How do I turn my hair from a dark shade to a natural-looking blonde?

Dear Hair Doctor,

I have done a lot to my hair in the last couple of months. First it was my natural colour – a light brown with natural highlights because of summer and going swimming in the sea, etc. I quite liked that and always wanted blonde hair, so I decided to add more highlights myself, which was a bad mistake.

All the parts I did were kind of yellowish/orange, so I tinted them first in a red/light braun. That went quite well but a week ago I was over the red and took a dark tint. The colour now looks good. It’s a dark chocolate brown.

I now wonder what it would take to go completely blonde. Not a superficial, all-over-blonde, but like Mischa Barton's hair in The O.C., though my ideal colour would be like Giselle Bündchen’s hair. How does one achieve that colour / look? I think I have the same kind of hair length and I have natural waves. Is it even possible to achieve that from my now brown hair (of course by going to the hairdresser this time!)? Maybe I should mention that I used semi-permanent colours for about 12 weeks.

Thanks a lot, best wishes.

Maria

Hi Maria,

This type of colour is achieved using a technique called root stretching, where the hair is darker at the root area and lighter hues are introduced through the length and ends. This should be done by a professional and using the right products for your hair type. Root stretch works really well on wavy hair and will enhance your natural texture.

Christy Blake, HOB Salons Technical Educator