How to Wear the New Bleach-Blonde Hair Look

Bleach-blonde hair is back in fashion magazines, but you won't see too many women running to their hair salons for a new, lighter look without a little hesitation. The nineties brought us bleached blondes with hair that looked over-processed, skin that looked dried out and makeup that looked garish. Luckily, we've somehow managed to recreate the look since then with a more sophisticated, subtle edge. For tips on how to wear bleach-blonde hair without looking like "Rehab Barbie," take the following tips to heart.

First, skip the tanning bed a few weeks prior to bleaching your strands. A little glow is necessary to make the look work, but just enough to keep your skin from looking washed out from the light hair dye is recommended. Pairing bleached hair with dark skin tends to give the misguided fashionista a look that says "I tried really hard to catch your attention, and I overdid it." Too much of a "good" thing will always work against you, and bleached hair with a dark tan will cause you to look over-processed in more ways than one. Keep a medium skin tone, preferably with a lotion rather than a harmful tanning bed that will further dry out your locks.

Next, have your hair length shortened to the collar or above immediately after coloring it. Long bleached hair looks fake and too done. Keep the length between the chin and collar for a more feminine look, and take it up the ears for an edgier, rocker vibe. Wavy hair works best for chin-to-collar lengths, while pin straight and glossy works well for shorter looks.

Keep in mind that the makeup rules for today's bleached looks have changed dramatically, as well. While it used to be all about the lips, which were usually covered in a true red when paired with bleach-blond hair before, today it's about the eyes. While bright eye shadow isn't recommended, it is absolutely essential that eyes are well lined with a dark shade. Neglecting to do so will cause the eyes to become hidden in light to mid-tone complexions (which is likely why women opted for dark tans when bleaching their hair before). Keep the eyes lined well and lashes coated with a thickening mascara to prevent a washed out complexion.

On that note, today's bleaching rules require lips that are kept completely neutral. No power lipsticks allowed here, so keep the reds and burgundies at home. Light flesh-toned shades covered with just a touch of clear gloss work well. Do be sure to apply a lip-plumping primer ahead of time to keep your lips understated but noticeable against your new hair color.

Next, take a look at those teeth for good measure. There's nothing worse than having yellow teeth with yellow hair. Aside from purchasing a whitening toothpaste, try an at-home teeth whitening kit for an inexpensive and natural refresher.

Finally, understand that today's bleach-blonde look isn't really bleached at all. Your hair shouldn't be white, as we saw in previous decades, but rather an almost angelic light blonde. The look is more natural and believable, while still garnering the attention it demanded in earlier years (although with perhaps a bit more sophistication). Mix a light to medium skin tone, dark eye liner, white teeth, neutral lips, and a shorter cut with your bleach-blonde hair for a more relaxed version of a favorite from the past.