7 New Trends Giving

Your Blonde Hair A 2018 Overhaul  

From toasted coconut to cream soda, these are the 2018 blonde trends you need to know about.

Whether you're a do-it-yourself gal, or a 'spend your whole month's salary in the salon' kind of woman, having blonde hair is basically a full-time commitment. So, what to do if you want to change it up without undoing all your hard work and time in the hairdresser's chair? Go for the latest twist on a classic, that's what. We spoke to the genius behind Kate Bosworth's perfect platinum and Elizabeth Olsen's golden locks, Creative Colour Director of Color Wow and John Frieda Salons, Nicola Clarke, and the coolest woman in hair and Georgia May Jagger's BFF, Creative Director of BLEACH London Alex Brownsell to let you in on the new blonde hair updates you need to know for 2018. Because being blonde isn't a choice, it's a way of life. 1. ICY WHITE IS IN Between Cara, Karlie and K-Stew (we're sensing a trend...) icy white hair is back big time for 2018. But if you want to avoid getting a buzz cut, you need to do it right. 'Discuss with your hairstylist what you want - how blonde you want to go and whether you're willing to change the shape of your hair,' says Nicola, 'Bleach damages your hair so a lot of the time you might need to cut a decent amount of hair off to keep it looking healthy.' And if you're not willing to go for the chop? 'Ask your stylist to use Olaplex when they dye your hair to help keep it in good condition - it'll mean you need to cut less off post-bleach.' It's all about your hair history as well, 'How blonde your hair looks after it's bleached all depends on what you've done to your hair in the past three years,' says Nicola. Keep your blonde on point by... Using a sulphate-free shampoo like Color Wow Color Security, and a purple shampoo once a week to remove any brassiness. 'Guaranteed after you bleach your hair you'll only need to wash it once a week because all those natural oils that your scalp produces will be sucked up by your hair', says Nicola. 2. ...BUT YELLOW BLONDE IS BACK Ok yes, the Cara crew have brought white blonde hair back to the masses, but there's an underground blonde trend rebelling against it that we're sensing is going to be big. Yup, yellow blonde is back. 'It used to be about getting your hair whiter than white because it was so unattainable,' says BLEACH creative director and rainbow hair pioneer Alex Brownsell. 'Golden shades with warmer tones all over is the new platinum.' Think Georgia May Jagger's creamy champagne blonde and you've got it. The best bit? It's way better for you hair than bleaching it. 'If you're naturally fair haired ask for a high lift tint from your hairdresser instead of highlights or bleach. It'll have a less dramatic effect at first, but wait three months and it'll get lighter, whereas bleach gets duller,' says Alex, 'I call it the 'no bleach bleach' and it's what I do to my own hair.' Keep your blonde on point by... Using BLEACH London's Bold As Brass Super Cool Hair Colour, £6 to add neutral warmer shades. 3. CREAM SODA BLONDE Is it even a beauty trend if it's not named after something delicious and edible? Stepping up to the likes of PSL skincare and coffee-infused nail varnish is the oh so sweet sounding 'Cream Soda' blonde hair trend. Somewhere between blonde and brunette, 'Cream Soda' hair is the brainchild of LA-based hairstylist to the stars Sunnie Brook. Telling Refinery29 that it's the shade all her celeb clients are asking for, Brook described the shade as having 'beige brown and warm gold tones to it'. The best bit? It supposedly makes your face look way better. Yup, the specific golden highlights are meant to have a brightening effect, so you can get that 'lit from within' look our Monday morning selves never quite nail. 4. TOASTED COCONUT BLONDE Can't decide which blonde you want? Fear not, for Toasted Coconut is the covers-all-bases blonde made for your ever changing style choices. Even more delicious-sounding than Cream Soda, Toasted Coconut combines grungey grown out (or dyed in) roots, creamy blonde lengths and icy white tips for a look that nails the au naturel balayage vibe whilst also being totally badass. 'It's a very rich, dark root that softly transitions and melts into blonder ends,' explained US colourist Ami Rexroth to Allure. The best bit? It's seriously low maintenance. The more your roots grow out, the toastier the top of your Toasted Coconut blonde becomes. Simply use a purple shampoo to keep the ends icy white and you're good to go. 5. SEMI-PERMANENT PASTELS Rainbow pastels are still going strong - why? Because they look so great, that's why! 'Once you've got your blonde, why not play with semi-permanent toners to get different pastel colours,' says Nicola. 'As long as your blonde isn't too yellow, you can pretty much try whatever colour you like.' How to do it at home? Read on because this is basically the most genius thing we've ever heard... 'To get a bespoke colour that lasts, squeeze a big tube of cheap conditioner into a pump and add drops of your chosen colours, then mix together and keep adding colour until you've got the shade you want. It's exactly like mixing icing. Then keep it in the shower, and once a week use that instead of your normal conditioner to boost your pastel hair when it starts to fade or bleached blonde hair a rainbow overhaul.' Minds. Blown. The hottest pastels right now according to Nicola? 'I like mixing a bit of red, orange and a tiny bit of purple together for a rose gold colour. I'm all about those peachy, dusky rose colours right now.' Keep your blonde on point by... Avoiding blue and green tones if you don't want to commit. They're almost impossible to wash out and the only sure fire way to cover them is with straight up red dye. You've been warned. 6. 'CHAMPAGNE POP' BLONDE Just as delicious-sounding as Cream Soda blonde but with a much cooler undertone, 'Champagne Pop' blonde is the latest way to work ashy hair with a BECCA highlighter-inspired twist. Mixing warmer tones of champagne blonde with streaks of ash and platinum tones, 'Champagne Pop' is the way to work pale blonde hair if you want a more au naturel multi-tonal feel (and you're not so up for bleaching your strands to possible death). Look to hair chameleon and actress Emma Roberts for inspo. Keep your blonde on point by... Being patient. According to Riawna Capri, colourist at Nine Zero One Salon and the woman behind Roberts' new 'Champagne Pop' colour, three is the lucky number for salon sessions before you can truly achieve this mix of shades without ruining your hair. 7. THE A-LIST BALAYAGE If you're more of a low-key blonde and an all over rainbow pastel 'do isn't quite you, then balayage is probably already your go-to for that Jessica Alba caramel blonde. Add an extra level of celeb to the situation with carefully placed shadows and highlights - trust us, it'll look way expensive. 'I really love that 'been on the beach' look where it's brunette towards the top and blonder on the ends,' says Nicola. 'Ask your hairdresser to paint on darker shades around your face to frame it, and blonder tones in the lengths.' Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Sounds beaut, but what's the celeb part? 'Bespoke colour is what you want. I always add a shadow at the roots and ribbons of light through the lengths', says Nicola, 'It gives the look more depth and dimension which always looks expensive and way more polished.' Keep your blonde on point by... Asking for a range of tones and leaving some of your natural hair colour exposed - it'll look like your hair but way better. Lily Aldridge eat your heart out.