Following a carousel of experimental wigs for photoshoots this month, Kendall Jenner has committed to a statement hair transformation of her own. The model sidelined her signature jet-black lengths in favour of a fresh cut and colour; a warm honey shade we're coining "golden hour" blonde.
Jenner gave us a good look at her new shade when attending the Bottega Veneta show during Milan Fashion Week. The 28-year-old arrived at the show wearing a draped brown dress with matching brown accessories, her dark chocolatey neutrals providing the perfect contrast to her new brighter locks, which she wore smooth and centre-parted, with softly flicked-out ends.
The new tone, courtesy of the celebrity hairstylists Jenna Parry and Jessica Gillin, features a subtle blended shadow root, sunkissed buttery lengths and a blunt shoulder-length crop. A stark departure from the model's trademark glossy tresses, "golden hour" blonde boasts a gilded warmth, not too dissimilar to the tint cast by the late afternoon sunshine. With a rich depth and flattering glow, this is the ultimate autumnal blonde shade.
In September alone, the 28-year-old has showcased a variety of alternative hairstyles, from a blunt, cropped pixie for Calvin Klein to an extraterrestrial combination of textured extensions, and a micro-fringe for a Marni campaign. When it comes to experimental locks, Jenner has proven that she is truly a beauty chameleon.
Jenner's younger sister, Kylie, isn’t following too far behind. Just last week, the beauty entrepreneur and media star took to Instagram to debut a set of vibrant teal tresses, an ode to her teenage years and iconic 'King Kylie' era. While we're yet to see if the statement hair look endures a single week, or if it will make an appearance this Fashion Month, it remains a playful reference in the catalogue of Jenner's dramatic beauty transformations. Keeping up with the Kardashians’ ever-changing beauty looks is a full-time job.
From glamorous makeup to oodles of manicures and hairstyle inspiration, the family is always on our mood boards. While we love the drama Kim and Kylie bring, Kendall Jenner delivers some of the most enviable and wearable looks. Her latest- fluffy, golden blonde look- is creating quite the stir. With New York Fashion Week ending, Jenner took to Instagram to post her new blonde mane. Hair color changes are pretty common during fashion week. After all, who can forget the spicy copper hue she sported for Prada’s Autumn/Winter 2022 show?
Shortly after, the shade skyrocketed in popularity and became one of the top hair colors of the season. Her blonde hair, though just debuting today, is already poised to have the same effect. Many celebrities have gone blonde and this isn’t the first time Jenner has sported the color (she had blonde hair in 2019 for London Fashion Week). However, this shade is different. Instead of bold platinum, it’s soft, golden and airy. In an interview with Vogue, colorist Jenna Perry explained that looks from the ‘90s and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy inspired Jenner’s new color. The famed stylist continued by saying that “it took her two days to take her this gorgeous shade of golden blonde.”
The supermodel’s dark brown hair has become a signature look. Whether slicked back or flowing loose and wavy, it’s her calling card. Judging by Jenner’s Instagram post, fans can expect some of the same cool-girl styles. The eight-slide post shows Jenner pairing her new color with some of her favorite looks, including a wide headband and large claw clip. As we move into fall, her buttery shade feels like the perfect way to go blonde.
When Kendall Jenner stepped out onto the Burberry runway, opening the most highly-anticipated London Fashion Week show, the FROW let out an audible gasp. Not just because the supermodel looked seriously epic in Burberry's SS20 collection, but because the Calabasas beauty had traded in her signature Kardashian-Jenner brunette hair for a striking shade of bright blonde. Rumoured to have paid a visit to legendary colourist Josh Wood for her new platinum look, Jenner continued to storm Milan Fashion Week with her newly-dyed blonde locks. Turns at Fendi and Versace saw the 23-year-old model embrace her transformation from brunette to blonde, with messy ponytails and wet look tendrils both looking equally epic in the lighter shade.
In fact, we came to feel rather fond of Kendall's new look as she joined fellow model and BFF, Bella Hadid, in her blonde phase. So when Jenner stepped out at Sunday night's Emmy Awards with her almost jet black hair restored once again, we questioned exactly how you can go from brunette to blonde and back again, in just a matter of days. Revealing the secrets behind Jenner's chameleon-like hair transformation was colourist Cassondra Kaeding. 'She loved the blonde but was so happy to be back to her natural hair colour,' Kaeding told People. 'It will be less maintenance then staying blonde because her natural hair is dark.'
The secret to dyeing over the top of bleached blonde hair? Choose a colour that's half a shade deeper than your natural hair. 'It will soften slightly and match her natural hair colour perfectly,' explains Kaeding. To fight color fade, Kaeding first 'filled the hair with the red and gold pigments, then applied a neutral dark brown hair colour to the roots and mid-lengths. Then I pulled the colour through the ends and finished with a clear gloss for shine.'
Of course, a colour change as dramatic as Kendall's takes time, with Cassondra committing over three and a half hours to the process. 'When going from light to dark it’s really just a waiting game. Once you go blonde, there is no way back.'
There are so many shades of blonde to choose from for any base. Even if your locks are originally dark, you can still sport a stunning look while keeping your mane on the lighter side of the color palette. The hair tone instantly becomes the talk of the season, encouraging many girls to go blonde and welcome the change. The goal is to transition from a warm brown shade to a luxurious blonde with a dimensional shadow root. Not too warm yet far from ashy - the hairstyle borders on a neutral tone, making it a perfect shade for all. The hair community can’t agree more, claiming that the new hair color is definitely a hit. “Blonde is definitely her color,” one user writes.
While maintaining your blonde strands requires commitment, with just a couple of tricks, you can easily adjust your haircare routine. First things first, invest in a high-quality purple shampoo to avoid brassiness. Next, use a heat protectant regularly to shield your tresses from heat damage and breakage. Feel free to explore the existing variety of shades before booking your next salon appointment. With so many options at hand, there is a big chance to find your perfect fit and get a dream color.
Jenner’s journey into blonde reflects a broader trend of hair color experimentation among A-listers during fashion month. The look is soft, golden, and versatile, offering a modern interpretation of ‘90s-inspired glam while staying wearable for everyday style. This transformation also nods to Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s influence, a touchpoint the colorist highlighted when creating Jenner’s new shade. The result is a warm, luminous blonde that complements Jenner’s skin tone and fashion choices as she moves through the season’s shows and events.
Key elements of Kendall Jenner’s golden hour blonde
- Soft, golden base with a blended shadow root for depth
- Butterfly-smooth, sun-kissed lengths
- Centre part with ends gently flicked out for movement
- Shadow-root-to-ends transition that remains warm, not overly ashy
- Complementary makeup and wardrobe to emphasize warmth
For fans wondering whether this look endures beyond Fashion Month, current signals suggest it could become a staple in Jenner’s evolving style playbook, driven by a preference for chic, wearable warmth over high-contrast platinum tones. As with many Jenner transformations, this hair color move also fuels conversations about trendsetting and maintenance, inviting readers to consider their own shade choices, care routines, and the influence of celebrity colorists in shaping seasonal hair palettes.