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"Expensive Blonde" Is Spring 2022's Biggest Hair Color Trend

 

Anyone who's ever gone blonde is fully aware that the hair color is both a time and monetary commitment. So, expensive blonde, the latest hair color to go viral in 2022, is a shade that actually lives up to its luxurious name.

Like its brunette counterpart, expensive blonde hair is soft and full of dimension.

"Expensive blonde is all about brightening our 'pandemic low-maintenance blondes' while still maintaining dimension to keep everything soft and diffused," says Amanda Lee, Moroccanoil Color Ambassador & Celebrity Stylist. "Clients are ready for a change and want to go back to the 'lighter for summer' trend without going all the way to those white-blonde highlights that used to be so common in the summertime."

This color was first named by celebrity hairstylist Tom Smith, Creative Director for Evo Hair. "It's a really soft contrast so there are fewer shadows in the hair, but it's not one set color," Smith said in his Instagram video that explains the color. "There's still dimension, there's still highs and lows," Smith explained. "Generally it's a warmer shade, but I think this is really going to do well in spring."

Anyone considering this shade for spring should expect to spend a good chunk of time at the salon to achieve it. "While this type of color is very seamless and natural, the process can be time-consuming and costly, which is where 'expensive blonde' comes from," Lee says. "To achieve the look, tons of very fine foil highlights and lowlights are done for maximum dimension and blending."

As for what to ask for at the salon, Rex Jimieson, Colorist & Color Educator at Maxine Salon in Chicago, says: "You want either foils or balayage highlights. It's a personal preference which you decide, but make sure you are using more than one shade of blonde and possibly lowlights as well to create depth and dimension."

The coloring sessions will be long, but expensive blonde hair can actually be low maintenance in-between visits to the salon. "While it is more expensive than a single process blonde, the color variation and technique will be worth the investment as it will grow out with less demarcation essentially looking good for much longer," Jimieson shares. Expect to need touch-ups about every three to four months.

Jimieson recommends using repairative shampoos and conditioners, like Oribe's Gold Lust or Kérastase's Résistance Bain Force Architecte. "They have a balance of proteins and moisture so you can use it continuously to keep your canvas (hair) healthy," he adds.

A gloss can also refresh expensive blonde shades. "I encourage my clients to come in every eight-10 weeks for a quick gloss to refresh the highlights," says Lee. "The Moroccanoil Color Calypso Demi-Permanent Gloss not only will refresh the color, but also increases shine to give you more conditioned and more manageable hair.

Below, a highlight reel of the best takes on expensive blonde hair. Screenshot your favorites to show your colorist at the salon.

Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie has become the unofficial spokesperson for expensive blonde hair since she started gradually going warmer in the past few years. In fact, her multidimensional blonde hair was one of the examples Smith showed in his explainer video of the trend.

Jasmine Sanders

Expensive blonde hair and curls are a winning combo, as seen on Jasmine Sanders.

Chrishell Stause

Last summer, the Selling Sunset star transformed her caramel base into a warm expensive blonde shade.

Jessica Alba

Summer might be a few months away, but Alba isn't waiting for the warm weather to jump on this trend — she went from expensive brunette to expensive blonde in February. The star documented her hair color journey on Instagram with her colorist Robert Ramos.

Jennifer Lopez

No one does expensive blonde hair quite like J.Lo. The star's signature loose waves by Chris Appleton show off her multidimensional highlights and lowlights.