The “Lemon Platinum” Trend Is Like Sunshine for Your Hair

Bored with your blonde? I feel ya. I’ve been pretty much every shade of the blonde rainbow, from a dark, dirty blonde like Taylor Swift to the iciest, whitiest platinum. I love experimenting with my color, and this summer, I’ve been craving something bright and light, sweet and summery, and as refreshing and fun as a glass of lemonade.

Enter “lemon platinum,” a cheerful take on light blonde with no silver in sight. Hairstylist Tom Smith coined the catchy term to describe the bright, buttery shade worn by beauty icons like Kirsten Dunst, Anya Taylor-Joy, Claudia Schiffer, and the late Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. “Lemon platinum is the kind of blonde that looks bright and clean with minimal dimension,” Smith explains. “There’s not really anything subtle about it and that’s exactly the point; it’s unapologetic, fresh, and a bit provocative, which makes it feel very now.” And after years of neutral and icy, cool-toned blondes, Smith says that people are looking for “something with energy.” And lemon platinum definitely has that kinda energy.

The Trend

Icy, cool-toned platinum blonde was the most covetable blonde for years, but things have gone in a warmer direction recently, with lots of honey and golden tones showing up in the trend cycle. Lemon platinum is the next logical step, with a vivid tone that provides an unmistakable “pow” factor. “This more sherbet-toned alternative is the brightest possible version of a warm blonde shade,” says Smith. There’s a reason cartoon blondes like Betty Cooper from Archie always rock a bright yellow blonde; you really can’t look away from it. 

Chase Kusero, co-founder of IGK Haircare, agrees. “Lemon platinum is a warmer, buttery take on the icy white blondes we’ve been seeing, which makes it more wearable across different skin tones,” he says. “Where classic platinum can feel cold or high-maintenance, lemon platinum brings a touch of warmth that makes it feel expensive and a little nostalgic in the best way.” Hairstylist Jenna Perry, who was behind Kendall Jenner’s blonde transformation, likes the vintage vibes of the shade. “It has a warmth to it, which adds a rejuvenating touch,” she says. “It can also be slightly less damaging because it can be done with high-lift hair color rather than bleach.”

The color’s popularity makes a lot of sense, given that both butter yellow and lemon yellow has never been more popular both in our beauty routines and our closets. (I’m wearing a yellow dress as we speak.) We’ve also been obsessed with all things fruit—need I remind you of guava girl summer, strawberry girl summer, and cherry girl summer? Lemon platinum fits right in with that motif. “Fruit imagery offers that summer sensory nostalgia and feels like bright sunny days in a really tactile way,” says Smith. “Lemon platinum speaks the same language, being playful but not silly. There’s something about that acidic brightness that just cuts through everything else and feels fresh.”

How to Get the Look

Craving a taste of this cheery, bright lemon shade? Smith recommends asking your colorist for a “very light clean blonde with a deliberate clean yellow tone”—not gold or caramel, and definitely not beige or ash. “It needs to be lifted lighter first and then toned on purpose, ideally using something bespoke or diluted that creates that soft lemon tint without tipping into clown territory.” Kusero recommends emphasizing that you want a “lemony platinum,” not golden or brassy tones. 

“Yellow” can be a dirty word for blondes; it’s a synonym for brassy, which is basically a blonde’s biggest fear. But don’t fear the yellow tone here, which is intentional! “Yellow only looks bad when it wasn’t meant to be there,” Smith explains. “Lemon blonde is different because it’s considered and intentional. It’s not what happens when the bleach job has been done poorly, it’s what happens when you know what you’re doing.” Work with a colorist you trust who sees your vision.

To maintain your color, Smith suggests a clarifying shampoo to keep the color from getting muddy. Beware of minerals or chlorinated or salt water, which can cause build-up and dullness on such a light and bright color. “This color needs shine to work, so don’t overdo it with mattifying products or overprocessing,” Smith advises. Kusero likes IGK’s Antisocial Leave-In Dry Mask to repair and add softness and shine. Hmm, suddenly I’m in the mood for a glass of limoncello… and a new hair color.