Achieving the perfect blonde hue is hard work. One day your barnet looks far too yellowy and the next it resembles your dear Nana's. Sometimes it can feel way too harsh against your complexion and sometimes it feels barely blonde at all.
Blondes might have more fun, but maintaining your colour? It's essentially a full-time job.
Fret not though, because if you want to have as good locks as Molly-Mae and Zara McDermott, it doesn't have to be as hard as it seems. Even if you're addicted to bleach (and it's definitely an addiction), there are products on the high street that will keep your blonde hair in check.
If there's anything that we want to know, it's exactly how the celebs do it themselves. To really get to the core of what's the best out there, we went straight to the trusted source: a celeb stylist.
Whether your hair's platinum, beige or dirty blonde, we asked Provoke Ambassador and Celebrity Colourist Kris Barnes for his top tips on achieving the perfect 'blonde'...
Why does blonde hair need different care?
According to Kris, our blonde locks can actually be a lot drier than those who are fans of the brunette...
"Blonde hair tends to be drier than brunette. If you look at brunette hair in the sun you get a lot of shine, whereas blondes don’t have that. Blonde hair is more brittle and breaks easily so it does need that extra bit of help and tlc. This is where a range like Blonde Rehab comes in to make hair stronger and healthier – it helps with the integrity of hair after bleaching and adds amazing shine!"
How can I maintain a healthy blonde colour?
"Try not to wash hair every day as it will affect the vibrancy of the colour – not only will it strip out a toner it will also make hair drier, which will reduce shine. I would recommend washing hair every three days or using a sulphate-free shampoo for a gentler clean if washed more frequently.
"Moisturising hair is key, and I recommend using a hair treatment at least once a week to combat dryness, which causes breakage.
"Tie hair up less – often with my blonde clients their hair underneath is a lot shorter and breaks easily, so leaving hair down will help to stop breakage. Silk pillowcases and silk hair ties are good here too as they are really gentle for hair.
"And finally, protect it from heat. Blondes always need to use a heat protection product. The average straightener is 180 degrees. If that heat touches skin you’ll get a severe burn straight away, so putting that on your hair is extremely drying and can cause damage."
What blonde haircare would you recommend?
"I would say use a bonder in the salon, continue to use a bonder at home, cut down washes and try a loose braid for bed so nothing is pulling hair. If you have extensions, always make sure they are de-tangled because they are tricky to remove if they get matted and pull the hair.
"Try rotating your shampoos as hair has different needs at different times. You may need a bond repair if your hair feels dry or damaged or a colour-boosting shampoo between salon visits to keep the colour vibrant. I always recommend having two shampoos on rotation to get multiple benefits!"
SHOP: The best haircare to maintain your blonde 'do
Totally affordable and under £5, the new Provoke Blonde Rehab collection is one to snap up. Our fave is this bond repair treatment - a top choice for a high street bond repair.
If you've not spotted this hair mask doing the rounds, it's time to invest. Known for its huge molecular repair advantages, K18 is one to pick.
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Of course, the OG choice, Olaplex, is a top seller for blondes. This toning shampoo is made to keep locks fresh day in, day out.
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Looking for a duo that will make your blonde look fresh? Kérastase is the one.
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For another affordable choice, just leave in this L'Oreal spray for constant protection.
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Supported by blonde queen Molly-Mae herself, Beauty Works also has a 10-in-1 spray that covers all bases.
How to get your hair in better condition:
Whether you've overdone it on the styling tools or have bleached hair, there are plenty of things you can do at home to return your hair to its former glory...
Olaplex: yes, it's pricey but it does work. Containing a patented technology that helps to permanently rebuild dry and brittle strands, we love [Olaplex Hair Perfect no.3 {href='https://www.beautybay.com/p/olaplex/olaplex-hair-perfector-no-3/?' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow' class='add-referrer-link'}) as a pre-shampoo treatment.
Heat-free hairstyles: swap the curlers for a natural styling alternative. We love this heat-free curl rod from Amazon which gives you gorgeous curls overnight.
Silk pillowcases: they are on the more expensive side but have plenty of benefits for your hair and skin - especially if you're prone to sleeping on your side. Check out our guide to the best silk pillowcases here.