Short version: Honey blonde hair is a level 7-8 blonde with a gold tone and a trace of copper, so it reads amber and slightly deeper than golden blonde. It suits warm, olive and neutral skin best and is easiest from a natural level 6-8, where permanent color or a gloss reaches it without lightener; darker hair needs lightening in one to three sessions. Because honey sits close to the warmth lightening exposes, it fades softly: plan a gloss every 6-8 weeks and balayage touch-ups every 3-4 months.
What Honey Blonde Hair Is: Level 7-8 Gold With a Little Copper
Honey blonde is a medium-to-light blonde, level 7-8, toned gold with a small amount of copper. The gold makes it blonde; the copper adds the amber depth that separates it from golden blonde. Indoors it can pass for a warm dark blonde, and in sunlight the copper shows as a glow rather than as red.
Guides disagree on whether honey is lighter than caramel or golden because each brand names its own shades. Pinned to levels on the hair color chart (7 medium blonde, 8 light blonde), caramel sits deepest and golden lightest.
| Shade | Level | Tone | How it differs from honey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honey blonde | 7-8 | Gold plus a little copper | The reference: amber-blonde, warm but not red |
| Golden blonde | 8-9 | Gold, little or no copper | Lighter and more yellow |
| Caramel | 6-7 | Gold-copper with brown | Deeper and browner; usually highlights on brunette hair |
| Honey brown | 5-6 | Gold-copper | Same warmth, one to two levels deeper; reads brunette |
| Strawberry blonde | 8-9 | Gold with a pink-copper reflect | Visibly rosy; a red-family shade |
| Dirty blonde | 6-7 | Neutral to slightly ash | Same depth range, cooler and flatter |
Honey brown, caramel highlights, strawberry blonde and dirty blonde each have their own page, as does honey in foil highlights; this one covers honey as the main color, all over or as dominant balayage.
Salon note: A honey photo taken in sunlight usually shows the shade a level lighter than it is, so colorists often ask for one taken in shade before choosing between a 7 and an 8.
Why Honey Is the Warm Blonde That Fades Gracefully
Honey sits almost on top of the pigment lightening leaves at levels 7-8, yellow-orange and yellow. Ash and icy blondes must cancel that warmth and lose as toner fades; honey only has to tidy it, so fresh and faded honey look close.
By week seven a faded level 8 ash looks yellow and unfinished, while a faded honey looks a little more golden and still chosen. The exception is hair lifted from level 4 or darker that stopped short of a clean 7: fading uncovers orange, and honey gloss hides orange only briefly.
All-Over Honey Blonde: Single Process and Gloss
All-over honey skips lightener only when the hair starts within about two levels of the target, a natural level 6-8. Permanent color lifts virgin hair about 1-2 levels, or up to about 4 with a high-lift tint from level 6 or lighter.
1. Level 8 Honey Blonde Single Process on a Natural Level 7
- Base level
- 7, virgin
- Target
- Level 8 honey blonde
- Technique
- Permanent single process, 20 vol
- Undertone
- Warm, neutral, olive
- Sessions
- 1
- Touch-up
- Roots every 6-8 weeks
One level of lift is the gentlest route: no lightener, no toner, and regrowth that reads as a slightly deeper root.
Ask for: "Permanent honey at level 8, one above my virgin 7. Gold with a touch of copper, not yellow."
2. Level 7 Deep Honey Gloss on a Natural Level 7 Dark Blonde
- Base level
- 7, virgin
- Target
- Level 7 honey
- Technique
- Demi-permanent gloss, no lift
- Undertone
- Warm, neutral
- Sessions
- 1
- Touch-up
- Gloss every 6-8 weeks
Natural level 7 often reads mousy. A honey demi adds gold and copper without changing depth and washes out over about 20-28 shampoos: the lowest-commitment test of the shade.
Ask for: "A level 7 honey demi gloss. No lift; I want to try warmth first."
3. Level 8 Honey With a High-Lift Tint on a Level 6 Base
- Base level
- 6, virgin
- Target
- Level 8 honey blonde
- Technique
- High-lift permanent tint
- Undertone
- Olive, warm
- Sessions
- 1
- Touch-up
- Roots every 5-6 weeks
Olive skin is a strong match, since a brighter, cooler blonde can drain it. Regrowth at level 6 shows sooner than in look 1, so the root interval is shorter.
Ask for: "High-lift tint from my virgin 6 to an 8, toned honey. If it won't reach 8 cleanly, stop at 7 and keep it gold."
4. Level 8 Honey Glossed Over Pre-Lightened Level 9 Blonde
- Base level
- 9, previously lightened
- Target
- Level 8 honey blonde
- Technique
- Gold-copper demi gloss
- Undertone
- Warm, neutral
- Sessions
- 1 (often a second gloss within 4 weeks)
- Touch-up
- Gloss every 4-6 weeks at first
Darkening one level is a common exit from toner appointments. The warm formula means a one-level drop rarely needs a separate filler; three or more levels would. Porous ends drop the first gloss fast; the second makes it hold.
Ask for: "Take my level 9 down to an 8 honey with a warm demi. Lightened for [years]."
5. Level 7-8 Beige-Honey Blonde for Pink or Cool Skin
- Base level
- 6-7
- Target
- Level 7-8 honey softened with beige
- Technique
- Permanent on roots, demi beige-honey on lengths
- Undertone
- Cool, pink, neutral
- Sessions
- 1
- Touch-up
- Roots every 6-8 weeks, gloss every 6 weeks
Pink skin can look flushed next to copper; swapping part of it for beige keeps the depth without the red. It fades toward neutral rather than gold.
Ask for: "Honey at 7-8 with beige instead of copper. I flush easily, so nothing red."
Honey Blonde Balayage and Foilayage
Honey blonde balayage hand-paints sections to level 7-8, tones them honey and leaves the natural root in place. It is the usual way to wear honey on brown hair, because regrowth stays soft and touch-ups stretch to every 3-4 months, often longer. Balayage vs highlights has its own comparison.
6. Level 8 Honey Balayage on a Level 5 Light Brown
- Base level
- 5
- Target
- Level 8 honey on mid-lengths and ends
- Technique
- Open-air balayage + honey gloss
- Undertone
- Warm, olive, neutral
- Sessions
- 1
- Touch-up
- Balayage every 3-4 months, gloss every 8 weeks
Painting starts a few inches below the part and gets heavier toward the ends, so the level 5 light brown root shows on purpose. Three levels of open-air lift is a realistic single session.
Ask for: "Balayage from my 5 to a level 8 honey, starting below the crown, heavier at the ends. No ash."
7. Level 7-8 Honey Balayage With a Level 6 Root Shadow
- Base level
- 5-6
- Target
- Level 6 root, level 7-8 honey lengths
- Technique
- Balayage + demi root shadow at the bowl
- Undertone
- Neutral, warm
- Sessions
- 1
- Touch-up
- Every 4-5 months; root shadow with each gloss
Lowest upkeep on the page: a warm demi matched to the root blurs where the painting began, and many people book twice a year with a gloss in between.
Ask for: "Honey balayage at 7-8 with a warm level 6 demi root shadow, to stretch visits to five months."
8. Level 8 Honey Foilayage on Level 3-4 Dark Brown
- Base level
- 3-4
- Target
- Level 8 honey on lengths
- Technique
- Foilayage + gold-copper toner
- Undertone
- Warm, olive, deep
- Sessions
- 1-2
- Touch-up
- Every 3-4 months, toner every 6-8 weeks
Open-air painting rarely lifts a level 3 far enough; foil holds heat and moisture so the lightener keeps working until the ends clear orange.
Ask for: "Foilayage from my 3-4 to a level 8 honey. If it stalls at orange, split it into two visits."
9. Level 8 Honey Balayage With a Level 9 Golden Money Piece
- Base level
- 6
- Target
- Level 8 honey, level 9 golden at the face
- Technique
- Balayage + foiled front pieces
- Undertone
- Warm, neutral
- Sessions
- 1
- Touch-up
- Front pieces every 8-10 weeks, balayage every 4 months
The front pieces start at the root, so they regrow first; booking only those between full visits keeps the cost down while the back stays deeper.
Ask for: "Honey balayage at 8, plus two foiled front pieces to a golden 9. No ash at the face."
10. Level 7 Honey Balayage on Level 4 Curly Hair
- Base level
- 4
- Target
- Level 7 honey on outer curls
- Technique
- Curl-by-curl painting, low-volume lightener
- Undertone
- Warm, deep, olive
- Sessions
- 1
- Touch-up
- Every 4-6 months
Dry curls painted in their natural shape take color where it will land. Colorists usually keep lift lower on tight curls to protect the pattern.
Ask for: "Honey to level 7, painted curl by curl on dry 3C hair, low-volume lightener and a bond-building additive."
11. Level 8 Honey Balayage on a Level 6-7 Dirty Blonde
- Base level
- 6-7
- Target
- Level 8 honey on ends and face frame
- Technique
- Light balayage, honey gloss all over
- Undertone
- Neutral, warm
- Sessions
- 1
- Touch-up
- Every 4-6 months, gloss every 8 weeks
With one or two levels between base and honey, this reads as warmer natural blonde. Anyone wanting an obvious change should skip it.
Ask for: "Light balayage to a level 8 honey on my 6-7, then a honey gloss over everything."
12. Level 4 to Level 8 Honey Ombre on Long Hair
- Base level
- 4
- Target
- Level 4 top, level 8 honey bottom half
- Technique
- Ombre: lightened ends, blended midpoint
- Undertone
- Warm, olive
- Sessions
- 1-2
- Touch-up
- Toner every 8 weeks; ends trimmed, not relightened
Unlike balayage, the whole bottom section lightens, so the gradient is obvious by design. No root work, but every trim removes honey.
Ask for: "Ombre: keep my level 4 to chin length, then blend into level 8 honey. A soft midpoint, not a line."
Lived-In Honey With Depth: Lowlights, Root Melts and Bronde
Lived-in honey keeps darker strands in the mix so it grows out without ever looking undone. The depth comes from the natural base, demi lowlights or a root melt.
13. Level 8 Honey With Level 6 Caramel Lowlights on a Level 7 Base
- Base level
- 7
- Target
- Level 8 honey, level 6 caramel lowlights
- Technique
- Alternating foils: lightener and demi
- Undertone
- Warm, olive
- Sessions
- 1
- Touch-up
- Every 10-12 weeks
Caramel two levels under the honey stops an all-blonde head from looking flat in photos. Keep both warm: an ash lowlight beside honey tends to look muddy rather than deep.
Ask for: "Honey at 8 with fine caramel lowlights at 6, both warm. Virgin level 7."
14. Level 7 Honey Bronde Melted From a Level 5 Root
- Base level
- 5
- Target
- Level 5 root to level 7 honey
- Technique
- Balayage + root melt + honey gloss
- Undertone
- Olive, warm, neutral
- Sessions
- 1
- Touch-up
- Every 4-6 months
Bronde means roughly equal brown and blonde. Honey at 7 sits close enough to a level 5 root that grow-out barely registers for months.
Ask for: "Honey bronde: my level 5 at the root, melted into a level 7 honey. More brown than blonde on top."
15. Level 8 Honey Blonde Single Process on a Short Bob
- Base level
- 7
- Target
- Level 8 honey blonde
- Technique
- Permanent on roots, demi on lengths
- Undertone
- Neutral, warm
- Sessions
- 1
- Touch-up
- Roots every 5-6 weeks
Half an inch of root is a bigger share of a bob, so regrowth shows sooner; staying one level from the natural 7 offsets that.
Ask for: "Permanent honey at 8 on the roots, honey demi on the lengths. Natural level 7."
Honey Blonde From Black, Box-Dyed and Gray Hair
Each of these starts reaches honey by its own route: black hair needs lift in stages, box dye needs a remover or lightener because dye cannot lift dye, and gray needs a formula that holds warmth on unpigmented strands.
16. Level 7 Honey on Level 1-2 Black Hair, After Two Sessions
- Base level
- 1-2
- Target
- Level 7 honey on lengths
- Technique
- Foilayage over 2 sessions + gold-copper toner
- Undertone
- Warm, deep, olive
- Sessions
- 2-3
- Touch-up
- Every 3-4 months, toner every 6-8 weeks
Five or six levels through red and orange is too much for one appointment on most black hair; after visit one the lengths usually look copper brown. An 8 would cost another session.
Ask for: "Honey balayage to level 7 from natural black, over two sessions if needed, with a bond-building additive."
17. Level 7-8 Honey on Box-Dyed Level 4 Hair, After a Color Remover
- Base level
- 4, box-dyed for 2+ years
- Target
- Level 7-8 honey
- Technique
- Color remover, then lightener + honey toner
- Undertone
- Warm, neutral
- Sessions
- 2-3
- Touch-up
- Every 3-4 months once even
Layered box dye sits darkest on the ends, so they lift slowest and warmest while virgin roots race ahead. A strand test on the ends decides whether honey is one visit away or three.
Ask for: "Honey at 7-8 from box-dyed level 4, used for [years], last applied [date], no henna. Strand test the ends first."
18. Level 8 Honey Blonde Coverage on a Level 6 Base With 30 Percent Gray
- Base level
- 6 with about 30% gray
- Target
- Level 8 honey blonde
- Technique
- Permanent honey mixed with a same-level neutral
- Undertone
- Warm, neutral
- Sessions
- 1
- Touch-up
- Roots every 6-8 weeks
Gray strands have no warm pigment underneath, so pure honey can turn them flat yellow; a same-level neutral evens it out. A level 8 also contrasts less with new gray than brown would.
Ask for: "Full coverage at level 8 honey with neutral in the formula. About a third gray, mostly at the temples."
19. Level 7-8 Beige-Honey Blend on a Level 6 Base With 60 Percent Gray
- Base level
- 6 with about 60% gray
- Target
- Level 7-8 beige-honey, gray kept
- Technique
- Fine highlights + sheer demi honey gloss
- Undertone
- Neutral, warm, cool
- Sessions
- 1
- Touch-up
- Every 10-12 weeks
With more gray than pigment, full coverage means roots every four weeks. A sheer demi lets the white read as light pieces; gray blending covers the other options.
Ask for: "Fine beige-honey highlights at 7-8 and a sheer honey demi. Soften my gray; don't cover it."
20. Lived-In Level 7-8 Honey Balayage at Four Months of Grow-Out
- Base level
- 5
- Target
- Level 7-8 honey, faded
- Technique
- Balayage, no touch-up for 4 months
- Undertone
- Warm, olive
- Sessions
- 1
- Touch-up
- Gloss now; lightening at 5-6 months
Two inches of root and a slightly more golden end, yet it still reads as intended. A single gloss restores the copper and buys a month or two before any lightener.
Ask for: "Just a honey gloss today, no lightener. My balayage is four months old; I want to reach six."
Who Honey Blonde Suits
Honey suits warm, olive and neutral undertones best, and deeper skin often wears it better at level 7 than 8. Vein tests are rough; a swatch held to your face in daylight tells you more.
| Undertone and contrast | Honey version that fits | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Warm (golden, peach) | Classic level 8 honey | The gold repeats warmth already in the skin |
| Olive | Level 7-8 with clear copper | Copper warms skin that pale yellow blonde can make sallow |
| Neutral | Any, including beige-honey | Either lean balances |
| Cool or pink | Beige-honey, little copper | Copper can make pink skin look flushed |
| Deep skin, dark eyes | Level 7 honey balayage | Keeps contrast soft against a dark root and brows |
Getting Honey Blonde by Starting Color
The distance from your natural level to 7-8 decides the route: dye alone from level 6-8, lightener from level 5 and darker, and extra sessions from level 1-3 or box dye. Read your level at dry roots in daylight; lifting dark hair to bright blonde all over belongs to the blonde hair colors hub.
| Starting point | Route to honey | Lightener? | Sessions | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural level 7-8 | Permanent honey or demi gloss | No | 1 | Too gold if the formula lacks copper |
| Natural level 6 | Permanent or high-lift tint | No | 1 | Stopping at 7 with yellow-orange showing |
| Natural level 5 | Balayage or all-over lightener, honey toner | Yes | 1 | Brass where lift is uneven |
| Natural level 3-4 | Foilayage, gold-copper toner | Yes | 1-2 | Orange if lift stops at level 6 |
| Natural level 1-2 | Foilayage in stages | Yes | 2-3 | Breakage from rushing |
| Box-dyed, any level | Remover or lightener after a strand test | Yes | 2-3 | Uneven lift, darkest on the ends |
| Lightened level 9-10 | Warm demi one or two levels down | No | 1-2 | Fast fade on porous ends |
| Gray, under half | Permanent honey plus neutral | No | 1 | Yellow cast on white strands |
Each lightening pass weakens the hair: electron microscopy and protein analysis of bleached hair found damage to both cuticle and cortex, rising with bleaching strength, so a two-step plan from black hair is the careful choice, not the slow one. Toner has its own guide.
Salon note: From dark hair, honey usually looks better when the lightener reaches a clean level 8 and the toner deposits back to 7-8. Lifting only to 6-7 and asking the toner to do the rest leaves orange it can only tint, and the orange returns as the toner fades.
Honey Blonde Hair Dye at Home: What a Box Can and Cannot Do
A box of honey blonde hair dye works on virgin hair at level 6-8; on level 5 or darker, or on dyed hair, it turns orange or patchy. Box permanent color lifts about 1-2 levels, so a level 4 brunette applying a level 8 honey lands near 6, which is copper-orange. Over old dye it cannot lighten at all.
The classic first-time mistake is applying root to end in one pass: scalp heat makes roots process faster, leaving them brighter and warmer than the lengths (hot roots). Lengths first, roots last avoids it. A demi honey gloss, compared with other dye types on the demi-permanent page, is the safer at-home choice.
Watch out: Permanent and demi dyes, honey shades included, can contain para-phenylenediamine (PPD), and hair dye is the most frequent route of PPD sensitization. Patch test 48 hours before every permanent or demi service, and strand test before lightening dyed or henna-treated hair. Itching, swelling or blistering of the scalp, face or eyelids needs a doctor; a board-certified dermatologist can test for dye allergy.
What to Ask Your Colorist for Honey Blonde
Name the level, the tone balance and the placement, then give the full history. "Honey" varies by salon, so say level 7 or 8, gold with a little copper, and how much brown to keep. Bring three daylight photos: one you like, one you don't, and your hair now.
- "My natural level is about [5/6/7]; I last colored it [date, type, or never]. No henna." (Or give the henna dates.)
- "I want honey at level [7/8]: gold with a touch of copper, not yellow and not red."
- "Placement: [all-over / balayage below the crown / foilayage / root shadow]."
- "If it won't reach honey cleanly today, I'd rather split it into two sessions."
Salon note: Colorists often ask whether "honey" in a photo means the bright ends or the overall impression. In balayage photos the brightest pieces are often a golden 9, while the shade the client remembers is the level 7 honey around them.
Honey Blonde Upkeep and How It Fades
Honey needs a gloss every 6-8 weeks to keep its copper, while touch-ups depend on technique, from roots every 4-6 weeks for all-over color to balayage every 3-4 months or longer.
| Technique | Root touch-up | Gloss | Fades toward |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-over permanent from level 6-8 | Every 4-6 weeks | Every 6-8 weeks on lengths | Brighter gold |
| Demi gloss only | None | Every 6-8 weeks | Natural base |
| Balayage from level 4-6 | Every 3-4 months | Every 6-8 weeks | Gold, then yellow-orange |
| Balayage from level 1-3 | Every 3-4 months | Every 6 weeks | Orange if under-lifted |
| Gray coverage | Every 6-8 weeks | As needed | Yellow on white strands |
Purple Shampoo Works Against Honey
Violet cancels the yellow honey is built on, so regular use leaves it flat and beige. Use purple only for a lemon-yellow drift and blue only for orange on hair lifted from brown, once or twice a week at most.
The Copper Leaves First
Red and copper tones fade quickest, so honey drifts toward plain golden blonde first; that is the cue for a gloss. Cool water, a gentle color-safe shampoo, heat protection and waiting 48-72 hours before the first wash slow it.
When Honey Blonde Is Not the Right Choice
- You dislike any warmth. Honey is warm by definition and fades warmer. Beige or ash blonde fits better.
- Rosacea or very ruddy skin. Copper can amplify redness. Try beige-honey, or keep honey off the hairline.
- Black hair, one appointment, a deadline. Honey takes two or more sessions. A level 5-6 honey brown or caramel pieces are reachable in one.
- Hair breaking or gummy when wet. Skip lightener; a demi honey gloss on the current level is safer.
- Mostly white hair and full coverage. Honey over 70-80 percent white needs roots every four weeks and can look yellow; blending suits better.
- A box dye over existing dark color. It will not lift old dye; a salon remover or lightener plan is the route.
The right honey blonde hair starts from an honest read of your natural level: a 6-8 gets there with dye alone, a 5 or darker needs lightener and toner, and black or box-dyed hair needs more than one visit. Photograph your roots in daylight, pick a look above by starting color, and book a consultation with your full color history.
Frequently Asked Questions
What level is honey blonde hair?
Honey blonde usually sits at level 7 or 8 on the 1-10 color chart, medium to light blonde. The tone is gold with a small amount of copper, which is why it looks a little deeper than a golden blonde at the same level. Box dyes labeled honey vary, so check the level number on the package rather than the name.
Is honey blonde a warm or cool color?
Honey blonde is warm. Its gold and copper are what define it, and a version with the warmth removed is no longer honey but beige or neutral blonde. People with cool or pink skin who want it can ask for a beige-honey with less copper, which keeps the depth while toning down the red.
Can you get honey blonde hair without bleach?
Yes, if your natural hair is level 6 or lighter and has never been dyed. Permanent color or a high-lift tint can lift virgin hair one to about four levels, enough to reach honey at 7-8. From level 5 or darker, or over previous dye, lightener is needed, because permanent dye cannot lift color that is already in the hair.
Will honey blonde turn orange?
It can on hair that started at level 4 or darker and was not lifted far enough before toning. The honey toner covers the orange at first, then the orange returns as the toner washes out. Lifting to a clean level 8 before toning, and booking a gloss every 6-8 weeks, keeps it gold rather than orange.
Should I use purple shampoo on honey blonde hair?
Usually no. Purple shampoo neutralizes yellow, which is part of what makes honey look like honey, so regular use leaves it flat and beige. Reach for it only if the shade has turned lemon-yellow, and use blue shampoo instead if orange shows on hair that was lightened from brown. Once or twice a week is enough.
How long does honey blonde hair color last?
The lightened or permanent part lasts until it grows out, but the honey tone on top fades in about 6-8 weeks, drifting toward plain gold. All-over color needs roots every 4-6 weeks; balayage can go 3-4 months or longer. A demi gloss alone washes out in about 20-28 shampoos.
Does honey blonde look good on dark skin?
Often, especially at level 7 and as balayage that keeps a dark root. Warm and deep skin tones pick up the gold and copper, while the root keeps contrast with dark brows soft. Reaching honey from natural black hair usually takes two or more lightening sessions, so plan the timing before an event.
General information, not medical advice. Patch test 48 hours before any permanent or demi-permanent color. Brand-neutral: we name no products and take no payment for mentions. Disclaimer · How we write our guides
