My #blondeambitiontour is Complete! (AKA I'm Blonde Now.)

I never thought I would look good as a blonde. I always figured that since I'm so pale (seriously, Casper's got more color than me), blonde would just wash me out. But earlier this year, I decided I really wanted to take the plunge and just TRY it. The worst thing to happen is that I wouldn't like it and would go back to another color, right? So I embarked upon what I called (and hashtagged on Instagram) the #blondeambitiontour. Well ... here's a shock. I. LOVE. BEING. BLONDE.

Now, becoming blonde was quite the process. It definitely didn't happen overnight. I started working with my (fabulous, super talented, unbelievable, couldn't live without her) colorist, Wendy at Studio Booth, back in June. Considering we had dyed my hair uber bright red back in April, Wendy told me it would take some time and effort to safely lift all the color and make it turn the lighter shade I was hoping for. It was made a bit easier since we had put some blonde streaks into the ends, but the word "process?" Accurate.

My hair in April? RED. I really can't believe it was that bright less than a year ago!

Rather than bleach (and kill) my hair, Wendy decided the best course of action was a series of appointments where we would focus on toning and highlighting. This would continue to lift the red out while brightening and lightening the color throughout. She warned me that it wouldn't really be blonde on appointment one, but it would definitely be less red. And she was right...

My hair after appointment 1 with Wendy. Basically back to my natural color!

As you can see from the photo above, my hair was pretty brown after appointment 1. I'm not going to lie, I was a LITTLE disappointed, only because I was so raring to go with becoming a blonde! But I knew the best was yet to come.

I visited Wendy again in July for appointment 2. Again, we toned and highlighted. Here's the result...

My hair after appointment 2. Still not blonde, but definitely lighter than after appointment 1.

The blonde was starting to come through, especially on the ends -- but the middle section was still pretty red and brown. There were some very stubborn pieces that the red just didn't want to leave! (I guess that's what happens when I spend at least six years trying every shade of red under the sun and then some.) I loved this color, but I knew it still wasn't the one I was envisioning.

Now, I have to admit something to you. At this point, I cheated on Wendy. (I know, I know, what a major faux pas.) But I wanted to check out another salon in Pittsburgh, mainly because as a beauty blogger I need to know what else exists here beyond my beloved Studio Booth. So I visited Sam at Swank Hair Studio, which is located in the ultra-hip neighborhood of Lawrenceville. I told Sam I'd been working with another stylist and loved what she did, but really wanted to get blonder quicker. I figured she would bleach my hair, but she also decided just to tone and highlight -- but said that since most of the red was gone, I would see a definite change. Sam also did a base break to blend the roots to the rest of the hair. After five hours in the chair with Sam, here's the result...

After appointment 3 with Sam at Swank Hair Studio in Lawrenceville. Yep, I was definitely blonde! (And yes, this is the same top I wore for appointment 1.)

Blonde? Um, YEP. Sam lifted the rest of the red out and got my hair WAY blonder than I expected. What a change!

And, since I STILL wasn't finished, I went back to Wendy at the beginning of November for another appointment. This time, we basically just highlighted and did a little toning...

After appointment 4. No filter. My hair is BLONDE.

I am definitely a blonde now. And I am definitely loving it! I have to admit that it's still pulling a little redder than I'd like in certain lights (seriously, why is red the first color to fade and the last to leave?). So there's really only one thing to do -- go blonder! Wendy and Studio Booth, expect your phone to be ringing soon so I can set up my next appointment...