Blonde Hair Specialists at Monaco Salon in Tampa
Even if you're not a natural blonde, your secret is safe us.
Maybe you're already a blonde and want to go a little brighter, or perhaps your hair is naturally dark and you want to go blonde. The first big step is deciding which shade of blonde is right for you. Here is a breakdown of popular blonde shades. Whether you want to go platinum or just want a little lift, Monaco Salon has multiple options on how to make you blonde and blonder.
All Over Blonding
More than just heavy highlights, a full head blonding service lightens hair all over the head. Hair is sectioned and lightener is brushed on from root to tips, or just the regrowth if this is a touch up service. After hair is processed and shampooed, a toner is applied to reduce any yellow tones, or tone down any brassy hues to keep your platinum color looking icy.
Platinum Card Blonding
The Platinum Card, sometimes called platinum balayage, is performed with the help of foils. A Platinum Card is essentially a modern approach to a full head lightening. More than a highlighting service, during a Platinum Card, we foil every piece of hair. We section hair, paint on lightener just up to the root, and wrap in foil. Using foils gives the scalp a little more protection and allows us to achieve a pure platinum result without any variation. Foils help us take a client as light as possible in one session because they slow the dry time of the lightener, which gives us more lifting time. The Platinum Card technique give our stylists that extra control because, let's face it, no head of hair is completely uniform in color. Using the Platinum Card approach, your hair stylist can target different zones around the head with different strengths of lightener.
Extreme Lifting: From Dark to Platinum
Going platinum certainly makes a statement. And depending on your natural hair color, going platinum may be more of a journey than a destination. If you want to go from very dark to very light, we can get you there, but keep in mind it may not be achievable all in one trip to the salon. Take your time and do it right, and enjoy all the shades in between.
Go Blonde Without a Chemical Service
Hair extensions can do more than just add volume. By adding extensions, you can add blonde highlights, dimensional lowlights, even blend in grey hair, all without the commitment of a color service. These blonde highlights were done with 3 rows of hand tied wefts.
Warm Blondes
Warm blondes looks awesome on cool skin tones. Warm blondes should skip the purple shampoo and embrace the golden tones.
Honey Blonde, Teddy Bear Blonde, Honey Graham Blonde
Sun-kissed Blonde, California Blonde
Natural Golden Blonde
Caramel Blonde
Cool Blondes
The opposite of warm, cool blonde hair is pale and icy without any golden tones. Cool blondes looks awesome on warm skin tones. To knock down any golden tones, cool blondes can have a toner applied and use purple shampoo at home.
Platinum Blonde
Icy Blonde
Ashy Blonde
Neutral Blondes
Neutral blonde shades have both warm and cool tones so they tend to flatter all skin tones.
Wheat Blonde
Butter Blonde
Beige Blonde
Popular Blonde Hair Shades
Whether you go warm or cool, subtle or bright, getting that perfect shade of blonde is all about balance. The most natural looking hair is multidimensional. When you talk to one of our artists about blonde hair about which shade of blonde is best for you, keep an open mind if they suggest weaving three different shades throughout your hair, or suggest incorporating both highlights and lowlights however subtle they may be.
More Blonde Hair Colors
Dimensional Blonde Hair
«True blonde hair is multidimensional so the best way to reproduce that look is to give depth and richness to your color. A large wash of blonde can be boring unless there are darker and lighter strands throughout your hair. When you talk to your stylist about blonde hair and which shade of blonde is best for you, keep an open mind if they suggest weaving three different shades throughout your hair, or suggest both blonde highlights and lowlights however subtle they may be.
Dirty Blonde Hair
«Don't you hate that expression?! Bronde sounds much more elegant! If you have dirty blonde hair - lighter than brown but blonde is a stretch - lightening up can be a beautiful compromise. Your stylist will use your natural skin tone as the guide to finding your best complementary shade of blonde. If you have warmth in your skin, go for a cool blonde, or if your skin has cool undertones, warm it up with a honey blonde or caramel blonde. Go for highlights and lowlights, keeping your darker blonde base but adding in some lighter blond for variation. This will give you a fresh, new look that you’ll want year round.
Platinum Blonde Hair
«If you are going for a more edgy look, going platinum is a good way to make a statement. Be careful though, not everyone should be wearing platinum blonde hair. A way to keep it chic is by pairing a pixie cut with your statement color to keep your hair from looking overdone and washed out.
Caramel Blonde, Butter Blonde Hair
«These blonde shades take an expert eye and professional lighteners to lift your hair to that perfect undertone. Warm, honey tones and champagne tones can be achieved. Talk to your color expert and feel free to show pictures of the colors that you like. You'll get an expert opinion on what will look best on you and how your hair will lift during the lightening process.
Babylights & Teasylights
«Babylights are subtle, blended highlights that resemble the natural blonde hair of childhood. The babylights technique uses much smaller slices of hair in each foil which yields a more subtle look. Teasylights are also very subtle and remain a hot trend for blonde hair in Tampa. During a teasylights service, sections of hair are teased, or backcombed, before the lightener is applied. The overall look is lightened without obvious streaks of blonde. It's similar to a balayage effect because of the blended look of the highlights.
Shadow Root Blonde
«The look of a darker root, called shadow root or smudge root, is also a big blonde hair color trend. It not only adds beautiful dimension to blonde hair but it also makes for a low maintenance look because you can go a bit longer in between color appointments. With a rooted look, you will have more of your darker base color showing through. If you don't prefer the undertones of your natural base color, a shadow root look can also be achieved by applying a single process color just to the root area following your highlight service.
Pastel Hair Color on Blondes
«Add a little color with subtle accents of pastel pink or purple using highlights or create an all over opal effect. If you are already wearing a light blonde or icy blonde hair color, adding a pastel color is quite simple! Darker shades of hair will first need to be lightened in order to get a clear color. Not sure which accent color is best for you? Just ask one of our hair color experts.
Blonde Highlights on Brunette Hair
«Don’t let the blondes have all the fun. Highlights are a great way to add dimensional color to dark blonde and brown hair too. You know how color cosmetics can play with dark and light to sculpt your features? Some well placed highlights will perform the same magic. With so many looks to choose from, ask your stylist about balayage, color melt, ombre hair and handpainting. You don't have to go blingy blonde, we can create a look that is subtle yet uplifting.
Extreme Lightening or High Maintenance Blonde
«From dark to light, we have mastered the art of the dramatic hair color change. Extreme lightening is possible. If you have very dark hair and would like to go blonde, talk to one of our blonding experts. They will tell you what you can reasonably expect. Anything is possible, it just may not be possible in just one appointment. Consider blonde hair as a journey, not just an immediate destination.
Request a Free Hair Color Consultation
If you've been to Monaco Salon for your color, you know that each color service starts with a mini consultation. In many cases, there's no need to book a separate visit for a hair color consultation because we make time to discuss "what are we doing today?" However, if you're planning a BIG color change, a totally new color and cut, or if you think you need a complex color correction, you can request a separate color consultation using this form.
We'll have you come into the salon for a separate appointment -at no charge - just to talk. This will allow us more time to look at your inspo pictures, walk through your options, and give you a quote for the service.
Tell us your ideal dates and times and we'll contact you with a few options.
Book Your Appointment at Monaco Salon
Are you ready for a blonde touch up or even a blonde make over?
Frequent Questions About Our Hair Color Services
Do you have a blonde hair specialist?
«Monaco Hair Salon is home to some the best hairdressers in the state of Florida. Each of our hairstylists have mastered the art of hair color.
Blonde hair has a broad spectrum of shades, from dark blondes to platinum, from icy blondes to warm honey blondes. Blonde hair, whether highlights, lowlights, balayage or all over blonde, has its own unique needs. Ask for one of our blonde hair specialists when booking an appointment. Every hair color service starts with a color consult.
Come in for a free hair color consultation.
Learn more about our hair color expertise at Monaco Salon in Tampa:
How do I remove box hair dye?
«We get it. Sometimes it's difficult to get to the salon - like during a pandemic - and you take matters into your own hands. Perhaps you tried a semi permanent or permanent color kit at home and the color looks nothing like the one pictured on the box. If you've used a drug store hair color and are't happy with the results, we can remove it.
It is possible to remove box hair dye, but this task is best left to a reputable hair salon. The last thing you want to do is permanently damage your hair by experimenting with chemicals. Give Monaco Hair Salon a call at (813) 870-1709 ask for an appointment with one of our best hair color correction experts.
Come in for a free hair color consultation.
Learn more about our hair color correction services.
What's the difference between highlights or balayage?
«Traditional foils and the balayage technique will both give you highlights, the difference is the intensity of the result. Balayage is a freehand technique that creates softer, more natural-looking highlights with a sun-kissed effect, while foils create more precise, defined streaks of color.
Which one should I get?
The answer depends on the look you want and how often are you willing to maintain it. Ask yourself how obvious you want your highlights to be, and if you want highlights all the way to the root. Highlights will have to be maintained every 6-8 weeks, while balayage usually grows out more gracefully, making it a lower-maintenance option.
Come in for a free hair color consultation.
Learn more about the difference between highlights and balayage here on the Monaco Salon blog.
Looking for inspo for your next highlights appointment? View examples of our work in our hair color gallery.
Can I go from brunette to blonde in one appointment?
«It depends on just how dark your hair is and its condition. It also depends on if you want a "blonde all over" look or a highlighted look. Going significantly lighter all over often requires multiple sessions to maintain the health of your hair and achieve the desired tone without excessive damage. We are blonding specialists and will be able to tell you how to get to the color you want safely.
How do I keep my hair color from fading?
«Use sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner, wash less frequently, protect your hair from heat with a thermal spray, and minimize sun and chlorine exposure.
Schedule a gloss or toner service to give your color a boost if you're not due for a full color service.
What is “lived-in color”?
«Lived-in color is a technique that blends multiple shades (usually highlights and lowlights, or balayage) to create a dimensional look that grows out without harsh lines. It’s designed to give you a graceful grow in at the roots, allowing you more time between touch-ups while still looking polished. No wonder it's so popular!
How often will I need to touch up my hair color?
«It depends on the type of color service and your personal preferences.
- All-over permanent color: Roots typically need refreshing every 4–6 weeks, especially if you’re covering gray or maintaining a platinum blonde.
- Highlights: Depending on your style, you may need to touch up your roots every 6-8 weeks.
- Lived in color: These grow out more softly and can last 3–4 months before a full touch-up. Many guests come in sooner for a gloss or toner to keep the color fresh and shiny.
- Fashion shades (reds, coppers, vivid colors): These tend to fade faster and may need refreshing every 4–8 weeks to keep the color vibrant.
Your stylist at Monaco Salon will customize a maintenance plan so your color always looks its best—whether that means regular root touch-ups, seasonal refreshes, or low-maintenance lived-in color.
Should I wash my hair before my color appointment?
«Come with clean, dry hair if you're getting highlights, and avoid using heavy styling products the day of your appointment. It’s also helpful to bring inspiration photos and be ready to talk about your hair goals, maintenance preferences, and past color history so we can create the perfect plan for your hair.
Can I get highlights or balayage if I have hair extensions or a topper?
«Yes! At Monaco Salon, we specialize in hair extensions and toppers and are experts in custom coloring them to match your natural hair seamlessly. Whether you’re coloring your natural hair, the extension hair, or both, we take extra care to blend everything flawlessly.