Kim Kardashian. Stephen Lovekin/BEI/Shutterstock
Platinum perfection! Platinum perfection! Chris Appleton, celebrity hairstylist bleached famously Kim Kardashian’s strands for the 2022 Met Gala, spoke with Us Weekly’sIt’s important to be stylish about what to do before you jump on board the blonde bandwagon.
The LA-based pro and Color Wow global creative director’s client list reads like a who’s who of Hollywood. He’s tended to the tresses of J. Lo, Drew Barrymore and the aforementioned Kardashian.
The Skims founder is still blonde. Eiza Gonzalez, Emma ChamberlainAnd Dua Lipa — another one of Appleton’s clients — are among those to majorly lighten their strands recently, too.
Are you thinking about taking the plunge? Appleton warns against going platinum blonde at your home unless you have naturally baby blonde hair. For some context, it took him approximately 17 hours and an intensive strategy to transform Kardashian for fashion’s biggest night out.
Kim Kardashian. Stephen Lovekin/BEI/Shutterstock
“The products available for home use aren’t that strong,” he explains. “I don’t think they’re legally allowed to be as strong as what you need them to be to take your hair platinum.”
Book an appointment at the salon instead. “Have a consultation, speak about what the maintenance will look like and what to expect on the upkeep,” says Appleton. After all: “It’s like having a dog. It’s not just for Christmas; it’s a commitment.”
Your daily routine may need to be changed, from the products you use to the styling tools you use. “What many people make the mistake of doing when they have lightened their hair — or when they have had a chemical treatment — is going about the same hair care routine,” says Appleton.
For example, what’s most destructive for lightened strands is hot tools, says the pro. “They can make the hair go yellow, or can even darken the hair and overall, it just really just damages the condition.”
An alternative to heat styling —and a perfect style solution for summer — is a slicked-back bun. “Put some conditioning treatment through instead of a gel,” he advises. “You don’t need gel on it because the conditioning treatment will hold it and actually give the hair a nice shine.” How’s that for a pro tip?
