Keeping Blonde Beautiful Through a Queenstown Year

If you've watched your blonde turn warm a few weeks after leaving the salon, it isn't anything you've done wrong. Queenstown is just hard on lightened hair. Between the alpine sun bouncing off the lake, a quick dip at the beach in summer, chlorine over winter and the mineral content in the water, blonde here fades faster than it does in a lot of other places.

The good news is that once you understand what's happening, it's easy to stay ahead of it.

What the warmth actually is

Lightened hair is porous, so it holds onto whatever it's exposed to. UV and minerals oxidise the colour and pull out the cool tones your colourist put in, which is why you start seeing yellow or gold creep back. A toner refreshes those cool tones, and good home care slows the whole process down.

The small things that make the biggest difference

A violet shampoo once a week is the easiest win — just don't overdo it, because daily use can leave hair looking flat. Through summer, rinse your hair after the lake or pool before the minerals settle in, and pop a hat on for the long days outside. In winter it's less about sun and more about dryness, so a weekly mask keeps the ends from going crispy.

We'll usually suggest a gloss or toner somewhere between your bigger colour appointments. It's a short visit, it's gentle on your hair, and it brings everything straight back to that cool, expensive-looking blonde.

Picking a blonde that suits your life

Not every blonde needs the same upkeep. If you're busy or travelling a lot, a softer, lived-in blonde grows out gracefully and is far more forgiving between visits. If you love a bright, all-over look, that's completely doable too — it just asks for a little more time in the chair. Either way we'll be honest with you about what it takes to keep it looking its best.

If your blonde needs a refresh, You can book online any time, or call us on 03 441 8555 — we're upstairs at Level 1, 22 The Mall in central Queenstown.