All You Need To Know About Going Blonde at Anthony Laban Home in Wandsworth
Going blonde is one of the most transformative hair colour journeys you can take. Whether you’re dreaming of soft balayage, face-framing highlights, or a bold dark to blonde transformation, achieving your perfect blonde is all about expert technique, patience, and a personalised approach.
At Anthony Laban Home, we specialise in bespoke blonding services designed to suit your skin tone, lifestyle, and hair health, because no two blondes should ever look the same.
Remember, we offer complimentary consultations to help you get the hair colour you desire. We can also sort out a quick patch test during your consultation - a patch test is essential if you are new to colour or have not had colour with us in the past four months or longer.
Book your consultation online or give us a call on 020 3475 6644 to start your transformation.
Key Takeaways:
✔ Achieving your ideal blonde requires a personalised consultation
✔ Techniques such as balayage, highlights, and money piece blonding each offer different finishes
✔ Going from dark to blonde is a gradual process that often takes multiple sessions
✔ Professional toning is essential after lightening to refine warmth and create your desired blonde shade
What Is Blonding?
Blonding is an umbrella term for any process that lightens the hair - from subtle highlights to full blonde transformations. It often involves lifting your natural pigment using lightener and refining the tone with glosses or toners.
Unlike traditional colour, blonding can be a journey, especially if you’re going from dark to blonde. Multiple sessions may be needed to protect the integrity of your hair while achieving your desired result.
Your journey to blonde will start with an in-depth consultation where we can assess your hair history, natural base colour, and overall condition before creating a bespoke plan. Of course, we will also take into account exactly what you want - so remember to show us some images of blonde shades you love.
"Blonding isn’t just about going lighter, it’s about creating a tone, placement, and finish that works uniquely for you. The best blondes are always tailored, never rushed," explains Taelor, our Salon Manager & Colour Expert.
Blonding Techniques
Lightening works by removing pigment from the hair, revealing underlying warm tones such as gold or copper. This is why toning is essential as it refines your blonde into shades like icy, creamy, or honey.
Highlights: Highlights lighten selected strands to add dimension, brightness, and a sun-kissed effect. They can be bold or ultra-fine depending on your desired finish.
Balayage: Balayage is a freehand technique where colour is painted onto the hair for a softer, lived-in look. It grows out beautifully and requires less maintenance than traditional highlights.
Money Piece: A money piece is a brighter, face-framing highlight that instantly lifts your complexion and adds impact to your overall blonde.
Full Blonding (Dark to Blonde): For a more dramatic transformation, we may need to bleach your hair to lift the natural darker pigment. We may recommend multiple appointments to maintain hair health and get to the shade you want.
Platinum Blondes: Significant colour changes - perhaps to a platinum or white blonde - are also likely to require bleaching. High-lift colours can lighten dark hair up to four shades without bleach but they are not effective if you want to transform to a really bright, white platinum colour.
FAQs
How long does it take to go blonde?
«This depends on your starting colour and desired result. Dark to blonde transformations can take multiple sessions to protect the hair and achieve an even lift.
What’s the difference between highlights & balayage?
«Highlights use foils for precise, even lightening, while balayage is hand-painted for a softer, more natural finish. Both can be tailored depending on how bright or subtle you want your blonde.
Will going blonde damage my hair?
«Blonding is a chemical process, so some level of stress is expected. However, with professional techniques and bond-building treatments, your hair can remain strong and healthy.
How do I maintain my blonde colour?
«Regular toning, deep conditioning treatments, and using colour-safe products are key. Maintenance appointments will also keep your highlights or balayage looking fresh.
Can I go blonde in one appointment?
«In some cases, yes - but for darker hair, it’s usually safer to lighten gradually. This helps maintain the condition of your hair and achieve a more even result.
What is a money piece?
«A money piece is a bright, face-framing highlight that adds instant impact. It’s perfect if you want to try blonding without committing to a full head transformation.
Which blonde shade will suit me best?
«Your skin tone, eye colour, and natural base all play a role. Our stylists are skilled in helping clients find the right hair colour to suit them so why not book a complimentary consultation so we can explore the options available.
Is balayage lower maintenance than a full head of highlights?
«Yes, balayage grows out more softly with less noticeable regrowth. This makes it ideal if you want a low-maintenance blonde that still looks polished.