Kate Hudson's Hair Color | Tutorial
How to Get Kate Hudson's Beachy Blond Hair Color For Yourself
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We all can't hire celebrity hairstylists for house calls, so Color Me! is a new column that delivers everything you want to know about your favorite stars' hair hue from the people who created the look — their colorists. Each column dissects what it takes to achieve the perfect shade (including formulas), if you're a good candidate for the color, plus what to tell your own colorist to get a similar look.
If you recall, Kate Hudson wasn't always a blonde. But when your mother's named Goldie, it seems like a fairly obvious transition. Kate is the quintessential California girl, with soft highlights to match — as if the sun squeezed every last bit of color out of her hair. Seeing as Kate is my number one beauty inspiration, I was eager to get in touch with her colorist, Cassondra Kaeding of Sally Hershberger Salon in Los Angeles. If you, too, want dreamy blond hair like Kate's, keep reading for Kaeding's breakdown on how to achieve her look.
Source: Getty / Jeffrey Mayer, Cassondra Kaeding
Kate's Hair Inspiration
"Kate has always loved beach-blond hair with lots of dimension," said Kaeding. "Right now, we're doing baby-blond highlights mixed with some light golden-blond pieces to create a natural, sun-kissed look."
How to Get Kate's Color
To achieve Kate's California-girl blond, Kaeding uses the balayage highlighting technique to paint on the color. She applies Solaris Poudre Bleach in Air Libre on Kate. "Solaris is great for painting on highlights because it is a powder bleach that can lift up to six levels, so you can go from a medium brown to a blond in one sitting," Kaeding explained.
How to Keep Your Hair Healthy
Going blond can mean damaging the hair if done incorrectly. "I always err on the safe side," said Kaeding. "I lift Kate to the blond that she desires, then rinse, shampoo, and condition. No gloss or toner needed. The wrong gloss or toner can cause blond to sway too ashy or too gold . . . even orange and green."
When it comes to getting the perfect shade of blond, it's all about timing. "If the hair lifts too light, a color needs to be deposited to tone down the hair to the desired shade." Kaeding explained this double dose of chemicals can lead to dryness and, ultimately, breakage. On the flip side, taking off the bleach too soon can be just as bad for strands. "If the hair isn't lifted enough, those undesirable warm, brassy shades will come through."
Who Should Try Kate's Color?
Sure, Kaeding makes it sound easy, but which natural shades are the best candidates for this particular blond upgrade? "To achieve this natural, effortless look, the best natural base colors are limited," she said. "The darkest shade I'd recommend going this light would be a light brown. All dark, medium, and light blondes are the perfect canvas for Kate's color."
You should also be careful about choosing this shade if you've already had a prior color job. "Most people who want this color have had highlights, which can lead to overlapping," explained Kaeding. Overlapping can cause major breakage to the hair, since you're painting on more highlights over previously bleached hair.
How to Maintain Your Blond
Maintenance is key with any blond color, so Kaeding recommends investing in the right products to keep your blond bright and brilliant. First, invest in a hydrating shampoo and conditioner like Shu Uemura Moisture Velvet ($48).
But what happens if you go brassy? "Once a week, I recommend that Kate use a clarifying shampoo to clean off excess styling products, oils, and treatments to keep her blond looks bright and fresh. The buildup of grime over time tends to make blondes look dull and, eventually, brassy," Kaeding said.
You should also schedule touch-ups with your colorist based on your personal hair growth. Typically, you'll need a root redo every six to 10 weeks. "Fortunately, balayage looks great grown out, so you can extend the time between appointments a little bit longer."
What to Tell Your Colorist
"Talk to your colorist and make sure it's practical, doable, and you're the right candidate for this look. There is no need to sacrifice the integrity of your hair for a superlight shade," said Kaeding. "Avoid dandelion hair at all costs, aka when your hair becomes so destroyed and brittle it flies off like a dandelion — sans the good wish!"
