Honey Blonde vs Butter Blonde: Which Warm Blonde?
Updated November 2026 3 min read 2 shades compared
Honey blonde is the richer, more natural warm blonde. Butter blonde is lighter and brighter, with a higher risk of turning yellow if you skip toners.
Honey Blonde vs Butter Blonde at a glance
| Compare | Honey Blonde | Butter Blonde |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Warm honey gold | Light butter gold |
| Depth | Level 7 | Level 8 |
| Best on | Medium warm skin | Fair to light warm skin |
| Maintenance | Medium | Medium-high—purple shampoo is essential |
| Fades to | Warm golden brown | Yellow blonde |
| Best for | A natural warm blonde | A brighter, sunlit blonde |
Which one suits you?
Honey Blonde
It flatters warm and neutral skin tones and works well with brown eyes. Very cool or pink undertones can make honey look yellow, so a neutral gloss may be needed.
Butter Blonde
It tends to flatter fair to medium skin with warm or neutral undertones. If your hair is naturally dark blonde or light brown, you can usually get there in one session; very dark hair needs a full lift and a toner.
What to ask your stylist
Honey Blonde: Ask for a level 8 golden blonde with a soft root shadow and a honey gloss. Bring a photo in daylight; honey can look darker indoors than you expect.
Butter Blonde: Ask for a level 8 warm blonde with a butter toner and a soft root shadow. Say you want warmth without orange, and ask for a strand test to check how your hair lifts.
Color results depend on your starting level, hair history and undertone. Book a strand test before a full application—it is the cheapest way to avoid an expensive correction.
Questions people ask
Which one is more natural?
Honey blonde, because it has more depth and a slightly darker base.
Which one turns yellow faster?
Butter blonde. It is lighter, so yellow tones show up faster. Use a purple or blue shampoo weekly.
Which one suits medium skin?
Honey blonde is usually the easier match. Butter blonde can work if the toner stays beige rather than gold.