Vera Wang Looks Decades Younger In Her Dramatic Blonde Transformation

Designer Vera Wang has long been known for her dark brown—almost black—hair, but earlier this month the style icon surprised her Instagram followers by showing off a super blonde look while in Paris shortly after her 76th birthday. 

The new hue is a “rooted ash blonde,” notes Elena Ruiz, colorist at Voel Hair. She says, “This type of blonde works exceptionally well on natural brunettes; it’s lower maintenance, and the rooted look adds depth, helping to avoid the washed-out effect that some blondes can cause.” 

While a low maintenance blonde she could absolutely pull off, Ruiz says it’s likely Wang was wearing a wig because the transformation happened so quickly and because she went back to her brunette hue shortly after. (She’s been known to wear wigs in the past, as well.) This type of shift from ultra dark hair to ash blonde would likely take multiple sessions and at least eight hours. 

Whatever the case, the blonde hair suited the designer brilliantly and is a dramatic and fun shift aligned with blonde trends we’re seeing. 

“Summer blonde is always the trend,” says Jonathan Colombini, celebrity hairstylist and global color ambassador for Schwarzkopf Keratin Color. “However, establishing an already existing root is the newer trend.” He adds that there’s some extra drama thrown in via Wang’s go-to center part and stick-straight strands. 

How to Get Rooted Ash Blonde Hair

Want the look? Whether you’ve got naturally lighter hair or are a dark brunette like Wang, you can pull it off. Ask your stylist for an ash blonde base with cool tones, either with a root smudge or a balayage technique to keep the roots a darker color. This helps with the growout and looks less harsh in general. 

“For anyone looking to achieve this kind of transformation on their actual hair, it’s important to know that it would be considered a color correction,” Ruiz notes. “That usually means multiple sessions, each potentially taking eight hours or more, depending on the starting point and the condition of the hair.”

Upkeep for Blonde Hair

That said, the most important thing is to be prepared for the upkeep, especially at home. Even when the color is done beautifully and professionally in the salon, maintaining the health and look of your hair comes down to what you do afterward, Ruiz tells us. 

“That means using salon-quality products, hydrating masks, bond-building treatments, and heat protection every time you style your hair,” Ruiz says. “Styling also plays a big role, like learning how to keep it smooth and polished (or intentionally textured) makes all the difference in how it looks day-to-day.” 

Basically, you don’t want to invest all that time and money into your color just to let it fade or break down. If you’re committed to the look, you must commit to the care, as well!