August 24, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Hot Flash- Do Blondes Really Have More Fun? I’m About to Find Out

By Barbara Bishop

So I’m having a little hair identity crisis. When I was born, I was a natural blonde. In my 20s, I began highlighting it, remaining in the same blonde range for 20 years.

After a while, it was getting very dry and too light. I decided that I wanted a little shine in my hair, so I went the other way; a medium ash brown, and I cut it short. It was a shock at first, but I’ve had my hair in the same brunette range and style for more than 10 years.

Now, as I approach (gulp) somewhere (far) north of age 50, I’m ready to brighten and lighten my look. Since I am medium brown, it’s taken a while to get it as light as I want it, but it’s getting there. I have an appointment with my colorist this week where I fully expect to reach the perfect shade of blonde for me; but I’m confused. Maybe it isn’t the super light platinum color that I was envisioning. I did some research before my appointment. Here’s what I uncovered:

Extreme colors are good for when you are in your 20s but, as we mature, they tend to make us look older. Several top L.A. colorists made the following suggestions:

Reds: Pick a more auburn tone – not a fiery red.

Browns: Pick a more chocolate brown. As we mature, our skin color changes and we lose pigment in our skin. Stay away from very dark colors like black or dark brown. Lighten up your color a few shades – this will take years off!

Blondes: Pick more of a honey blonde – never baby or platinum blonde. Blondes especially need golden tones to add a rosy and sun-kissed glow to the face. (My platinum dreams just went out the window.) I am not sure I agree, we’ll see.

Wash That Gray Out: When you start to notice gray hairs, use a vegetable dye in your natural color family. This will wash out rather than grow out, and it will last about three months. Never let your grays show – this is very aging! Vegetable dye also helps if you are trying to grow out a color you don’t like. This may be advantageous to most, but I know a beautiful woman with stunning, long silver/gray hair – yeah you Jane – and it’s perfect for her.

Monotone Hair Color: It doesn’t matter what color your hair is – blonde, brown, red, or even gray – if it’s one solid color, it’s going to make you look older. “It looks like a wig or a helmet, and that’s aging.”

Highlighted Hair Looks More Natural: Multidimensional, tone-on-tone highlights add movement to the hair. They keep hair looking natural and healthy, not fake. At the same time, too many highlights can look artificial and fake. You want to have a pretty base color and accent your base color with a few highlights. This will give you a more sophisticated but modern and sexy look.

If you have your hair colored in a salon, bring three pictures of hair color you like and three pictures of hair color you don’t like to your next appointment. Colorists are visual. Treat them like you would an interior designer.

If you color your hair at home, pick a shade that’s one shade lighter than the color you really want. Different sections of your hair will pick up different amounts of color, giving it dimension.

Split Ends: The quality of your hair is just as important as the cut and style. Frizzy, frazzled, damaged ends will make your hair – and you – look older. To keep split ends at bay, get a regular trim every six to eight weeks.

A Dated Look: If you’ve been sporting the same haircut for 20 years, it may be time for a change. The Farrah Fawcett and the Rachel were great cuts at the time, but now they’re stale and old-fashioned – the key word being old. However, if your look is classic, you can wear it forever. Think of someone like Carolina Herrera or Anna Wintour. Their haircuts are their signatures. When it’s classic and timeless, and looks good on you, it works.

Barbara Bishop

Related Posts

Two Days, Two Denials: Menendez Brothers Rejected for Parole

August 23, 2025

August 23, 2025

Erik Denied After 10-Hour Hearing; Lyle Rebuffed the Next Day Erik Menendez, convicted along with his brother in the 1989...

Rob Reiner to Attend for ‘This is Spinal Tap’ as Cinespia Wraps Summer at Hollywood Forever

August 23, 2025

August 23, 2025

Cinespia Closes Out Summer: Fan Favorites and DJs Return to Hollywood Forever Cinespia will close out summer with four outdoor...

Amber Alert for a Critical Missing Incident: Two Foster Brothers Abducted

August 23, 2025

August 23, 2025

Police Seek Non-Custodial Mother Jackeline Hernandez-Torres The California Highway Patrol issued a statewide Amber Alert after two foster brothers, ages...

Culver City Police Seize Ghost Gun: Suspect Arrested After Traffic Stop

August 23, 2025

August 23, 2025

Officers Uncover Untraceable Firearm With High-Capacity Magazine Police say a traffic stop near Prospect Avenue and Venice Boulevard resulted in...

Man Arrested After Burglary Report at Lionel Richie’s Beverly Hills Home

August 22, 2025

August 22, 2025

Police Say the Singer Was Home When the Suspect Entered the Property One suspect was taken into custody early Friday...

Extreme Heat Warning Extended in L.A. County: Officials Urge Safety Precautions

August 22, 2025

August 22, 2025

National Weather Service Alerts Cover Valleys, Mountains, and Coastal Areas Dangerous heat is expected to persist through the weekend in...

Ex-Culver City Recreation Worker Indicted: Charged With Exploiting 7-Year-Old in Federal Case

August 22, 2025

August 22, 2025

Prosecutors Say the Former After-School Employee Faces Child Pornography Charges Federal prosecutors say a former Culver City after-school employee has...

Jury Awards $3.8M to Man Injured by Rubber Bullet During 2020 George Floyd Protest in the Fairfax District

August 22, 2025

August 22, 2025

Filmmaker Suffered Permanent Injuries After Being Struck by a Sheriff’s Deputy’s Round Los Angeles County must pay nearly $4 million...

LAPD Urges Possible Victims to Come Forward in Sexual Assault Case Linked to Social Media

August 22, 2025

August 22, 2025

Suspect Arrested Aug. 20 on Suspicion of Forcible Rape Los Angeles police are asking for the public’s help in identifying...

Frozen Shrimp Recall Expanded to California After Radioactive Contamination Concerns

August 21, 2025

August 21, 2025

Southwind Foods Adds California Shrimp Recall Tied to Possible Cesium-137 Exposure Southwind Foods, LLC is recalling select packages of frozen...

LAPD to Step Up DUI Enforcement With Weekend Checkpoints and Patrols

August 21, 2025

August 21, 2025

Police Plan Multiple Operations Across Los Angeles August 22-24  The Los Angeles Police Department will operate a series of DUI...

Little C by Crustacean Pop-Up Brings Back Mama An’s Street Food in Beverly Hills

August 21, 2025

August 21, 2025

Fan-Favorite Dishes Return Through Aug. 24, With the Debut of Bánh Xèo Little C by Crustacean has returned this month...

Kids Eat Free at Tender Greens Century City During Back-to-School Nights in August

August 20, 2025

August 20, 2025

Weeknight Promotion Offers Free Kids’ Meals With the Purchase of an Entrée. Families dining at Tender Greens in the Westfield...

Stoa Wine Bar & Market Debuts in Marina del Rey With Old-World Charm and California Ease

August 20, 2025

August 20, 2025

New Westside Spot Blends European Traditions, Seasonal Fare, Philosophy of Slowing Down Blending European tradition with California ease, Stoa Wine...

Two LA Culinary Icons and Friends Reunite for One-Night-Only Dinner at Marelle

August 20, 2025

August 20, 2025

Chefs Team Up With Five-Course Tasting Celebrating California Flavors  Two of Los Angeles’ most celebrated chefs will share the kitchen...