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Platinum blonde

Platinum blonde is a very light blonde hair colour described as pale silvery, silver-white, or almost white.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Platinum blonde is a very light blonde hair colour described as pale silvery, silver-white, or almost white. The term can refer both to the hair colour itself and to a person whose hair has that colour, often achieved through bleaching or toning. In Canadian English, the term is used in the same way as in other varieties of English.

Definition

Platinum blonde is defined in major dictionaries as a very pale blond or silvery-blonde colour, and as a person who has that hair colour.

Hair-colouring use

In salon and beauty contexts, the term usually refers to hair lightened to a very pale blonde and then toned to reduce yellow or brassy undertones.

Appearance and undertones

Sources describe platinum blonde as nearly white, silver-white, or icy blonde, sometimes with subtle neutral, cool, or slightly warm undertones depending on the shade.

Key facts

  • Platinum blonde refers to a pale silvery-blonde hair colour.
  • Dictionaries also use the term for a person with that hair colour.
  • The colour is commonly described as almost white or silver-white.
  • Many modern hair-colour sources describe it as the lightest end of the blonde range.
  • It is often achieved artificially by bleaching and then toning the hair.
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Canadian context

Platinum blonde is a common hair-colour term used in Canadian English in the same way as in other varieties of English.

Frequently asked questions

What does platinum blonde mean?
It means a very pale blonde hair colour, often described as silvery or nearly white.
Can platinum blonde refer to a person?
Yes. Dictionaries use it for a person whose hair is platinum blonde.
Is platinum blonde usually natural or dyed?
It can be natural, but it is often artificially created by bleaching or dyeing, then toning the hair.
How is platinum blonde described visually?
It is commonly described as almost white, silver-white, or very pale blond.
Is platinum blonde the lightest blonde shade?
Beauty sources commonly describe it as the lightest end of the blonde range or very close to white.

References

  1. Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/platinum%20blonde
    Supports: Definition as a person with pale silvery-blonde hair and the hair colour itself
  2. Cambridge Dictionary — https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/platinum-blonde
    Supports: Describes platinum blonde hair as very pale and almost white
  3. Dictionary.com — https://www.dictionary.com/browse/platinum-blonde
    Supports: Defines the term as a person with pale blond or silver hair color and the color itself
  4. Wella Professionals — https://www.wella.com/professional/en-US/blog/hair-color/platinum-blonde-hair-color-ideas
    Supports: Describes platinum blonde as ultra-light, super-bright, almost-white hair color with undertones
  5. Oxford Learner's Dictionaries — https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/platinum-blonde_1
    Supports: Defines it as hair of a very pale silver colour
  6. Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English — https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/platinum-blonde
    Supports: Defines it as silver-white hair, especially when coloured with chemicals