Trends approved by TikTok often converge in the realms of fashion and beauty.
For instance, minimalistic fashion aligns with the 'clean girl' skin aesthetic, while last year's head-to-toe brown ensemble trend coincided with chocolatey-hued nails. Similarly, the balletcore trend sparked the popularity of bow-adorned manicures.
Now, the 'Old Money' fashion trend is poised to dominate the beauty scene, and hint: it involves blonde.
At the start of the year, decadent brunette tresses were embraced by celebrities like Hailey Bieber, Iris Law, and Lily Allen. However, as we transition into spring and summer, A-listers are opting for blonde hues, (I can hear the silent cheers of my fellow blondes from here).
What is the Old Money trend?
“Old Money is essentially the inherited wealth look,” fashion stylist Georgie Gray previously told Hello! Fashion, “It’s giving boarding school just came back from the country. Linen chinos, a cashmere jumper over a striped shirt. Think the classic preppy aesthetic.”
In layman's terms…Sofia Richie.
Derived from this vintage preppy aesthetic reminiscent of your grandfather's wardrobe is the concept of 'Old Money blonde'.
We bid farewell to the platinum, Barbie-adjacent colour craze of 2023, welcoming instead a softer, more neutral-toned (yet still bright) hue, reminiscent of Old Hollywood glamour.
This trend has already taken over TikTok and has been embraced by celebrities like Margot Robbie, Zendaya and, of course, Sofia Richie.
As someone who has always leaned towards bleach blonde, I was initially hesitant about transitioning to this classic, muted style, fearing it might appear too dark. However, with the expertise of the hairdressing gurus at Neville Hair and Beauty in Belgravia, I decided to give it a try.
How to achieve Old Money Blonde
Hair colourist Susana Cabral assured me that despite adding brown for depth, my hair would still maintain its lightness, which is essential for achieving both the Old Money style and for the tone I personally wanted.
She began by applying blonde foils first, followed by the brown, ensuring they weren't left on for too long due to my fair natural colour. The duration and amount of blonde added vary depending on hair type, natural colour, and the desired look.
Sue also strategically kept the blonde lighter around my face to add brightness.
The good thing to note about this style is that there are plenty of ways to achieve this look depending on your natural colour and whether you prefer a warm or cool look.
You’ll notice in Margot Robbie vs Zendaya for example, that Margot’s tone is much cooler, whilst Zendaya's is more uniform in colour and is a lot warmer.
What do I ask for if I want Old Money Blonde?
When I asked this question to stylist Jason Crozier whilst he was doing my blowdry, his face immediately conveyed that the answer to this was more complex than anticipated.
“Go for a consultation,” he advised. Achieving this hairstyle involves looking glossy and sophisticated while complementing your natural complexion, making it a customized process rather than a one-size-fits-all.
“That’s what optimises the finish,” Jason emphasised. And an expert can recommend the tones that best suit your skin tone, eye colour, and overall look.
He also suggested bringing along a few visual references to provide your hairdresser with an idea of the desired outcome, considering the various approaches to achieving this style.
How do I maintain it?
Colourist Susana explained: "To maintain the old money blonde colour you will need to use nourishing hair treatments such as L’Oreal Molecular Repair. This refills the molecular structure of the hair and helps to strengthen damaged fibres for long-lasting repair."
This muted, more natural-looking colour will likely facilitate a more seamless grow-out compared to, let's say, platinum or ash tones, however, "Regular touch-ups every 8 weeks, and using the right products are key," she added.
"Use a sulphate-free shampoo such as L’Oreal Molecular repair shampoo to preserve the colour, and use a violet-tinted conditioner to neutralise any brassy tones"
"This will keep your old money hair colour healthy and shiny."
Book now at Neville Hair & Beauty, 5 Pont St, London SW1X 9EJ