How to Create a Platinum Blonde Bob

New season, new hair. If you’re tired of ultra-long natural balayage hairstyles and have worn your fair share of rainbow hair colors, why not switch things up? Instead of looking for the most colorful hairstyle you can imagine, create a new image for yourself by cutting your hair shorter and starting over with a platinum blonde bob. Sounds refreshing, right? To help you make the switch, below we share exactly what you need to know about creating a platinum blonde hair color and pairing it with a bob haircut.

How to Pick the Right Bob Haircut for Your Face Shape

Before we get to coloring your hair platinum blonde, pick out what you want your bob haircut to look like. Take your face shape into consideration to find the most flattering bob haircut for you.

If you have a round face…opt for a bob haircut that just hits your shoulders and pair it with a deep side part to make your features pop.

If you have a heart-shaped face…go for a longer bob haircut to draw attention away from your narrower chin.

If you have an oval face…keep your bob haircut voluminous with rounded egdges.

If you have a square face…choose a bob haircut with rounded edges to soften your features.

What You Need to Know About Going Platinum Blonde

Ah, platinum blonde—the hair color that epitomizes society’s cool-girl. The almost white shade is an instant head turner when done correctly and there’s no denying that it can enhance the look of a bob haircut. Trés chic!

Once you know that you’re ready to go platinum blonde, your next most important decision is how you’re going to get there. Since going from a very dark color to an extremely light blonde is a very drastic change, it’s best to seek out a professional colorist who can expertly guide you through the process from start to finish. Keep in mind that dyeing your hair platinum blonde will require bleaching—and possibly more than one round of bleaching. If you’re not a newbie to the bleaching process or have lighter locks already, feel free to give platinum blonde hair a go on your own.

How to Color Your Hair Platinum at Home

So, you’ve decided to color your hair platinum blonde at home? Take a deeper dive into the bleaching process and you’ll find that depending on your starting hair color, the bleaching session will take more or less time. Typically, the darker your hair, the longer the process to lift the color to create your perfect platinum blonde look. Once you’re ready to get started use the L’Oréal Paris Féria in Absolute Platinum Extreme Platinum, which lifts hair up to seven levels and is ideal for medium brown to dark blonde hair.

How to Take Care of Your Platinum Blonde Bob

Now that you’re rocking the coolest bob haircut and platinum blonde hair color ever, keep it in tip-top condition so it always looks its best. Follow our tips below.

1. Use a system of shampoo, conditioner, and mask formulated for blonde, color-treated hair. Make room in your shower for a system of products that are formulated specifically for blonde, color-treated hair, like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Blonde Shampoo, L’Oréal Paris EverPure Blonde Conditioner, and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Blonde Shade Reviving Treatment. The EverPure Blonde system can help neutralize unwanted tones and hydrate over-processed hair. Swap out the conditioner for the hair mask once a week.

2. Be prepared for regular trims and touchups. The most time-consuming aspect of having the lightest-of-light platinum blonde hair is the maintenance. If you’ve made the switch from a darker color to platinum blonde, then you’re going to deal with root regrowth somewhat frequently. So, book regular appointments with your colorist to touch up your color (though, no need to rush because dark roots are totally in) or keep your hair stocked with dye so that you can touch up your color on your own. Ends looking a tad too long for your bob preferences? Get a trim.

3. Air dry your hair. Pair your platinum blonde hair with your natural texture for an edgier, more lived-in look. That means putting down the heat tools and air drying your strands instead! Create carefree beachy waves by spritzing on the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle AIR DRY IT Wave Swept Spray to towel-dried hair. Create a braid, let your hair dry, then undo the braid and shake out your hair. For added volume, apply an egg-sized dollop of the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle AIR DRY IT Ruffled Body Mousse to wet hair, flip your hair to scrunch it, then let it dry. Want to rock a super chic, ultra-sleek set of strands? The L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle AIR DRY IT Undone Style Cream will work wonders. No blow-dryer needed!

You’re officially a platinum blonde bob bombshell. Go show it off, lady! For more advice on going platinum blonde, read The Right Way to Go Platinum (and How to Maintain the Icy Color).