As a brunette, I often forget how much effort goes into keeping blonde locks bright, hydrated, and shiny—especially during the summer when pools, beaches, and sun exposure can dull and dry out blonde hair. I recall the extremes my blonde friends would go through to prevent chlorine from giving their hair a greenish hue (lemon juice), UV rays drying out their locks (a very gross avocado mask), and saltwater dulling their shine (one of my friends went so far as to bring a swim cap to the beach).
Thankfully, those days of DIY prevention methods are behind us, and there's a simpler way for blondes to avoid brassiness and breakage: Kérastase's Blond Absolu line.
The line was formulated with blondes in mind and is designed to not only stand up to the common summer hair aggressors listed above, but also to help hair stay radiant and soft for up to six weeks between salon visits. It contains hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and strengthening ingredients like vitamin C and E to revive dull locks, add brightness, and boost shine.
With summer around the corner, I knew we had to put this line to the test, so we recruited Emma Hughes, our associate social media editor based in sunny L.A., to give the essentials a go. Read on for her thoughts.
To start, tell us a bit about your relationship with your hair.
At 29 years old, I feel like I've finally gotten to a good place with my hair. I have a trusted hairstylist, whom I go to for highlights and bob refreshes every six to eight weeks. At home, I rely on my high-quality haircare products (I'm looking at you, Kérastase!) to help keep my hair bright, nourished, and protected. Having a bob is a game-changer: After shampooing, I gently blow-dry it with a paddle brush, et voilà! I've got a sleek, chic hairstyle in minutes.
What are your plans for the summer? How do you normally care for your color while you're traveling?
My gym has a gorgeous rooftop pool, and that is where you'll find me most weekends. Because of the sun and chlorine, I make sure to protect my hair as much as possible—lots of sun hats, deep conditioning, and heat protectant. I also love to do a slicked-back bun with a mask in for some extra-sneaky hydration.
Describe your experience using the Kérastase Absolu Blonde products.
As someone who tries a lot of haircare products, I can immediately tell if a product feels stripping, weighs my hair down, or makes it look dull. The Kérastase Blond Absolu Bain Lumiere Shampoo and Blond Absolu Cicaflash Conditioner are truly the basis for fresh, hydrated hair, and the leave-in spray immediately adds nourishment, protection, and shine after just one use.
And you won’t ever catch me at the pool or beach without the Blond Absolu Blonde Guard Hydrating Wonder Shield Leave-in Spray in my bag. I like to add a few spritzes to my hair before tying it up in a bun and wearing a sun hat. If I go in the water, I'll reapply the leave-in spray to quickly detangle and treat my hair before washing it. It also smells incredible.
During the summer, I make sure to swap in products that protect and brighten my blonde highlights and add much-needed nourishment after so much sun and swimming. After all, you want to protect your investment—i.e., your time-consuming and expensive color!
Do you recommend these products to other blondes?
My fellow blondes will understand: There is nothing worse than dull, brassy highlights. This is especially true in the summer, when I personally want to feel my brightest, most Elle Woods–coded self! Even if you incorporate the Kérastase shampoo and conditioner once every week or so, you'll notice a big difference.
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