Beyoncé’s Colorist on How to Go Blonde the Right Way
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
You don’t have to be a member of the Hive to know that Beyoncé is synonymous with blonde. Throughout her years in the limelight, the hitmaker has maintained thick, bouncy, golden locks—making her something of a unicorn, especially given all the myths and warnings about the hue. You’ve heard them: “Blonde is bad for textured hair.” “Blonde causes breakage.” There’s been a campaign against blonde for decades. But since Beyoncé is practically the shade’s unofficial spokesperson, I had to go straight to the source. As it turns out, the real secret is having a great colorist.
Rita Hazan has been working her magic on Beyoncé’s hair for over 10 years, helping her achieve the brassy-proof strands we all know and love. When Hazan first met Beyoncé, she helped evolve the singer’s early-aughts honey tone into lighter and lighter variations over time—exactly what the Grammy winner wanted. “We’ve built this trust. We get each other, and we work together so well. That’s why it works,” Hazan tells StyleCaster. “We go back and forth—lighter, darker, warmer, cooler, different variations, more dimension, less dimension. I’m along for the ride.”
After Hazan created Beyoncé’s “sunwashed” tone for the Renaissance World Tour, the star debuted a “beachy, buttery” makeover for the Cowboy Carter tour. While Hazan didn’t work her magic for this string of shows, she explained her process. Her approach for Beyoncé mirrors the one she uses in the salon (though Bey’s is more dramatic, thanks to stage lights and theatrics). “I do a single process to lighten her base because her natural color is very dark,” Hazan explains. “To keep it from looking stripe-y, I soften the base first. How light I go depends on the look—if she wants to be brighter, I lighten the base more. If we’re going for more dimension, I keep it darker, then highlight.”
According to Hazan, highlighting is the “most important piece of the puzzle”—and often the reason some blondes fall flat. “My placement is what’s important to me. I look at how the hair falls naturally. I don’t section or start in the back—I’m guided by how [Beyoncé] or a client wears their hair.”
Once the color is set, it’s all about hair health. “We’ve been using Cécred, especially the Fermented Rice & Rose Protein Ritual. It really, really, really works,” Hazan says. “I also use my Rita Hazan Shine Gloss in Breaking Brass.”
Hazan shares that when it comes to maintenance, Beyoncé is a pro, having grown up in a hair salon and all. “She always does the treatments. She keeps her scalp and ends in great condition. She’s always doing a mask,” Hazan shares.
For those considering blonde, Hazan recommends the Glaze Supergloss—a semi-permanent conditioning gloss that boosts color and shine. “The colors are really pretty. It gives your hair a glossy refresh. You can do it in the shower in 10 minutes—it’s great for anyone who wants something easy,” she says.
If that’s not enough, Hazan has one key piece of advice for first-time blondes: “Make sure you have some depth in your hair.” Without it, hair can look dull. Depth—whether through lowlights, shadow roots, or warmer undertones—adds richness and prevents that washed-out effect, especially on textured or naturally darker hair.
“Depth helps with so many things, but especially blending new growth,” she adds. “When your hair grows out, the color still looks good. Leaving some darkness—especially around the hairline—is key.”
