Cool, not golden
Level 10 with a violet or blue-violet toner. Golden and honey blondes read Californian; the bimbo reference is closer to white-platinum with a faint cool cast. Refresh with a purple shampoo weekly rather than letting it drift warm between salon visits — the drift is gradual and you stop noticing it.
Length and weight
22 to 24 inches is the range that reads right. Tape-ins sit flattest for photos; clip-ins are fine if the hair is worn down every time. Keep the ends blunter than a soft feathered cut — heavy ends hold the silhouette, feathered ends disappear against a bright background.
Centre part, straight, glossed
Centre part almost always. Straight or with a slight bend at the mid-length. Finish with a shine spray rather than a serum — serum weighs platinum down and can pull it yellow under warm light.
Pigtails are a separate look
Pigtails read costume, which is sometimes exactly what you want and sometimes not. Treat them as a deliberate shoot choice rather than a default.
