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Few colors have as much it-girl appeal as blonde and red. From golden butter and icy platinum to copper and cola, these two shades have dominated beauty trends lately. Alone, they can transform your look and mood, so it only makes sense that a blended shade will do the same thing ten times as well. That’s where cherry blonde comes in, a blend of two of the season’s hottest hair colors that’s quickly becoming a trend of its own.
Summer is coming to an end and you may be looking for a new fall shade. Bold browns and deep burgundies are beautiful, but a soft cherry red is the perfect way to kick off fall. Below, two colorists analyze the trend and offer tips on how to achieve and maintain the look.
Selected experts
What is cherry blonde hair?
Strawberry blonde is probably the shade that comes to mind when you think of a mix of blonde and red. While cherry blonde is similar, Sabrina Bias, blonde specialist and L’Oréal According to Professional Ambassador, it’s a direction all its own. “Cherry blonde is a unique blend of light blonde and bright red, kind of like a dusty pink,” she says. Bias explains that the shade has become so popular because it comes from two very big color trends right now: wild cherry and old money blonde. It’s more subtle than the bubblegum pink of summer that dominated the festival scene. Rita Hazan, celebrity colorist and founder of Rita Hazan Salon, says it’s a soft shade where the tones blend together effortlessly.
What you should ask for in the salon
The key to a true cherry blonde shade is the right proportion of red pigment. Remember that the mix should be a light blonde and a rich, but not too dark, red. With that in mind, Bias recommends that you ask your hairdresser to give your blonde hair a soft cherry red shade. If you have naturally dark blonde hair, Hazan says you can choose a lighter color to add more dimension to the final look.
How to care for cherry blonde hair
“First and foremost, make sure you go to a professional hairdresser to achieve this look, as bleaching your hair can be very damaging to your hair health,” says Hazan. Cherry blonde is a fun shade, or as Bias puts it, a “fantasy color,” and you want to make the most of it while you can. “The color fades quickly and can easily reveal previous damage, so you’ll need to take care of it at home,” she says.
Both stylists point out that using color-preserving shampoos and moisture-rich conditioners is key to maintaining vibrancy. If you want to keep the color long-term, regular touch-ups are important, says Bias. She recommends going to the salon every 4-6 weeks to keep the color fresh.
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