Hannah Waddingham has just taken glossy hair to the next level. Her gleaming blonde locks are so shiny, they’re firmly in light-reflecting territory – not only making her hair appear brighter, but also working double duty to lift and illuminate her complexion.
The 52-year-old actress was spotted in New York last night as she attended the season four premiere of Ted Lasso (you can probably guess what our plans are tonight).
It’s no surprise she looked phenomenal, with sun-kissed skin, glowing makeup and show-stopping blonde locks. We think it’s safe to say Hannah has more than earned her status as a blonde bombshell.
‘Hannah’s hair looks incredible, but it’s the colour that really steals the show,’ says Jason Collier, celebrity hairstylist and key opinion leader at Jerome Russell Bblonde. ‘It’s bright, creamy and incredibly glossy, which gives the hair a luxurious, healthy appearance.’
But what makes her blonde so impossibly glossy? According to Jason, it’s all in the clever blend of tones. ‘It’s not one solid shade. You can see subtle ribbons of warmer and cooler blonde running throughout, which creates movement and depth,’ he explains.
Jason tells GH that a multi-tonal finish like this mimics the way healthy blonde hair naturally shines. ‘Rather than looking flat or over-processed, there’s a softness to the tone that catches the light from every angle,’ he says.
It’s a colour that’s incredibly flattering, and it can work wonders in midlife. ‘It looks far more youthful than a single-process blonde,’ he says.
The light-reflecting quality really helps to lift the complexion. He explains, ‘as we get older, our skin naturally loses some luminosity, but a light-reflecting blonde like Hannah’s works almost like built-in lighting for the face. When the hair has shine and dimension, it bounces light back on to the skin, helping the complexion appear fresher, brighter and more radiant.’
Achieving a glossy finish like Hannah’s is what beauty dreams are made of. Thankfully, Jason knows exactly how to get that gleam.
It all starts at the salon. ‘Ask your stylist for a creamy, multi-dimensional blonde with a high-gloss finish. The key is creating brightness while still leaving depth around certain sections, so the hair has natural contrast and doesn’t appear flat,’ he says.
To get into specifics, he recommends asking your colourist for fine babylights paired with a soft shadow root. The result is a natural-looking grow-out while the blonde is kept bright through the lengths.
Jason says it’s important to remember that blonde will only stay expensive-looking if it’s in good condition, so at-home upkeep is key. Here, he says hydration is essential and recommends a weekly mask and a lightweight glossing oil after styling.
‘Using a gloss is as important as the colour itself,’ he adds. ‘This will smooth the cuticle for that mirror-like shine.’
‘Heat protection is a non-negotiable,’ Jason adds. ‘Excessive heat quickly dulls blonde hair and can leave it looking dry.’
When it comes to washing, he recommends a colour-safe shampoo and conditioner. Once every couple of weeks, he advises swapping them for a purple shampoo and conditioner – although he warns that overusing those could make the blonde look flat or chalky.
Blonde might take a little more upkeep, but Hannah’s light-reflecting locks are proof that the right shade can brighten not just your hair, but your whole complexion.
