How to create the perfect platinum blonde

Platinum blonde is set to be the shade of the season, but there’s an art to mastering this bold look. Pulp Riot artist Christabel Legrand shares her advice on getting it right and the best way to manage client expectations

“Realistically, I would say it may take two or three sessions to lift a client to a blonde, with a few weeks break minimum in between each lightening service. Once you have established what is achievable while also maintaining the integrity of the hair, I would recommend using Pulp Riot BlondeAF to start your lightening process. It offers up to nine levels of lift, contains quinoa (which has mild protein benefit) and also doesn’t swell when mixed with the Pulp Riot developer, meaning it won’t overlap or swell out of foils.

“Lightening can be one of the most damaging services if it is not done correctly, so always take into consideration the condition of your client’s hair. Do a strand test, check the elasticity, recommend the correct aftercare advice – and add a bond builder into your service if you can. You also need to talk to your client about the upkeep of going platinum. For a clean lift, they will need to return every six weeks for a regrowth application. The client’s hair integrity is always the main concern.”

 @ChrisAppleton                                                                                         @ChrisAppleton

“Platinum hair is so iconic, it compliments most skin tones and when done correctly it is timeless, bold and super glamorous, and I think will always look bang on-trend,” Christine concludes. We asked Christine for her tips on how to master the platinum blonde look in 5 steps, including which products to use to keep yellow undertones at bay. 

How to get the perfect platinum blonde

1. Section the hair into quadrants, starting at the back. Working in quadrants means you have more control over the lightening process. 
2. Take small sections of the hair and apply to the mid-lengths and ends first, avoiding the root. Isolate your section using foils or mesh. This technique is called the ‘platinum card’ – every strand of hair will be isolated in foil and will enable maximum lift.
3. Once the mid-lengths and ends have lifted to a level eight, go back through and apply to the root. Wash off each quadrant once it has lifted to your desired level. For a clean platinum, you need it to lift to a level nine or 10 (the colour of the inside of a banana).
4. Once you have lifted the hair, you will then need to tone it. For the perfect platinum, I would recommend Pulp Riot Speed Toner Icy High, mixed 1:4 with 6 or 10 vol, processed for 15- 20 minutes.
5. For a beautiful iridescent tone, reach for Moonstone. It has a violet undertone so will help neutralise unwanted pale yellow tones.