These days, pushing the limits of hair color is the trendy thing to do, and trust me, I am totally on board!

I’d say I’m fairly qualified to warn you about the process of being your blondest self, not only as a licensed stylist, but also as someone who has had every hair color in the visible spectrum of color. I’ve tried and erred things you wouldn’t believe, and through this I’ve learned a lot about why lightening your hair may not be the best choice for everyone.

I’ve boiled my spiel down to a science, so without further ado, here are the most important things you should know before going blonde.

There are many techniques stylists can use to brighten you up, and some work more quickly than others. Balayage is extremely popular right now, but it’s nearly impossible to make someone with dark brown hair blonde in one session with the balayage technique.

Traditional highlights or babylights will lift the hair more quickly and evenly, and therefore are the better methods for someone looking for a drastic difference.

If you’re looking to go all-over blonde, understand that the bleach-and-tone method is time consuming and requires more frequent touch-ups.

Picture hair color as a spectrum, with black on one side, white on the other, and a plethora of browns and reds and dark blondes in the middle.

In order to get from one end of the spectrum to the other, you have to pass through all of those in-between colors, which could take multiple sessions. Your stylist should be up front about this during your consultation, and you should be up front with them about your hair’s history.

Have you colored your hair in the last 2 years? Chances are, that color’s still in there, and yes, it will affect your blonde journey.

It’s impossible to lighten your hair without some degree of damage. That’s it. Just listen to your stylist when they tell you how to counter this.

If you’re the wash-and-go, only-go-to-the-salon-once-a-year type, going blonde is not for you. Even after your ideal blonde is reached, there is more work to be done.

During and after the process of going blonde, your stylist may encourage you to use some sort of repairing mask, and you should probably take them up on it. Aside from that, there’s the toning (usually purple) shampoo that you’ll have to incorporate into your routine to keep brassiness at bay, and any other products your stylist will recommend to protect the integrity of your hair.

Depending on your method of choice, you’ll have to keep up with touch up appointments, and maybe the occasional toner appointment in between touch-ups. Plus, you’ll want to get your hair trimmed fairly frequently, as bleaching can make your hair brittle, and breakage is not our friend.

If you dream in shades of blonde, I say, live your dream and go for it; just keep in mind that your lifestyle will have to adapt to meet the needs of your new ‘do. Blondes may have more fun, but they deserve it, they put in the work!