clue’s in the name – it’s the perfect merge of blonde and brunette shades, ideal for dark-haired clients wanting to go lighter.

Ecaille
This is French for tortoiseshell, so think more caramel, golden blonde highlight application where lighter colours are mixed with darker shades of honey, amber, and chocolate brown.

What type of blonde highlights should I get and how do I know if highlights will suit me?

“Trust your colourists advice,” says Birmingham. Adding: “During the consultation they will consider your skin tone, complexion, eye colour, natural hair colour and more – this will help them advise you on what will be best for you! I always advise going only a few shades lighter than your natural colour for a seamless finish – this will also help with your roots when the begin to grow,” Birmingham says.

What should I do or ask before getting blonde highlights?

“It is important to consider the maintenance required for blondes before taking the plunge with highlights,” warns Birmingham. “You will need to visit the salon regularly. There is always the option of adding lighter pieces to your hair using extensions instead of adding colour. I love to create custom colour blends with extensions to lighten the hair and add depth and dimension without compromising the condition of the hair with the use of colour,” says Birmingham.

Can you do blonde highlights at home?

There’s a reason why there are colour specialists in salons, they’ve been expertly trained in mixing shades and tones together and they’re a dab hand at applying them using the most up-to-date techniques. We recommend always choosing to have your blonde highlights done in a salon. There are ways you can prolong your colour at home by making sure you use special silver and purple shampoos and conditioners as well as regular leave-in hair masks and treatments and blonde toners.

How do I look after them?

“Blonde highlighted hair needs lots of TLC. It tends to be dry and damaged from the lightening process and can feel dehydrated if not taken care of properly,” says Birmingham. “ It’s important to focus on scalp care each week to ensure hair grows healthy. Apply a nourishing hair mask once per week to help hydrate the ends of the hair is a must for all blondes, as is using the correct shampoo and conditioner. I recently launched my own Jay B Haircare Shampoo and Conditioner that work for all hair types. They are extremely hydrating and contain both Macadamia Oil and Avocado Oil to restore and strengthen hair – perfect for blondes,” adds Birmingham.

Keep scrolling for the blonde highlight looks you’re going to want to show your colourist at your next appointment…