Queen Bey’s Colorist Tells Us How to Keep Blonde Hair Bright and Healthy

While some people reach for certain light therapy lamps to help boost their winter blues, I make an appointment with my colorist, Rita Hazan. Also known as “the queen of blonde,” Rita owns a salon in New York City and has an impressive roster of celebrity clients, including Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, Katy Perry, and Beyoncé. So while Rita was painting on my highlights, we talked about mom stuff (toddlers, amirite?) and, of course, the stunning new blonde Beyoncé recently debuted at the Beyoncé Bowl (a halftime show on NFL Christmas Gameday, which is now a Netflix special).

“We went with an ivory blonde with lots of dimension,” Rita explained, adding that the performer wanted to keep the color within the platinum Cowboy Carter family but change it up a little. “I created a warm ivory that combined a few blonde hues into one look.” And because I, too, was going lighter, I wanted to know exactly how Rita helps Bey keep her hair looking so bright, healthy, and never brassy, despite all of the constant coloring over the past decade (both for the purpose of this article and for my own sake!).

Make At-Home Gloss Your Go-To

When you can’t see your colorist for a professional gloss, Rita recommends that blondes like Beyoncé use an at-home gloss that is made for color protection and preservation. Rita saw that there was a huge need for this product so she actually created her own gloss so her clients could have her brass-busting powers even when they aren’t sitting in her chair.

“I formulated my gloss to be incredibly foolproof, versus other at-home glosses that can stain the bathroom and can be messy to apply to the hair,” she explained. “The foam stays put, plus you can use it as much as you want. It was intentionally made to be easy, but effective.”

And while no blonde wants their color to look brassy (with unwanted warm tones; think orange), Rita is here to remind us that of course your dye job is going to evolve over time. “The first week, it’s super bright and light, and then it calms down a little bit, and then it looks worn in. Like a good pair of jeans, the longer you wear them the better they get. It’s kind of like that. Good color should get even better over time.”

Do a Deep Treatment Twice a Week

You’ve probably heard the saying, “everyone has the same 24 hours as Beyoncé.” So if she can squeeze this treatment into her routine, then I guess we can too. Rita recommends prioritizing at-home conditioning treatments one to two times a week. “Look for deeply hydrating ingredients in your hair treatment like jojoba or olive oil to hydrate and boost shine, paired with a protein to strengthen and fortify the hair. I created a simple, two-step remedy that was inspired by thousands of clients and their needs to keep hair healthy in between visits.” 

Beat the Heat

“It can be hard to remember when you’re rushing to blow out and style your hair, but please never skip a heat protector, especially if you have color-treated hair,” begged Rita. “Similar to moisturizer on the face, this one step for hair can prevent damage and fading, especially if your hair is thinning.

Have One Super-Healthy Hair Day Each Week

We’re all guilty of damaging our hair with hot tools (dryer, flat iron, curling iron, wand, etc.). But Rita said if you say “no” to heat for at least one day a week, it will have a huge impact on the health of your hair. “That one single day can help preserve your color from appearing dull,” she said. “Choose to dry style your hair, or if your hair is freshly washed, gently blot it dry with a hair-specific towel that prevents breakage.

Only Use Products for Color-Treated Hair

“There are a lot of options for hair styling products, but when you invest in color preservation products, paired with a gloss, you can have color looking as good as the time you left the salon,” Hazan says. Don’t take our word for it, just look at Beyoncé’s blonde for proof that these tips work wonders. And check out my Beyoncé-inspired, Rita-fied hair below, which is still boosting my winter mood.