Lifestyle Mirror

Of all the seasons, summer is the best for blondes. In fact, the season’s most recent cover girls are almost all fair-haired, from Kate Upton to Kate Moss, Emma Stone to Blake Lively. So there’s no question that now is the perfect time to have a blonde moment, whether you go the bombshell route (like Upton) or opt for a more demure pixie (like Michelle Williams).

The actress who epitomizes the blonde moment is Blake Lively, who will take to the big screen this weekend in Savages. The woman behind her coveted blonde highlights is the LA-based Rona O’Connor, who has been working with Lively since her very first days as a Gossip Girl. She refers to color as a “philosophy”, not a process, which changes the attitude around dye jobs.

“With Blake, I softened her natural color, which is a medium-blonde, and then warmed up her base,” she said. “Blake has a warm skin tone, so we can make it into a pretty golden-blonde, or use ivory accents.” For Blake, she always looks to skin and eye color. “Typically, what’s next to a person’s face is what suits them. You can incorporate colors that don’t suit you so long as it’s not right next to your face.”

If you lean towards a porcelain complexion, ask your colorist to throw golden highlights in the back of your head. “You can do cool tones with warm tones. It creates dimension and enhances layers,” Rona says. “Or, play with the ends—warm highlights look great with cool ends and vise versa.”

Lighter hair can even alter the shape of your face, so make sure to choose wisely for front pieces. “Going brighter on the sides will widen a forehead, or a heavier jaw will benefit from a lighter hairline,” Rona says.

This kind of color strategy—alternating hues, playing with the ends, and strategically placing your highlights—actually means less frequent visits to the hair salon, which is perfect for an A-list celebrity (or any modern woman). “Blake has a busy schedule. She does her show, photo shoots, magazine covers, campaigns, and the red carpet. That means her color needs to look great—even as it’s growing out.”

So are there any bona-fide rules before you book your color appointment? “Don’t go too much higher than your natural shade, otherwise maintenance gets harder and fade happens faster.” And, if you’re taking your cues from Miss Lively, don’t forget the proper products. “Blake is big on her conditioners because of the heat styling on her shows and shoots.”  

For Rona’s curated list of blonde (and Blake) approved color enhancing products, click through our slideshow above. —Phillip Picardi