Blonde Hair Care: Pro Maintenance Tips
Kérastase Team | 08/07/2026
Looking for professional tips to help you care for your blonde hair? Whether you’re desperate to banish those unwanted brassy tones or want to protect
your hair from that all-too-familiar dryness and damage, Kérastase Care Coach Katie is here to help.
With Katie’s expert guidance, find out why blonde hair needs a little extra TLC, how to maintain blonde hair, and what to do if you’re worried about damage.
In this article, we’ll explore:
- Why blonde hair needs special care
- How to maintain blonde hair
- Step-by-step routine for maintaining blonde hair
- Products for blonde hair
- What to do if you have damaged blonde hair
- Blonde hair care myths
Meet the expert
A salon owner with over 20 years of experience, Kérastase Care Coach Katie Beck has supported clients through every blonde challenge, from brassiness and dullness to dryness and frizz. Her in-depth knowledge of lightened hair makes her the ideal expert to show you how to care for your blonde hair.
Why blonde hair needs special care
There’s a reason blonde hair needs that little bit of extra love. As Katie explains: “Blonde hair is a lot more fragile in general, and when bleach is on the hair, the cuticles are a lot more open.”
“It's exposed to more damage, especially from UV heat. It also loses a lot of moisture, so the hair can become quite dry. These factors can really have an impact on the hair, such as the shine and the condition, and it needs extra care as a result.”
Blonde hair is particularly prone to:
- Dryness
- Breakage
- Frizz
- Dullness
- Brassiness
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How to maintain blonde hair
Blonde hair looks its best when glossy and smooth. So what are the best ways to prevent dullness, damage and discolouration from happening to your beloved blonde locks? We’ve got eight tips to maintain your blonde hair.
Use a gentle shampoo
Protect your colour by using a gentle, lightweight shampoo for blonde hair; perfect for soothing and hydrating hair from root to tip, while illuminating blonde tones.
Keep your hair conditioned
A conditioner specifically formulated for lightened hair will help your blonde last longer and stay in healthy condition. A restorative conditioner, like our Cicaflash conditioner, gives your strands a super shot of care, leaving your hair feeling silky soft and hydrated.
Tone with purple shampoo
A violet shampoo, like our Bain Ultra-Violet, used once or twice a week, will help to neutralise brassiness and unwanted yellow tones in blonde or grey hair, for a nourished, cool blonde. You can also use a violet mask, like our Blond Absolu Masque Ultra-Violet, to neutralise brassiness and care for your bleached hair. Expert tip: “A purple shampoo can be great when used correctly. However, if used too much, purple shampoo can be drying. It can also lead to over-toning, making hair a grey or bluey tone, so be careful not to overuse it, especially if you want a warmer-tone blonde rather than ashy.”
Use a weekly hair mask treatment
Katie recommends using a blonde hair mask treatment once a week. “It really gives that extra boost of hydration, strengthening the hair. There are two masks in the Blonde Absolu range – the Violet one is more of a toner, while the Extreme gives hair that hydration and strength.”
Apply a daily serum
Serums are another expert recommendation, particularly those that specifically target repair, strengthening and nourishment. “They add moisture and protection to the hair, which is key for blonde hair – I recommend using one every day.”
Protect your hair from heat damage
A leave-in heat protector can help to care for blonde hair while protecting it from heat damage. Try the Cicaplasme Heat Protectant from the Blond Absolu range, which offers heat protection up to 230˚C.
Be gentle as you brush
Avoid excessive brushing, especially when hair is wet, as that’s when it’s at its most fragile. “I’d recommend brushing hair with a wide-tooth comb or detangling brush, and be gentle, starting from the bottom and working your way up.”
How to stop blonde hair going yellow
Nobody wants their blonde hair to turn yellow or brassy. But unfortunately, blonde hair is particularly prone to it. That’s because lightening removes cool tones in the hair, leaving behind warmer pigments that start to show through as the artificial colour fades.
Certain factors speed up this process, including:
- Hard water minerals
- Chlorine
- UV exposure
- Heat damage
- Product buildup
- Pollution
- Using shampoos not designed for lightened hair
The good news is that you can slow down the process. Here’s what you can do to keep brassiness at bay:
- Rinse hair after swimming
- Install a shower filter if you live in a hard-water area
- Use a colour-safe, sulphate-free shampoo for blonde hair
- Add a purple shampoo or mask to your weekly routine
- Protect your hair from UV rays with a leave-in treatment
- Avoid excessive heat styling and always use heat protection
- Clarify once every 1-2 weeks to remove buildup
Step-by step routine for maintaining blonde hair
Looking for a simple routine for blonde hair maintenance? Follow these four steps to get the most from your golden locks.
Step 1
Wash daily with Bain Lumière Shampoo to gently cleanse the fibre, leaving hair light and radiant. Once or twice a week, swap to Bain Ultra-Violet Purple Shampoo to reduce brassiness and keep your blonde looking bright and luminous.
Step 2
Use Cicaflash Conditioner every time you shampoo to help restore sensitised hair with a lightweight finish. Leave on for 2-3 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
Step 3
Once a week, give hair an anti-brass shot with Masque Ultra-Violet Purple Hair Mask. Apply to washed and towel-dried lengths and ends. Leave for 2-3 minutes before adding water, emulsifying and rinsing thoroughly.
Step 4
Apply Cicaplasme Heat Protectant Serum on towel-dried hair. Twist any curls around fingers to define, or apply before heat styling for protection up to 230˚C.
Products for blonde hair
The key to caring for blonde hair? The right products. “Blonde hair products put everything back in the hair that it needs. They are designed to strengthen the hair, hydrate and moisturise with ingredients like protein and hyaluronic acid. They help with the longevity of colour and improve the hair’s condition.”
Here are some of our best products for blonde hair.
| Product | Recommended Kérastase Product | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | Bain Lumière Shampoo | One to three times a week, depending on your hair type |
| Conditioner | Cicaflash Conditioner | Apply to shampooed and towel-dried hair after every wash |
| Purple Shampoo | Bain Ultra-Violet Purple Shampoo | Once or twice a week, depending on your hair type |
| Mask | Masque Cicaextreme Hair Mask | Once a week |
| Serum | Serum Cicanuit Overnight Hair Serum | Apply two to four pumps into lengths and ends of dry hair before going to sleep |
| Hair Oil | L’Huile Cicagloss | Apply one or two drops on wet hair, post-blow dry and for touch-ups between washes |
| Heat Protection | Cicaplasme Heat Protectant Serum | Apply to lengths and ends of damp hair before heat styling |
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What to do if you have damaged blonde hair
If your blonde hair is feeling particularly dry, brittle or over-processed, don’t panic. Katie recommends heading to the salon for a professional assessment.
“Your stylist will assess your hair and determine what’s causing the damage – is it from heat? Is it from colour?” says Katie.
“An in-salon treatment for bleached hair can help, like Kérastase Fusio-Dose, then your stylist will recommend the right at-home care to support your repair journey. We’d also recommend going longer between colour services – I tend to recommend 10 to 12 weeks with blonde – until your hair is back on track.”
Discover even more expert advice in our guide to repairing damaged hair.
Blonde hair care myths
Myth #1: Your hair is too dark to go blonde
Many of us have been told that if you have naturally dark hair, you should avoid going blonde. True, darker hair does require more bleaching, which can weaken the hair. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t dare to go blonde. It’s just a matter of working with your stylist to find the perfect tone and personalised haircare regime to maintain your salon-quality locks at home.
Myth #2: If you keep bleaching, your hair will fall out
For those who just can’t get enough of being blonde, this one’s for you. With the right post-bleach routine, you can’t overdo it when it comes to bleaching, so you shouldn’t compromise on your blonde out of fear.
Myth #3: Bleaching your curly hair will make it even more high maintenance
Curly hair is prone to dryness, a challenge that can be worsened by lightening the hair. But that is nothing to be afraid of – it just means you need extra hydration and care, and that is what Blond Absolu is here for.
Nip dryness in the bud with the best products for dry hair.
Discover Kérastase’s Blonde Absolu range to maintain blonde hair
Blonde hair maintenance is made easy with the Blond Absolu collection. Infused with nourishing ingredients including essence of edelweiss flower and hyaluronic acid, Blond Absolu maintains and perfects cool tones, hydrates and fortifies the hair fibre, and illuminates hair from within.
Blonde hair care FAQs
How do I keep blonde hair from fading?
To keep blonde hair from fading, use a colour-safe, sulphate-free shampoo, and avoid excessive heat styling. Protect your hair from UV rays and chlorine, and consider installing a shower filter if you live in a hard-water area (such as London, the South, or the East of England) where mineral buildup can dull your colour.
Why does blonde hair turn yellow?
Blonde hair turns yellow or brassy because lightening removes cool tones in the hair, leaving behind warmer natural pigments that start to show through as the artificial colour fades. Environmental factors including hard water minerals, chlorine, UV exposure, heat damage, and product buildup can speed up this oxidation process.
How often should I use purple shampoo?
Use purple shampoo once or twice a week to neutralise brassiness and unwanted yellow tones. Avoid using it more frequently than that, as overusing purple pigments can lead to overtoning, leaving your blonde looking darker or slightly greyish-blue.
What is the best hair care routine for bleached hair?
- Wash on your scheduled hair wash days with Bain Lumière Shampoo
- Swap to Bain Ultra-Violet Purple Shampoo once or twice a week to neutralise brassy, yellow undertones.
- Use Cicaflash Conditioner after every shampoo to intensely restore sensitised fibres and prevent breakage.
- Give your hair an anti-brass boost once a week by swapping your conditioner for Masque Ultra-Violet Purple Hair Mask for deeper neutralisation and nourishment.
- Apply Cicaplasme Heat Protectant Serum to towel-dried hair before styling to shield against heat damage and defend your hair from frizz in damp UK weather.
How can I keep blonde hair healthy long-term?
To keep blonde hair healthy long-term, use a gentle, colour-safe shampoo and conditioner, and incorporate a weekly deep-conditioning mask treatment. Minimise heat styling, protect your hair from thermal and UV damage, and brush gently with a wide-tooth comb or wet brush to prevent breakage on compromised strands.
