Honey Blonde Hair Dyes | How To Get The Golden Look At Home.

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Honey blonde hair is a timeless classic that adds sun-kissed tones to any hairstyle. It’s fresh, summery vibes can make your hair, and you, appear healthier and happier! But is this the right shade for you? And which is the best honey blonde hair dye you need?

Here’s everything you need to know how to get the look at home.

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What color is honey blonde? 

Honey blonde hair color is a warm, light blonde with hints of gold.

It’s not as light or cool as ash blonde or beige blonde, but not as deep and warm as almost-brunette caramel blonde or redder strawberry blonde. Honey colors are the perfect in-between of the two.

It’s natural hair color shade that really suits people with warm skin tones but that’s not to say cool tones can’t rock it too.

It’s a fabulous color to blend into honey blonde balayage, ombré and blonde highlights, so you’re bound to find a shade that suits you.

Champagne blonde, sandy blonde and beige blonde and bronde colors are also cooler, creamier variations of this golden hue.

If you suit this stunning hue, it’ll make your skin glow and your eyes pop. It’s a shade that glistens in the sun and adds depth and dimension to your locks.

It’s super fabulous for black hair, natural hair and hair with curls and waves too.

Check out the latest looks for ideas and inspiration over on our Honey hair dye Pinterest board.

honey blonde hair dye collection pinterest board
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How can I get honey blonde hair at home?

This on-trend color can be difficult to get at home. If you have never dyed your hair before, it will be even harder.

When you don’t want to spend the money or time at a salon, it can seem like an impossible task.

Fortunately, there are a whole load of on-trend honey blonde box dyes you can use to get this gorgeous new hair color at home.

If you’re fair with cool undertones like Nicole Kidman, go for a light honey blonde shade like Sunlit Blonde by L’Oreal Paris Excellence Crème or Golden Honey by Nice ‘N Easy.

For warmer skin tones like Beyoncé, choose a deeper, dark honey shade such as Honey Brown by Clairol Professional.

You’ll need to pick your shade carefully base on the color your hair is now. Always look at the color chart on the side of the box to match it up.

If you don’t want to go all over honey blonde straight away, you can start with some honey blonde lowlights or highlights to freshen up your color.

Which is the best honey blonde hair dye?

If you’re feeling confident and ready to get golden at home. Here are the best honey blonde hair dyes your hard-earned money can buy!

Always remember to do a strand test first!

Best honey blonde hair dyes at a glance.

Hair dyeLooks likeBest forBuy it now
Clairol Nice n Easy Medium Honey Blonde

Deep honey blonde
Garnier Nutrisse Light Honey Butter Blonde

Light honey blonde
L'Oreal Preference Florida Honey Blonde Hair Dye

L'Oreal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying + Shine Permanent Hair Color, 8G Golden Blonde, Pack of 1, Hair Dye
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Dark honey blonde
L'Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss Sweet Honey Blonde

Creamy honey blonde colour
L'Oreal, Excellence Dark Golden Blonde

Warm red-honey colour

TOP PICK!

Clairol Nice n Easy, Medium Honey Blonde Hair Dye.

Best hair dye for: Deep honey color.

We love Nice n Easy hair dyes for adding conditioners all the way through the process, and this one doesn’t disappoint.

It’s easy to apply and the creme smells lush – none of that strong ammonia smell you get with some. The color is darker than expected so make sure you have a light base if you want the true color on the box.

Pros

Cons

#1 Clairol Nice n Easy, Medium Honey Blonde Hair Dye.

Features & ingredients:

  • Permanent, nice n easy creme natural hair colour
  • Perfect grey coverage
  • Fragrant scent
  • Adds 3 multidimensional tones and highlights
  • Kind to your hair and gentle on your scalp
  • Supremely conditioning to leave you with soft, silky hair

Reviewers say:

“I love this hair color, it’s by far the best. It’s easy to use and doesn’t drip everywhere, just like it promises. It produces a very natural color that I love. In fact, it looks so natural that people don’t believe I’ve used a hair dye to dye my hair!”

“It’s exactly the color on the box. I put it upon bleached hair extensions which went a bit of a darker blonde, but with box dyes it’s expected.”

“This was recommend to me as a brand that’s good at covering greys in lighter shades. The results were even better than I thought as it lifted my light-brown grey roots to a lighter shade! Now my roots match the rest of my hair. I have ordered a couple more boxes.”

Our experience:

The thing with blonde hair dyes is that they’re really drying, especially if you’ve pre-lightened your hair first. We love Nice n Easy hair dyes for adding conditioners all the way through the process, and this one doesn’t disappoint.

It’s easy to apply and the creme smells lush – none of that strong ammonia smell you get with some. The color is darker than expected so make sure you have a light base if you want the true color on the box.

It’s still a lovely deep golden shade that does fade a little orangey. So make sure you have some purple shampoo on hand to keep brassiness at bay. But it grows out well with darker roots.

You’ll need two boxes for all over coverage if your hair is particularly gray and longer than chin length.

Best hair dye for: Deep honey color.

#2 Garnier Nutrisse Light Honey Butter Blonde

Features & ingredients

  • Nourishing color creme with avocado, olive, and shea oils
  • 100% gray coverage
  • Non-drip formula for easy application

Reviewers say:

“I love how this dye made my hair feel so soft and healthy”

“The color is exactly what I was looking for and it lasted a long time”

“No harsh chemical smell and no irritation on my sensitive scalp”

Our experience:

As experts in the hair industry, we were excited to try out Garnier Nutrisse Light Honey Butter Blonde. The first thing we noticed was the nourishing formula that contains avocado, olive, and shea oils. These ingredients not only add shine and moisture to the hair, but also protect it during the coloring process.

We tried it on medium blonde hair color base and were impressed with the 100% gray coverage, as well as the non-drip formula that made application a breeze. And most importantly, the color turned out quite a cool blonde and lasted for a few weeks without fading.

Overall, we highly recommend Garnier Nutrisse Light Honey Butter Blonde for anyone looking for a natural and nourishing hair dye that delivers beautiful results.

Best for: Light Honey Blonde

#2 L’Oreal Preference Florida Honey Blonde Hair Dye

L'Oreal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying + Shine Permanent Hair Color, 8G Golden Blonde, Pack of 1, Hair Dye
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Features & ingredients

  • Fade-defying color with a blend of powerful oils and antioxidants
  • Up to 8 weeks of vibrant, long-lasting color
  • Intense shine conditioner for added nourishment and radiance

Reviewers say:

“This hair dye truly does not fade like others I’ve tried”

“The conditioning treatment left my hair feeling silky smooth”

“The color is so vibrant and beautiful, I constantly get compliments on it”

Our experience:

As hair experts, we’ve tried our fair share of hair dyes, but L’Oreal Preference Florida Honey Blonde has definitely caught our attention. What sets it apart from other dyes is its fade-defying formula that combines oils and antioxidants to lock in color and keep your hair looking vibrant for up to 8 weeks. We were also impressed with the intense shine conditioner that left our hair feeling nourished and shiny.

But what really sold us on this product was the gorgeous shade of honey blonde it delivered. It’s a perfect balance of warm and cool tones, but a touch on the dark side – giving your hair a natural and multi-dimensional look. Choose this one for a dark honey blonde.

Best for: Dark Honey Blonde

#3 L’Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss Rich Honey Blonde

Features & ingredients

  • Ammonia-free formula for a gentle color transformation
  • Infused with royal jelly and natural honey for nourishment and shine
  • Semi-permanent color that lasts up to 28 washes

Our experience:

L’Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss Rich Honey Blonde Hair Dye is perfect for those looking for a subtle change or who are new to hair dyeing. The ammonia-free formula is gentle on hair, making it a great option for those with sensitive scalps. We were impressed with how nourished and soft our hair felt after using this dye, thanks to the royal jelly and natural honey in the formula.

The color turned out creamier than on the box, giving us a beautiful rich blonde shade that lasted for weeks. Plus, the dye is easy to apply and doesn’t have a strong chemical smell like other dyes do. Overall, we highly recommend this product for its fade-defying formula, nourishing ingredients, and gorgeous results.

Best for: Creamy honey color

#4 L’Oreal, Excellence Dark Golden Blonde

Features & ingredients

  • Triple protection system for 100% grey coverage
  • Enriched with pro-keratin, ceramide, and collagen for stronger and healthier hair
  • Non-drip formula for easy application

Reviewers say:

“I have stubborn greys and this dye covers them perfectly”

“My hair feels so much smoother and softer after using this dye”

“I’ve been using this brand for years and it always gives me the perfect shade”

Our experience:

L’Oréal’s Excellence Dark Golden Blonde Hair Dye is a real gem in their collection. Thanks to its non-drip formula, it’s as mess-free as a hair dye can get. The result? A dark golden blonde that looks so natural, you might just forget it came from a box.

The shade carries a cozy warm tone with a hint of a red undertone. We tried it on a light brown base, which might have coaxed out that extra warmth. It’s this dash of warmth and red that gives the color an extra layer of depth and vibrancy, creating a look that’s not just blonde but brilliantly dimensional.

Best for: Warm red-honey color


Can I dye my hair honey blonde without bleach?

It’s totally possible to get this gorgeous shade without using bleach. But it really all depends on your base hair color – the color your hair is now.

If your current hair color is darker than blonde– you’ll need to lighten your hair with bleach before you can dye it this shade successfully. Color won’t lighten color so you need get the lightest base possible for this hair dye to really work and give you that shimmering look.

Check out our advice in How to bleach your hair at home, DIY style for top tips and products you can use if you’re feeling confident enough about lightening your own hair at home.

If the thought of putting bleach in your hair makes you nervous, chat to your colorist or stylist. You don’t want to get it wrong!

If your current color is any shade lighter than blonde – you have a great base for this color. If you want to go from something like platinum blonde, that’s ok. But if lighter colors take your fancy, you might need to use bleach first too.

Be careful when trying to go lighter blonde at home! Make sure you read the advice on the box you choose carefully to match it with the color your hair is now so you don’t end up orange!

How do I dye my hair honey blonde?

Here is a great video that shows you how to dye your hair step by step. It’s particularly awesome to find out how to dye natural black hair this scrummy shade.

Is honey blonde just medium blonde?

Honey blonde a great way to add some warmth to your look if you find that your skin looks a little bit washed out with darker blondes. And while it might be tempting to think of it as just “medium blonde,” it’s actually a lot more than that.

Its tones are usually more gold or copper-toned than straight-up medium blonde, which means it can warm up your complexion in a way that other blondes can’t.

So if you’re looking for a shade of blonde that’s unique and flattering, honey blonde is definitely worth considering.

What is the difference between honey blonde and golden blonde?

Though both colors come from a lighter hue of brown hair, they are actually different blonde hair shades.

Golden blonde is a beautiful, warm blonde color that can be achieved by lightening the hair to a yellowish hue.

Honey is more of a golden brown shade and can also be achieved by lightening the hair to an orangey tone.

Both colors are flattering on most skin tones and hair types, but honey blonde may be a better choice if you have cool undertones in your skin, while golden blonde is ideal for those with warm undertones.

Will honey blonde hair suit me?

Fortunately for sweet hair lovers, this is a color that’s really versatile.

Its warm hues can draw gold and red but can be cooled down with ashier shades of blonde and light brown. It can also be a rich tone with hints of brunette and strawberry blonde.

It’s important to know and understand your own undertones to help you decide whether it would suit you.

And when we say your undertones we mean things like your skin tone, eye color and even the clothes you wear – these determine the right shades for you.

Do I have warm or cool undertones?

You can take a look at our checklist to help you find out if your undertones are warm or cool!

If you have warm undertones:

  • You have red or golden undertones in your hair.
  • Your skin tone will be golden, tan or olive.
  • You have green veins in your wrist.
  • You suit bright or rich shades.
  • You probably have freckles.
  • Gold jewellery looks awesome on you.

If you have cool undertones:

  • Your skin tone is pink or pale.
  • You prefer wearing jewel and pastel colors.
  • The color yellow does not look good on you.
  • You have blue veins in your wrist.
  • Pearls and silver jewellery look awesome on you.
cool or warm undertones infographic
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Which hair colors suit me?

We’ve also developed a quick quiz that will tell you which hair colors will most suit you! Answer a few quick questions and find out. Take the quiz!

Which Hair Color Suits Me?

You can also try on some virtual hair colors with the Best hair color changing apps you need to use this year!

How do I dye my hair from dark brown to honey blonde?

If you’re dyeing your hair from dark brown to honey blonde, there’s no need to worry – you can definitely do this! Here are a few things you need to keep in mind:

  1. The first thing you need to do is bleach your hair. This will help to lighten up the dark brown color and make it easier to dye your hair blonde.
  2. Once you’ve bleached your hair, it’s important to use a conditioning treatment to keep it healthy and prevent damage to your hair texture.
  3. When you’re ready to dye your hair, be sure to use a high-quality blonde hair dye. This will help to achieve the best results.
  4. Finally, remember to take care of your newly dyed hair by using gentle shampoo and conditioner, and avoiding heat styling tools whenever possible.

By following these steps, you can easily dye your dark brown hair blonde!

Is honey blonde brassy?

We know how hard it can be to maintain that light blonde hue when there are so many factors that can lead to brassiness: shampoos, conditioners, heat styling tools and even the water we wash our hair with!

The truth is, this shade has warmer undertones so it can become more orange as it fades and start to look brassy.

But it’s nothing a good purple shampoo can’t keep under control!

With a dose of purple pigment, purple shampoo will neutralize the unwanted brassy tones in your hair and keep it looking bright.

How can I look after my color?

After you’ve achieved the look you love, make sure you deep condition your hair once a week and use moisturising shampoos and conditioners to restore the condition of your hair – particularly if you bleached it too.

Your hair will be fragile and more prone to breakage, flyaways and split ends for a couple of weeks. When you do heat style, use a heat protectant every time.

You’ll also need to use specially formulated silver and purple shampoos and conditioners to keep the color tip top and prevent any brassiness.

The good news is, it’s a color that looks great with dark roots, so consider a root shadow style to keep the color looking on point for longer.


Parting words

Honey blonde hair color is a great way to achieve the perfect sun-kissed look.

It’s such an easy color to pull off and it looks so natural on any skin tone, plus it can be blended with any type of undertones you want!

Whether you’re looking for a subtle change or going for a more drastic update, this golden shade could be the answer.

So if you’re ready to take your locks from drab to fab, what are you waiting for?

Found your perfect shade? We’d love to see it! Tag us on Instagram @colouredhaircare or Facebook and share your hair dye success stories. Looking for more hair care tips? Check out How to Look After Colored Hair: 11 Expert Secrets For Long-Lasting Color.

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Our Research & Review Process

To ensure our recommendations are as comprehensive and reliable as possible, we’ve undertaken an extensive research effort.

We cite scientific evidence and journals, collect real user reviews and gather impartial perspectives from hair stylists, users, and experts in the field.

Additionally, we conduct hands-on testing by using products and applying hair dyes not only on our own locks but also on real human hair extensions and hair pieces of different hair type, textures and lengths.

This rigorous approach allows us to provide you with insights into which products genuinely live up to their promises.

As always – please consult with a professional hair colorist or stylist for advice on how to color your own hair at home. It’s different for everyone!

This article was written by:

  • Nicola Freeman, Creative Director & Content Lead
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    Creative Director & Content Lead

    With over two decades of passionate hair dyeing experience, I've experimented with nearly every shade imaginable. My journey began long before blogging; as an award-winning copywriter in London and New York, I shaped narratives for iconic brands. However, when friends sought advice during lockdown for at-home hair dyeing, I realized my true calling. Beyond being your hair color expert, I'm a mom of two girls, wife to artist Tony, and an avid soccer player!