What’s my perfect winter blonde? 4 steps to find your ideal shade
Follow our colourists’ expert advice on how to evolve your look for the colder months.
With autumn in full swing and party season just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about how to get your hair ready for winter – and all those social occasions.
For blondes, that often means transitioning away from the colour you’ve had since summer and embracing a new look, aka winter blonde.
“Winter blonde is about breaking up the blonde after summer, giving contrast and depth to the hair, because people are usually fed up with it looking like a block colour after it's been bleached out by the sun or dried from chlorine,” says creative director Julie Harper. “Everyone's thinking about winter fashion, their wardrobe’s changing, so they want something that feels different.”
That doesn’t automatically mean going darker, says creative director Marvyn Duche. “It gets dark in winter and the weather’s miserable as well, so you might want to brighten the hair up a little bit, bring a bit of sun to your hair. I always say, instead of going to the Bahamas, come to the salon to have your balayage done – it’s cheaper than a holiday as well!”
Wondering what’s the best winter blonde look for you? Here, our colourists talk through four key questions to consider when deciding on your new season shade, and advise on how to keep your blonde looking vibrant…
1. WHAT’S TRENDING NOW?
While hair trends will never dictate a colourist’s suggestions at Paul Edmonds London, it can be useful to draw inspiration from red carpet and fashion industry looks when thinking about what sort of winter blonde shade to choose.
“I went to a Redken colour event last week and there was a lot of talk about ‘heritage blonde’, meaning some sections of your natural hair tone being put back through to break up the blonde,” Julie says. “It’s a very Paul Edmonds kind of look – big, bouncy, healthy hair that looks expensive, we always want the hair to look expensive!”
Marvyn agrees. “People are starting to realise that working with their natural undertones is beneficial for the colour and helps to prolong it.”
In terms of blonde shades, Julie says ‘suede blonde’ is another big trend this season. “It's a soft and quite creamy shade, like Millie Mackintosh’s hair. I also love silvery moonlight blondes, and buttery yellow blondes are trending still.”
2. DO YOU SUIT COOL OR WARM BLONDE?
As part of your blonde consultation, your colourist will examine several factors, including your skin tone, to determine whether a cool or warm blonde shade will complement your complexion better.
“As a rule, if someone has cool undertones in their skin, we’ll go more towards the cooler blondes,” Julie says, “but if they've got warm undertones, we’ll go for warm blondes, because that's what's going to suit their skin tone.”
When we talk about warm blonde, clients are sometimes concerned because they associate warmth with brassiness, Marvyn says. “People assume it means yellow or orange, but as a hairdresser, that’s not what we mean.” Warm blondes can be beautiful butter, honey or caramel tones, while cool blondes are ashy or bright white.
“Bella Hadid went really bright blonde at the Victoria's Secret catwalk show recently,” Julie adds, which she believes is the start of a 2026 trend. “I think next year everyone's going to go back really blonde again.”
3. HOW’S YOUR HAIR CONDITION?
During the lightning process, the hair cuticle is lifted and pigment is dissolved, which can cause your strands to become weaker. That’s why it’s important to make sure your hair is strong enough to withstand your winter blonde colour technique, whether that’s all-over colour, balayage or highlights.
“During the consultation we’ll assess the condition of the hair,” Julie explains. “If, for example, it’s really dry and frazzled, we’ll recommend our new K18 treatment. It’s a bonding treatment which strengthens the hair to help the colour last.”
Marvyn recommends following up with regular treatments after your initial colour service to keep the colour fresh and your tresses healthy. “The SAM treatment (Strengthening Acidic Moisture) is really important, as is the L’Oreal Metal Detox, because of the hard water in London. It helps to rebalance the pH of the hair and make your colour last longer.”
4. WHAT’S THE BEST COLOUR PLACEMENT?
The final element to consider when deciding on your ideal winter blonde is the placement of the colour, which is partly determined by your hair cut.
With balayage, where the colour is painted on freehand, and highlights, most blondes opt for a ‘rooted’ look in winter, Julie says. “That way you don’t get such strong regrowth. We can use root tapping and smudging to create the illusion of a natural root.”
Marvyn says that when creating multi-tonal winter blonde balayage looks it’s all about a naturalised effect. “It’s about working with the natural hair colour then having bright ‘money piece’ highlights at the front, and maybe keeping the ends a bit lighter.”
With the bob trend that is still a big hit among celebs, Julie says that all-over blonde can look incredible, as long as it’s the right shade for your skin tone. “A bob is a strong look, so your colour's got to look cool with it. It can be more edgy as well.”
HOW TO MAINTAIN A WINTER BLONDE COLOUR LOOK
Winter can be damaging for hair, in part due to cold and wet weather combined with friction caused by scarves and hats, but also because we tend to use heat styling tools more frequently during the festive season.
“To get ready for party season, if you want to touch your colour up then we always say come in six to eight weeks after your appointment for a gloss to restore the shine in your hair,” Julie says. “We also have Kérastase Fusio Dose or a Davines Naturaltech shot express treatments that we can add to blow dries for glossy locks.”
For washing and conditioning winter blonde looks, Julie says, “I'm obsessed with Shu Uemura Ultimate Reset range. That's great for blondes and for repairing your hair.” She also loves treatment waters such as the Oribe Supershine Mirror Rinse Glass Treatment and the Davines Oi Liquid Lustre Treatment.
“They're great to use in the shower, they keep your hair super hydrated and moisturised, and work within seconds,” she explains. “After shampooing, you'd put the liquid in your hair, and I always put a hair mask on top to lock the moisture in.”
Finish with nourishing styling products, Julie adds. “Make sure you've got a good heat protector in your hair for blow-drying so the blonde tones or lowlights aren't being stripped out.”
Why choose Paul Edmonds London?
If you’re looking for a luxury hair salon to make your winter blonde dreams come true, look no further than Paul Edmonds London.
Starting with a thorough consultation, our experienced colourists will use their expertise and trend knowledge to help you decide on the best shade and placement, delivering a high-quality colour service every time.
Ready to embrace your winter blonde? Book a colour appointment at Paul Edmonds London.
