If you have blonde hair, you’re likely no stranger to highlights—but have you ever considered trying blonde hair with lowlights? It’s a great way to add dimension to your strands, and there are so many ways you can approach the look. The classic-for-a-reason formula is blonde hair with highlights and lowlights, or if a brighter blonde is the goal, try platinum blonde hair with lowlights that are super subtle.
Not sure which approach to lowlights are most flattering for you? You’re right where you need to be! Whether you have champagne strands or are rocking some ash blonde, lowlights are here to take your hue to the next level. We’ve rounded up 23 blonde hair with lowlight colors to inspire your next salon visit.
How Do You Break Up Blonde Hair?
One of the biggest pitfalls of going blonde is that it can sometimes look flat or one dimensional. Blonde hair with highlights and lowlights are the easiest way to break up that monotony. While highlights are ribbons of lighter color that brighten your mane, lowlights are darker and add depth and dimension. Lowlights also have the perk of making your color look more natural, and can create a more seamless grow-out process.
To achieve the perfect blend, ask your colorist for blonde hair with lowlights that are no more than three shades darker than the blonde color. The lowlights should complement your skin tone and current hue, as well. For instance, if you’re beginning with light platinum or ash blonde hair, opt for ash brown lowlights to enhance the depth of your cool-toned hue. For those with warm-toned blonde hair colors like honey or caramel, stick to warmer brunette shades like chocolate.
For the most natural look, any highlights should also fall within three shades of your base color and align with your skin tone.
What are lowlights on hair?
The simplest way to explain lowlights is that they’re the exact opposite of highlights. While highlights require your colorist to use bleach to lighten small sections of your hair, your colorist will darken small sections of hair with a hue one to two shades darker than your base color to create lowlights.
Can you put lowlights over bleached hair?
If you’re opting for a full head of blonde hair, the last thing you want is for your color to fall flat. That’s why so many colorists recommend lowlights on blonde hair to help create a natural-looking, seamlessly blended shade with depth, dimension, and contrast.
Do lowlights damage hair?
While both highlights and lowlights are great ways to add dimension to your hair color, highlights require damaging bleach. Because your colorist doesn’t have to use bleach to create lowlights, they’re much gentler on your hair and require less upkeep.
Can lowlights cover gray hair?
If you’re looking to keep your gray strands hidden, lowlights are also a great option. Adding lowlights that match your natural base color can help to blend and conceal gray hair seamlessly. Not only that, but lowlights can help you stretch the time between touch-up appointments a bit longer.
Will purple shampoo lighten my lowlights?
Purple shampoo won’t lighten your lowlights. However, it will tone the lighter strands of hair to keep your mane brass-free.
Acidic Bonding Concentrate Sulfate Free Shampoo for Damaged Hair
All-in-one concentrated shampoo for damaged hair
Acidic Bonding Concentrate Sulfate Free Conditioner for Damaged Hair
All-in-one concentrated conditioner for damaged hair
Blond Absolu Bain Ultra-Violet Purple Shampoo
Shampoo for lightened, cool blonde, bleached, or gray hair.
Ultimate Reset Restorative Hair Mask
A restorative deep repair hair mask for damaged hair.
Extreme Bleach Recovery Shampoo
A recovery shampoo for damaged, ultra-sensitive bleached hair
Extreme Bleach Recovery Lamellar Water Treatment
A rinse-out hair treatment for damaged, ultra-sensitive bleached hair
Extreme Bleach Recovery Cica Cream Leave In Treatment
A repairing leave-in treatment to deeply nourish ultra-sensitive bleached hair
How To Care For Blonde Hair With Lowlights
If you're new to the color-treated world of hair care, stock your shower shelf with products that that are formulated to protect your new, dynamic shade. Here’s what a hair care routine for blonde hair with lowlights. .
Your regular shampoo and conditioner should be a pair that’s going to seriously nourish and strengthen your strands, such as Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Sulfate Free Shampoo for Damaged Hair and Acidic Bonding Concentrate Sulfate Free Conditioner for Damaged Hair. This mighty duo helps intensely condition your strands while repairing strength and recreating weakened bonds. Best of all, it works on all hair types and textures, including those with major damage.
Once or twice a week, swap out your go-to shampoo for a purple shampoo—like Kérastase Blond Absolu Bain Ultra-Violet Shampoo. This deep indigo and iridescent shampoo is brass-reducing with blue and purple dye for instantly illuminating blonde hair and neutralizating undertones. Another pampering options for blonde strands is a weekly hair mask. Shu Uemura Ultimate Reset Restorative Hair Mask is a lightweight mask that provides long-lasting nourishment and helps protect against breakage.
Blondes with an ultra blonde or platinum base—or those dealing with significant bleach damage—should consider Redken Extreme Bleach Recovery Shampoo. This reparative, strengthening shampoo is great for for ultra-sensitive, damaged hair and it adds softness, suppleness, and shine in just one use.
Coloring your hair can lead to weakened or broken strands and when you’re trying to mend damaged hair, shampoo alone won’t be enough. You’ll also need a hair treatment like Redken’s Recovery Lamellar Water Treatment. This rinse-out treatment instantly fills the porosity of the hair while providing softness, smoothness, and shine. For extra credit, add Redken Extreme Bleach Recovery Cica Cream Leave In Treatment to your post shower routine.
While lowlights make your blonde hue a bit more low maintenance and a breeze to grow out, you should still plan to head back to the salon every six to eight weeks to keep your color in tip-top shape.
The Best Blonde Hair With Lowlights To Inspire Your Next Color
Convinced blonde hair with lowlights is the perfect hair color for you? Whether you’re thinking dark blonde hair with brown lowlights, medium blonde hair with dark lowlights, champagne blonde hair with lowlights (or something in between) one of these 23 looks might just inspire you to book your next salon appointment—stat.
Honey Blonde With Caramel Lowlights
Lowlights don’t have to be dark to make a major difference. We love the way these caramel lowlights perfectly complement honey blonde ringlets, making them appear brighter and shinier than ever.
Ash Blonde With Milk Chocolate Lowlights
Ash blonde hair is one of the hottest hair color trends of the year. Consider adding some milk chocolate lowlights to shake up your look ash blonde color. This rich brunette shade will perfectly complement your ash blonde strands and help blend with your natural roots to make rerowth more natural looking.
Icy Blonde With Brunette Lowlights
If it’s drama you’re looking for, icy blonde hair with brunette lowlights is perfect for you. These contrasting colors make both hues stand out for a final look that’s bound to turn heads.
Warm Blonde With Toasty Lowlights
Blonde hair with lowlights often darkens your hue, but that’s not always the case. If you’re interested in lowlights but don’t want to darken your color too much, opt for a warm blonde with toasty lowlights. The lowlights add dimension to your hair while making your blonde strands appear warmer.
Platinum Blonde With Charcoal Lowlights
Platinum blonde hair is a serious commitment that requires a whole new hair care routine and frequent trips to the salon. If you want your platinum hue to be a bit more low maintenance, consider adding charcoal lowlights to your ‘do. Ask your colorist to focus the highlights near your roots for dimension that makes growing out your color easier than ever.
To keep your hair brass-free, don’t forget to use a purple shampoo—like Redken Extend Blondage Color Depositing Conditioner for Blonde Hair—once every two weeks.
White Blonde With Light Brown Lowlights
Lowlights don’t have to be dramatic to make a difference. It’s possible to add dimension to white blonde hair without completely changing your hair color. To do this, ask your colorist for subtle light brown lowlights to warm up your frosty color.
Platinum Blonde With Ash Lowlights
If you love the ash blonde color trend but don’t feel like coloring your entire mane an ashy hue, consider ash lowlights. The low maintenance lowlights allow you to dip your toe in the trend without changing your beloved color.
Gray Blonde With Charcoal Lowlights
If you’re looking for a grunge take on blonde hair with lowlights, look no further than gray blonde with charcoal lowlights. The charcoal lowlights do double duty helping to darken your hue while making your gray blonde strand appear lighter than before.
Cream Blonde With Ash Lowlights
Pop a few ash lowlights into your creamy blonde mane and (boom!) you can dip your toe into the ash hair color trend
Good hair day by @kimsandee.
Cream Blonde With Light Brown Lowlights
If you love the look of bronde hair color (ya know, that perfectly lived in brown and blonde combo) but want your hue to be a touch more blonde than brunette, opt for this creamy blonde with light brown lowlights. Achieve an ultra sleek look by spritzing Matrix Total Results Mega Sleek Iron Smoother Leave-In Spray whenever heat styling your strands.
Good hair day by @_hairbygabrielle.
Neutral Blonde With Ash Lowlights
Nude blonde is the literal Goldilocks of blonde hair shades: Not too dark, not too bright—just right. Give your neutral hair color some depth with a few ash-colored lowlights.
Good hair day by @hairbykaesha.
Straw Blonde With Rooty Lowlights
To keep your lowlights concentrated within one section of your mane, rooty lowlights make growing out your hair color seamless.
Good hair day by @colorwithgrace.
Platinum Blonde With Nude Lowlights
If you love blonde hair so much you can’t imagine having any other color, consider nude lowlights. The nude blonde adds lovely warmth and dimension to your icy platinum blonde strands.
Platinum Blonde With Golden Wheat Lowlights
Hoping to add a touch of gold to a platinum blonde mane? Golden wheat lowlights will pop against icy white strands.
Good hair day by @studiolioness.
Wheat Blonde With Auburn Lowlights
Wheat blonde is no doubt a stunning and flattering shade but without enough dimension it can wash you out. Auburn lowlights bring some much-needed depth while giving your blonde mane an all-over glow.
Dirty Blonde With Caramel Lowlights
You don’t need to have very light hair to qualify as a blonde. This dirty blonde with caramel lowlights look is a stunning combination of darker blonde hues.
Good hair day by @lisa_oscaroscarrobina.
Blush Blonde Hair With Dark Lowlights
Add a subtle pop of color to your blonde witha blush hue with dimension from dark blonde lowlights.
Good hair day by @rachel_redd.
Caramel Blonde With Chocolate Brown Lowlights
Caramel blonde with chocolate brown lowlights is perfect for bringing out the glow in dark skin tones. For extra shine, add Kérastase L'Huile Original Hair Oil. Formulated with five precious hair oils, it deeply nourishes, helps prevent breakage, and seriously boosts the shine factor.
Good hair day by @pati.rodrigz.
Dark Ash Blonde With Dark Brown Lowlights
Try a toned-down version of the ash blonde hair trend for winter with dark ash blonde. Ask your colorist for dark brown lowlights to give the look movement and body.
Good hair day by @haircolorkilla.
Golden Blonde With Golden Brown Lowlights
To achieve the brightness of golden blonde hair with richness, pair the shade with golden brown lowlights.
Good hair day by @clarepearsonhair.
Pearly Blonde With Baby Lowlights
If you're only warming up to the idea of blonde hair with lowlights, start subtle. Ask your stylist for a pearly shade of blonde with baby-fine lowlights.
Good hair day by @heyhoney.linnea.
Taupe Blonde with Sandy Lowlights
This take on blonde hair with lowlights delivers a super natural look that grows out like a dream. It fuses both warmth and coolness into one look with shakes of taupe, sand, and even darker bronde.
Good hair day by @thedollhousesalonspa.
Strawberry Blonde with Creamy Lowlights and Dark Roots
For more warmth, start with a strawberry blonde base and incorporate creamy lowlights throughout. To add extra dimension—and to make for an easier grow out process—ask your stylist to keep the roots close to your natural color and talk to them about a root smudge.
Searching for more products? Shop the best salon-quality products at Hair.com.
Acidic Bonding Concentrate Sulfate Free Shampoo for Damaged Hair
All-in-one concentrated shampoo for damaged hair
Acidic Bonding Concentrate Sulfate Free Conditioner for Damaged Hair
All-in-one concentrated conditioner for damaged hair
Blond Absolu Bain Ultra-Violet Purple Shampoo
Shampoo for lightened, cool blonde, bleached, or gray hair.
Ultimate Reset Restorative Hair Mask
A restorative deep repair hair mask for damaged hair.
Extreme Bleach Recovery Shampoo
A recovery shampoo for damaged, ultra-sensitive bleached hair
Extreme Bleach Recovery Lamellar Water Treatment
A rinse-out hair treatment for damaged, ultra-sensitive bleached hair
Extreme Bleach Recovery Cica Cream Leave In Treatment
A repairing leave-in treatment to deeply nourish ultra-sensitive bleached hair
Color Extend Blondage Color Depositing Conditioner for Blonde Hair
A purple, brass-busting conditioner for fragile blonde hair.
Total Results Mega Sleek Iron Smoother Leave-In Spray
A hair smoothing spray that doubles as a heat protectant.
Elixir Ultime L’Huile Original Hair Oil
Nourishing treatment and anti-frizz oil that blends Argan Oil and Marula Oil to add shine, hydration, and strength to all hair types and textures.
