Old Money Blondes: How to Create Soft, Refined & Reflective Hues
The “old money blonde” aesthetic is back—clients want soft, sunlit hues that feel expensive and grow out naturally. Think honey, champagne, and refined warmth with lived-in dimension. But what makes a blonde feel elevated instead of overdone?
What it is: Well-blended highlights and lowlights, maintaining the natural root with refined, luminous tones and brightness through the ends.
What it isn’t: Ribbons of stark contrast, appearing overly ashy, overprocessed or artificial.
We tapped London-based blonding specialist Suzi Angelina (@hair.by.suzi), known for her soft, premium blondes and client-focused approach, for the techniques and toning formulas she uses. Here’s how teasylights, root taps and Blue Ash in your toning formulas come together to build expensive-looking blondes.
Need inspo for your next consultation? Scroll through this range of luxe blondes:
1. Why The Client’s Natural Root Should be Present
The more blonde you add, the higher the risk of harsh contrast—especially on darker bases. Suzi recommends keeping some of the client’s natural root visible through the midlengths to soften the grow-out and maintain a natural connection from roots to ends.
2. Why Suzi Uses Teasylights
Short answer: Teasylights will pack in brightness without touching the natural root. “This keeps the color lower-maintenance than highlights, but the highly-stretched blonde application [a blend that’s close to the root] offers a brighter result than a balayage,” says Suzi. This technique gives more impact than balayage while still allowing for soft regrowth and healthier maintenance. Here’s a breakdown using her go-to lightener, Moroccanoil® Blonde Voyage Powder Lightener:
- The lower-maintenance look will prevent overprocessing the hair with multiple appointments. Less bleach overlapping allows for a healthier hair condition.
- Face-framing highlights add an extra pop of brightness around the hairline, while maintaining the natural root through the back.
- Achieve the softness of balayage, but avoid the contrast between dark roots and blonde ends when their hair is worn up.
- Teasylights are a great way to break up naturally darker roots. This technique is great on both lighter bases and super dark, almost-black bases too.
3. Why Root Melts and/or Root Taps?
Root taps are the key to every single one of Suzi’s blonde transformations. “I am a massive fan of a root melt,” says Suzi. “I always like to match a root melt to the client’s natural color. Creating a transition point between the darker roots and blonde ends is SO important when achieving maximum blonde in one sitting to avoid any harsh lines.”
For example: “If my client is natural Level 7, I will use a 7N in Moroccanoil® Color Calypso Demi-Permanent Cream Color with 5-volume oxidant [developer] for deposit only that helps to create a seamless, beautiful blend from roots to ends,” Suzi adds.
See every swatch: Suzi’s go-to root tap & gloss shades for expensive blondes!
4. How to Formulate Your Toner for a Reflective Hue
Remember, warmer tones reflect the light more, they make the hair appear brighter and more shiny—exactly what you want with an expensive blonde. Working with the client’s natural undertone and not against it, Suzi’s go-to toning formulas are:
- Moroccanoil® Color Calypso Demi-Permanent Cream Color 10.12 (10BV)
- Moroccanoil® Color Calypso Demi-Permanent Cream Color 10.13 (10BG)
Try shades that have the “0.1” present because the Blue Ash helps neutralize the natural undertones, but isn’t too ashy and not too warm. “Color Calypso is beautiful because it gives that hydration to the client’s hair, keeping the hair nice and shiny,” Suzi said. Your blonde hair is only as good as its health condition, and dry hair doesn’t look expensive.
5. Expensive Blonde Color Formulas to Try Right Now
Get ready to screenshot and save these most-requested blonde formulas from Suzi. Whether you’re opting for a highly-blended “Angel Blonde,” with baby-fine weaves and a halo effect, to more traditional warm blondes, take your pick.
Tap the beakers on the images below to reveal Suzi’s color formulas.
Old Money Blonde
Soft Angel Blonde
Sandy Biscoff Blonde
Ready to formulate your OWN expensive blonde?
