blonding: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Commercial (beauty industry)
Quick answer
What does “blonding” mean?
The process of dyeing hair a lighter, yellowish-brown colour.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The process of dyeing hair a lighter, yellowish-brown colour.
The act of applying bleach or colourant to lighten hair, often used in beauty/hairdressing contexts; the resulting state of having artificially lightened hair. In some figurative use, the process of making something appear lighter or more bleached.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK English, 'blonde' (adj., noun) often retains feminine grammatical gender (from French), while 'blond' is masculine/neutral. In US English, 'blond' is commonly used for all genders. 'Blonding' as a gerund/noun is used similarly in both, but the spelling 'blond' vs. 'blonde' may vary in related forms.
Connotations
Implies professional hairdressing service. Connotes fashion, beauty treatment, and often highlights or subtle lightening rather than a single solid colour.
Frequency
More frequent in salon advertisements and beauty blogs than in general conversation. Slightly more common in US English beauty marketing.
Grammar
How to Use “blonding” in a Sentence
undergo [blonding]get [blonding] donerequire [blonding]specialise in [blonding]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blonding” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The salon offers to blond your hair with minimal damage.
- She's having her hair blonded for the wedding.
American English
- I want to blond my hair a few shades lighter.
- They blonded her hair using a new technique.
adverb
British English
- [Not commonly used as an adverb]
American English
- [Not commonly used as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- She booked a blonding appointment for next Tuesday.
- The blonding kit came with detailed instructions.
American English
- He is a blonding specialist at the downtown salon.
- The blonding process took three hours.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in beauty salon marketing, service descriptions, and price lists.
Academic
Rare; might appear in sociology texts about beauty standards or chemistry of hair dyes.
Everyday
Used when discussing hair treatments, salon visits, or personal appearance.
Technical
Specific term in hairdressing for lightening techniques, often qualified (e.g., 'creative blonding', 'blonding specialist').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “blonding”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “blonding”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blonding”
- Using 'blonding' to refer to natural blond hair colour (incorrect).
- Misspelling as 'blondeing' (less standard).
- Using as a verb ('I blonded my hair' is non-standard; prefer 'I had my hair blonded' or 'I lightened my hair').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a well-established term in the hairdressing and beauty industry, referring to the process of lightening hair colour.
While primarily a noun, it is sometimes used informally as a verb ('to blond' one's hair), though phrases like 'get blonding done' or 'have hair blonded' are more standard.
'Highlights' is a specific technique involving lightening selected strands. 'Blonding' is a broader term that can encompass any lightening process, including full-colour lightening, balayage, or highlights.
No. 'Blonding' often refers to techniques that add lighter tones or dimensions, which might result in a subtle brightening rather than a complete colour change to blonde.
The process of dyeing hair a lighter, yellowish-brown colour.
Blonding is usually informal, commercial (beauty industry) in register.
Blonding: in British English it is pronounced /ˈblɒndɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈblɑːndɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not applicable for this technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BLOND' + 'ING' = the act of MAKING someone/something blond.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIGHTENING AS PURIFICATION/ELEVATION (making hair 'lighter' often associated with 'brightening' one's appearance or mood).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'blonding' most appropriately used?