For Fall 2025, the monochromatic blonde trend is all about muted sophistication. Florida-based BTC Team Member Ashley Smith (@paintedbyashleymarie) shares her formula tricks for muted blondes below: Learn why you should skip Clear, lift high and how to properly formulate neutral tones for that soft, muted finish.
3 Things You Must Do for Muted Blondes:
- Don’t add Clear to your toner: “It delivers more pigment without making the blonde necessarily darker. I kept my client at a Level 8 and wanted all of that punch of pigment to almost dull out the brightness,” Ashley shares.
- For highlights, lift high: “I aim for a Level 9/10, and toning down to a Level 8 to help create that muted look," Ashley shares. This is key to an undertone that reads ashy.
- Add neutrals to your toner: “I add an N series or something with a more brown base to my formula,” Ashley explains.
The Formulas
- Formula A (highlights):
- Redken Flash Lift Lightening Powder + 20-volume developer, increasing to 30-volume as you work through the head to ensure even processing
- Formula B (root tap):
- Redken Shades EQ 07M + Redken Shades EQ Processing Solution
- Formula C (gloss):
- Shades EQ 07NW + 09NW + 08VG + Shades EQ Processing Solution
Steps
1. Lighten the hair by applying Formula A, making sure to allow the highlights to process to a Level 9 to 10.
2. Wash and begin toning. Apply Formula B as a root tap and Formula C as a gloss.
3. Rinse and style as desired.
