Buttercream blonde is a soft, sun-kissed hue featuring ribbons of warm and cool tones that creates the appearance of natural sun-kissed skin tones, while being suitable for both light and dark hair types.
If you’re considering lightening up this year, stylists advise using a buttery gold or rich Champagne hue such as this to help ensure a seamless transition. Just be sure to use products safe for color-treated strands when choosing shampoo and conditioner!
Getting Started
Buttercream blonde is a natural, cream-toned hue with plenty of depth and dimension, thanks to the combination of warm and cool highlights that can flatter different skin tones. Additionally, buttercream blonde can help enhance any blonde look without going too dark or bleachy.
While it’s easier to achieve this color if your locks are already blonde, it is certainly achievable with darker locks as long as you plan ahead and discuss with your stylist.
Deanna Barth, Joico Brand Educator and blonde expert will host an Instagram Live on January 31st to demonstrate this season’s most fashionable take on the trend: tonering hair color to achieve radiant yet natural-looking results that you can maintain at home. She’ll share placement techniques and formulas for creating natural-looking strands at home, plus tips on maintaining them through appropriate haircare for color-treated locks.
Preparing Your Hair
Buttercream blonde, a warm-toned version of blonde that’s becoming increasingly popular this year, has quickly gained momentum this year. Reminiscent of rich cake frosting, this delicious hue flatters many skin tones while being easier to maintain than more vibrant hues like ash or platinum blondes.
For optimal blonde strands, invest in color-safe shampoo and conditioner specifically formulated to treat colored hair. Switching products helps neutralize yellow and brassy tones that may appear between salon visits, keeping your lightened locks looking their best!
For an effortless natural look, opt for a root smudge (an in-salon technique that involves blending darker pigments with lighter sections of your hair). Or add sun-kissed ribbons with sun-kissed balayage or babylights that resemble the strands of toasty bread!
Dyeing Your Hair
If you’re considering going blonde, Buttercream might be just what you need. This blend of warm and cool blonde tones looks sun-kissed and suits a range of complexions. Grummel advises working with your stylist to gradually lighten your base color several shades prior to adding full highlights; this will ensure that your new shade is truly rich blonde instead of brassy yellow.
Introducing purple conditioner into your hair-care regimen may help your blonde strands from appearing yellow or orange and help prevent unwanted tones, keeping them radiant, healthy and beautiful.
Have an extra box of your go-to at-home hair dye handy to touch up any necessary touch-ups between salon visits. Or use products like Redken Shades EQ Hair Gloss to maintain vibrant blonde strands at home for regular touch ups!
Post-Dye Care
Careing for blonde hair requires extra special consideration compared to caring for other hues. Salt, chlorine and minerals found in your locks may oxidize their color and introduce brassy tones into the mix if left unchecked.
Your stylist may suggest using a demi or semi-permanent gloss to maintain a warm, soft tone in between salon visits, thereby helping avoid harsh lines between highlights and roots.
Mushroom blonde is an emerging trend. This striking shade consists of a blend of grayish-brown and neutral blonde with various highlight and lowlight tones, ideal for those seeking an ultra-natural shade that’s easy to maintain. It goes well with most skin tones, especially if your initial hair color is lighter; using techniques like balayage or color melt.
Touch-Ups
While Cowboy copper has gained immense traction, another warmer variation called buttercream blonde is quickly gaining ground. The golden hue looks sun-kissed and tends to flatter various skin tones.
Mallett suggests using Madison Reed temporary root concealer, such as this Madison Reed temporary formula, for any pesky gray roots that appear between coloring sessions.
She also loves Redken Shades EQ hair gloss, which helps correct brassy tones, revive faded color and add high-shine to blonde strands in between appointments. This toner works wonderfully on various blonde tones including platinum. Additionally, there’s even an inbuilt conditioner to maintain healthy and strong locks!
