How to Go From Brown to Blonde Hair While Keeping Your Hair Healthy

Going from brown to blonde hair is one of the best ways to brighten up your look. And with so many shades to choose between—from warm-toned honey blonde to icy platinum—there’s a blonde hair color to complement every complexion (and aesthetic).

However, transitioning from brown to blonde hair is a big step—and a potentially damaging one. Knowing the proper technique for lightening your hair can help minimize damage and keep your strands looking healthy and vibrant. Here, we’re letting you in on some must-know tips to keep in mind when dyeing your hair blonde and sharing advice on how to keep your gorgeous new color looking fresh. Keep reading for all the details—your new hue awaits.

How To Prepare Your Hair To Go From Brown To Blonde

Before you you go boldly blonde, you’ll need to decide which shade you’re going for. If you’re unsure which direction you want to go in, check out our virtual try-on tool. With it, you can test-drive different blonde hair colors in real-time using the camera on your phone or computer (or by uploading a selfie).

Once you decide on a hue, you’ll likely need to lighten your hair. Going from brown to blonde hair typically requires bleaching, and the darker your starting shade, the more work may be required to reach your desired shade of blonde. If you have dark brown hair and want to go blonde, don’t expect your hair to magically transform into a beautiful blonde color after one sitting: Depending on your current shade, you may need a few bleaching and coloring sessions to achieve your dream hue.

Professional vs. at-home bleaching

While you absolutely can go to a salon to bleach your hair, it may not be necessary. Professional salons offer expertise and high-quality products, but they can be costly. On the other hand, at-home bleaching is budget-friendly and convenient. With the right bleach kit, you can easily lighten your strands at home.

If you’re starting with a darker brown base, we suggest reaching for the L’Oréal Paris Féria Hyper Platinum Advanced Lightening System Bleach, which can lighten strands up to eight levels. The kit also comes with an anti-brass conditioner to help neutralize any unwanted warmth in your newly blonde hair. Another great option is the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Bleach & Lightener At Home Kit. This bleach is ideal for those starting with a dark blonde to medium brown base looking to lighten their hair prior to using a blonde hair dye.

No matter which bleach you opt for, always remember to perform a strand test and be sure your space is properly ventilated while bleaching your hair. It’s also crucial to follow the instructions provided with your chosen bleach, as different formulas may have different processing times.

How To Dye Brown Hair Blonde

To go from brown to blonde hair at home, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, as we mentioned, is choosing the right hue. Brown and blonde hair both can have either warm or cool undertones and typically, you’ll get the most flattering results if you pick a shade with undertones similar to your natural hair color.

It’s also important to keep in mind that depending on your starting shade, you may need to bleach your hair more than once. If you do, it’s a good idea to wait at least four to six weeks between sessions to avoid excessive damage. And, once you achieve your desired hue, you’ll need to touch up your roots every six to eight weeks or so to blend new growth.

If you want to experiment with blonde hair but prefer a low-maintenance approach, consider balayage. This technique creates blended highlights for a dimensional, natural-looking hair color that requires less maintenance than an all-over color. You can DIY your highlights with the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Balayage At-Home Highlighting Kit. This at-home balayage kit includes a precise applicator to make lightening your strands a breeze.

How to go from light brown to blonde hair

1. Choose the right shade: Start by selecting your blonde hair dye shade. A medium blonde hair color, like L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Medium Ash Blonde, is ideal for those looking for a subtle boost of brightness, while a brighter blonde, such as L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Golden Blonde, is perfect for those seeking a more dramatic transformation.
2. Prep your hair: Lightening your hair will typically require lifting your base color a level or two. This process will make your hair a more receptive base for your blonde dye and help ensure you achieve your desired color.
3. Bleach: Use your chosen bleach to lighten your strands to the appropriate level. Be sure to follow the instructions included with your bleach to a T to help avoid any unnecessary damage.
4. Take a break: After bleaching your hair, wash and condition it according to the aftercare instructions included with your at-home bleaching kit. Then, give your hair a day or two to “rest”—it’s best to avoid doing too much chemical processing in a single sitting.
5. Apply blonde dye: A day or so after bleaching your strands, you can go ahead and apply your blonde hair dye. Again, we recommend reading (and re-reading) the instructions before getting started to help ensure the best possible end result.

How to go from dark brown to blonde hair

1. Choose the right shade: As with any hair transformation, the dark brown to blonde process begins with finding the right shade of blonde for you. For a more subtle—but still striking—transformation, we suggest opting for a deeper blonde hue, like L’Oréal Paris Excellence Créme Permanent Triple Protection Hair Color in Dark Blonde. Or, try a trendy strawberry blonde color for a warmer look. You can achieve this flattering shade at home with L’Oréal Paris Excellence Créme Permanent Triple Protection Hair Color in Medium Reddish Blonde.
2. First bleaching session: Apply L’Oréal Paris Feria Hyper Platinum Advanced Lightening System Bleach to your hair, following the instructions included in the box. The at-home bleaching kit can lighten your hair up to eight levels, but if you’re going for an ultra-bright platinum blonde shade, you may need to bleach your hair more than once.
3. Wait and strengthen: If you do end up requiring multiple bleaching sessions, you’ll want to wait at least a few weeks between each. In the meantime, be gentle with your strands—avoid heat styling as much as possible, and be sure to give your hair plenty of moisture. It’s a good idea to add a reparative mask, such as the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm Rinse-Out Mask, into your weekly routine as well. It contains a 17% repair concentrate and provides deep nourishment to help strengthen damaged hair.
4. Second bleaching session: After the waiting period, bleach your hair again to achieve a lighter base, if necessary.
5. Apply blonde dye: Once your hair is lightened to the appropriate level, you can go ahead and apply your blonde hair dye to complete your hair transformation.

How Long Does It Take To Go From Brown To Blonde Hair?

How long it will take to transition from brunette to blonde hair largely depends on your starting base color. If you have a light brown base, you could get it done over one weekend. If you’re starting with a darker brown base and need to bleach your hair more than once, plan for the process to take anywhere from four to six weeks.

How to Care for Color-Treated Blonde Hair

Once you’ve achieved your ideal blonde hair color, make sure you give it the extra care it needs to keep it in excellent condition. This includes swapping out your regular hair care arsenal for products that are specifically formulated for color-treated hair. Here are four tips to consider for your blonde haircare routine.

1. Limit the use of hot tools

Repeated exposure to heat can wear down your strands and fade your color. You can opt for heatless hairstyles, but if you do decide to use a blow dryer or other hot tools, be sure to use the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Weightless Blow Dry Primer, Heat Protectant to prime your strands first. This leave-in treatment helps protect against temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and leaves hair looking nourished, smooth, and full of shine.

2. Use hair bonding treatments

Even when done properly, bleach always results in some degree of damage. If your strands are suffering after your blonde transformation, it’s a good idea to incorporate a hair bonding treatment into your routine to help strengthen and repair your hair.

We suggest the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Strengthening collection, which includes the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Strengthening Pre-Shampoo Treatment, the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Bond Repair Shampoo with Citric Acid, and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Bond Repair Conditioner with Citric Acid.

This trio helps repair weak hair bonds from the inside out to strengthen hair and prevent future damage. It’s designed specifically for color-treated hair and can be used daily to help support your hair’s healthy appearance.

3. Swap in a purple shampoo

Color-treated blonde hair is prone to brassiness—in other words, it can take on a warm, yellowish tone over time. To help combat brass, consider adding a purple shampoo to your blonde hair care routine. We L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Brass Toning Purple Shampoo, which gently cleanses and helps neutralize brassy tones in blonde, silver, and bleached hair. Pair it with the coordinating L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Brass Toning Purple Conditioner, and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Purple Ampoule Treatment to help maintain a bright, brass-free blonde.

4. Use a hair gloss

Hair glosses are a great way to help enhance your hair color and add shine between touch-ups. Some, like the L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Toning Gloss, also help nourish and condition the hair. Reach for a tinted shade, such as Cool Blonde, to help enhance your blonde and neutralize brassiness, or try the Clear version for glassy shine sans added pigment.

Next Up: How to Touch Up Blonde Roots