Autumn is usually the season for embracing deeper hair shades or adding a few lowlights. But Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, seems to be making her own beauty rules. The royal has just taken her blonde bob to the next level with a Scandi-esque hair colour makeover, and experts say the lighter shade can work wonders for mature complexions.
The Duchess has been keeping busy with royal engagements, currently on an official visit to Scandinavia’s Nordic neighbour, Finland. Yesterday, she looked radiant, with fresh, glowing skin and a soft pink lip, complemented by her gleaming blonde bob, which looks lighter and brighter than ever.
‘This ‘Scandi’ blonde is a really beautiful update for Sophie,’ says Jason Collier, celebrity hairstylist, founder of Studio23 and Key Opinion Leader at Jerome Russell Bblonde. ‘There’s a brightness to it that instantly freshens up her look.’
Scandi blonde, as Jason explains, is a bright clean blonde associated with Scandinavian colouring. ‘Think creamy platinum, pale champagne and icy blonde tones, with a beautifully reflective finish,’ he says. ‘It has a luminous quality, where the hair looks bright and expensive. Sophie’s colour has that lovely combination of an icy brightness through the top and softer, warmer tones underneath, which gives it a little more depth.’
Jason notes that the brightness sits around Sophie’s crown and hairline, catching the light beautifully, and this is what makes the look so flattering against the skin. ‘The beauty of this is the way it brings lightness right up around the face. Those paler blonde pieces around the hairline can create a beautiful frame, reflecting light and giving her overall look a brighter, fresher feel.’
While we’re all for embracing the grey, Jason says Scandi blonde is a lovely, low maintenance option if you prefer to colour your hair. ‘As silver hairs begin to appear, incorporating lighter blonde tones can help soften the contrast between the roots and the rest of the hair, making regrowth look more blended rather than something you need to cover up completely.’
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In the salon, Jason recommends taking a reference photo with you (made easy, thanks to Sophie!). ‘You want to ask for a bright, creamy blonde with paler, almost platinum pieces around the crown and hairline, blended into softer beige or champagne tones through the lengths. I’d also discuss keeping some softness at the root, particularly if you have silver regrowth, so the colour grows out more seamlessly.’
For extra brightening magic, Jason says you could also consider the Scandi hairline technique. ‘This involves delicately lightening the fine baby hairs around the face to create that brighter, more luminous frame.’
We’ll never say no to built-in glow.
