As anyone who’s dabbled with peroxide will know, not all shades of blonde are created equal, especially if you’re dyeing brown hair. To avoid looking like Justin Timberlake circa 1998, or recreating your teenage Frazzle highlights, we’ve put together the ultimate inspiration guide for you. Whether you’re looking for some natural golden highlights, a full Draco Malfoy platinum look, or a sunkissed strawberry hue, Bleach has got you colored.

It’s important to remember that your journey to the fairer side is a process, which might not necessarily happen overnight. Yes, we all desperately want to be ice blonde for a day, but if you’re naturally dark, it might not be possible at home. That doesn’t mean your transformation journey has come to an end, it just means that your goal might be a creamier, slightly warmer hue instead or you might need to speak to a stylist. With that in mind, we’ve asked our expert – senior Bleach stylist Freddie – to share some hairy advice for each of these blondes. That way, you know exactly what you’re in for and you’re more likely to end up with a shade that suits your skin tone. Plus less touchups and keeping your bleached hair healthy. won’t spend your life touching up your blonde. 

With your expectations firmly managed, here’s our edit of the hottest blonde shades for 2021.

Cool silver and grey tones have been a massive trend in recent years, but this creamy, neutral blonde is becoming super popular thanks to its warmer undertones and easy maintenance. This all-American shade is best achieved over a yellowy bleach base, Freddie explains. “It’s great because you don’t need a super light base for it,” she says. “Plus, it looks natural without any brassiness”. Darker skin tones take note because this is a color that will look especially good on you and it won’t be as damaging on your hair as Sisqo silver. Side note, if that is your goal, skip straight to number six.

This bright milky blonde feels super youthful and looks just as expensive as a bottle of Dom Pérignon (and will last way longer). This is a color that looks good all year round, but particularly in summer as it mimics the natural lightening you used to get from being out in the sun. ( You know, when your only responsibility was building the tallest castle in the sand pit.) Those were the days. 

To get this blonde, Freddie recommends a very pale base and gentle toner which won’t add ashy hues. “Too much silver shampoo and it will go too white, you need to leave some yellow behind,” she advises. So, quit that purple shampoo addiction if you’re going champagne blonde.

This sunkissed blonde’s full of warmth and makes you look like you’ve just stepped off the beach at Malibu. This honeyed blonde does it all – it’s great for making bleached hair look healthy and is flattering on all skin tones. It’s also good for hiding and blending root regrowth, so if you’re a salon shirker this would be the best option for you.

Don’t get warm and golden twisted with yellow or brassy, Freddie warns. “It’s important to distinguish between ‘golden’ and ‘yellow’,” she says. To create this look, orange and yellow bleaches are toned to a golden blonde, so brassy hues are neutralised. If you’re naturally darker, this is definitely the best place to start your journey to the light side and can be achieved with some face-framing highlights to ease in gradually.

Meet Silver Blonde’s latest upgrade. This stunning ashy-violet blonde with pink undertones is a brighter version of oh-so-popular silver, but just as much of a bleach to achieve and maintain. Be prepared to lift your hair to a very pale yellow, says Freddie, followed by a good dose of toner followed with Pearlescent Shampoo and Conditioner to add and maintain an iridescent shimmer. All worth it when you catch sight of your new pearlescent hair in bright sunlight. Plus it makes a great base for a transition to pastel hair. If My Little Pony was a hair colour this would surely be it.

According to Freddie this icy white blonde is Bleach’s most requested color and we can totally see why. Think of an iconic blonde transformation and this is the platinum shade that comes to mind. This shade of blonde requires lifting your hair incredibly light, so for all you dark-haired beauties we recommend speaking to a stylist who’ll be able to help guide you to the light. If you’ve got the bottle, this is a color that matches the big chop you’ve been thinking about for the past six months. Just think of the Instagram unveiling opportunities... Remember, fortune favours the bold.

The unicorn of all blondes. “You don’t see it a lot, but it’s beautiful and special when you do,” says Freddie. Pearly white might have jumped in popularity recently, but Silver Blonde will forever remain on our blonde inspo list. This white blonde with a strong ashy tone is one that dark-haired Bleachers might have to sit out, or speak to a stylist for, because hair needs to be lifted very light. For those who do jump on the silver train, make sure your bathroom’s well-stocked with toning shampoo and conditioner. “Hair will always want to go back to being yellow so regular Silver Shampoo is essential,” Freddie says. Silver’s guaranteed to turn heads, so if you’re into positive reinforcement, this is the one.

If golden hour were a hair colour, this would be it. Think of this as a slight peachy tone over a warm blonde that will suit pretty much everyone and really speaks to this year’s ginger trend. Much like golden hues, this is a good starting point to see if blondes really do have more fun. You can create this shade on warm or cool bleach bases and red tones fade fast, so transitioning away from your Strawberry Shortcake look won’t take too much. “It’s very low commitment,” says Freddie. “And if you like it, also be maintained easily at home using Awkward Peach Shampoo and Rose Conditioner.” While reds fade quickly, they also leave some warmth in your hair, so don’t expect to change it up to ice blonde straight away.