Dull Blonde isn’t the usual Blonde stereotype—but if you’re Blonde, you know exactly what we mean. It’s when your Colour isn’t quite bright and luminous, but it’s also not deep and rich enough to feel intentional. My Blonde sits somewhere between Medium and Light—not Platinum, nor Ash— and it can sometimes fall flat.
We love the sparkle of an 8 Light Blonde, the buttery luxe of an 8.2 Light Beige Blonde, and the effortless depth of a 7 Medium Blonde. They’re chic, natural, and timeless—and we love the joy of simple, 1 tube Colouring.
But sometimes, your Blonde needs a little more—a soft highlight, a sun-kissed glow, a pop of brightness. And here’s a little secret we swear by—one that bends the rules (just a bit) but not the budget. And, it involves breaking one of the cardinal rules of Hair Colouring: You can’t lighten already Coloured Hair. Or can you?*
*To be honest, in normal circumstances, you must stick to this rule, but when you’re already a Light Blonde like myself, there’s a trick to painting in soft, Natural Highlights—no bleach required.
I’ve been using this trick to lift and brighten my Blonde without the hassle of a full reColour—and it works. And trust me, it makes all the difference. Follow along to see exactly how I do it.
My Starting Point
Hair Previously Coloured With: 8.2 Light Beige Blonde and 20 Volume Developer over my Medium Blonde Regrowth. After letting it go wild, my Blonde has turned Warm.
I love 8.2 Light Beige Blonde, it's my Colour that gives me the right Lightness, mixed with a 20 Volume Developer that is easier on my sensitive skin. The result? A beautifully Natural Blonde that complements my Cooler complexion, Blue eyes, and Pinkish Undertones.
My Hair Naturally throws a lot of Golden-Red Warmth, so I need balance—but a full-on Ash makes my skin look Red and blotchy. That's why Beige is the best of both worlds.
Spending time outdoors Naturally Lightens my Hair, adding effortless dimension. But when I'm not spending too much time basking in the sun, my Blonde can start to feel a little flat.
Products Needed
To Refresh My Regrowth
8.2 Light Beige Blonde
20 Volume Developer
To Paint My Highlights
908 Extra Light Silver Blonde
40 Volume Developer
I want the Coolest and Lightest Blonde with our strongest Developer to Lighten into lovely Highlights.
For Maintenance
Pearl Blonde Toner Kit
Pearl Blonde
Toner Kit
Additional Tools
Tint Bowl and Brush
Sectioning Clips
My Colour Application
Step 1: Apply My Colour To My Regrowth
Start by applying my regular Regrowth mix—8.2 Light Beige Blonde with 20 Volume Developer—to my roots. Make sure every root is fully covered.
Step 2: Paint My Highlights
Once my roots were fully covered, I mixed up my 908 Extra Light Silver Blonde with 40 Volume Developer for my Highlights.
Tip: I have precut strips of foil, that I will wrap my Hair in.
I focused the Highlights through the top two sections of my Hair. I start from my part and worked down to my ear.
Use the end of the Tint Brush to weave through my Hair, creating small Highlights.
Place a strip of foil underneath the Highlight, then apply the Colour mix to the Hair, wrapping it in foil to protect the rest of your Hair from being Coloured.
This process doesn’t need to be overly neat or precise—just make sure your Highlights aren’t stacked too closely together while keeping them around your face for a natural effect.
Step 3: Check And Adjust Highlights
Once your Highlights are applied, go back to the first foils to check on them. You may need to top them up with Colour or remove the foil if the Highlights have developed enough.
As the Highlight development slows down, remove the foil while the roots finish developing. This helps balance the lightness between the Roots and Highlights.
Once you've reached your Regrowth Colour development time, rinse Hair for 3 to 5 minutes in warm water until the water runs clear. Shampoo and condition Hair as normal.
My Colour Results
Follow-Up Care
Since my Hair Naturally pulls a lot of Gold when Coloured, I wanted to give my Highlights a soft, pearly finish. To do this, I Toned my dry Hair with the Pearl Blonde Toner Kit, starting at the freshly Coloured roots to Cool them down, and then working it through the rest of my Hair. I left it on for 30 minutes—a little longer than usual, but sometimes breaking the rules is necessary for the perfect Tone.
