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Platinum-blonde

Platinum Blonde Hair Color by Redken

Go here if you are looking for more Hair How Tos.

Level 10 (10+, 11, 12 and/or some 9 and 9.5) or platinum blonde hair is widely coveted, but it can be hard to achieve. Often, hairdressers will tell you not to go platinum blonde at home, and normally, they're right, but if you're up to take a risk, you can give it a shot within the safety of your own home. It can be recommended to keep a demi permanent color of a shade you know will flatter you, nearby, preferably one with beige tones or ash tones just in case the platinum process turns you horridly orange.

If your hair is...[]

Already blonde naturally:[]

This is the easiest way to get platinum blonde hair, and you will inflict very little damage. You might not even need bleach. If your hair is not dyed, and it's already blonde, all you need is a high lift blonde color. There is a small chance you'll need a blue or violet-based toner afterwards, but if you're okay with a slightly warm light blonde, then you'll be just fine. You should probably go with an ash-toned dye because no matter what, the higher the lift, the warmer the color will pull.

Dyed, or darker than blonde naturally:[]

This is going to be a little harder. If your hair is not dyed, but it's darker than medium blonde, things are going to get tricky. For one, you're going to need bleach. Don't be afraid of bleach, though—it's possible to use bleach without killing your hair. However, since bleach is damaging, consider using a protein treatment, like Joico K-pak, after the bleaching process, to keep your hair from getting damaged (Hint: if your hair is "gummy" or feels sticky, then it really needs protein).

When the hair is bleached, it goes through several different stages of lightening—first it will be red, then orange, then yellow, then white. You're going to want to get it as close to the "white" stage as it will go, but make sure to check frequently for damage. If you're afraid taking it to "white" will be too damaging, then go as light as you can, do a protein and deep moisture treatment, and then start all over again the next day (a head scarf might come in handy!)

If your hair is very dark, or dyed dark, beware of this. It will cause a lot of damage, and you might want to actually go "red" (stop at the red-orange stage) and try to pull off a redhead color for a few months before going all the way to blonde. Most hairdressers recommend this when taking someone from dyed black to blonde hair.

Keep in mind, your hair will be delicate, so deep condition regularly, and considering replacing your regular conditioner with a protein treatment and deep hydrating treatment for a few weeks.

If yellow or copper tones are present:[]

RK 18 Blondage Shampoo Swatch

Color Depositing Purple Shampoo.

If you get to the yellow or white stage, it might be a little brassy still, so you might need to use a blue/purple/grey toner, shampoos, conditioners or masks like:

DIY toners:[]

Alternatively, some people make their own blue/purple/grey toner, shampoos, conditioners or masks like:

Note that you may need to test your hair with DIY toners, you may need to leave in for less time than instructed by the brand, check regularly, or overly dilute and leave in for longer times like 1-2 hours instead. To be cost effective get the most saturated semi-permanent dyes and dilute with a cheap conditioner, because bright, medium, pastel shades with pastelizers or mixers—can get costly but may be safer than over saturating your hair with colour. DIY toners will be a learning curb, expect some extra cost or product switch outs till you are satisfied (or not and use a reliable brand product instead). But if you do find your fit, you may need less salon visits, and spend—in the long run—less money on toning products.

Though Manic Panic is used as an example, it is notorious for washing out faster than some other options. However, if you have left your DIY toner on too long this means you can correct it faster just with one or more shampooing's, but may mean you need to apply more often. Also, Manic Panic may be more readily available than other options—if you don't want to buy online.

DIY and understanding colour correcting yellow tones to platinum[]

If you are going to DIY toners you might want to really look at possible results with the choices you have. Let's say you have approximately the colour blonde below (hair reflect colour used in hex color code format) and you want to neutralize it to a platinum. We are going to show an approximation of Manic Panic Ultra Violet, Manic Panic Violet Night and Manic Panic Purple Haze, and how diluting with conditioner formulas vary (roughly the pigment colour diluted in half and diluted three quarters or more with conditioner, and not actual volume ratios of the products used). Remember this is an approximation of the colours translated in Hex Color Code.

Cool Purple Toner[]

Neutral Purple Toner[]

Warm Purple Toner[]


Final Results[]

Clearly the more diluted samples will give the safest and similar results with minimal chance to turning hair a pastel purple. But since it will be highly diluted: longer leave in times or more applications may be needed before desired results. Now if your hair is more yellow or brassy the more diluted formula may not give any results and a less diluted application may be needed.


Because in very diluted amounts results can range very similarly, however, instead your hair and desired end results will vary it more so. If you want a cooler effect and/or your hair is more brassy go more blue-violet or cool purples. If you want more neutral and/or you hair is already very pale yellow or yellow-white stick to a purple (or neutral purple). If you want a more iridescent platinum or have issues with slight green tones mixed with yellow try to find a warm purple or red-violet option. The colour consistency ranges and suggested times are below, as a start point, but all hair and products are different, each batch of DIY can vary too, so keep that all in mind.


To be on the safest side and avoid pastel purple hair: use highly diluted formulas with longer times and just do multiple applications till satisfied (may take up to 2-4 applications to see desired results). However, if still not satisfied, use less diluted formulas, add heat, or even longer times—until you get it the way you want. If you do try a less diluted formula make sure you hair is very brassy, harder taking in pigment and/or check on it often—to prevent getting a pastel shade. If you do get pastel hair use a clarifying shampoo or DIY clarifying wash, and you may have to repeat 1-2 more clarifying washes—till it is corrected.

Some Platinum Shades[]

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