Lily James just became the latest blonde convert in a star-studded line-up of springtime hair transformations. Benching her signature blackened brunette, the actor debuted a fresh set of honey butter blonde highlights this week, which we're coining the colour of the season.

Characterised by its warm and dimensional tones, honey butter blonde is a believably golden shade, which looks sunkissed without veering brassy or artificial. In James' case, the lightened colour combines a naturally neutral base and subtle sunlight babylights (extra fine highlights), which gives a brightened overall look without going to the extent of an all-over bleach. Glossy, sophisticated and so summer ready.

lily james honey butter blonde hair
Ricky Vigil M / Justin E Palmer//Getty Images

The Pam & Tommy star presented her new 'do at Dolce&Gabbana's 40th Anniversary Party in Milan shortly after, giving the lighter colour its red carpet debut in a slick back knotted style. Sleek and entirely replicable, we're adding this effortlessly glamorous look to our summer party moodboards immediately.

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lily james honey butter blonde hair
Robino Salvatore//Getty Images

As for the make-up, the 35-year-old actor paired a crisp orange-toned red lipstick with a burnt bronze smoky eye, once again proving that when it comes to summer beauty classics - if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

zendaya honey butter blonde
Daniele Venturelli//Getty Images

Of course, James is far from the first to make the transition back to blonde this spring. Zendaya's syrupy blonde for the Challengers tour has been making headlines since its arrival. Glossy and so flattering, the warming hue is similar to Lily's gilded new shade in tone, but lends itself to an all-over colour rather than a set of delicate highlights. If you're looking to imitate this colour in the salon, see James' honey butter blonde as the stepping stone to a brighter springtime hue and Zendaya's as a shining example of a cohesive blanket tone.

In the market for natural examples of honey butter blonde? Look no further than golden haired it-girls Sofia Richie and Rosie-Huntington Whitely. Allow the spring beauty switch-up to commence...

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Katie Withington
Beauty Writer

Katie Withington (she/her) is the Beauty Writer, at ELLE UK and Harper’s Bazaar. Working alongside the ELLE UK Beauty Team, she covers all things beauty for both print and digital, from finding backstage make-up trends at London Fashion Week and investigating buzzy skincare ingredients, to unzipping the beauty bags of Hailey Bieber and Margot Robbie. Prior to joining ELLE UK in 2022, Katie studied (BA) Fashion Journalism at London College of Fashion and has previously contributed to Red, Good Housekeeping and Prima.