Few actresses have mastered the art of blonde quite like Margot Robbie. From her butter blonde waves in The Wolf of Wall Street to her now-iconic Margot Robbie blonde hair in Barbie, she’s become the ultimate reference point for anyone considering a lighter shade. Her recent shift towards bronde and mushroom blonde tones proves she’s not afraid to evolve, and neither should you.
The good news? Achieving her signature looks doesn’t require a Hollywood stylist or a salon appointment. With the right products and technique, you can recreate everything from her sun-kissed Barbie blonde to her more dimensional, low-maintenance shades from your own bathroom.
This guide breaks down Margot’s most requested colours and shows you exactly how to achieve them. Whether you’re starting from dark hair or refreshing an existing blonde, Smart Beauty’s plex-enriched, vegan formulas make salon-quality results accessible, without the harsh chemicals or the hefty price tag. Let’s find your perfect shade of Robbie-inspired blonde.
Pick your Margot blonde and set expectations
Margot Robbie has cycled through three distinct blonde shades that dominate search queries and salon mood boards. Understanding which one matches your lifestyle and hair goals will save you from disappointment and unnecessary damage.
The three shades to choose from
Barbie blonde is Margot’s brightest look, a pale buttery shade with almost no warmth. You saw this in the Barbie promotional tour, where her hair was lifted to a level 10 platinum blonde with cool undertones. This requires serious bleaching if you’re starting from anything darker than light blonde, and the upkeep is relentless.
Bronde describes the shade Margot wore to the 2024 Golden Globes. It’s a dimensional blend of blonde and brown, typically hovering around level 7 to 8. You’ll notice caramel roots melting into honey blonde ends, creating depth without the stark contrast. This suits people who want Margot Robbie blonde hair without the commitment of full platinum.
Mushroom blonde is her most recent transformation, a greyish-toned blonde with beige and ash notes. Think cooler than bronde but warmer than platinum. It sits around level 8 to 9 and works particularly well if you’re trying to tone down brassiness or transition from a previous bleach job.
What’s realistic based on your starting point
Your natural base dictates which shade you can reach safely. Dark brown or black hair can’t jump straight to Barbie blonde in one session without severe damage. You’re looking at two to three bleaching rounds spaced weeks apart, or you need to accept bronde as your first milestone.
Light brown to dark blonde hair can reach bronde or mushroom blonde in one go. Barbie blonde might need one careful bleach session followed by toning.
Existing blonde hair gives you the most flexibility. You can shift between all three shades with strategic toning and minimal additional lifting.
Trying to match Margot’s exact shade without considering your starting point is the fastest route to fried, broken hair.
Each shade requires different maintenance schedules. Barbie blonde needs toning every two weeks. Bronde and mushroom blonde stretch to four to six weeks between refreshes.
Step 1. Match your starting hair to the right route
Your starting hair level determines which Margot Robbie blonde hair shade you can reach safely and how many steps you’ll need. Assess your natural base honestly before buying any products, because misjudging this costs you money and hair health.
Find your starting level
Hold a section of your hair next to a white surface under natural daylight. Level 1 to 5 (black to medium brown) appears significantly darker than the surface. Level 6 to 7 (dark blonde to light brown) shows noticeable colour but isn’t dark. Level 8 to 10 (blonde to platinum) reflects light and sits close to the white surface.
Your assessment dictates your path. Level 1 to 5 hair needs two separate bleaching sessions spaced three weeks apart to reach Barbie blonde, or one session for bronde. Level 6 to 7 can reach mushroom blonde or bronde in one careful application. Level 8 to 10 only needs toning for any of Margot’s shades.
Skipping the assessment and applying the wrong product strength is how you end up with patchy orange hair or severe breakage.
Choose your product strength accordingly
Match your level to the correct bleach or dye strength:
| Starting Level | Target Shade | Product Needed |
|---|---|---|
| 1-5 (Dark) | Bronde | 30 vol bleach + warm blonde dye |
| 1-5 (Dark) | Barbie blonde | Two rounds: 20 vol, then 30 vol + cool toner |
| 6-7 (Medium) | Mushroom blonde | 20 vol bleach + ash toner |
| 6-7 (Medium) | Barbie blonde | 30 vol bleach + platinum toner |
| 8-10 (Blonde) | Any shade | Toner only (no bleach) |
Always start with plex-enriched formulas to minimize damage during lifting.
Step 2. Get the Barbie blonde without frying it
Achieving Margot Robbie blonde hair at the Barbie level requires controlled bleaching followed by precise toning. Your goal is to lift your hair to level 10 without turning it into straw, then neutralize any yellow tones to match that signature cool platinum.
Apply plex treatment before bleaching
Mix plex additive directly into your bleach formula before you start. This strengthens the disulphide bonds in your hair during the lifting process, reducing breakage by up to 60%. Add the recommended dose to your 20 or 30 volume developer and bleach powder, then stir until smooth.
Apply the mixture to dry, unwashed hair starting from your mid-lengths to ends. Leave your roots for the last 15 minutes because they process faster due to scalp heat. Keep the bleach on for 30 to 45 minutes maximum, checking every 10 minutes until you reach pale yellow.
Never leave bleach on longer than 45 minutes, even if your hair hasn’t lifted enough. You can always do a second session after recovery.
Tone immediately after bleaching
Rinse the bleach thoroughly with lukewarm water, then apply purple or ash toner while your hair is still damp. Your freshly bleached hair sits at a yellow level 9 to 10, which accepts cool tones perfectly at this stage.
Work the toner through from roots to ends and leave for 10 to 20 minutes. The exact timing depends on how much yellow you need to cancel. Rinse with cold water to seal the cuticle and lock in the platinum finish that matches Margot’s Barbie look.
Step 3. Shift into bronde and mushroom blonde
Moving from Barbie blonde to bronde or mushroom blonde requires strategic colour deposits, not more bleaching. Your platinum base acts as a blank canvas that accepts warm or cool tones easily, giving you Margot’s more dimensional looks without additional damage.
Add warmth for bronde
Apply a level 7 or 8 golden blonde dye directly over your platinum hair to create the bronde effect. Choose a semi-permanent or demi-permanent formula because these deposit colour without lifting, giving you honey and caramel tones that blend naturally with any remaining lighter pieces.
Section your hair into quarters and apply the dye from roots to ends, working quickly to ensure even coverage. Leave it on for 25 to 30 minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water. The platinum underneath allows the warm tones to show through clearly, creating that Margot Robbie blonde hair depth you saw at the Golden Globes.
Applying permanent dye over bleached hair leads to uneven results because the porosity varies throughout each strand.
Cool it down for mushroom blonde
Mushroom blonde needs ash or beige toners applied to your platinum base. Mix a level 8 ash blonde dye with a low-volume developer (10 vol maximum) and apply it the same way you did for bronde, but leave it on for only 15 to 20 minutes.
Your hair will shift to a greyish blonde with subtle brown undertones. Check the colour every 5 minutes during processing because over-toning creates an unwanted grey or purple cast. Rinse with cold water to lock in the ash finish.
Step 4. Keep the colour glossy and low-maintenance
Maintaining Margot Robbie blonde hair doesn’t require daily salon-level effort, but it does need a strategic routine. Your colour lasts longer and looks healthier when you protect it from the two main culprits: heat damage and excessive washing. Focus on preserving the tones you’ve created rather than constantly correcting them.
Use purple shampoo strategically
Apply purple shampoo once or twice weekly to neutralize any yellow tones that creep back into Barbie or mushroom blonde. Wet your hair completely, then work the purple formula through from roots to ends and leave it on for 3 to 5 minutes before rinsing. Your hair should feel slightly squeaky when clean, which confirms the pigment has deposited.
Don’t use purple shampoo on bronde hair because it strips the warm tones you worked to create. For bronde maintenance, stick to colour-safe shampoo that protects without depositing cool pigments.
Overusing purple shampoo turns your hair grey or lavender, especially if your base is porous from bleaching.
Space out your washes
Wash your hair two to three times per week maximum. Each wash strips protective oils and fades colour deposits faster, particularly with semi-permanent formulas. Between washes, use dry shampoo at your roots and refresh your style with a curling wand or straightener on low heat.
When you do wash, use lukewarm water and finish with a cold rinse to seal the cuticle. Apply a leave-in conditioner or hair oil to damp ends every time you wash, focusing on the most bleached sections to prevent breakage and maintain shine.
Your next move
You now have the exact steps to recreate any version of Margot Robbie blonde hair, from her platinum Barbie shade to her dimensional bronde and mushroom tones. The difference between a successful transformation and a damaged disaster comes down to matching your starting level to the right technique and using formulas that protect while they lift.
Start by assessing your current hair level honestly, then choose your target shade based on what’s realistic for your base. Your hair responds best to gradual shifts rather than drastic jumps, particularly if you’re moving from dark to light.
Ready to get started? Browse our Lighten & Tone System for plex-enriched bleaches and toners that lift safely and deliver the glossy, dimensional blonde Margot’s made famous. Every formula is vegan, cruelty-free, and designed for confident at-home application without the salon price tag.