The Hottest Blonde Hair Trends Of 2024

Once upon a time in a land not too far away — roughly 70 years ago or so — an advertising slogan was born: blondes have more fun. Although it wasn't based on science and more on the fact that blonde bombshells like Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, and other bottle blondes at the time were all over the movies, it did give being a blonde a bit of an edge. It also made sure that blonde, no matter the shade, will never, ever go out of style.

As we've seen so far this year, blonde is everywhere! Most notably Zendaya and Beyoncé have jumped on the blonde bandwagon, while the always-blonde Carrie Mulligan and Michelle Williams stuck to their usual shades. Although Barbie blonde was one of the big hair color trends that defined 2023, this year we're seeing more variation in blonde hues and people having fun with it. "The sun's out and we bring on the light by starting at the top: our hair," celebrity colorist Tracey Cunningham told Byrdie. "You can then change up your makeup, nails, and attire. Our hair color literally dictates our entire look."

If you're thinking about trying to be a blonde this year, then go for it! If you're not sure which blonde is right for you, talk to your hairstylist. Although all you need to pull off any shade of blonde hair is the right attitude, some hues do complement certain skin tones better than others.

From the butter nail trend to butter blondes, butter seems to be on everyone's mind and that's a good thing, because it works on everyone. "Warm buttery tones are perfect for those who love a bright and shiny blonde since the gold helps reflect light," hairstylist and colorist Meri Kate O'Connor told Allure. If you love buttery shades but want to keep things light around your face as a means of framing it, talk to your stylist about adding a slightly brighter money piece. 

If you thought you saw the end of balayage coloring in 2023, you were wrong. Like blonde hair in general, balayage never goes out of style. "When selecting the perfect shade of blonde, I prefer using the modern technique of balayage for highlighting the hair," French balayage and color expert Abby Haliti told Glamour. "Balayage allows for a variety of blonde shades, creating a beautiful blend. It works particularly well on a blonde base, enhancing individual strands and adding movement." It also adds enough dimension for those who don't want to go blonde-blonde, but just balayage blonde. 

Blonde highlights are the perfect choice for people who only want to dip their toe into blonde waters and want to keep things as low-maintenance as possible. No matter your base hair's color, spreading some blonde throughout will give it added dimension, especially if you have curly or wavy hair. Highlights also make updos really beautiful because of the way they weave their pops of color in unexpected places. 

Honey blonde is another blonde that allows people to play it relatively safe. You're not diving headfirst into blonde, but you're about ankle-deep. "It's a fun and playful yet toned-down version of last year's Barbie blonde you saw on everyone, but still allows you to have a bright color for summer," celebrity colorist Rita Hazan told Byrdie. "This summer is all about warm honey golden hues — forget the cool tones." Or you can go with cool tones of blonde because you're a rebel and believe trends are for other people. They're your locks, so you decide. 

Whether you call it luminescent blonde, platinum, or something fancy like frozen butter blonde, this is a fun color to rock. Granted, if your hair is naturally dark, you'll need to tend to those roots every six to eight weeks, depending on how fast your hair grows and your tolerance for roots, but it's worth it. It's a modern-day take on Marilyn Monroe, and who doesn't want to pay homage to the most iconic blonde in human history?

The great thing about strawberry blonde is that it flirts with the pink hair power move, but doesn't go all-in. Instead, strawberry blonde hangs out near pink hair and considers maybe getting there in time, but ever so slowly. It's a versatile shade that brings together red and blonde, but in a quiet luxury, old money sort of way.