Honey blonde hair has a beautiful golden hue that is infused with just a hint of amber, so it still resembles a healthy natural color yet doesn't become brassy. It's ideal for natural blondes wanting to create some dimension and brunettes who want to lighten up with a warm tone. The right formula and aftercare mean color won't go dull. Learn how to achieve it, wear it, and make it last.
What is Honey Blonde Hair?
Honey blonde hair color is golden blonde on the warmer end towards light brown. The main difference between honey blonde and golden blonde is that it will contain warm gold and amber-based blonde pigments rather than ash or platinum.
Honey blonde will usually fall somewhere between a level 7 and 8 on the color chart. The honey blonde color itself is a toned-down (or slightly warmer) version of golden blonde.
For the most part, in any lighting, it will look rich and creamy rather than brassy. One of the best ways to tell how different these colors really are is by placing them side by side with their closest shade family members.
|
Shade |
Color Level |
Undertone |
Best For |
Typical Touch-Up |
|
Honey Blonde |
7–8 |
Warm amber and gold |
Warm or neutral undertones, brunettes wanting a lighter, natural lift |
Every 6–8 weeks |
|
Golden Blonde |
8–9 |
Bright yellow-gold |
Fair to medium skin wanting maximum brightness |
Every 6–8 weeks |
|
Caramel Blonde |
5–7 |
Deep brown-amber |
Warm undertones, dark bases wanting subtle dimension |
Every 8–12 weeks |
Golden blonde is a shade that is lighter than honey blonde but leans more yellow. Consider trying it out first if you already have light hair. Caramel highlights won't lighten your hair like golden blonde will but deepen it by depositing brown-amber tones.
Warm and neutral skin tones will often suit this color best because the gold in the hair will match golden or peach tones in your skin. However, cooler skin tones of pink undertones can pull off honey blonde, too. Ask your colorist to add more beige to the formula to counteract some of the gold.
There's a shortcut method from Healthline to find out if you have warm or cool undertones. Check out the color of your veins and whether you gravitate towards wearing gold or silver jewelry.
Why Choose Honey Blonde Hair?
Honey blonde hair is ideal for so many reasons: it works with more skin tones and starting colors than any other shade of blonde hair and grows out without looking awkward (think less obvious line of demarcation than lighter, ashier blondes).
It also looks great in photos, both outdoors in natural sunlight and indoors under incandescent lighting. Honey blonde also maintains its contrast and richness as it grows out, rather than fading into a dull, lifeless shade like many other blonde colors.
That's one reason why it's long been a staple in salon color rotations. It sits near so many natural levels that it doesn't require as much lifting to maintain, and Healthline notes that hair dye colors within a few shades of your natural color are generally easier on hair over multiple sessions. This explains why we see this color resurgence year after year.
Our colorists frequently recommend honey hues to clients who visit us wanting to lighten away from drugstore box dye dark shades. The natural undertones of amber in honey colors allow this lift to grow out much more seamlessly than an ash or platinum blonde-colored lift would.
We also ran several honey blonde formulas through testing with our in-house protein Juvexin V2 and found they stayed richer for approximately 7 weeks (when used with UV-filtering shampoo) between salon visits on average, as compared to about 5 weeks for our protein-free formulas.
Our color and haircare is sold in salons in over 75 countries worldwide, and honey blonde is frequently one of the most requested shades of warm blonde from salon colorists all over the globe, spanning Canada and beyond. Take that as another reason it’s definitely here to stay.
How to Achieve the Perfect Honey Blonde Hair
Whether you’re thinking of DIY-ing at home or going to your local salon, there are only four steps to take in order to get honey blonde hair.
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Consult with a professional: A colorist will assess your natural shade and undertones before picking out a formula, as honey blonde can look quite different on level 5 hair compared to level 8. If you need to lighten your hair before dipping into honey tones, ask your colorist about patch testing as well as how long it will take to reach your desired level. According to WebMD, it’s also important to leave at least two weeks between bleachings to let the hair shaft recover, causing less damage than one long, heavy session would.
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Choose your dream color: GK Hair created Juvexin Cream Colour with 125 different shades formulated with Juvexin V2, a combination of non-hydrolyzed keratin proteins that penetrate into the cortex and coat onto the cuticle simultaneously as the colour develops. Best for color-treated or previously lightened hair that needs hydration and color. Apply it mixed at a 1:1.5 ratio and process for 30-45 minutes. Why use a honey blonde hair dye with a protein treatment built in? Because lightening your hair to a nice warm level of 7 or 8 will usually damage your cuticle.
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Opt for highlights or balayage: Not sure about going honey blonde all over? Honey blonde highlights on brown hair are an easy way to try the trend without too much maintenance, since balayage fades out naturally and doesn’t leave as stark a contrast at the roots like full-head dye does when you grow it out. Have your colorist concentrate most of the lightener on your mid-lengths and ends, then coat your hair with a honey-toned gloss to tie it all together.
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Keep Your Color Alive: Once you're out of the salon and back to reality with a honey blonde shade, Shield Shampoo and Conditioner will help protect your hair from UV rays, which can fade warm tones up to three times faster. Best for color-treated hair that's frequently exposed to sun or chlorinated water, simply replace your regular shampoo and conditioner with Shield and apply to wet hair every time you wash. Full ingredients are listed on the product page.
Caring for Honey Blonde Hair
You also want to maintain this color by caring for the strand itself, because both pigments become damaged when you lighten your hair.
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Deep Condition Weekly: Hydration is key when it comes to keeping honey blonde hair in tip-top shape. Our Deep Conditioner replenishes hydration lost during the lightening process and locks in that shiny finish that makes this color look so luxe. Best for dry hair or previously bleached-colored hair that feels textured.
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Heat Prep: Apply our ThermalStyle Her cream before using any heat appliance to protect your hair. Best for blow-dried or flat-ironed hair. Frequent use of heat can zap your warm tones right down to a dull beige.
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Refresh Color: Full-head colors will most likely need a touch-up around the 6-8 week mark. Balayage and highlight placement allow those colors to last you 8-12 weeks because they are not sitting on your scalp and can grow out naturally.
Styling Tips for Honey Blonde Hair
Honey blonde will look gorgeous with almost any hairstyle. However, there are a few styling tricks that will make the color pop more.
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Curl for texture: Curling your hair to create loose, beachy waves will bounce light differently than straight hair. This helps to bring out the gold and amber highlights mixed into your honey blonde hair color.
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Flat iron for straight style: Straighten hair with ease using the D700 Titanium Flat Iron. Achieves hair that is smooth and free of frizz. Best for: customers looking for a sleek, glossy style that showcases the shine of honey blonde without applying too much additional heat.
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Spritz for volume: A volumizing spray formulated to add body at the roots. Our VolumizeHer Spray is best for fine or limp hair that needs some oomph to display all of its honey hues.
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Apply serum to add shine: Rub a warmed-up 1-2 pumps of Argan Oil Serum between your hands and apply to wet or dry hair, focusing on the mid-lengths to ends. This serum works best for all hair types in need of shine and flyaway taming without the heaviness. Apply daily or as needed when your ends are lacking luster
Stylist's Corner: Ask for a gloss instead of coloring your hair again to increase the time between appointments. Demi-permanent glosses are 10-15 minutes, and apply another coat of honey to your brassy ends. Glosses do not touch your roots, so you won't have to press your entire head every time your color fades.
FAQs
What is the best way to prevent honey blonde hair from looking brassy?
When washing, always use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner with UV protection. Sun exposure and hard water are the biggest causes of brassiness for warm blondes. If you find that your ends are becoming dull or orange between colouring appointments, get a gloss refresh to neutralize dryness from lightening and add a weekly deep conditioning treatment to help maintain their health.
How to dye your hair honey blonde at home?
Maintain your tone within the same range as your natural tone and always pre-test before applying it to your hair. Apply a 1:1.5 developer to the cream color, process for 30-45 minutes, and wash immediately after with a color-safe shampoo and conditioner to lock in color.
How many times should you touch up honey blonde hair?
Typically, your root growth will be more important than an exact date. Make sure to wait until you see close to half an inch of growth before scheduling. If your base color has faded, you can keep the faded ends fresh with a quick gloss in between appointments for another 2-3 weeks without adding any further lightening.
Is honey blonde hair suitable for all skin tones?
Yes, however, there's one caveat. Honey blonde hair color is most flattering on warm and neutral skin tones because the gold and peach tones in the hair will mirror that warmth in the skin. If you have cooler pink-toned skin, you can definitely rock a honey blonde hue; just request that your colorist add a little bit more ash or beige-bronzy base so that gold isn't overwhelming.
Final Thoughts on Honey Blonde Hair
The right formula, proper care, and a refresher every 6-8 weeks can have honey blonde hair glowing. Get started with a consultation, then pick a color that will nourish hair while it processes. Want to give it a try? Take a look at GK Hair's Colour & Masque line.
