June is Blonde Appreciation Month, and it comes at a good time. Blondes are having a serious moment in Hollywood, with celebrities like Anne Hathaway and Demi Lovato trying the hue. But they aren't the first ones who have taken the plunge with a color change. Click through to see some stars you may have forgotten, who have experimented with lightened locks.
Gradual hair-lightening sprays are great because they give you natural-looking color and highlights without the damage or unpredictable results of bleach. But if you'd prefer a natural version of the product, they're also incredibly cheap and easy to make, and you probably already have all the ingredients. So if you're ready to get the sun-kissed look for (almost) free, just keep reading.
Your hair color can have a big impact on the colors in your makeup palette, and that's why Mark celebrity makeup artist Fiona Stiles recommends different hues for blondes, redheads, and darker-haired beauties. Consider this your personal color-coded key to mastering the Spring makeup trends based on your hair color.
Blondes:
According to Stiles, the fair-haired bunch should turn to purple pastels to liven up their seasonal makeup palettes. Powdery lavenders or a more vibrant violet will accent the golden tones of the hair. She also recommends adding a touch of bronzer on cheeks to fake a sun-kissed glow.
Brunettes/Raven-Haired Beauties:
For those with darker hair and lighter skin tones, Stiles recommends bright corals and peach colors, because they're the perfect neutrals. "It's not as girlie as pink, but not as grown up as red," she explains. Want something more eye-catching? Go for a spot of jade or turquoise eyeliner, which looks especially striking for darker-haired women with deep or olive complexions.
Redheads:
Generally, redheads are discouraged from wearing bold red lip color, but Stiles believes it's a rule to be broken. Match your blazing hair with an equally fierce lipstick hue. "A red-orange lip looks more modern on a redhead," Stiles says.
Here's the truth: blond hair isn't for everyone, but with the right tips on hand, it can be pulled off with success. If you have nearly black strands and you have an olive or ebony complexion, get expert tips to make your fair-hair transition less drastic after the jump.
We're happy to present this article from one of our favorite sites, Real Beauty.
We've rounded up our top 10 fave celebs (in each hue) when it comes to bold, envy-enducing, sexy hair. Now it's your turn to comment and tell us whose locks you're lusting after most.
More stories from RealBeauty.com:
A Guide to the best Makeup and Hair Brushes
We're happy to present this story from our friends at Allure:
Whoever made up that saying that blonds have more fun obviously didn't have blonde hair. Well, at least not dyed blonde hair. I've gone through a lot of hair changes in the past six months, but bleaching my hair has been the most extreme. Everything from how I style my hair to the makeup colors that look good on me has changed. So if you're a natural brunette thinking of going blonde, here are some things to keep in mind before you slap on the bleach — both from the experts and from the beauty editor up to her ears in color-preserving shampoo — when you keep reading.
Summer is an optimal time to lighten your hair color, but first things first: Can anybody be a blonde? "I joke that there are always some blond pieces or some highlights that can be put in everybody," says celebrity colorist Kim Vo (who has worked with stars such as Katherine Heigl, Britney Spears, and Kate Hudson). But he readily admits that while blond doesn't necessarily work for all people, everyone can embrace their inner blonde when need be.
Luckily, we've come a long way from the brassy, unhealthy-looking blondes of yesteryear, allowing even the darkest of brunettes to achieve perfectly flaxen strands. (Schwarzkopf's Blondme series, which Vo represents, is designed to lift hair an astonishing nine levels.) Thinking about lightening up this season but feeling a little gun shy? See Vo's tips for baby-stepping your way to the right hue when you read more.
We're happy to present this story from our friends at Allure:
Hey, Olivia Wilde, you look pretty great as a blonde! The actress, who dyed her hair for her upcoming flick, Rush, is inspiring some of us around the office to lighten up. You in? Before any of us reach for bleach, though, I thought I'd check in with Sharon Dorram of Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger in New York City, who made it clear that going from brunette to beachy blond requires more than just making an appointment.
When temperatures dip, lightening your hair might not be the first thing on your mind, but when done correctly, it can end up being a change for the better. When going blond, however, "You don't want to look like everybody else," advises celebrity colorist Michael Canale, who counts stars like Jennifer Aniston, Heidi Klum, Kyra Sedgwick, and Denise Richards among his clientele. He adds, "When people go that full-on blond, they look just like that person sitting next to them, [but] tying it with the natural always keeps your identity." Be sure to check out how Canale creates Jennifer's signature highlighted look, but, first, learn how to get Heidi, Kyra, and Denise's versions of blond when you keep reading.
Blond hair has only been around for 11,000 years or so, but in that (evolutionarily) short time it's made quite a mark on human culture. Especially in the West, where the highest concentration of flaxen-haired individuals sprang up. (Fun fact: there are also sizable blond populations in Oceania and the Pacific Islands.)
But since blondes began, the hair color has been interpreted in lots of different ways — from virtuous and pure to downright skanky — and every culture has its own norms when it comes to light hair. It's a fascinating case study in the ways something as simple as hair color can have an enormous amount of cultural import. Check out this history of tow-headedness for fascinating facts and cool insights about what it means to be a Betty instead of a Veronica.
