Hot Honey Blonde Will Heat Up Your Summer Hair Color

What Is Hot Honey Blonde?

Hot honey blonde spices up the traditional golden blonde hair color by incorporating warm, reddish undertones (without venturing into strawberry or copper territory). Celebrity hairstylist Andy Cruz describes it as a golden blonde with amber tones. “Think of it as a rich and glowing blonde that leans golden with a hint of depth,” he adds. “It’s warmer and richer than beige blonde, but not as deep as caramel.” 

Paris Hilton recently traded in her signature blonde for the hot honey shade in collaboration with celebrity colorist and Paul Mitchell Pro partner Tauni Dawson. The look feels very “soft and voluminous and super shiny—very L.A.,” Hilton said in a press release. “It captures that effortless glam that feels both natural and alluring.”

As for the recipe behind the heated look? Ask your hairstylist for highlights with a rich honey blonde color, advises Cruz. A mix of fine babylights and slightly thicker weaves will create that natural-looking dimension, while leaving depth in-between for contrast will keep the color from feeling flat. Just be sure to stay clear of brassy territory—you want the look to be buffed and molten. Adding a toning gloss will blend the honey, gold, and neutral shades to make your hair look rich and rooted in sunlit shine. 

“I’m noticing a lot of clients looking for a low-commitment blonde,” says Cruz. “People are embracing warmer tones, especially coming out of the teddy bear brown winter.” Gourmand shades like hot honey blonde and caramelized brunette are especially popular right now. That said, if you’re still warming up to the idea of hot honey blonde, check out our favorite golden looks for some inspo—and make sure to screenshot for your next hair appointment.

Our 10 Favorite Hot Honey Blonde Hair Looks

1. Paris Hilton’s “That’s Hot” Honey Blonde

Leave it to Paris Hilton to kick off a new trend. The star traded out her signature platinum hair for her Paul Mitchell Stay Golden campaign to warm up her classic look. According to the brand, Hilton’s new color “reimagines her iconic Y2K shade with added dimension, warmth, and shine.” The lower maintenance look allows her to focus on more important matters—like what designer bag goes best with her outfit.

2. Alysa Liu’s Halo Hair

Gold is definitely Alysa Liu’s color. The Olympic medalist put her own spin on hot honey blonde hair with a halo dye job, which gets its name from the “halo” it creates around the head. If you’re looking to step out of your comfort zone—or onto the ice—the avant-garde look is definitely worth trying. 

3. Miley Cyrus’ Hannah Montana Blonde

This isn’t a wig y’all—it’s Miley’s take on hot honey blonde. The singer went back to her Hannah Montana roots (literally) by warming up her hair with dimensional highlights, shaggy layers, and a modern take on her alter-ego’s famous bangs. It’s proof the low-maintenance hair color really is the best of both worlds.

4. Beyoncé’s Warm Blonde Bouncy Blowout

It’s no surprise the queen of the BeyHive would tap into the hot honey blonde look. Her bouncy blowout makes a great summer style, and you can easily style yours the same way. Grab a curling iron and some heat-protectant blow-dry spray—this Sleek Dream Team Bundle includes both, plus a scalp recovery oil—and curl your ends away from your face, holding your hot tool at an angle. You’ll have a show-stopping look in no time.

5. Gigi Hadid’s Soft Blowout

Not all blowouts have to be super dramatic—some can be soft and silky, like Gigi Hadid’s. The supermodel embraced the hot honey blonde look with a feathery mid-length blunt cut, giving her an overall warm glow. Hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos made the look even more fluid with a slight “C” shape at the ends. You can recreate at home with a subtle twist of a round brush or hot tool. We recommend using the MERMADE HAIR Blow Dry Brush, which combines the power of a hair dryer and a round brush to make styling faster and easier.

6. Meghann Fahy’s Ombré Highlights

If you want to cut the heat of hot honey blonde—or transition from a darker color—try out Meghann Fahy’s subtle mix of lowlights and highlights. The lighter brown colors marry into brighter blonde highlights to give those honey tones a nuanced golden reflection. For the same subtle ombré effect, ask your colorist to create a gradient with the lowlights, keeping the color deeper at the roots and graduating into blonder tips.

7. Chloe Bailey’s Honey Blonde Braids

Going for glam? Try Chloe Bailey’s honey blonde braids. Her deep side part brings the drama, while her loose wavy ends add a bit of romance to the look. Paired with the rich golden glow of her hair, her look is striking yet sweet.

8. Emilia Clarke’s Wet Hair Look

You know that super sleek look you get when stepping out of the pool? Make it editorial with Emilia Clarke’s slicked back style, which totally works on second (or third) day hair. Use a flat iron to smooth hair straight, then grab a styling stick to sculpt your hair back. We like the BRIOGEO HAIR CARE Style + Treat™ Hair Styling Sleek Stick because it hydrates while it holds thanks to nourishing yuzu extract, plum oil, and Briogeo’s Super B-Complex. Follow up with a dense brush to slick back your style even more, then finish up the wet hair look with hairspray. If you really want to embrace the style, add some mermaid-esque makeup. 

9. Megan Thee Stallion’s Bombshell Blowout

Hot girl summer isn’t complete without thee hair color of the season. Megan Thee Stallion amped up the heat on hot honey blonde with a bombshell blowout (which, BTW, is one of this year’s biggest styling trends). No matter your hair type or texture, nail her voluminous style with our expert blowout tips. 

10. Rihanna’s Hot Honey Curls

Rihanna’s natural curls are the perfect style to rock all summer. To match her look, ask for caramel honey highlights, then follow up with a glam that’s just as sweet and sunlit. Keep your curls as bouncy as RiRi’s by conditioning your strands with the FENTY HAIR Comeback Kid Instant Damage Repair Treatment, which smooths and softens damaged hair.