A celebrity hairstylist’s guide to pulling off Nicholas Hoult’s peroxide blonde hair

Celebrities transforming their appearances for movie roles is simply a part of their job profile. But when that transformation finds itself at just the right degree of dramatic, it’s the perfect recipe for an internet sensation. Take Anne Hathaway, who chopped her dark locks into a buzz cut for 2012’s Les Miserables or Rooney Mara, who chopped her hair and even got pierced to nail her role as the edgy Lisabeth Salander from The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo in 2011. Nicholas Hoult is the internet’s latest obsession and it has little to do with his new movie. The English actor was recently snapped at press promotions for Superman, debuting a platinum blonde head of hair. Not only did it mark a striking departure from his natural brunette locks, Nicholas’ new hair colour made a case for men pulling off the bold shade.

A character actor through and through, Hoult is no stranger to the power of transformation for a movie role. He shaved his head bald for Mad Max: Fury Road and now, to play Lex Luthor in Superman. For his upcoming movie, How To Rob A Bank, he switched it up for a blonde hue. Between shaving and bleaching, he was asked by Entertainment Tonight what he’d stop at to look a certain way for a character, to which he replied, “There is nothing I won’t do for a role.” Commenting on his new bleached ‘do, he stated, “I was dubious about doing it but now I’m happy. I’m enjoying it” and went on to say it was his wife’s aunt who coloured his hair.

There’s nobody with even the faintest enthusiasm for beauty and all it entails who has not taken note of the Nicholas Hoult’s new mane. Many of them, especially men, are using it a framework for their next hair colour choice. HELLO! spoke to Florian Hurel, French celebrity hairstylist and founder of fHair and the Florian Hureal Hair Couture & Spa, who has worked with the likes of Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone, to share his expertise on nailing peroxide blonde hair like Nicholas Hoult.

“On Nicholas Hoult, it adds an edgy sophistication”

On the virality of Nicholas’ new hair colour, Florian says, “Peroxide blonde hair is daring yet fashionable. When done correctly, it adds sophistication effortlessly and elevates a man’s appearance. On Nicholas Hoult, it adds an edgy sophistication while still feeling modern and effortless. For men, it certainly helps embrace a more expressive, statement hairstyle as opposed to breaking away from traditional hairstyles. It should be well-executed, otherwise, it runs the risk of appearing unrefined or over-styled.”

What to remember before heading to the salon

Before considering going blonde, here’s what Florian advises: “Most Indian men have coarser and darker hair, which means going peroxide blonde demands a more rigorous bleaching process. If not done professionally, this approach can be damaging to the hair’s health.” He adds, “Skin tone is also important; warmer complexion has more undertones and needs some adjustments to avoid excess tonal shifts. Personally, I always recommend a one-on-one consultation and strand test before a drastic change.”

Guide to maintain peroxide blonde hair

Florian’s advice to care for blonde hair covers all ground, so here’s his guide to follow. 

• Bleaching strips moisture, so use deep conditioning masks and hydrating shampoos weekly. 

• To neutralise any yellow or brassy tones, use purple shampoo to keep the blonde crisp and cool.

• Products like Olaplex, K18 and fhair Colour Longevity Shampoo and Conditioner can strengthen bleached hair at the molecular level and preserve and lock in colour to keep your blonde fresher and longer.

• Excessive heat can worsen breakage, so always use a heat protectant and avoid daily styling tools.

• Schedule trims every 4–6 weeks and toning sessions to maintain colour vibrancy and hair health.