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Linen blonde Is Shaping Up To Be Autumn's Prettiest, Ultra-Natural Hair Colour Trend| Glamour

Neutral linen hues are not only effortlessly stylish, they also go with absolutely everything. So why not take the same approach with your hair? Enter ‘linen blonde’, the latest hair colour trend if you want to lighten up mid season but with soft, hushed hues.

While linen trousers and shirts are often seen as summer staples because they're airy in warmer temperatures, it's ultimately a versatile fabric that also works well in early autumn. Likewise, linen blonde with its ultra-natural colour way, ranging from beige to light brown, is the perfect post-summer transitional shade for your hair.

Ahead, everything you need to know:

What is ‘linen blonde’?

"Linen blonde is a neutral blonde that, unlike platinum or icy blonde, is much easier to care for and kinder to strands if you work it in properly," explains hair stylist Tim Mathé.

“As the name ‘linen blonde’ suggests, the blonde shade is meant to resemble the material, which is why the base is a beige undertone that can be complemented with powdery, creamy or taupe hues,” he continues. "Much like the fabric fibres, this allows you to work with sometimes lighter and sometimes darker accents for more depth."

How do you dye your hair linen blonde?

Ask your colourist to first work beige strands into the hair, advises Tim, adding that this is best achieved freehand. “A painting technique is better suited to linen blonde, as it looks more natural than foil highlights,” he adds. Once the beige strands are in place, Tim notes, “the desired linen accents are added and adjusted to the client's skin tone with a tint or gloss.”

There is just one caveat. The gloss shouldn't be worked into the hair too quickly post-colour because the result should be shiny and fresh, not matte.

What makes linen blonde so special?

"The genius of linen blonde is that, unlike aggressively bleached hair, it is gentler on the hair's structure," Tim explains. Not to mention, you can also easily stretch out your colour appointments. "Less damaged strands retain the tint much longer, because pigments hold better in healthy hair," he adds.

The level of customisation is the real draw of linen blonde hair. “You can adapt the colour according to how light a client wants to go,” Tim says, as well as the amount of highlights and lowlights you add.

For cool skin tones, Tim recommends a deep powdery beige complemented with light taupe highlights. For warm skin tones, he advises softening the cool beige with a few warm gold tones – not too many, though, as you don't want to inch away from the linen blonde aesthetic. “Essentially, linen blonde is a cool tone,” he says. In other words, surfer girl, beach blonde hair is not the reference here.

How do you care for linen blonde?

While linen blonde isn't as high-maintenance as icier blonde shades, there are still some aftercare tips to follow.

“Use colour care shampoos or masks that gently refresh the beige once a week or as needed when the shade changes to yellow,” Tim advises. "Apply to towel-dried hair for five to 15 minutes and then rinse thoroughly."

Tim is a fan of the Wella Professionals Color Fresh Mask in Pearl Blonde, as it also neutralises any yellow cast caused by the sun, making it the perfect holiday companion.

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In addition, Tim recommends consistent use of sun protection for strands; try System Professional Solar Sealing Cream or Aveda's Protective Hair Veil. A shampoo and conditioner for coloured hair is also a must to lock in colour and moisture.

A version of this article appeared on GLAMOUR Germany.

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