How To Get Platinum Blonde Hair Without a Trip To The Salon

Platinum blonde hair is one of those timeless shades that never go out of style. Just take a look at your favorite celebrities and beauty influencers: Many of them have gone light at least once in their careers and still managed to make the striking color look effortless. 

In reality, effortless isn’t how we’d describe platinum blonde hair. While undeniably cool—both literally and figuratively—the ultra-light shade of blonde does take a bit of effort to achieve and maintain. So before you reach for the platinum blonde hair dye, you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared for a little bit of legwork. Below, we’ll explain how to get platinum blonde hair at home, share some of our favorite at-home bleach and color kits for the job, and offer tips on caring for your icy new hue post-coloring session.

How To Get Platinum Blonde Hair

While many choose to leave major hair transformations in the hands of a pro, it is possible (and far more affordable) to DIY platinum blonde hair. If you’re up for the task, keep reading—ahead, we’re spelling out exactly how to dye your hair platinum blonde from the comfort of your bathroom. 

1. Pick up an at-home bleaching kit

Even if you’re a natural blonde, you’ll need to bleach your strands in order to achieve an icy platinum blonde hair color—this cool-toned shade is closer to white than it is blonde. That being said, how much you need to lighten your hair depends on your starting color. 

If your hair is already on the lighter side, we recommend using the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Bleach and Lightener At-Home Kit to lighten your hair. Those with medium to dark brown hair, meanwhile, should use the L’Oréal Paris Féria Hyper Platinum Advanced Lightening System Bleach, which lightens hair up to eight levels. 

2. Choose your platinum hair dye

Bleaching will lighten your hair, but it won’t add any color. In order to achieve your perfect white-blonde hue, you may want to snag an at-home hair dye kit, too. We love the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Ultra Natural Blonde, which is on the lighter end of the light blonde spectrum and has a neutral undertone. If you prefer a cooler color, try the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Extra Light Ash Blonde or the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme Crème Permanent Triple Care Hair Color in Extra Light Ash Blonde, both of which boast a distinctly cool undertone. 

In some cases, you may find that you don’t need to add color after bleaching your hair. If your hair is close to your desired platinum blonde hue after bleaching, forgo the permanent dye and instead reach for a toner, like the L’Oréal Paris Feria Power Toner, Long Lasting Anti Brass Toner in Ice Blonde. The ammonia-free formula helps eliminate unwanted brassy tones in as little as five minutes, with results lasting for up to three weeks. Keep in mind that toner won’t lighten your hair at all—it simply diminishes the warm tones that can surface after bleaching. 

If you’re not sure whether to pick up a hair dye or a toner (or both), we suggest visiting our Hair Color Concierge. With this tool, you can consult with hair coloring experts for professional tips, product recommendations, and advice on achieving your desired hue. 

3. Protect your eyes, skin, and clothes

Coloring your hair (even platinum blonde) at home can be messy—now is not the time to be wearing that new black tank top or your favorite dress. Throw on an old T-shirt you don’t care about possibly staining and cover the surfaces in your workspace with some old towels or newspapers. 

It’s also a good idea to apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to your hairline and on your ears to help protect against potential bleach or dye drips and splatters. Similarly, wear gloves—they’re included in your at-home color kits for a reason.

Lastly, make sure the area you’re working in is well-ventilated, as fumes from bleach and hair dyes can be a bit strong. If you don’t have a window in your bathroom, leave the door open and pop a fan in there to blow the air outward (away from your face). 

4. Section your hair

Once you’ve gathered your tools, prepped your workspace, and donned your oldest, rattiest T-shirt, you should be ready to start coloring your hair. To start, use a rattail comb to divide your dry, unwashed hair into at least four even sections. Sectioning your hair will help ensure you don’t miss any spots and end up with a random brunette patch in the middle of your platinum blonde ‘do. Clip away the sections you’re not working with so you can better see what you’re doing as you work. 

5. Bleach your strands

Next, it’s time to begin bleaching. Mix your bleach as indicated on the box instructions, then begin brushing the lightener onto your strands, one section at a time. Typically, it’s recommended to work from the ends up, as the roots tend to process more quickly. Applying bleach to the roots first can result in “hot roots” (in other words, roots that are far lighter than the rest of your strands).

As far as timing goes, you’ll want to refer to the instructions on the box of bleach you’ve chosen. How long you’ll leave your bleach on may vary depending on the strength of the bleach, your hair type, and your base color. Keep in mind, too, that the instructions are just a guideline. It’s a good idea to keep a close eye on your hair as it’s processing and adjust the timing accordingly based on how quickly your hair reaches the appropriate level of lightness. 

6. Rinse and dry your hair

Once your hair is lightened to the appropriate level, hop in the shower and rinse your hair thoroughly to remove the bleach (if your chosen bleach directs you to shampoo your hair, now’s the time to do that, as well). Then, work a generous amount of the conditioner included with your bleaching kit throughout your strands from roots to ends. Don’t skip this step—bleaching can leave your hair feeling dry and damaged, and prioritizing moisture is a must for healthy-looking strands. After showering, allow your hair to air-dry naturally. 

7. Wait

We know how tempting it can be to apply your platinum blonde hair dye immediately after bleaching your hair, but we strongly recommend resisting the urge. Doing too many chemical treatments back-to-back can damage your strands, leaving them brittle, unmanageable, and prone to breakage. Aim to wait at least a few days after bleaching your hair before applying your dye. In the meantime, give your strands some much-needed TLC with a bonding treatment, like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Repair system. The three-piece collection includes a pre-shampoo treatment, a shampoo, and a conditioner which work together to help strengthen damaged color-treated hair from the inside out. 

10. Apply color

After waiting a few days (at least), you can go ahead and apply your platinum blonde hair dye. For this part of the process, you’ll want to repeat the same steps you took to protect your skin, clothes, and the surfaces in your work area (and don’t forget to don gloves and that old T-shirt you wore the first time around). You’ll also want to section your hair in advance. Once everything is prepped, it’ll come down to the instructions in your platinum hair dye kit as far as mixing and time it’ll take to develop.

5 Tips For Going Platinum Blonde

To ensure your platinum blonde hue turns out the way you’d envisioned, here are five tips to keep in mind before (and while) coloring your hair. 

1. Remove existing hair color

If you’re starting with previously dyed hair, bleach may not be enough to lighten your strands. When undergoing a drastic hair color transformation (like dark brown to platinum blonde), it’s a good idea to remove your existing hair color before applying bleach or dye. This will help ensure the best possible end result 

2. Have some platinum hair color inspiration

While platinum blonde hair seems pretty self-explanatory, there are actually different variations of the coveted shade, including white blonde, silvery blonde, champagne, and ash blonde. The best shade for you depends both on your personal preferences and skin tone (and undertone). If you’re not sure which direction to go in, we suggest browsing social media. Look for pictures of people with similar coloring as you—whichever platinum blonde hair color looks best on them will likely also look great on you. 

3. Be patient when bleaching dark hair 

If you have very dark hair, you’ll need to manage your expectations—it’s unlikely you’ll be able to bleach your hair to a pale white blonde within a single session. And given that it’s typically recommended to wait at least a few days between bleaching and coloring sessions, completing your dark brown to light blonde transformation could take upwards of a few weeks. Note that this is true whether you opt for DIY platinum blonde or visit a pro: the darker your starting shade, the longer it’s going to take to join the light side. 

4. Do a strand test 

A strand test involves bleaching only a small portion of hair to see how your strands respond to the given formula. The test can also provide you with an idea of how long your hair takes to process, which can help you better prepare for the bleaching process. 

This is an extremely important step to take if you’ve never bleached your hair before or are using a new product, as you want to know how your hair will react before saturating your whole head with bleach. 

5. Start away from the roots

As we mentioned before, roots tend to process more quickly than the rest of your hair, thanks to their proximity to your scalp (which emanates heat and speeds up the lightening process). As such, it’s best to apply your color to your lengths and ends first, leaving your roots for last. 

How To Take Care Of Platinum Blonde Hair

Knowing how to get platinum blonde hair is only part of the equation: Equally important is understanding how to care for it properly. Platinum blonde hair requires lots of love to keep it looking gorgeous and feeling nourished. Below are tips to get you started on your new haircare routine.

1. Use products for color-treated hair 

To keep your platinum blonde hair looking and feeling its best, you’ll want to swap out your existing shampoo and conditioner for a system designed for color-treated hair. The aforementioned Bond Repair system is a great pick, especially if your strands feel damaged after one (or more) bleach sessions. Alternatively, try the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Protecting Shampoo and coordinating L’Oréal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Protecting Conditioner. The nourishing duo contains UV filters and antioxidants and helps protect color vibrancy for up to eight weeks.

2. Prepare for regular maintenance 

When it comes to maintaining your blonde color, be prepared for regular touch-ups as your roots grow in. Platinum blonde hair isn’t low maintenance—it takes a lot of upkeep. Make sure to book follow-up appointments with your colorist or keep your vanity stocked with at-home hair color so that you can touch up your roots. In a pinch, you can use a root cover-up spray like the L’Oréal Paris Magic Root Cover Up in Light to Medium Blonde to disguise regrowth until you’re ready to re-dye your roots. 

3. Add toning products to your routine 

Lightened hair can be vulnerable to brassiness, and those unwanted yellow tones can be especially noticeable on light platinum blonde hair. To help keep brassiness at bay, consider adding a toning purple shampoo and conditioner to your routine. These tinted formulas contain violet pigments and help neutralize yellow tones to keep your blonde bright, icy, and brass-free. 

Once a week—or anytime you notice your hair beginning to appear warmer than you’d like—swap out your usual shampoo and conditioner for the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Brass Toning Purple Sulfate-Free Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Brass Toning Purple Sulfate-Free Conditioner. If you’d rather not add another shampoo and conditioner duo to your already-stacked shelves, you can also get the job done with a toning gloss, like the L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Toning Gloss in Platinum Pearl. The ammonia-free formula helps neutralize brass, deeply conditions, and enhances hair color all in as little as five minutes, leaving your platinum blonde hue looking fresh, shiny, and healthy. Plus, the results last up to 10 days, so you can spend less time worrying about caring for your platinum blonde hair and more time enjoying it.

Next Up: 30 Dark Blonde Hair Ideas We’re Loving For Summer

Header Credit: IG/@hairbyrachelsage